Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina ratified Governmental Agreement 359-2012 to increase the minimum wage of agricultural and non-agricultural workers by 5%. This takes effect January 1, 2013. This means that the base daily salary has gone from Q68 to Q71.40 and monthly minimum salaries will be Q2, 171.75 + Q250 (Bono Catorce) = Q2,421.75.
http://www.prensalibre.com/economia/Oficializa-aumento-salarial_0_837516246.html
Nancy Bingham's Art Classes will be meeting in Pana every Monday through the end of February, beginning Monday, January 7th, 9-noon. Classes meet at Chalet Tony (Marion Moore's) on Calle Rancho Grande. Painting and drawing - Q200 per session with many supplies provided- space is limited.. please call Nancy at 5995-5060 if you'd like to join, or for answers to your questions, or email her at [email protected]
I am looking for a used, working, electric kiln to purchase. Does anyone have a lead for me? If so, please call Nancy Bingham 5995-5060, or email me at [email protected]
Amigos is looking for a donation of a laptop that for one of our staff who is attending university on weekends in Xela. Flor is the Sex Educator and Youth Programs Coordinator for Amigos. She is dynamic and very smart. She is an A student in Politcal Science and is starting her second year of a 6-year program in January. She is a great candidate for a laptop which would make a huge difference in her ability to study and succeed. If anyone can help out, please call Pat Torpie at 546-8469 and I can introduce you to Flor.
Thanks to the work of Tracey Moon and others the Emergency Contact Information sheet has been substantially updated and improved. Here is a convenient list of all of the phone numbers you will need in an emergency as well as space to write your personal information. It is suggested that you print this out, laminate or put in a protective cover, and post it on the fridge in your home and/or rentals. To view and download the Information sheet go to:http://santacruzlalaguna.weebly.com/emergency-contact-list.html
Thanks Tracey for all your work!
Where There is No Doctor: A village health care handbook can now be downloaded in 26 different languages for FREE. Because the non-profit publisher's mission is making health information readily accessible to everyone, the complete book or portions can be download free-of-charge in pdf format: http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/
A few years ago I made available CD copies of the 2009 revision of Where There is No Doctor in both English and Spanish. The manual was update in 2011 and I have downloaded those files and am willing and able to make CD's for anyone who needs one. Cost is Q10 for the cost of the CD and cover. If you are interested, please contact me through the CONTACT FORM.
There are many other health guides on the Herperian.org website so check them out.
We live in earthquake country. The Earthquake Country Alliance in the U.S. publishes a handbook for earthquake preparedness in both English and Spanish - http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/index.php - which includes the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety. The Seven Steps Guide has links to focus sheets with detailed information on how to secure your property before hand, making an emergency plan, making disaster kits, what to do during an earthquake, and what to do after an earthquake. http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/seven_steps.html Good information to know!
Before the Cruz News Blog, there was The Cruz News. This was a monthly publication (more or less) which included not only event announcements, but articles and columns written by myself and others.
The Cruz News Blog took over the function of timely, weekly announcements. Now that I am in Guatemala full-time, I feel that I can devote more time to the reincarnation of The Cruz News. The word "reincarnation" infers a rebirth but in a different form. I envision this to come out every 2 months and to be an olio of articles, writings, photography, art from various resident's from not only greater Santa Cruz, but around the lake. Because this will be digital, we can even do links to or imbed internet video's and music by resident's. So take a look at the archived copies and let me know if you would like to participate regularly or irregularly. Want to write a regular column? Have just one thing you want to write about? OK! If I have enough interest, then I will begin plans for the reincarnation. I don't pay for articles, but then I don't get paid with ads either! It is a labor of love. Right now I envision this to be solely a digital publication, but you can always print it out for yourself to read. I will also be looking for a new name. So, if you have any suggestions, give me a shout.
The Cruz News Blog would continue as a weekly announcement of events and such.
You can view past issues of The Cruz News here: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B_1q5h2PanGNMTVmM2QzNjUtM2FlNy00YWE1LWIxZTUtZDJlMzc4NWVjZGM1/edit
I have revised the LINKS page with several new links and taking out a couple of no-longer-working links. If you know of something that should be there, but isn't, please let me know through the CONTACT FORM. Thanks!