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!!!!

http://LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/08/USEmbassySeekingWardens.html

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