SAVE THE DATE: Make plans to attend our General Assembly Meeting on December 3 at 10am at Olga’s. (Note time change.) Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/RBMPeUgcHY3fbXq38

From the President

It’s only November but it feels like we are quickly heading into the end of the year. Some of the signs of the end of year include a noticeable excitement in young people around final exams and coming graduations for high school (colegio) and college and university students, and a bit later the end of classes for the earlier grades in December. There are articles in the press about the traditional 13th month (bonus) payment for workers. The stores are already decked out for Christmas and the city park is being set up and decorated in anticipation of the official lighting coming up. Most importantly the coffee plants in the many fincas around are maturing and ready to be harvested in the next week or two. Many harvest workers and their families have been arriving in the past weeks and are setting up their temporary living situations. Last but not least this incredible heavy and damaging rainy season will be coming to an end.
          
Within CAA we are focusing our work and efforts to make a sustainable difference for those in need here and supporting each other as well. We are welcoming new members to our community and many are looking to engage and be engaged in their new lives and adopted community. We are honored and excited to welcome them. At our annual meeting of the membership (Asamblea General) on December 3rd we look forward to celebrating, socializing, and doing a little official business.
As you read this newsletter you will see our current areas of focus:

• We have our first annual Giving Tuesday (Nov 29th) effort. We are partnering with Global Giving’s online capabilities to help us draw the attention of family and friends in the US and abroad to three major projects worthy of support.
• The English Conversation Club is getting ready for the last session of the year and is matching this up to a visiting US group of ESOL teachers finishing their own program.
• Next is the toy drive for children in partnership with the local Lion’s Club for toys and special foods for needy children.
• The Tamale Christmas food for families volunteer project funds the supplies and helps make more than 700 tamale “piñas.” (A piña is a bundle of two tamales tied together.) Our volunteers work with the Faithful Servant Mission and their volunteers to make and distribute primarily in the Bajo Tejares neighborhood.
• The regional hospital here wants to recognize the Blankets for Babies project for the impact of making and suppling the clothing packets to those mothers, babies, and premature babies in need.
• The Birthday Buddy program at the Hogarcito orphanage will help the children there celebrate the last birthdays of the year.
• The Árbol de Esperanza program is helping more single women with children than before and we are working to find other effective ways to assist them in addition to food assistance.
• Although not mentioned in this newsletter, the education scholarship program is busy helping students finish their year, reviewing results and needs of individuals, selecting new scholarship recipients as others graduate, and raising funds to sustain the program.

 
Helping hungry families and supporting children improves the lives of those we touch and also the lives of those around them. We enjoy participating in these projects and the benefits and rewards we have by being part of this community and country. We have lots of opportunities to socialize, too, which you will see below.
We thank all of our members, friends, and supporters!! When you are in town don’t forget to stop by for coffee on any Thursday at Café Delicias or come to our monthly mixers, such as the one this month on the 17th at El Establo (details below).
~Terry Handler

Board Highlights

• Heard updates about our two new projects on the Global Giving website.
• Continued planning for our General Assembly Meeting in December
• Finalized plans for the Christmas Toy Drive and Tamale Christmas
• Heard about efforts to increase the size of the ECC classes, including adding beginning English students.
• Listened to updates from team and board members on all our programs and alliances.  

November Mixer!

Anyone for Coffee?

Thursday morning coffee at Café Delicias is a tradition for gringos living in or visiting San Ramón. Please stop by between 9-11 to visit with friends or make new ones. Ask questions, share information, and maybe enjoy one of the restaurant’s famous cinnamon rolls with your fresh hot cup of Costa Rican coffee. Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/Heutyt5iRi3iMvdLA
 

Our English Conversation Club Needs Additional Leaders

Spanish Conversation Groups

Groups are currently in session through December 6. Please go to https://www.actionalliancecr.com/spanish-conversation-groups.html for more information about future classes.

Christmas Toy Drive

ALLIANCE UPDATES

Tamale Christmas—Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed at 9am on December 6 at the Family Servant Mission to wash and cut banana leaves, and at 11am to cut string, make the masa de maíz, cut vegetables, and wrap tamales. Please contact Cyndy at 8393 0940 or cyndygail@yahoo.com if you wish to help. It’s a fun and rewarding experience!

Hogarcito Birthday Buddies

Please consider becoming a Birthday Buddy to give a child at San Ramón’s Orphanage a special day! Visit our web page https://www.actionalliancecr.com/birthday-buddy.html for more information on the program.

Blankets for Babies
Blankets for Babies team members continue to provide items for underprivileged newborns at San Ramón’s Carlos Luis Valverde Vega Hospital and in recognition of their service have been invited to the hospital’s celebration for World Prematurity Day. This hard-working group has been providing these items since 2018.
For more information about Blankets for Babies San Ramón or contribute to this program, please visit the Blankets for Babies page https://www.actionalliancecr.com/blankets-for-babies.html on CAA’s website.

Get Out Your Dancing Shoes!

Expat Dementia Zoom Support Group

The Expat Dementia Support group meetings every Saturday at 10 am on Zoom. It is open to all members of the expat community in Costa Rica dealing with issues of dementia and related conditions. For more information contact Debra Hammen at debra.hammen@gmail.com or on Facebook at 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/4380700485322109

Tai Chi at Sabana Park

Yes, RAIN gets its own photo exhibit this month. We have certainly had enough of it this season! But remember, all that rain produces the lush foliage in the little paradise we call home. Spider web photo by Craig Huber.

Become a CAA member. It’s Easy!

CAA members are connected to a rich network of friendship, support, and opportunities to participate in the life of our community AND they help improve the quality of life for others in the greater San Ramón area. It’s easy to join! Just follow this link for payment options: https://www.actionalliancecr.com/join-caa.html  You can also pay your 2023 dues at the upcoming General Assembly gathering on December 3.

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