Amigos y Vecinos!

Seasons Greetings to one and all!

The Holidays can be both a wonderful and difficult time.  Memories of holidays past can fill our hearts and minds with nostalgic bliss.  Many of us however are away from our families and this can be very hard.  This is a time when new friends and neighbors can be even more important.  It is our hope that each and every one of you is able to connect with the magic of the holiday season.  We invite you to celebrate the wonderful community in which we live and that you have helped create.

Community Events

Holiday Mixer

Let’s all get together this coming Friday to celebrate the spirit of the season at our Holiday Mixer with some special gifts to local groups that are working every day of the year to make our lives better.  You have made these gifts possible and we ask that you be present to share in the celebration.

Day/Date: Friday, December 16, 2011

Time: 10:00 am

Agenda: 

• Community Updates
• Book Sale Check Presentation
• Volunteer Spotlight
• Music Instrument Donations
• 2012 Membership Promotion                                           
• Presentation: A TubaChristmas Preview
• Featured Business: Retire For Less in Costa Rica, Paul and Gloria Yeatman, retireforlessincostarica.com
• Refreshments: Complimentary coffee and holiday cookies for one and all!

Location: Museo de San Ramón   

Directions: NE corner of the Parque Central, 25 meters east of Municipality

Fee: Admission is FREE for current and joining members. Guests are encouraged to join the Action Alliance.  A nominal donation for the Museo is appreciated.  

Attire: Normally we don’t care what anyone wears however Christmas apparel is encouraged!

For More Info: www.actionalliancecr.com

RSVP: mike@styles.com or 8.333.8750

We always appreciate it when you RSVP regardless of the type of event as this helps us ensure we can accommodate our members and guests (seating, refreshments, etc.).  Thank you for taking the time to RSVP. 

TubaChristmas

What better way to celebrate the holiday than with a special concert of your favorite Christmas songs…performed on tubas and euphoniums (exclusively!).  Please join us on Friday, December 16 at 6:00 pm (note the time change!) at the José Figueres Cultural Center for a holiday performance that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  San Ramón newcomers John and Caryl Buford and special guest Jeremy Davis are collaborating with local music leader Elias Artavia and other talented Costa Rican musicians providing a harmonious example of how foreigners and locals can work (and play) together.  Again, if you plan on attending please let us know so we can ensure we have enough seating for everyone.  RSVP: mike@styles.com.

Municipalidad de San Ramón Christmas Festival

Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18 mark the last days of the Municipalidad de San Ramón’s Christmas Festival.  Scheduled activities include artisan displays, a health festival, a bicycling competition, a host of children’s activities and a concert featuring ESCATS.  For a full schedule of activities please visit the Community Action Alliance website: www.actionalliancecr.com (see Save the Dates under Latest News). 

U.S. Embassy Workshops

We recently confirmed a pair of workshops with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy for Friday, January 20 beginning at 10:00 am.   One workshop will target U.S. Citizens and will cover Citizen Services offered by the consular staff including voter registration, passport renewals, and notary services.  Embassy representatives will also address security concerns, take questions, and discuss their forthcoming American Citizen Services Newsletter.   

The second workshop will target Costa Ricans and is intended to provide information regarding U.S. Visa Applications.  Many of you have come to us with questions raised by neighbors, friends and workers who have asked about visa requirements.  In response to these inquiries we have asked and the Embassy has graciously agreed to present this special workshop.  We appreciate your help in getting the word out to any Costa Ricans that may have questions about applying for a visa to the U.S.

Coming Soon!

We are currently working on our next fundraising event which is tentatively scheduled to take place in March or April.  The Development Committee is being very deliberate in learning from the success of the recent Gran Venta de Libros (and our failures) to ensure that we produce an event that is equally if not more successful and supports the overall objectives of the community.  Also, given the changes in tax codes (both in Costa Rica and the U.S.), filings required by the IRS, banking restrictions, etc. we are planning a seminar to help clarify financial and legal obligations relating to these and other areas of importance to all of us.  Randall Zamora has agreed to speak on these matters during a seminar tentatively scheduled for February or March.  If you have any recommendations for other seminars please email mike@styles.com with your suggestions. 

