To The Members and Friends of OGAM:

In establishing OGAM, the community mandated an ambitious set of goals and objectives for itself. These include, but are not limited to:

1. unite the Hispanics of the area;

2. help maintain our traditions;

3 encourage and develop leadership in the Latino community;

4. be available at all times to provide mutual aid to our neighbors;

5. encourage and develop collaborative efforts with other community organizations;

6 address and try to resolve the problems which exist in the Latino community in the areas of immigration, housing, education health, welfare, jobs and labor issues, economic development, legal services, community organization, and to teach others about the Guatemalan/Hispanic cultures;

7. sponsor activities which contribute to public information through studies, research, public hearings/meetings, surveys and other appropriate methods.

As you will see from this First Annual Report, we have been busy working this first year to establish the structure for an organization which can address itself to achieving the stated goals and objectives of OGAM, within the American framework.

To reach these goals, we need your help. OGAM is establishing committees to address each of the above areas. We trust that after reading this report you will be motivated to join with us in our work so that 1999 will be an even more fruitful year. Please feel free to call me at (302) 934-1125.

Sincerely,

Julio Herrera
President

OGAM proposed to the authorities of the city to do a clean up drive of the streets as a civic contribution on the part of the Hispanic community to the city of Georgetown. The offer was accepted and the clean up took place the 18th of April. Various city and county officials joined with the approximately 100 members of the community who participated in this effort. In addition, Hispanic residents of the city also collaborated by making available about 20 trucks with which to pick up trash. Members of OGAM, the community and city of Georgetown provided the plastic bags and gloves which were used, and the city placed four large dumpsters in strategic locations, so that they could be used during the clean up campaign.

Following the clean up, OGAM provided refreshments at the Presbyterian church to those who gave of their time to this important effort. Local 27 contributed the soft drinks for this event. In addition to food there were games, and caps and tee shirts donated by Local 27 were given away. Music was provided by XELA Stereo.

This activity took place on Monday the 18th of May to reinforce our support for permanent residence for Guatemalans. Three buses and private autos transported about 250 persons from Georgetown to participate in this demonstration of support. For this occasion, Local 27 donated a megaphone to OGAM.

At the request of the city government, OGAM led another clean up of the streets of Georgetown on the 7th of November. This time the city put up six dumpsters and provided plastic gloves and bags used in the clean up. The event was followed by refreshments purchased with personal contributions and funds provided by OGAM.

During the month of November, OGAM, with the help of Local 27, La Casita and La Esperanza, received food, medicines, clothing, toys and money for victims of hurricane "Mitch". Three trips were made from Georgetown to the docks of Wilmington with more than 500 boxes full of food and other donations made by residents of Sussex County. OGAM sent $300 to Central America through the International Red Cross.

Thanks to the efforts of the Rev. Jim Lewis, in June La Esperanza received funds from the Campaign for Human Development of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wilmington to train the leaders of OGAM. As a result, OGAM, with the technical assistance of a consultant, has achieved various important milestones in the life and development of a community organization in this country. They are:

OGAM prepared and submitted the documentation necessary to incorporate under the law of the State of Delaware.

OGAM prepared and submitted the necessary documents necessary in order to request a "Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)" which would allow the organization to be able to perform various financial functions, including filing tax information.

Once the FEIN was obtained, OGAM opened its own bank account with a donation received from a distinguished Guatemalan attorney from Wilmington, Vivian Medinilla Longo, Esq.

OGAM prepared the first draft of the organization’s by-laws.

On November 14th, OGAM sent telegrams to President Clinton, Senators Roth and Biden, and Congressman Castle, the last three from Delaware, and Congressman Gutiérrez of Chicago. The telegrams advised them that our organization supports the plan of the Clinton Administration to grant temporary protected status to the citizens of Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala who are already here, so as not to add further to the burdens of the governments of these countries who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane "Mitch".