CAA's Mission
The Community Action Alliance of Costa Rica (CAA) is an organization of expats and costarricenses in the greater San Ramon area volunteering together for community and individual enrichment. CAA aligns with organizations in the community, creating relationships and providing resources for community betterment and development initiatives. CAA provides its members opportunities for community integration, networking and socialization.
Governance
CAA is a registered Costa Rican not-for-profit organization. The organization is governed by the Officers and Vocals who are elected by the membership for a two-year term. General Assembly (membership) meetings are mandated by our constitution to be held at least twice per year, in June and December.
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Officers
President Terry Handler Vice President Janice Brown Secretary Martin Rojas Treasurer Al Sargent |
Vocals
Mary Lou Hofmann Scott McAnally Vocal 3 |
History
Originally named the Small Business Alliance, the organization was started in August 2009 by a group of expat small business operators led by co-founder Mike Styles with the goal of supporting one another’s’ respective business ventures by networking and sharing information, contacts, and more at monthly mixers. After only a couple of months several non-business members of the community expressed interest in participating. In response to this broader interest, in early 2010 the organization morphed into the Community Action Alliance, with the broader objective of supporting the community at large.
The original focus of CAA was on Citizen Security, a concern for everyone in the community. In spring 2009, CAA approached the U.S. Embassy to discuss those concerns and offer assistance to the Embassy in addressing Citizen Security issues in Costa Rica. At the request of CAA, then Consul General Paul Birdsall visited San Ramón to listen to the concerns of the expat community. This was the beginning of a meaningful alliance between the Embassy and the CAA.
An initial priority for the organization was CAA’s integration into the community. The first meaningful act of integration was a Citizen Security workshop organized in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, conducted by security specialist Chief Arturo Venegas, and attended by then U.S. Ambassador Anne Andrew. During the process of preparing for the workshop, CAA leadership met with civic, business and social institutions in the community, including the Municipality, the Police Department, the Chamber of Commerce, and various neighborhood development organizations. The outcome was CAA began working more closely with these organizations and became involved in other community interests, including the environment and economic development.
CAA set its sights on Education. Forming alliances versus replicating the work of other single-focus organizations was critical to CAA. The objective was to support existing organizations in accomplishing their goals. At the time there was an existing group named Volunteers Fostering Education (VFE), led by U.S. ex-pats David Brink and David Scott, which gave Spanish students enrolled in English language programs the opportunity to hear English spoken by a native English speaker. CAA and VFE merged, with VFE assuming the role of an Education Committee and tapping the extensive volunteer network and resources of CAA to expand education efforts in the community.
Growth spawned an evolution from civil group to non-profit organization. As the organization continued to grow, CAA evolved from a ‘civil group’ with a Steering Committee with a mission, vision statement and guiding principles, to a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, constitution and bylaws. This enabled the organization to function effectively and legally in Costa Rica. In December 2012 the CAA was legally incorporated as “La Alianza de Accion Comunitaria” (English translation: The Alliance of Community Action).
The original focus of CAA was on Citizen Security, a concern for everyone in the community. In spring 2009, CAA approached the U.S. Embassy to discuss those concerns and offer assistance to the Embassy in addressing Citizen Security issues in Costa Rica. At the request of CAA, then Consul General Paul Birdsall visited San Ramón to listen to the concerns of the expat community. This was the beginning of a meaningful alliance between the Embassy and the CAA.
An initial priority for the organization was CAA’s integration into the community. The first meaningful act of integration was a Citizen Security workshop organized in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, conducted by security specialist Chief Arturo Venegas, and attended by then U.S. Ambassador Anne Andrew. During the process of preparing for the workshop, CAA leadership met with civic, business and social institutions in the community, including the Municipality, the Police Department, the Chamber of Commerce, and various neighborhood development organizations. The outcome was CAA began working more closely with these organizations and became involved in other community interests, including the environment and economic development.
CAA set its sights on Education. Forming alliances versus replicating the work of other single-focus organizations was critical to CAA. The objective was to support existing organizations in accomplishing their goals. At the time there was an existing group named Volunteers Fostering Education (VFE), led by U.S. ex-pats David Brink and David Scott, which gave Spanish students enrolled in English language programs the opportunity to hear English spoken by a native English speaker. CAA and VFE merged, with VFE assuming the role of an Education Committee and tapping the extensive volunteer network and resources of CAA to expand education efforts in the community.
Growth spawned an evolution from civil group to non-profit organization. As the organization continued to grow, CAA evolved from a ‘civil group’ with a Steering Committee with a mission, vision statement and guiding principles, to a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors, constitution and bylaws. This enabled the organization to function effectively and legally in Costa Rica. In December 2012 the CAA was legally incorporated as “La Alianza de Accion Comunitaria” (English translation: The Alliance of Community Action).