March 2022
Number 2
Dear SSA Paris, It is my pleasure to welcome you all after the February break. I hope you had an amazing time, were able to rest and relax with family and friends. COVID-19 situation has been getting better in the past few weeks, health situation is improving and following this week government announcement, vaccine passport to access venues will be lifted in France on March 14th. Over the next few weeks we will resume our activities in Paris, we will be able to continue our tours, coffee morning, painting club, walking tours and many more. I want to give a big THANK YOU to our previous board members, who have shared and devoted their time and effort to the SSA Paris. They have provided help and support to newcomers and have organized activities to our members. Thank you so much to Manuela Belloni, Narges Akbari, Nobuko Nomura and Smita Bahadur. I also want to draw your attention to several events this month that we have organized for you. These are the events: * 11/03 France Healthcare System and Social Security * 18/03 Tour to Musee Carnavalet * 21/03 Coffee Morning * 29/03 Tour to Victor Hugo’s house Details of all these events are coming soon. I also want to remind you that we have French lessons with Consuelo every Tuesday at 10am (Zoom) and Painting club with Liz on Thursday. We are also committed to assisting you in any support that may be required, we are open to recommendations to improve our chapter in Paris. Thanks for your attention Ivan Moreno SSA Paris Chapter coordinator
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About the Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) .
The Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) is here to help you make your new location a place to call home. We are a very unique organization with much to be proud of. It all started here in Paris, France. From a single chapter started by a group of expatriates who saw a need to create a support system for one another, SSA now boasts some 95 chapters globally with over 5000 members. We are large and diverse, speak every language imaginable, and yet we all have one thing in common which is a desire to welcome Schlumberger families with hospitality, goodwill and compassion. The Schlumberger Spouses Association (SSA) is a global, voluntary, social organization for all spouses and partners of Schlumberger employees. We aim to create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for all members and their families. The SSA fosters fellowship through ongoing social events and community involvement. SSA Paris currently has over 300 members, but we would like to be more vibrant and active for you. In order to do that, the board members are working hard to digitize our database, improve our communication tools and revitalize our activities, and supports, looking for new ways to be supportive and welcoming, especially in these challenging times. If you have any ssaparis.info@gmail.com.
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Welcome to SSA Paris ★ Mariana Luna Ochoa ★ Verónica Martínez Villarreal
★ Sangueetha Nambiar ★ Svetlana Gerdyush
★ Stacey Cartier 2
Living France The SSA Paris Best Practices Guide By Darryl Perry, HSE Coordinator
SA Paris would like to create a Best Practices Guide to share helpful information about member spouses (and their families), to mentor newcomers and to build and strengthen our SSA Paris community. Here we would like to share some of the ideas about the content that we would like to gather and develop, with your help and input.
DID YOU KNOW? Since your arrival in France, perhaps you have been given some helpful advice that you were not prepared for, but that proved very helpful in getting off on the right foot….in your building, in your neighborhood, in Paris or in French culture. For example, Did You Know that in Paris, if you move into an apartment in an apartment building (immeuble in French), it is customary to give your building Guardien or Guardienne (most commonly known in English as superintendent) a tip. This is not customary in apartment buildings in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States (possibly in some other countries, too), so unless someone told you that this is the way it works here in Paris, how would you possibly know. This tip is in recognition of the extra efforts the guardien may have to make to prepare the apartment, to provide information to the Relocation Agent, to meet Relocation and Real Estate agents, to answer inquiries, to show apartments, lockers and parking spaces in the garage, to schedule elevators for move-ins, etc. DO’s and DON’Ts. Arriving in a new city and/or a new country can be both a demanding and stressful time, especially for spouses who are often left alone during the day to deal with relocation challenges, often from a temporary apartment, sometimes without a local cell phone number, and even often unable to deal with various home related services where the service representatives speak French only. In these cases, it is easy to become frustrated, even annoyed. Surviving these stressful periods requires stamina, patience, creative thinking and self-awareness, at all times to be on top of your game. Afterall, you are handling this part of the relocation while your spouse, the Schlumberger employee, is often facing similar challenges at the workplace…a new job, a new boss, new colleagues, a different workplace and maybe a different workplace culture, even learning how to navigate public transit and get to work and back home safely. One lesson, for example, is to keep appointments and be on time for Relocation Agents and apartment viewing – because both they and the building guardien may have other clients to meet, and being late is not appreciated in Paris business culture. Allow extra time for transit delays.
