US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR3222

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SAN SALVADOR 003222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR M/DGHR/FLO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFLO, AMGT, ES 
SUBJECT:  SAN SALVADOR'S CLO REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF 
MAY 1 - OCTOBER 31, 2005 
 
 
1. Co-CLO Coordinator Monique Reyes FP-6 and other Co-CLO position 
is currently vacant recruitment is in process; 25 hours per week 
each. 
 
2. Additional staff: Part-time CLO Assistant Milagros Root FP-9, 
20 hours per week. 
 
3. Post Profile 
 
A. Agencies served: 
 
State (Public Diplomacy, HR, MNGT, HU, GSO, FMO, FAC) USAID 
Operating Expenses, USAID Programs, RIG, Department of Defense 
(DAO, MILGP, DAO FAO, FOL, Corps of Engineers), Department of 
Justice (DEA, FBI, Justice Criminal Division, TAT), FCS, Peace 
Corps, CDC, AGRF/FAS, DHS. 
 
B.  Employees at Post: 
    Number of USDH with/without children at Post: 
 
         Without                   With 
Marines: 11                        1 
Singles: 16                        8 
Married: 21                        46 
Individuals w/tandem assignments: 
         6                         8 
 
Total employees with children: 63 
Total employees w/o children: 54 
Total employees represented above: 117 
 
C.   Family members: 
                          At Post        Away From Post spouses: 
  64                      3 
Children under age 19:   105                 3 
Children ages 19 - 23:   1                   8 
Children at boarding school:0                2 
Elder family members on orders: 2 
 
Elder family members at Post: 
Not on orders:           1                    0 
 
Total family members on orders at Post: 172 
Total family members on orders away from Post: 16 
Total family members represented above: 188 
 
D. Children: 
 
Ages 0-5 (not yet in kindergarten): 35 
Child using Special Educational Allowance: 
 
Grades K through 6: Total: 47 
Number attending A/Office of Overseas Schools 
assisted schools: 29 
(1)  Number attending other schools at Post: 17 
(2)  Children using educational allowance: 4 
(3)  Number attending school away from Post: 0 
(4)  Number living with other parent in the US: 1 
 
Grades 7 and 8: Total: 14 
(1)  Number attending A/Office of Overseas Schools 
    assisted schools: 14 
(2)  Number attending other schools at Post: 0 
(3)  Children using educational allowance:0 
(4)  Number attending school away from Post:0 
(5)  Number living with other parent in the US:0 
 
Grades 9 through 12: Total: 12 
(1)  Number attending A/Office of Overseas Schools 
    assisted schools: 8 
(2)  Number attending other schools at Post: 0 
(3)  Children using special educational allowance: 1 
(4)  Number attending schools away from Post: 2 
(5)  Number living with other parent in the US: 2 
 
Total number of children using special educational allowance: 5 
Total number of children being home schooled: 0 
Total family members on orders at Post: 172 
Total family members on orders away from Post: 16 
College students away from Post (under age 23): 8 
College students at Post (under age 23): 1 
Other dependents away from Post (under age 23): 0 
Dependents working at Post (under age 23): 0 
 
Total family members represented above: 202 
 
E.  Total client population: 117 + 188 = 305(employees + family 
members) 
 
4. Eight Areas of Community Liaison Office Responsibility: 
 
A.  Welcoming and Orientation 
 
Objective:  To assist newcomers' adjustment to their new community 
and host country. In support of these objectives, the CLO: 
 
-- Actively contacts newcomers, sending welcome documents and 
information as requested.  CLO has posted a welcome package 
consisting of a welcome letter, shopping guide, restaurant guide, 
and other information on the San Salvador intranet site.  CLO also 
sends copies of the community newsletter and Post Photo Album to 
newly assigned employees; 
 
-- Seeks out and organizes volunteers to serve as social sponsors 
for newcomers.  CLO attempts to assign sponsors with similar 
demographics and interests, and works with Post's Housing Board to 
insure that sponsors and newcomers live in close proximity; 
 