Community News

PROPAZ Toy Swap

Thanks and appreciation go out to all those who donated toys for the PROPAZ Toy Swap.  In total 57 toys were donated through the Community Action Alliance and Gringo Central representing more than half of the toys donated.  Special thanks go out to Santa (Tom Ackley) and Ms. Claus (Louise Whitman) who were the big hit with all the children.  We also wish to thank Cesar Carrillo for his continued support and his coordination of the event with PROPAZ. 

Citizen Security

In November we announced the approval of the creation of a Flagrancia Court in San Ramón.  As indicated at that time this is very encouraging news and was the result of a coordinated community effort including those of you who participated in the peace marches and signed the petition requesting a Flagrancia Court.  On a different front we continue to be in contact with representatives from the U.S. Embassy about security initiatives.  There are several programs currently in development and since we do not communicate what we do not know with certainty the most tangible information we can offer is that the Community Action Alliance and San Ramón continue to be in good standing with the Embassy and that there should more news on these programs in first quarter of 2012.  Please know that we continue to push for a safer and more secure San Ramón. 

Chamber Update

The San Ramón Carbon Neutral initiative remains one of the priorities of the Cámara de Comercio e Industria de San Ramón (Chamber of Commerce).  The Chamber is to be congratulated for the successful creation of a foundation to spearhead this project and recently announced the awarding of a grant from the German government to be used for education and marketing the program.  In addition to supporting the carbon neutral program the Action Alliance has proposed the creation of a Sister City relationship between San Ramón and a city to be named in the U.S.   The initial focus has been the education of local leaders regarding the benefits of such a program.  To accomplish this the Action Alliance coordinated a market visit to Quepos where a delegation composed of two Action Alliance, two Chamber and a Municipal representative met with leaders from the Chamber in Quepos/Manuel Antonio to discuss their successful Sister City program with Ft. Lauderdale.  We are also in discussion with the Chamber to create a more formal alliance with one of the goals being the expansion of our Membership Rewards Program to provide even greater value to our members.   

Membership Rewards

Please don’t forget to take advantage of the Membership Rewards Discount program and support Action Alliance Business Members.  Your membership fee can pay for itself simply by taking advantage of these exclusive discount offerings and supporting those that support your community.  For more information please visit the Action Alliance website at www.actionalliancecr.com and click on Membership Rewards found under the Membership link. 

Why Should I Join the Community Action Alliance – PLEASE READ!

Great question! 

To many there are very few things in life that can be said with any degree of certainty.  Here are a few things that we know with certainty:

• We know that we live in a special place and take great pride in feeling like we contribute to making that place special. 
• We know the importance of community, volunteerism, and service in the lives of our neighbors and in our own lives.  
• We know that many of you relocated to Costa Rica to relax and don’t want to (and will not) be coerced in to doing anything.   
• We know that many of you are contributing in your own personal way in the community and don’t feel like you need to be a part of an organization to contribute. 
• We know that many of you are very independent and are not “joiners”
• We know that San Ramón is rapidly building a reputation as a city where people come if they want to be active and make a difference in their community. 
• We know that local business, government and community members appreciate the work of the Action Alliance. 
• We know that in just over two short years the Community Action Alliance has become one of the most effective ex-pat based community groups in Costa Rica. 
• We know that we are making a difference.
• We know this would not be possible without people that take joy in working with and helping other people.

Our 2012 Membership pricing (valid though 12/31/11):

• Community Membership (couples count as one membership) – 8,000 colones
• Business Membership (10 or less employees) – 15,000 colones
• Corporate Business Membership (11 or more employees) – 25,000 colones

Effective January 1, 2012 the rates go up to 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 colones respectively. 

If you would like to become a 2012 Member and take advantage of our 2011 pricing please plan on attending our Holiday Mixer this coming Friday or simply reply to this email and say ‘Sign Me Up’. 

Thank you for supporting the work of the Community Action Alliance and your commitment to improve the lives of all residents of San Ramón and Costa Rica. If you would like to get more involved or you have suggestions regarding initiatives please contact Mike Styles at mike@styles.com or call 8.333.8750.

Puedes leer nuestras noticias en español accesando www.actionalliancecr.com, ve a la sección “Newsletter” y selecciona en el traductor el idioma español.