This document provides an overview of an orientation for participants and parents in the Tucson Chapter of Amigos International. It includes: - Introductions of 2017 participants. - An overview of Amigos International including its mission, programs in Latin America, and national office structure. - Details on paperwork deadlines, payments, letter writing expectations, and the chapter website. - Presentations on potential project locations in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Colombia. - Explanations of Amigos training programs, standards of conduct, equipment policies, and upcoming dates. - Information on breakout sessions for participants, committees,

1. GET OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT
AMIGOSINTERNATIONAL.ORG

2. WELCOME
Tucson Chapter
Participant & Parent Orientation
December 12, 2017

3. 2017 Tucson Chapter Participants
Annie
Katlynn
Makenn
a

4. Amigos
Participants

5. Participants
Participants
Participants
Participants
Parents Brothers
Grandparents
Friends
Peers
Business
Associates
Teachers
Amigos
Participants
Co-Workers
Service
Groups
Uncles
Aunts
Neighbors
Community Agencies
Cousins
Sisters

6. • Provide you with a good understanding of AMIGOS
and how best to support your participant
– See your AMIGOS Parent Preparation Guide for
additional details
– Parent sessions will complement participant
training
Parent Preparation Goal

7. • National Office headquartered in Houston, TX
with small satellite offices in the Bay Area,
Washington D.C. and Nicaragua.
• Founded in 1965
• Grown into 25 AMIGOS chapters around the USA
Organization Overview

8. • Professional full-time staff of about 25
– Work throughout the year to develop & support
projects in Latin America
• Including summer On-Call system
– Support chapters in recruiting, fundraising and
training
– Manage participant travel to & from Latin
America
AMIGOS National Office

9. Tonight’s Topics
Paperwork
Family Fee Payments
Letter Writing
Website
Country Snapshots, Summer 2017
Standards of Conduct
Equipment
Upcoming dates & logistics
Breakout Sessions
Participants
Parents by Committee

10. Paperwork
Rebecca O’Brien
Paperwork Coordinator

11. Paperwork Deadlines
December 5, 2016
• Personal Information Form
• Confidential Health Form I
• Consent and Release Agreement/Letter of Health Disclosure
January 9, 2017
• Confidential Health Form II (with doctor signature)-upload
• Headshot picture-upload
• Passport Information–online
• Copy of Passport (valid through Jan. 2018)-upload
• Single Parent Affidavit (participant is under 18 and parent or guardian has sole
custody)-must be notarized and uploaded
• Background Check-participants 18 or older
• Participant Assignment Preference Form-online (avail 12/14)
April 21, 2017
• Confidential Health Form III (complete AFTER march 15, 2017)
• Parent Permission to Travel Form/Medical Power of
Attorney-must be notarized, uploaded

12. The Dashboard

15. When the Personal Information has been completed, the Consent and Release
Agreement/Letter of Health Disclosure e-signature form will appear.
DUE DECEMBER 5th:
• Personal Information
• Consent and Release/Letter of Health Disclosure
• Confidential Health Form I

16. Paperwork Tips
• Some forms will be filled in online
• Some will require e-signatures
• Some forms will be printed and then uploaded
• Note: all forms listed as an “upload” document should be
scanned as one pdf and then uploaded, not as single page
uploads for forms with multiple pages
• If you need assistance with scanning, please contact me
• If you need to compress a larger document to meet upload size
limits, please use the following website to easily compress your
pdf:
http://smallpdf.com/compress.pdf

17. E-signatures
• The form will be emailed to the participant and the
parents/legal guardian (for participants under 18) for
electronic signatures.
• E-signature forms need to be signed by the
participant and both parents (for participants under
18). If parents share an email address, the form will
be sent to that email address twice.

18. Please remember…
Country assignments will not be made until all Chapter
participants have complete all paperwork that is due on
January 9, 2017.
Participants who do not meet the January 9th paperwork
deadline will be required to attend a mandatory
paperwork completion workshop with their parents.

19. Questions?
Please contact me at:
Cell: 981-1318
Work: 529-4260
Email: robrien02@gmail.com

20. Family Fee Payments
Nate Hattersley
Treasurer

21. • Check mailed to P.O. Box
• Check dropped off at Monday meeting
• On-line payment by card
(4% fee added)
Family Fee Payment Options

22. To make online payments
(Family fee and Letter writing donations)

23. Questions?
Please contact Nate Hattersley
treasurer@amigostucson.org

24. Letter Writing
Desiree Maultsby
Letter Writing Coordinator

25. Monday, January
6:45 PM Parent Letter Writing Committee meeting
Email 1st draft of GIVE BIG page to proof reader by Sat 1/14
Monday, January 16:
1st draft of letter due!
1st draft of spreadsheet 110+ names & addresses due!
1st draft of GIVE BIG page: feedback from proof reader 1/16
2nd draft of GIVE BIG page: email to proof reader by Sat 1/21
Monday, January 23:
Final copy of letter DUE!
Final list of names and addresses DUE!
Final GIVE BIG page approved
Monday, January 30:
110+ STUFFED, UNSEALED LETTERS DUE (signed, stamped, labeled)
LETTERS GO IN THE MAIL THAT NIGHT!

26. What you will need: The basics
• Not less than 110 names, addresses, zip codes and email addresses
• 110 #10 envelopes (self-sticking are best)
• 110 #6 envelopes (smaller envelopes that fit inside)
• 330 Avery mailing labels
• 110 labels for fundraising letters
• 220 labels with your name and home address
• 280 stamps – commemorative stamps are more appealing
• 110 for fundraising letters
• 110 for return envelopes
• 60+ for thank you notes
• 60 to 75 thank you notes

27. When the money starts pouring in
• Ensure checks are made out to Amigos (otherwise, deposit and write
check)
• Verify that participant name is on memo line
• Turn in checks at Monday meetings EVERY WEEK
• Participant logs donations on personal spreadsheet
• Participant sends thank you note and receipt (form will be provided)
• Chapter sends receipts for donations of $250 or more per tax code

28. GiveBig.org

29. Chapter Website
John D’Andrea
Webmaster

30. Chapter Website
https://tucson.amigosinternational.org
• Also http://www.amigostucson.org
• A work in progress
• Tab layout
• Calendar
• Financials
• Training
• Leadership
• Media

31. Mailing List and Files
• General communication mode
• General distribution lists
• Committee distribution lists
• Google Drive files
• Storage
• Downloads
• Uploads

32. Country Snapshots
Ariana Garcia
Training Director

33. AMIGOS Program Goal:
AMIGOS seeks to develop leadership skills in young
people, enabling them to be global catalysts for social
change.
AMIGOS Program Activities:
– Youth engagement
– Community-service
– Cross-cultural understanding
*For more detailed and up to date descriptions of each project area, visit
www.amigosinternational.org
Latin American Program Activities

34. • Mexico
• Panama
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Nicaragua
• Paraguay
• Ecuador
• Colombia
www.amigosinternational.org
2017 Project Areas

35. Hidalgo, Mexico
Food Security, Nutrition
College Track Available
Dates: June 21 – August 10
Partner Agencies:
– Utopia Huixcazdhá
– Sistemas para el Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF)
– San Miguel de Proyectos Agropecuarios
Work Area:
– State of Hidalgo in Central Mexico
– Cooler temperatures (50-80° F)
Culture:
– Strong indigenous presence
– Food is a mix of indigenous (nopales, fruit, and beans), and
traditional Mexican food (tamales, barbecue, and mole)

36. Yucatan, Mexico
Environmental Sustainability, Indigenous Rights
Dates: July 1 – August 10
Partner Agencies:
– El Centro Comunitario de Yaxunah
– Alternativas Yucatecas Integral para el Desarrollo
Humano (Alter-int)
– Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya
Work area:
– Yucatan Peninsula, sea level elevation, predominantly
tropical jungles, usually warmer climate
Culture:
– Diet consists of tortillas, beans, corn, tamales, tacos,
etc.
– Strong indigenous presence

37. Coclé, Panama
Environmental Sustainability
Dates: June 20 – August 2
Partner Agencies:
– Ministries of Health and Environment
– Autoridad Nacional de Ambiente
Work Area:
– Central Panama; hot, wet climate. Very green
– Summer = rainy season
Culture:
– Family oriented lifestyle; rice, lentils, chicken, tropical
fruits, and sancocho (regional chicken soup); lots of
soccer and baseball
– Easy place to be vegetarian

38. Azuero, Panama
Environmental Sustainability
Dates: June 28 – August 15
• Partner Agencies:
– Ministry of Health
– The National Authority on the Environment
• Work area:
– Lower elevation, coastal and tropic areas of Panama in
the Azuero Peninsula
– Warmer and rainy
• Culture:
– Family oriented lifestyle; rice, lentils, chicken, tropical
fruits, and sancocho (regional chicken soup); lots of
soccer and baseball

39. Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica
Environmental Sustainability
Dates: June 13 – July 13 OR
July 19 – August 15
• Partner Agency:
– Casa de la Juventud
• Work Area:
– Host communities in southern Brunca region.
Participants spend alternate weeks in partnership with
local youth in three separate national parks!
– Climate varies by area (40-90°F)
• Culture:
– Volunteers are generally in mestizo communities, Ticos
are famous for their café con leche, gallo pinto (rice and
beans), and “Pura Vida” approach to life

40. San Juan, Dominican Republic
Civic Participation and Youth Leadership
Dates: June 14 – August 9 OR
June 14 – July 13 (4 week option)
• Partner Agency:
– Plan International
• Work Area:
– Southwestern DR; varied climate (hot and dry to cool
and rainy); extends from Haitian border to the
southern beach
• Culture:
– Active and outgoing; people love music and dancing;
baseball is very popular; lots of beans and rice;
yucca, spaghetti and boiled plantains

41. Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Public Health
Dates: June 13 – July 26
• Partner Agencies:
– Asociación para el Desarrollo Integral Comunitario (ADIC)
– Centro de Servicios Educativos en Salud y Medio
Ambiente (CESESMA)
– Union de Cooperativas Agropecuarias (UCA San Ramon)
• Work Area:
– North-Central Nicaragua; cooler temperate climate (75-85° F), summer
= rainy season
• Culture:
– Family oriented lifestyle; rice, beans, fruits and veggies!; complicated
history with the U.S. but very welcoming to U.S. visitors!
– Easy place to be vegetarian!

42. Madriz, Nicaragua
Children’s Rights and Civic Participation
Dates: June 28 – August 16 OR
June 28 – July 26 (4 week option)
• Partner Agency:
– Plan International
• Work Area:
– Northern Nicaragua; cooler temperate climate (75-85° F), summer =
rainy season
• Culture:
– Family oriented lifestyle; rice, beans, fruits and veggies; complicated
history with the U.S. but very welcoming to U.S. visitors!
– Easy place to be vegetarian

43. Guaira, Paraguay
Public Health
Dates: June 20 – August 15
• Partner Agency:
– Ministry of Health (SENASA), Plan International
– Plan International
• Work area:
– Southern Paraguay roughly an hour and a half southwest of the
country’s capital, Asunción. Paraguarí is made up of fertile forested
lowlands, with hills in the northeastern area and the Tebicuary River
along the southern border
• Culture:
– Diet consists mostly of beef and yucca

44. Chimborazo, Ecuador
Youth Entrepreneurship
College track available
Dates: June 29 – August 10
• Partner Agency:
– Plan International
– Grupo Social FEPP
• Work Area:
– Andean region, hot in the sun and cold at night. High elevations.
• Culture:
– Mostly indigenous communities which are highly organized, value
work ethic, and are more formal and reserved than mestizo
communities. With patience and respect they will treat you as family.
– Food includes rice, potatoes, cuy, rice, and beans

45. Baranquilla, Colombia
Global Health and Social Transformation
College Only
Dates: June 7 – August 9
• Partner Agency:
– Universidad del Norte de Colombia (UniNorte)
• Work Area:
– Northwestern Colombia; coastal Caribbean area; homestay placements
will be urban to semi-urban
• College Credit:
– 3 credit hours from UniNorte; 42 classroom hours
– Volunteers participate in two week classroom module before field work
with non-profit development agencies
• Special Considerations:
– Only for participants currently enrolled in college; no incoming freshman

46. • Activities set to meet participant Training
Objectives in these sections:
1. AMIGOS 101
2. Community Development
3. Youth Leadership
4. Multicultural Understanding
• Chapter training attendance policy
AMIGOS Training Program

47. • Our organization holds all participants to a high
set of expectations outlined in our Standards of
Conduct.
– These allow us to partner with communities
and agencies that would otherwise not
collaborate with foreign youth.
– Each individual is accountable to many
stakeholders for upholding the AMIGOS
legacy.
Understanding the
Standards of Conduct

48. 1. No detrimental behavior
2. No drugs
3. No alcohol
4. No leaving community without permission
5. No amorous conduct
6. No motorcycles – not even sitting on them
7. No handling firearms
8. No tobacco products
9. No bullying
AMIGOS Standards of Conduct

49. Next Meeting
• Monday, January 9, 2017 @ 6:45 PM
• Participants, Training Staff, Letter
Writing Committee
• U of A Highland Commons Building
(Campus Health Services)
• Room B307

50. Map to UA Highland Commons

51. Map to Room B307

52. Retreats
• Dates
– January 21st & 22nd: Colossal Cave Campground
– February 11th & 12th: Molino Basin Campground
– April 1st and 2nd: Catalina State Park
• Check-in by 7:00 a.m. (typical) at specified location
– Depart and travel as a group
– All drivers get a copy of vehicle assignments, driver cell phone
numbers, and directions/map
• Sign-out required upon return to departure point

53. Equipment
• Lending Library
– Backpacks
– Cots
• Individual contract agreements required
– Must be signed by participant and parent
• Equipment must be cleaned and turned in upon
return from summer
– Responsible for replacement if lost or damaged
• Will be given out in March

54. Group Q and A

55. Breakouts
• Participants
• Committees
• Letter Writing
• Transportation
• Events
• Spanish Training Support

56. https://tucson.amigosinternational.org
Thank You!
https://amigosinternational.org