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BEST PRACTICES. Hindsight is a wonderful gift, especially to pass on to other spouses who may be facing similar challenges that you have already overcome. Looking back, it may be easy to identify helpful information or tools that you wished you had access to when dealing with that issue. Or some simple solutions that made all the difference in making life so much easier especially in dealing with relocation challenges. For example, getting a local cell phone account for a spouse is often difficult, without a residential address, a bank account and an employer. The working spouse does not face these issues if the employer provides a cell phone. But having a local phone number makes a world of difference for spouses. Maybe you know how and where to get a local cell phone number quickly and easily, without the usual administrative hassle. Maybe you have some tips, suggestions, helpful information, and/or simple practical examples to share with other spouses in our SSA Paris community under any of the 3 examples above. If you do and would like to help others by sharing, please send your suggestions or input to SSA Paris at ssaparis.hse@gmail.com . This includes sharing your issues or problems that perhaps you did not have information or a solution for, but that you would have appreciated some help or support. Maybe someone else has the answer and that information can help the next spouse following in your shoes.
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SSA Paris Springing Back from Covid-19 By Darryl Perry, HSE Coordinator, SSA Paris
Your SSA association here in Paris, France has not been immune to the effects of the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Like other organizations, SSA Paris has had to curtail its activities to meet the covid conditions at different times during the various waves. At times this has meant cancelling, postponing or re-scheduling our program of activities and events, and your volunteer Board certainly appreciates your understanding and patience! With the current covid measures in France lessening (as of February 28 2022) , SSA Paris has placed a priority on our HSE program to help us re-enter social life for the benefit of our members. We want to get back to supporting and enriching the lives of SSA Paris members and their families and integrating in and adjusting to life in this wonderful city and country. As of this date, our HSE program has posted or shared over 20 articles, links and news stories about covid-19 (often with English translation text for non-French speaking members) to the SSA Paris Facebook site. Now, to further support the resumption of our program and services to members, SSA Paris has developed a covid-19 policy to guide the association and the activity leads in organizing and hosting events as well as members participating in events.
Covid Measures at a Glance (as of 28 February 2022): ❖ Events and activities must be HSE approved in advance. (It is anticipated this will change). ❖ Valid Pass vaccinal or equivalent. ❖ No masks required at internal venues subject to the Pass vaccinal. ❖ Masks are still required at events in internal venues that are NOT subject to Pass vaccinal. ❖ Masks are required at external SSA Paris events if participants crowed into tight spaces. ❖ Disinfectant hand washing and social distancing are still recommended where possible. ❖ Participant contact information to be collected by organizers/hosts.
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Why a Covid-19 Policy? SSA Paris owes it to our members, hosts and organizers to help them understand how current restrictions and requirements communicated by the French government’s Ministry of Solidarity and Health and by Schlumberger’s HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) program, apply to our events and activities. These restrictions will in all likelihood continue to lessen and change as the country continues to re-open. The purpose of the policy is to protect the health and safety of SSA Paris members and their Schlumberger employee spouses and families. We want to ensure that our information and actions comply with and support public health requirements and with the HSE requirements set by Schlumberger for its work sites and workforce. Since SSA Paris is volunteer run and led and we are not health experts, we rely on the information available from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and from Schlumberger HSE. Where does this Policy apply? The simple answer is to all events and activities of SSA Paris, including but not limited to SSA Paris tours, coffee meetings, annual meeting, language classes, cooking classes, painting classes, holiday lunch, special events, etc.