-- During the busy summer months, CLO conducted three newcomer 
orientation tours.  The tours eased newcomers' entry to San 
Salvador, introducing them to key medical, shopping and dining 
facilities.  Employees and family members attended the tours which 
is a great networking opportunity for them; 
 
-- Held Hail and Farewell events in May and September 2005 to 
welcome newcomers and bid farewell to departing employees. 
September's event featured local organizations (Boy and Girl 
Scouts, American Society, American Women's Association) that gave 
information to the newcomers and their families.  The event also 
featured a jungle theme, entitled "Welcome to Your New Adventure;" 
 
-- Worked with IRM to provide two computers in the Mission 
cafeteria with Internet access for use by the Mission community. 
This gave newly arrived community members awaiting their home 
computers instant access to e-mail and the Net; 
 
 -- In conjunction with a local clinic, hosted a seminar on 
"Making and Keeping Friends" for new arriving children in August 
2005.  The seminar taught skills for making new friends and 
handling bullies, and was so popular that the Escuela Americana is 
seeking to conduct the seminar; and 
 
-- Solicited donations of toys and board games from the community 
to create a toy lending library for new community members awaiting 
their shipments.  CLO also continues to keep a fairly extensive 
community library of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. 
 
B.  Community Liaison: 
 
Objective:   To maintain contact with official mission, host 
country and community groups. In support of these objectives: 
 
-- CLO attends and contributes to the following meetings: Country 
Team (weekly), Management Staff (weekly), meets with the DCM   (bi- 
monthly), Inter-Agency Housing Board and Emergency Action 
Committee; 
 
-- CLO serves as a non-voting member on the following boards: 
American Employees Association of El Salvador (AEAES), Post 
Employment Committee (PEC), and the Inter-Agency Housing Board. 
The CLO is an active participant on these boards; 
 
-- CLO serves as an advisor to the boards of the American Society 
of San Salvador and the American Women's Association.  CLO has 
offered the community newsletter as a means for these associations 
to announce upcoming community events, and works to provide forms 
and information to new community members interested in joining; 
 
-- CLO provides updated outings, restaurant, school and local 
health resource guides, and information regarding community and 
cultural events from the Embassy's cultural section.  A database 
of all business cards, brochures and e-mails received in recent 
years has been established to provide "push button" information on 
vendors in a quick and efficient manner.  Database reports can 
also be e-mailed directly to customers seeking information; 
 
-- CLO maintains office hours of 8-4, Monday-Friday in its 
continuing efforts to service the Mission community; 
 
-- CLO maintains contact with the four schools attended by Mission 
children, and all regularly contact the CLO to share concerns. 
Recent rains in El Salvador caused the closing of school for close 
to two weeks, at which time each kept CLO informed of all 
pertinent information; 
 
-- CLO is again promoting the "Adopt a Peace Corps Volunteer" 
program, which finds Mission homes where PCVs can join in the 
Thanksgiving holiday.  This was a tremendous success last year; 
 
-- CLO will work with various local charities over the December 
holidays to coordinate donations of food, clothes and toys.  CLO 
recently held a bake sale and coordinated donations for victims of 
a volcano eruption and Tropical Storm Stan.  This important event 
demonstrated the Mission's concern for the people of El Salvador. 
The CLO also assisted the local DHS Office to coordinate toy 
donations for "El Dia de Ninos, the toys were donated to the 
children of Salvadorian Police officers; and 
 
-- CLO is working with Post Management to create a "Quality of 
Life" committee.  The purpose of this committee is to solicit 
ideas from the Mission community to improve the work and home 
environments of all of our employees. 
C.  Events Planning 
Objective:  To develop and implement programs to enhance post 
morale in the following areas: U.S traditions; host country 
culture; and social, educational and recreational activities. In 
support of these objectives the CLO: 
 
U.S. Traditions 
 
-- Organized volunteers for decorating the Ambassador's residence 
for the Mission's 4th of July celebration; 
 
-- Coordinated the annual Halloween event for Embassy (American 
and Salvadoran) kids that included an office decoration contest, 
trick or treating, a haunted house and a Halloween skit; and 
 
-- Assisted with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds first-ever Air 
Show in El Salvador.  CLO promoted the event and coordinated the 
Mission's tent set-up and decoration for what was a great day for 
the American community. 
 
