 | President's Message...
Dear Members and Friends,
Welcome to the start of a new season. In 2025, through our joint efforts, we sponsored two cleft-palate clinics (our medical team was unavailable for an anticipated third clinic), enabling almost a dozen surgeries and close to 100 consultations by existing and new patients, all children. We donated approximately one million one hundred thousand pesos to the cleft palate program and to almost 20 Vallarta non-profits. We received invaluable in-kind donations of surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nursing time, hospital surgical and patient space, and medical staff housing, meals and transportation that are essential to the cleft palate program. We thank all donors from the bottom of our hearts. We couldn't do it without you.
We also must thank our volunteers who make all this happen. The Clubhouse Front Desk is run by volunteers who refer to each other by the day of the week they work. Clubhouse programming is almost exclusively provided by volunteers who donate their time to develop and present their classes. The newsletter and our Facebook posts are the work of a very talented team of marketing communications volunteers. Two committees of almost 20 volunteers review applications from non-profits for IFC funding for education or social services. IFC Board members are volunteers, each responsible for some aspect of running the IFC. Home Tours is ranked by Trip Advisor in the top 10% of tours worldwide and, remarkably, is run by several dozen volunteers. Home Tours has no paid staff. In fact, the IFC's only paid employee is Josue, who works in the clubhouse Monday to Friday, 9-1:00. Let us all give thanks to our volunteers, without whom we could not function.
We look forward to seeing you at the Annual General Meeting on Monday, January 19, and to celebrating our members and their guests with live music, and assorted treats and beverages in the courtyard afterwards.
We have extensive programming coming up, much of it new. Please browse the IFC calendar and follow links for detailed information.
| Can't wait to see you soon!
Peggy Nelson
IFC President | | | The International Friendship Club
Annual General Meeting & Member Appreciation Night
The IFC's Annual General Meeting convenes on Monday, January 19th at 5:00 pm at IFC Clubhouse to consider a slate of proposed Executive Board Members and the 2026 budget. We look forward to seeing you there!
Following the meeting, we celebrate our members with Member Appreciation Night, featuring live music in the courtyard, performed by local guitarist Eduardo Leon (Lalo) and percussionist Aaron Hernadez. This will be a chance to meet and socialize with other IFC members over beverages and appetizers. No charge.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:
Volunteers will be on hand to help with membership renewals and registration.
| Volunteer Opportunities
The International Friendship Club (IFC) thrives because of people like you who volunteer. Our volunteers tell us that volunteering brings satisfaction, meaning, fulfillment, friendships, and community. It’s also fun!
The IFC has the following short term opportunities for the coming season. To learn more, read the overview of each role at Volunteer Opportunities.
For longer term volunteer work in:
- Clubhouse Programming
- Volunteer Development
- Social Media
- Giving & Sponsorship
Additional opportunities to volunteer for events are available on the registration page once you register for an event.
| FUN THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY
|  |  |  |  |  |  | | Pamela Thompson Webb will be presenting the January 6th session. We will announce the presenters of the February 3 and March 3 events in upcoming newsletters. |  |  | Join Our Friendly Guides as We Peek Inside Beautiful Homes in Puerto Vallarta
While Helping to Fund Education and Social Services programming in Vallarta.
Explore inside some of Puerto Vallarta’s most remarkable homes, from charming traditional casas to stunning multimillion-dollar beachfront condos and villas. Travel in comfort aboard our air-conditioned tour bus while our friendly guides share fun and informative commentary along the way. Net proceeds support our Cleft Palate Program—now over 30 years strong—as well as other local charities.
On tour day, we meet at the Sea Monkey Restaurant which is located at Calle Aquiles Serdan No. 174, on the Malecón. The Sea Monkey offers our guests a discounted breakfast beginning at 9:00am before each tour.
General Schedule
9:15 to 9:30 - Check-In
9:45 - Intro Talk
10:00 - First Bus Departs
The tour is approximately 3-4 hours.
ALL SALES FINAL. ONLINE SALES ONLY.
REQUIRES GOOD MOBILITY.
$800 MXN Members
$960 MXN Non-Members
Dates & Tickets
|  | | Coming Soon:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
9:30 - 3:00
(Please note: the January excursion is fully booked.)
The Vallarta Botanical Gardens offers discounted pricing to IFC members and guests for this all day trip. If you are already a Garden member, they have discounted the price further.
Your all-inclusive choice for visiting the Botanical Gardens includes a guided walking tour, lunch in the Garden's award-winning restaurant, and transport to and from Puerto Vallarta, with time to explore. Duration is 5-6 hours.
The non-stop shuttle ride takes about 45 minutes, and your shuttle ticket price includes the admission.
At the end of this adventure, we meet again at the reception area of the Gardens at 2:00 pm for the return and will drop you off back at the IFC Clubhouse around 3:00 pm.
Registration must be completed by January 27. | | |  | Signing Up for Events
The International Friendship Club website is accessible to any member of the public without logging in. Member pricing is available to members once you log in. To access the website, simply click on any link to go to our: Website
You can become a member of the International Friendship Club of Puerto Vallarta by accessing the website here: New Member Signup
How to find Upcoming Events Online-
Option 1-
Click on 'Events, Registration, Tickets' icon to view our calendar of events.Click on the title of the event for more details and registration.After registering for an event, you may choose ‘Add to My Calendar’ to save the event to the calendar on your phone or computer.
or Option 2-
Click on REGISTER HERE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS and scroll down to find the event you would like to attend. Click the title of the event for more information and to register.
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Get your raffle tickets here
Draw date February 15, 2026
All money raised go to the charities we support.
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Did you know that the International Friendship Club annual Día de la Amistad/Valentine's Day 50/50 Raffle is the club's largest charity fundraiser after the IFC Home Tours?
Proceeds from both of these special events are used for the cleft palate clinics or distributed to local charities that depend on the International Friendship Club for support.
Raffle tickets go on sale January 2nd.
The live drawing will be on Saturday, February 15th at the IFC clubhouse, during the upcoming Friendship Festival, featuring IFC-supported charities.
Please join in for a chance to win and help us help others in need!
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| Monday through Friday - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday - Closed
info@ifcvallarta.org
ifcvallarta@gmail.com
+52 322-222-5466
Stop in and say hello to Josue!
Edificio Parian del Puente #13
Corner of Miramar and Libertad
Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta
Jalisco, Mexico, 48300 |
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Your newsletter team is Peggy Nelson, Stan Wagner, and myself. With a lot of help and support from many others.
Do you have suggestions or ideas? We value hearing from you!
Laurie Mueller
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