ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP:
Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

DONATE:
Has my blog helped in any way? Helped find something•brought more EASE? More exposure or business?
I welcome you to show YOUR appreciation for my efforts!
ANY size DONATION is APPRECIATED!
(see below other ways to show your appreciation)
The easiest way is with PAYPAL - Attn: LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com
(you do NOT need to have a PayPal account to do this - just a credit or debit card)
ADD INFORMATION:
Do YOU have/know of a Business•Event•News•Place•Things 4 Sale•Rent to add? Email:
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

OTHER WAYS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS BLOG

• APPLE LAPTOP - Do you have a Laptop you're not using? Mine recently broke so I'm using a lender. Must be new enough to run current Skypes & have an SDCard slot.
• Amazon.com or GoDaddy.com Credit•Gift Certificate (attn: SarongGoddess@gmail.com)
• Something else to share?? A gift certificate or invite for your business? I'm open!! (at times I'll add other things here that I'm seeking)

Monday, August 13, 2012

U.S. Embassy NEEDS YOUR Help - They are Seeking "Wardens"

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica is seeking active/connected members of their community to 
VOLUNTEER to be a 
"WARDEN" 
(don't worry - it's not scary as it sounds!!!).  I've "enhanced"/added my thoughts to the Embassy's documents (like I often do!!).

They ESPECIALLY still need them in the
Guanacaste
Nicoya Peninsula
Osa/Puerto Jimenez 
areas



WHAT IS A WARDEN?
A private American citizen resident in host country who volunteers to assist consular sections in disaster preparedness, welfare & whereabouts, and alerting Americans to emergency situations.

Because wardens have close ties to the U.S. expat community they are often the fastest and most effective route to distributing information to Americans

Facilitates distribution of routine administrative information (changes in section work hours, procedures, embassy closures, voting information) of interest to the U.S. private community

Provides important, timely, safety and security information, which might include the times and locations of upcoming local demonstrations, areas of potential unrest due to local celebrations or elections, or information about a specific medical issue.



WARDEN COMMUNICATION METHODS:
U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide rely on different communication methods to disseminate information to wardens and stay in touch with them:

Email/ Text messages (SMS): More commonly used

Telephone, Radios and Faxes: In distant locations that lack the infrastructure and communication technology (setting up Phone Trees ahead of time is REALLY helpful!!)

Community Online Blogs, Social Networks (Becoming more popular - Facebook, Twitter), Message Boards/Forums, area Newsletters, organizations popular with the U.S. ExPat community+:
(if you become a Warden, contact me [Vicki Skinner] for a list of various Message Boards/Forums and also to share any of these that are special for your area to add to a master list - LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com)

The Department is constantly looking for new ways to distribute information to the public, so we are open to suggestions!!!

BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
• Providing updates about the situation in their district
• Assisting/encouraging the registration of newcomers
• Assisting in crisis: natural disasters, civil unrest
• Alerting American citizens without immediate e-mail or internet access to emergency situations
• To disseminate information about routine topics such as voter registration, income tax season, new passport procedures, and other non-security related issues.



CONTACT:
Lea Rivera
Vice-Consul
2-519-2461  •  AcsSanJose@state.gov



PLEASE "SHARE" this information with anyone you know that would be PERFECT for this task and make sure to tell them Vicki Skinner Connected you!!!!



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