Los Banos Rotary Club History
Missionary Is Rotary Speaker

Miss Helen Hodgson, a Methodist missionary recently returned on leave from Monterey, Mexico, Tuesday noon gave members of the Rotary Club a quick review of our neighboring country on the south, and of her work in and around Monterey, which is Mexico's third largest city.

In a plea for brotherhood and understanding between the peoples of our two countries, Miss Hodgson sharply criticized the average American tourist for their indifference to the Mexican people in whose country they are traveling. This breeds distrust and misunderstanding, she pointed out, and is in sharp contrast to the attitudes and impressions made by Mexican tourists from other countries.

Miss Hodgson commended the attractions of a Mexico vacation, and told something of the country and history of the people. Generally, she said, the country is progressing rapidly, there is a good business economy and the standard of living is increasing steadily. In Monterey, a city of some 500,000, water and electricity are becoming some what scarce, due to rapid expansion of the city and inability to bring in additional utility facilities as fast as the city is building up.

When Miss Hodgson first went to Mexico after graduating from University of California, she said there was a definite anti-American feeling in the country. This feeling has gradually changed and today there is a very cordial friendliness toward our country and its people.
The speaker was introduced by Otto Zentner, local Rotarian and program chairman for the day.

November 7, 1958

---