Participants, hosts and organizers are expected to meet all public health and workplace safety requirements, whether set by Public Health or Schlumberger or by the venue or restaurant site of an event. For activities hosted in private homes or private work spaces of some members, member hosts may set additional requirements to protect their space and family members. SSA Paris participants are expected to respect and honor any additional requirements requested or set by their hosts, the same as they would in attending an event at anyone’s private home. SSA Paris will endeavor to update this information as requirements and information from either Schlumberger and/or Public Health authorities evolves and information that is available through public information. The SSA Paris Board, through its Activity Program coordinator and/or communications program, will inform member hosts and participants of covid-19 related requirements. The Association will inform members if any events and activities are postponed, cancelled or rescheduled. If an event or activity is cancelled due to covid-19 or other health restrictions or measures, SSA Paris will assume cancellation costs for registration fees and charges. 6
The Health Requirements as of 28 February 2022 (subject to update) SSA Paris program activities will resume with the Ministry of Solidarity and Health changes announced effective Monday, 28 February 2022. This may be re-visited as new information is made available in consultation with Schlumberger HSE. Participation at SSA Paris events or activities requires a valid Pass vaccinal or equivalent acceptable under the requirements published in public information available from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health public website (also already re-posted on the SSA Paris Facebook page). Verification of Pass vaccinal is at the discretion of the organizer/host of the event/activity (subject to any specific guidance from Schlumberger). Host institutions or venues, for example, museums and galleries and restaurants used in the SSA Paris tour program will verify the Pass vaccinal of each participant. Barrier measures are still recommended, such as disinfectant handwashing where applicable, for example at the entrance to museums, galleries, restaurants and eateries, and upon entry in private homes or private work spaces, and social distancing where applicable.
Masks are not generally required at external events (external tours) except in instances where people are crowded close together in tight spaces. Masks are generally not required at events in internal venues that are subject to the Pass vaccinal. Masks may also be worn indoors at individual discretion, for example, in restaurants and cafes when food and drink is not being consumed. The organizer or host of SSA Paris events will collect participant information including address, contact phone number and email address of each participant, and a sheet of participant signatures. This information will be used for follow up for purposes of covid-19 contact tracing and reporting, in the event of covid infection or risk of exposure, as well as for tracking participation levels at SSA Paris events. Refusal to provide the information noted above, to wear a mask, to socially distance, and to confirm Pass vaccinal status to the organizer/host, will result in the participant’s registration being revoked for that particular event, and the participant being asked to leave the activity or event immediately. The number of participants at tour events and other activities is determined by capacity limits set by the host institution (for example, museum or gallery for tour groups) or by private hosts for their private homes. 7
More Information For more information about the Association’s policy and practices on covid-19, members can consult the full policy on the SSA Paris Facebook site. For more and up to date information about covid-19 and the latest public health measures, look for articles and postings on the SSA Paris Facebook site or for informational emails from SSA Paris Communications in your email inbox. For specific questions or concerns, or for difficulties understanding information in French from the websites below, please feel free to contact Darryl Perry, HSE Coordinator for the Schlumberger Spouses Association of Paris at ssaparis.hse@gmail.com Other helpful Public Health information sources/links include: (1) Government of France coronavirus website: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus (2) Government of France public service administration website: www.service-public.fr (3) Ministry of Solidarity and Health / Ministère des Solidarités et de la Santé website: https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/ (4) Ameli Health Insurance / Assurance Maladie website: https://ameli.fr/paris/assure/covid-19 Also, My Health Space at Assurance Maladie (Ameli) at: monespacesante.fr (5) Doctolib website (for covid information on symptoms, vaccination, vaccination appointments, medical appointments, and for finding primary physician (medecin traitant) and specialists) www.doctolib.fr (6) City of Paris / Ville de Paris official website and information page for covid vaccination centres www.paris.fr OR Covid-19 : toutes les infos sur la vaccination et les Ville de Paris Note: In the City of Paris vaccination centres (which are different from the covid-specific vaccination centres , it may be possible to obtain or update other immunizations and vaccinations other than covid-19. (7) Annual Flu Shot: Information may be available from some of the above websites (e.g. