CREO's FAQs

We’ve tried to make our FAQ list as complete as possible. However, if you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to contact us at orgcreo@gmail.com and we will be happy to help you (and we will probably add your question to this page).

To help you in your search, we have divided the frequently asked questions into four categories:

• ABOUT CREO
• HOW DO I...
• PROJECTS, EVENTS, and ACTIVITIES
• TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

ABOUT CREO

   What is the meaning of the name CREO?  

CREO is not an acronym. We use capital letters because that is how proud we are of our name.             

In Spanish, CREO is a conjugation of “crear” (to create), as well as a conjugation of “creer” (to believe). Thus, the name alludes to believing in our future and creating solutions to improve it.


   What are CREO's values?

• Economic:
• Free market
• Respect of private property
• Social:
• Human rights
• Equality
• Peace
• Freedom of expression
• Justice
• Environment
• Social responsibility
• Political:
• Democracy
• Division of power
• Universal suffrage

   How did CREO start?

CREO began as a group of seven young professionals and friends who were worried about the future of the country.  The group’s short-term preoccupation was the elections, but they also had a larger aspiration to contribute to the long-term development of the country.  

They decided to establish CREO because they wanted to share this aspiration to other young people like them.


   What age group is CREO's target audience? What does CREO mean by “youth”?  CREO ‘s definition of youth is people between 18 and 35 years of age.

Our target audience is specifically Salvadoran youth.


   How is CREO organized?

CREO is led by a Board of Directors that guides the Executive Director.

We have organized member committees to help in different areas.

   Who makes up CREO's Board of Directors?

• Marcos Llach, President
• Raquel Orellana, Vice President
• Sergio Gadala, Treasurer
• Eugenia Lindo, Secretary
• José Manuel Dutriz, Director
• Luis Artiga, Director
• Patricia Suriano, Director
• Cristina López, Executive Director 

   What committees are there, and what do they do?

• Training and Education Committee: Helps organize all training and education activities, such as conferences and colloquia, as well as prepare informative bulletins.
• Special Projects Commitee: In charge of developing and planning new projects which are then implemented by one of the other committees or by the administration. The special projects committee also analyzes new project opportunities to determine whether they are viable and whether they fit in with CREO’s mission.
• Membership Commitee: In charge of motivating existing members and recruiting new ones.
• Communications Commitee: Participates in the creation of communication material and in the administration of the Web Site, the Facebook page, and the twitter account. 

   
      What is CREO’s long-term vision? 
CREO’s long-term vision is to see El Salvador become a developed country with liberties, a representative democracy, and division of power in which young citizens have the desire to contribute to their country’s well being.

   Does CREO support a political party?

No, CREO does not support nor is affiliated with any political parties.

   What is CREO’s relationship to FUSADES? 
FUSADES, the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development, shares CREO’s values as well as its vision that young citizens have a great potential to make meaningful contributions to the country’s development.

CREO initially sought FUSADES for advice on how to achieve their objectives.

FUSADES believed that the group was so important that they offered to be an “umbrella” organization until CREO became self-sustaining and could officially become an independent organization.

FUSADES lends CREO space in their building, provides funding to cover certain fixed costs, and most importantly, offers advice and serves as a sounding board for CREO’s leaders.

   Where is CREO headquartered?

CREO’s offices are in the FUSADES building in Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán. Many of our events are held in that building as well.  

Don't know how to get there? Check out a map.

HOW DO I…

   How do I join CREO? 
To start receiving our communication, join our mailing list.  

   What does it mean to join CREO? 
To join CREO essentially means to receive our communication through which you will receive educational material, invitations to our events, and other opportunities.

However, how involved you get and how active you are in the organization depends on YOUR definition of “join”. You can do as little or as much as you want.

   Do I need to pay to be a member of CREO?
No. Joining CREO has no cost and most of our events and activities don’t have a cost either.


   How can I get closer to CREO? 
Once you have signed up to receive our communication:

1. Become a fan of CREO on Facebook
2. Follow us on twitter @CREO_org
3. Come to our events
4. Join one of our committees (see the ABOUT CREO section)
5. Comment on the “Raise your Hand” section of our web site
6. Submit an opinion piece to be posted on our Blog  

   How do I join a committee? 

After you identify which committee you want to join, email Cristina at cristina.lopez@creo.org.sv, tell her which committee you want to join and a little bit about yourself (what you do, how you have been involved in CREO, interests, age, education background, etc).

She’ll get back to you and let you know how you can join.


   How can I make suggestions to CREO? 
Email Cristina at cristina.lopez@creo.org.sv, she’ll be happy to listen and to pass on the suggestion to the rest of us.


   How else can I support CREO?

Make sure you get to know us, identify where you fit in, and email Cristina at cristina.lopez@creo.org.sv and tell her how you want to help. 
(Thanks in advance, your help will be greatly appreciated.)


   Can CREO help me publish my blogs? 
Of course! CREO’s Blog Section is open to post entries from any of our members, as long as the blog is compatible with our values.

Please do submit your blog.  Remember, the more opinion are expressed, the more the country benefits.

Send your Blog to orgcreo@gmail.com.

PROJECTS, EVENTS, and ACTIVITIES 


   What are some of the projects, events, and activities  that CREO has organized in the past?

• “Cafecitos” (small cups of coffee) – Casual colloquia with opinion leaders in which young people have the opportunity to learn from them and about them.
• Conferences – larger events in which experts talk about country related topics such as the economy, politics, violence, and the environment.
• “CREO que es Importante que Sepas..” (I believe its important that you know…) – electronic bulletin with simple explanations of current national topics.
• Placement – CREO seeks internship opportunities in the government, chambers, organizations, and other institutions that deal with national issues. Some of the institutions include FOMILENIO, FUNDEMAS, and CAMTEX. 

   How do I know what events are coming up?

• Check out the Agenda Section on CREO’s Web Site;
• Subscribe to receive our correspondence; or
• Become a fan of CREO on Facebook. 

    Do I need to be invited to attend to one of CREO’s activities or events? 

Most events and activities are open to the public. 

Due to space restrictions, some might require that you reserve a seat (the invitation would make this requirement clear).

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS 
 

   Why can’t I see the comments that I post on blogs posted on the CREO website? 
Your comments do get submitted, but they must be approved by the site moderator before they are made visible on the web page.

We do this to avoid rude, vulgar, or insulting comments. We are sorry, but unfortunately, we have had bad experiences in that regard and prefer to be cautious.

Your comment should be posted within the next 48 hours.

Thank you for your patience.



   I signed up but I’m not receiving emails from CREO. What can I do?

1. Try signing up again (maybe there was some kind of server problem the first time). Go to our Subscribe Section. 
2. Check to see if CREO emails are not going to your spam folder. If they are, mark the mail as not spam and identify CREO as a safe contact.
3. If neither of the above work, email Cristina at cristina.lopez@creo.org.sv and she will be glad to help you out.

 

 

Is your question not on this list? Send us an email to orgcreo@gmail.com, and we'll be glad to get back to you.

SUMARTE 2010, art lovers contribute to the museum and add to their private collections

Seventh annual art auction raises thousands for local art museum

 By: Raquel Orellana

      Staff Reporter

Last Thursday night, the art museum, MARTE, hosted its annual art auction, SUMARTE. The auction is the museum’s largest fundraiser, and it is considered by local art lovers to be a good opportunity to buy art. During more than three hours, about 200 aficionados used their paddles to bid for their favorite works of art, from the 88 that were auctioned.

The Museum has not disclosed the amount of funds raised. However, most pieces that were publicly auctioned, were bought for more than their asking prices.  The event included pieces with estimate worths of (or asking prices) between US$400 to US$10,000.  The sum of all the asking prices was about US$300,000.

“The auction is a great opportunity for new artists to make their work known, for art collectors to buy exquisite art at good prices, and for the Museum to raise funds for its maintenance” said Regina Cabrero, a member of the SUMARTE organizing committee. “Additionally, being a highly visible event, it supports MARTE’s mission to disseminate the country’s artistic patrimony.”

Although the organizers said they would have liked to see greater attendance, they said they were glad that a significant number of bidders and even buyers were younger than they have been other years. “This is comforting because it means that a new generation of collectors is emerging,” Cabrero said.

There were also many new and young faces among the participating artists. For up-and-coming artists in the past, the auction has been an opportunity to make their debut and launch their artistic careers. “The event provides a space for young artists to participate and present their work,” comments Roxana de Perez, art historian and expert. “It opens for them a door into the artistic world, which would otherwise be very difficult to enter”.

Among these artists, seven receive awards that add to their recognition and increases the value of their work. This year’s winners were:

• Ernesto Bautista, first place
• Melissa Guevara*, second place
• Oscar Soles*, third place
• Mayra Barraza, honorable mention
• Giovanni Gil*, honorable mention
• Mauricio Kabistán, honorable mention
• Amber Rose, honorable mention

The awards are conferred by three international judges who evaluate technique and conceptual value. The organizing committee selected three artists, that they consider reputable, to do the job: Adán Valencillos* (Honduran), Clara Astiasarán* (Cuban), and Jorge Palomo* (El Salvador).

 “I’ve wanted to purchase my next piece for a while, but I decided to wait for the Auction,” mentions David Bloch, a relatively new collector. “I’m glad I did, I bought a much better piece than I would have elsewhere”.

Cabrero mentioned that SUMARTE has become essential for the museum's continuation.  The museum has three sources of income: personal and corporate donations, visitor tickets, and fundraisers. "The Auction is by far the largest fundraiser of the year", said Cabrero, "which has become an annual tradition". While funds from donations and tickets are used for the museums maintenance and administration, the money raised through fundraisers is mostly used to fund educational programs at the Museum. The Museum hosts guided tours for school children, organizes art workshops for teachers, weekend workshops for children, conferences, and other events. The funding needs are significant, but these projects they are an effective magnet to attract visitors, said Cabrero.

“The plan is to continue with this tradition, aiming to maintain the quality and prestige of the of the auction year after year,” explained Cabrero.

Selecting the Artwork to be Auctioned

Organizers know that SUMARTE has an important impact on Marte’s reputation. Therefore, much time is dedicated to the selection of the art that will be auctioned. The selection process of the eighty-eight pieces varies depending on which of the three categories they are in:

• Selected Artists – Usually new or up-coming artists who voluntarily submit their art to be considered for the auction. Their work is then evaluated by three international judges who select those that will be auctioned.
• Committee Nominees – Artists who’s art has been deemed worthy of participating by the SUMARTE organizing committee. Their artists are not subject to the judges’ evaluation.
• Guest Artists – Renown artists who are personally invited to participate.

Artists are national and international and they donate a portion of the selling price to the museum.

The Mechanics of an Auction

SUMARTE is a English, or ascending price, auction, which involves the following steps:

• The selected art is exhibited at the Museum during two weeks, for the public to see.
• A few days before the event, the organizing committee distributes the list of asking prices.
• On the night of the event, each participant receives a paddle with an identifying number.
• During the auction, the public sits silently with their paddles ready to raise them when the auctioneer brings out the pieces of their choice.
• The bidding for each piece begins at the asking price and it is called out in increments of one hundred.
• After each price announcement, people willing to pay it raise their paddles.
• When the price is high enough that only one paddle is raised, that person takes the piece.
• People who are not able to attend, can participate through absentee bidding for which they indicate the highest price they are willing to pay and someone else represents them.

* Only Spanish version available.
** Fair market value refers to the estimated price for which a piece would be sold in an art gallery or for which comparable artworks have been sold.

San Salvador through the Wikipedia lens

After thinking through many options, I finally decided to contribute to the Wikipedia entry for San Salvador, my home town.  I have lived here most of my life so I felt confident that I would be able to make significant contributions.

I believe that tourism can give an important boost to the economy, so I decided to work on the "Places of Interest" section.  Specifically, I added to the information on theaters, shopping centers, and museums.

To the information on theaters in San Salvador, I added information about Teatro Luis Poma, which is a relatively new and small theater.  It is the theater which I go to the most because, in my opinion, it is were the the best plays are shown, so I thought it was important to add it.  I included a link to the theater´s Web Site where they post upcoming plays and tickets can be bought.  The red box in the screen shot below denotes the text that I added.

 

In the shopping center section, my most significant contribution was adding links to the shopping centers' Web Pages.  I also added one more center which was not on the list: Las Azaleas, a small but cute strip mall that opened recently.  The red box shows what I added and the green points out the links that I included.