 
Host Country Culture 
 
CLO works closely with Post's PAO to provide the community with 
information on cultural events in San Salvador.  Concerts, art 
exhibits and plays are all advertised via the community 
newsletter, CLO bulletin boards and broadcast announcements. 
 
Social, Educational and Recreational Activities 
 
-- With the Mission's Recreation Association, CLO organized and 
promoted a very well attended community pool party to celebrate 
the pool's re-opening; 
 
-- CLO organizes an ongoing interactive storytelling program for 
children, book club for adults and children and "Game Nights;" 
 
-- CLO also has assisted in developing different interest groups 
such as bowling league, spousal coffees, embassy co-ed sports, and 
a male spouse group; 
 
-- CLO organizes various recreation activities such as hiking, 
beach club trips, water park trips, paintball and shopping tours; 
and 
 
-- On a regular basis, CLO works closely with the local Marine 
Detachment to design and promote Marine TGIF Happy Hours and 
special events such as "Family Fun Day" at the Marine house.  It 
was a day of fund games and events. 
 
 
D.  Information and Resource Management 
 
Objective:  To gather, maintain and disseminate information to the 
community, Post Management and FLO. In support of this objective, 
the CLO: 
 
-- Publishes the Embassy newsletter, "Volcano Views".  The 
newsletter includes a "CLO Corner" and "Tips for the Community" 
that announce events, local community resources, and other 
important community information; 
 
-- CLO has recently completed a Post Video to be posted on the 
intranet and distributed to the OBC; 
 
-- Created and maintains the following databases:  Domestic 
Employees, Community Tips, Children and Schools, and Employees and 
Family Members.  CLO also publishes the names of available 
domestic helpers recommended by Embassy employers and assists 
employees with difficulties in connection with domestic employees; 
 
-- Collects, updates and posts information from all the area 
schools and posts on Post's web page and in the newsletter; 
 
-- The CLO maintains bulletin boards in the cafeteria area that 
provide information on upcoming Embassy and cultural events, FLO 
publications, employment notices, travel and tour information and 
display artwork/crafts from community children and pictures from 
community events; 
 
-- Maintains a lending library of books, catalogues, magazines, 
and tapes.  Recently, the CLO started carrying English language 
magazines such as Time, Golf, Rolling Stone, People and Shape; and 
 
-- Sends electronic versions of the community newsletter to future 
community members, FLO and other CLOs in Central America. 
 
E. Education Liaison 
Objective: To maintain contact with schools at post and provide 
resource information about education. In support of this 
objective, the CLO: 
-- Keeps in constant contact with all four local school directors 
that service the Embassy community. 
-- Acts as liaison between families and schools, and regularly 
publishes school calendars and special events; 
-- Regularly distributes reports from local preschools to families 
looking for educational opportunities; and 
-- Publishes/disseminates information from the OBC and FLO 
regarding educational matters and opportunities. 
 
F. Family Member Employment 
 
Objective: To promote and facilitate family member employment 
inside and outside the mission.  In support of this object, CLO: 
 -- Recently assisted in the hiring of a new Local Employment 
Advisor (LEA) for its SNAP Program, and is working closely with 
her to develop a SNAP client list for San Salvador.  The CLO now 
refers all mission spouses looking for employment to the LEA; 
 
-- Publishes job opportunities from the local economy and inside 
the Mission in the community newsletter; 
 
-- CLO has recently attended e-entrepreneur training and, in 
partnership with LEA, will conduct the training to interested 
spouses; 
 
-- In conjunction with Human Resources, manages the summer hire 
program for family members; and 
 
-- Attempts to promote long term employment opportunities for 
family members as well as career opportunities with the Department 
of State, USAID and the Foreign Commercial Service. 
 
