The end of another year and the end of another rainy season is here and more people are arriving in Costa Rica from the US and Canada. There are new people to meet and old friends to welcome back to the San Ramón area. We are happy to see new faces at the Thursday coffee sessions and at the mixers. Welcome to everyone!
The end of the year also brought CAA’s annual General Assembly meeting on December 9, which was well attended by members. The GA meeting is an opportunity to review what has happened over the past year and also to elect a new Board to serve for the next two years, 2024-2025.
As President, Terry Handler has guided CAA through Covid and the resulting challenges that were presented to the organization. During that time, some CAA projects ceased and others were developed or expanded to address the changing needs that exist in the community. Terry has been a guiding hand in CAA for four years and has helped to re-invigorate the group by identifying new needs and opportunities in the community, and then helping the organization address those needs.
The end of the year also brought CAA’s annual General Assembly meeting on December 9, which was well attended by members. The GA meeting is an opportunity to review what has happened over the past year and also to elect a new Board to serve for the next two years, 2024-2025.
As President, Terry Handler has guided CAA through Covid and the resulting challenges that were presented to the organization. During that time, some CAA projects ceased and others were developed or expanded to address the changing needs that exist in the community. Terry has been a guiding hand in CAA for four years and has helped to re-invigorate the group by identifying new needs and opportunities in the community, and then helping the organization address those needs.
A few of the examples of CAA’s successes during 2023 that were highlighted at the General Assembly meeting are below:
CAA BOARD ELECTION:
Many thanks to Laura Mitchell and Kevin Patterson who have joined the Board as Vocals and to Kristi Howard who will continue her current responsibilities in an Ex-oficio (non-voting) capacity.
The new Board that was elected to a two-year term consists of:
President: Janice Brown
Vice-President: Mary Lou Hofmann (Sustainability Committee Chair)
Secretary: Martin Rojas
Treasurer: Al Sargent
Vocal 1: Scott McAnally (Education Committee Chair)
Vocal 2: Laura Mitchell
Vocal 3: Kevin Patterson
- The Sustainability Committee’s creation of a relationship with Global Giving has provided an easy way for people to make donations to CAA programs, as well as benefit from matching funds that they provide. This has brought in over $5,383 through the end of Q3 and allows us to provide ongoing financial support to our various philanthropic projects and programs. CAA is ending the year in a good financial position and we hope that going forward we will be able to increase financial support for all of our programs.
- The Scholarship Program continues to assist deserving students in financial need by providing support to 24 high school students and two University students working as Program Interns. The Scholarship Program has also been expanded greatly as the needs have expanded; Math and English tutoring for students was undertaken for the first time in 2023 and instruction in computing is being considered for 2024.
- More regular financial support from our members and friends has allowed us to make consistent, ongoing monthly food support donations to Árbol de Esperanza, Funcavida, and the Hogarcito de San Ramón as well as to move closer to covering all of the costs associated with our Blankets for Babies program. In addition, we continue to provide birthday celebrations to the children at the Hogarcito and we contributed to another successful Tamale Christmas and ChristmasToy Drive.
CAA BOARD ELECTION:
Many thanks to Laura Mitchell and Kevin Patterson who have joined the Board as Vocals and to Kristi Howard who will continue her current responsibilities in an Ex-oficio (non-voting) capacity.
The new Board that was elected to a two-year term consists of:
President: Janice Brown
Vice-President: Mary Lou Hofmann (Sustainability Committee Chair)
Secretary: Martin Rojas
Treasurer: Al Sargent
Vocal 1: Scott McAnally (Education Committee Chair)
Vocal 2: Laura Mitchell
Vocal 3: Kevin Patterson
CAA Board, L to R: Martin Rojas, Janice Brown, Kevin Patterson, Mary Lou Hofmann, Al Sargent, Laura Mitchell, Scott McAnally
In addition, there are four ex-oficio members:
Linda Dwyer Blankets for Babies, Hogarcito, Tamale Christmas
Kristi Howard Spanish Conversation, Mixers
Mary Huber Membership
Janice Summers Communications
Linda Dwyer Blankets for Babies, Hogarcito, Tamale Christmas
Kristi Howard Spanish Conversation, Mixers
Mary Huber Membership
Janice Summers Communications