Finally, in the museum subsection I edited the information on the Arts Museum MARTE.  I added information that I believe is more relevant to readers than what was already posted and I made some grammar corrections (it was obvious that whoever did that section was translating from Spanish).  I also added information on the Tin Marin Children's Museum, which I think is one of the nicest museums in the city and which I know very well because my mother used to work there.  I tried adding a picture of the museum (my mother has plenty in her computer), but because this was my first time contributing to Wikipedia, I wouldn't let me upload it.  In the image below, the red box shows the information I added and the purple box the information I edited.  The picture that follows is the one I intended to upload, but couldn't.

Tin Marin Children's Museum

Tweeting Soccer

I chose to tweet about a Spanish Soccer League game between Barcelona and Getafe (a city very close to Madrid). While it may sound random that I chose to watch and tweet about Spanish Soccer, the truth is that the Spanish league has a greater audience in El Salvador, than does the local league. The quality is that much better.

The game can only be seen by people who have a certain cable company (which I don't) and it was during lunch time, so I decided to go to a restaurant to watch it. I was posting messages during the second half.

The experience was exciting, but also a bit stressful. At certain points, the game was moving so fast that I would still be posting a comment, when the next play happened.

I had done a live tweet before, but I had done it about a "gathering" with a political leader. The soccer game certainly required more speed .  What made it even harder was that, in order to understand what was going on, I needed to watch the screen.  Thus, when I looked down to type, I had to be make sure that I wasn't missing out on something important (I was tweeting on my Blackberry. Since I was at a public space, I felt it was more comfortable than on a laptop. However, it did mean that I couldn't type and look at the TV screen simultaneously.)

Lessons Learned:

• If you are going to tweet about a fast moving event such as a soccer game, know that you probably won't enjoy the game as much as if you were just watching.
• Don't plan to order and eat lunch while watching and tweeting a game (it can get complicated and messy).
• Although typing on a Blackberry might be a little slower than on a laptop, using a Blackberry lets your tweeting be more discreet, avoiding making anyone else or yourself feel uncomfortable.
• Check to see which Hashtags that are already being used can work for you (I didn't do that and had to guess what would be likely Hashtag ).
• When tweeting about a soccer game, it is hard not to let your team preference show (my original intention was to be a neutral reporter, but when I started I realized that it would be much more fun and more realistic to make my comments as a Barcelona fan).

While both can be used to report an event, using Twitter and using a blog produce two very different results.  Tweets require the reporter to be more strategic: messages have to be short, once they are sent they can't be edited, and they are simultaneously "competing" with thousands of other tweets.  Blogs on the other hand, allow for more detail and fluidity.  Twitter worked great for a soccer game.

Screen shot of my tweeting.

Below, the Tweets I sent during the game:

• #Real Madrid is about to start their game... They are one point above #Barcelona in the championship 
• Except for #Piques' Red... #Barcelona played a great game 
• Goals by #Messi, #Villa and #Pedro 
• #Barcelona had possession of the ball 66per cent of the time 
• Annndddd.... The game is over.... #Barcelona wins!!!! 3 - O 
• The extra time has begun.... The referee says 3 minutes... 
• #Barcelona is back to dominating the game... One minute remains 
• OMG!!! Getafe should have scored... The player was alone, but he kicked straight to the goalkeepers hands 
• #Barcelona fans can relax .... 9 minutes remain and the score is 3-1 
• Foal.... Getafe gets a Red and now both teams are down to 10 players 
• Getafe has changes completely!!! That goal changed their play 
• #Xavi is replaced with Busquette... Its not clear why. 
• Villa is replaced with Milito ... #Barcelona needs to replace the defense they lost.. 
• The punishment: a penalty.... And it gets in... #Barcelona 3 - Getafe 1 and #Barcelona is left with only 10 players! 
• #Pique gets a red, he's out 
• The goal was the result of 2 mistakes... The goal keeper and the defense 
• #Barcelona 3- Getafe 0....
• Goooooooooaaaaaaalllll...... Pedro scores.... 
• The Getafe player deserved a red card, but he only got yellow 
• But #Messi is fine.. 
• #Messi suffers from a foul as he was approaching the post... That was a strong blow.... 
• It looked like #Barcelona was going to score, but it was an off-side anyway 
• Uff... Great save #Barcelona 
• Excellent work Villa and Messi, great first half 
•  

Wi-Fi Hot Spots in Chapel Hill

Like any good college town, Chapel Hill offers several options for students who want to get out of their dorm rooms and the library and are looking for a place to work online. Take a look at the Wireless Access Points on the map below.



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