G. Crisis Management and Security Liaison 
 
Objective:  Provide information to community members to raise 
security awareness and represent community security concerns. 
Because El Salvador is still considered a critical crime post, in 
support of this objective, CLO: 
 
-- Works closely with the RSO to assure the safety of the 
community when planning events on the Mission compound by 
providing the names and other personal or vehicle information of 
all event participants requiring access to the compound; 
 
-- Closely consults with the RSO on any possible safety issues 
when planning outings and trips, and changes plans if the RSO 
raises safety concerns; 
 
-- Serves as a member of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) and 
has defined roles in Post's Emergency Action Plan (EAP); and 
 
-- Maintains a database of all community children in case of 
emergencies, with school and emergency contact information for 
children at Post and in the United States. 
 
H. Guidance and Referral 
 
Objective: To listen to individual and collective concerns and 
refer appropriately. In support of this objective, CLO: 
 
 -- dealt with the first death of a community member over the 
summer when one of the Marines from the Marine Security Detachment 
passed away on July 4th.  CLO worked with FLO to determine what 
resources were available to the community to help cope with the 
grief from this loss.  CLO worked with Post's Medical Officer to 
arrange a visit from the Regional Mental Health Officer, and 
assisted in arranging a memorial service; 
-- Maintains an "open-door" policy for those seeking access to 
resources within the community.  CLO also has had many closed-door 
meetings to discuss sensitive issues, which have earned the 
community's trust.  CLO follows, and keeps posted, the Notice of 
Confidentiality; 
 
SIPDIS 
-- Maintains a list of local health and mental health resources, 
as well as literature and videos for families to borrow; 
-- Works with the Health Unit to provide regular Health 
information through the community newsletter; and 
-- Publishes information in the newsletter from State's Medical 
and the Family Liaison Offices on recent health initiatives. 
 
5.    Administrative Notes 
 
Rick Sarrano departed as Co-CLO in November 2005 after serving as 
a Co-CLO Coordinator for the past year.  Rick not only enjoyed the 
work but also the quality training received from FLO in April 
2005.  Monique Reyes, who became the Co-CLO Coordinator in July 
2005, recently returned from Washington, DC where she took part in 
the "Professional Skills Development for CLO Coordinators" 
training course and a seminar on E-Business opportunties for 
family members.  A new CLO Assistant, Milagos Root was just 
recently hired as well.  Recruitment is underway for a Co-CLO 
Coordinator to replace Rick. 
San Salvador's CLO has remodeled its existing office space over 
the last few months.  The office has been repainted in warm and 
inviting colors and new office furniture and carpet were 
installed.  This remodeling effort makes for a more welcoming 
atmosphere and creates a more professional environment.  The 
community's response has been very positive. 
 
6.   Overview of Life at Post 
 
San Salvador remains as the best-kept secrets in the Foreign 
Service.  With an inviting tropical climate, the good weather 
makes the many lakes and the beaches popular weekend destinations 
for many Embassy families.  The country's good roads make the 
countryside and many tourism opportunities easily accessible, and 
the number of tour companies is increasing. 
 
High quality meats, fruits and vegetables and other staples are 
abundant, delicious and inexpensive.  In addition, many American- 
made goods and grocery items are available, and are offered at 
American-style shopping malls and grocery stores.  The U.S. dollar- 
based economy makes shopping here easy and enjoyable. 
 
The Mission compound features a commissary, cafeteria, tennis 
courts, a recently remodeled swimming pool, gym, soccer field, and 
Marine house.  Due to the safety and convenience of the compound, 
many CLO activities are held there, which contribute to well- 
attended CLO programs and continuing high morale. 
 
Barclay