2008 Annual Report to Members
Santa Cruz al Salvador â a Brief History
Santa Cruz al Salvador is a non-profit organization (EIN 52-2289975) that was formed in 2001. The bylaws state that âthe primary objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be the solicitation, collection, and possession of charitable donations from Santa Cruz County and any other location, for distribution in, or for the benefit of, the country of El Salvador, to those organizations and individuals needing charitable assistance.â We have simplified that with the phrase “Building Relationships for Better Lives”. Our organization has focused on building and strengthening relationships with (1) the communities of the Ciudadela âDr. Guillermo Manuel Ungoâ. Although Guillermo Ungo is the name of the largest community, Ciudadela is an umbrella term (roughly translated as fortress or citadel) that also includes the communities of Sitio Nuevo, Monseñor Romero, Los Henriquez, Montepeque, Huerta Enana, AlegrĂa, La Bermuda, El Franco, San Rafael and Santa Anita. In the past few years our focus has been on scholarships for the school and supporting the health clinic, both of which are located in Ungo but serve all the communities. âMembersâ of the corporation are individual church congregations. At this time, St. Stephenâs Lutheran and Trinity Presbyterian, both of Santa Cruz, are the only âmemberâ congregations of Santa Cruz al Salvador with voting members on the board. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Salinas) is an active participant.
The officers of the board for 2008 were: President, Kent Madsen; VP, Mike Cruddas; Secretary, Chris Madsen; Treasurer, Ruth Cruddas; member-at-large, Steve Barrett. Each member church selects two voting members to the board, and the board chooses a member-at-large. Kent Madsen & Ruth Cruddas were elected to be voting members at the St. Stephenâs annual meeting last January. Pastor Karla Norton and David Gomez were voting members from Trinity Presbyterian, with George Bunch replacing Pastor Karla when she left Trinity.
A Report on the 2009 Delegation
The delegation this year was small, only 9 people. The visit was from Dec. 27, 2008 to Jan 6, 2009, with 3 people returning home Jan.45). Delegation members were:
from St. Stephenâs: Jill Adachi; Mike & Ruth Cruddas; Lisa Johnson & her son Colin Boyle; Kent & Christine Madsen
From Trinity Presbyterian, Santa Cruz: David Gomez & his son Weston.
Our translator, in-country organizer (and âmother henâ , since organizing us is often like herding baby chicks) was again Brenda Hubbard, who has been our guide since 1998 and has become a dear friend.
Continue reading Comments (0) Added by admin May 2, 2009 (1:26PM)
2007 Annual Report to Members
Santa Cruz al Salvador — a Brief History
Santa Cruz al Salvador is a non-profit organization (EIN 52-2289975) that was formed in 2001, with two member churches: Light of Life Lutheran in Scotts Valley and St. Stephen’s Lutheran in Santa Cruz. The bylaws state that “the primary objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be the solicitation, collection, and possession of charitable donations from Santa Cruz County and any other location, for distribution in, or for the benefit of, the country of El Salvador, to those organizations and individuals needing charitable assistance.” We have simplified that with the phrase: “Building Relationships for Better Lives”. Our organization has focused on building and strengthening relationships with (1) the communities of the Ciudadela ‘Dr. Guillermo Manuel Ungo’. Although Guillermo Ungo is the name of the largest community, Ciudadela is an umbrella term (roughly translated as fortress or citadel) that also includes the communities of Sitio Nuevo, Monsignor Romero, Los Enriques, Montepeque, Huerta Enana, Alegría, as well as a few others. In the past few years our focus has been on scholarships for the school and supporting the health clinic, both of which are located in Ungo but serve all the communities. At this time, St. Stephen’s Lutheran is the only “member” congregation of Santa Cruz al Salvador (with voting members on the board), although Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (Salinas) is an active participant and Trinity Presbyterian sent two members on the 2008 delegation and seem favorably inclined to join the organization
The members of the board for 2007 were: President, Kent Madsen; VP, Mike Cruddas; Secretary, Chris Madsen; Treasurer, Ruth Cruddas; member-at-large, Lisa Johnson. Each member church selects two members to the board, and the board chooses a member-at-large. Kent Madsen & Ruth Cruddas were elected to be voting members at the St. Stephen’s annual meeting last January, and Lisa Johnson was chosen to be the member-at-large by the board.
A Report on the 2008 Delegation
The delegation this year was the largest ever, with 21 people. We visited from Dec. 30, 2007 to Jan 9, 2008. (Some delegates returned home on Jan. 5). Delegation members were:
From St. Stephen’s: Jill Adachi, Mike & Ruth Cruddas & their granddaughter Briana Covington, Stephanie Dawson, Lisa Johnson & her son Colin Boyle, Pastor Jim & Kyle Lapp, Kent & Christine Madsen, Renee Rice, Mitch & Joe Ronning, Manny and Kyle Travers.
From Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas: Steve Barrett, Loren & Daniel Dynneson.
From Trinity Presbyterian, Santa Cruz: Pastor Karla Norton, Dave Gomez.
Our translator and in-country organizer was again Brenda Hubbard, who has been our guide since 1998 and has become a dear friend.
Continue reading Comments (0) Added by admin February 6, 2009 (12:28AM)
2006 Annual Report to Members
January 21, 2007Santa Cruz al Salvador - a Brief History
Santa Cruz al Salvador (Holy Cross of the Savior) is a non-profit organization (EIN 52-2289975) that was formed in 2001. The bylaws state that "the primary objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be the solicitation, collection, and possession of charitable donations from Santa Cruz County and any other location, for distribution in, or for the benefit of, the country of El Salvador, to those organizations and individuals needing charitable assistance." We have simplified that with the phrase Building Relationships for Better Lives. Our organization has focused on building and strengthening relationships with (1) the Lutheran Church in El Salvador, and (2) the communities of the Ciudadela "Dr. Guillermo Manuel Ungo" which we also refer to as our "Sister Communities". Although Guillermo Ungo is the name of the largest community, Ciudadela is an umbrella term (roughly translated as fortress or citadel) that includes the communities of Sitio Nuevo, Monsignor Romero, Los Enriques, Montepeque and Huerta Enana, as well as a few others, which we have never visited. In the past few years our focus has been on scholarships for the school and supporting the health clinic, both of which are located in Ungo but serve all the communities.
A Report on the 2007 Delegation
The delegation this year:
- From St. Stephen's: Michael & Ruth Cruddas, Lisa Johnson & her son Colin Boyle, Kent & Christine Madsen, and Stephanie Dawson.
- From Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas: Steven and Corrine Barrett with two of their children Chuck and Kathy; Donna Kemper and her daughter Kristie.
Continue reading Comments (0) Added by Kent February 5, 2009 (10:38PM)
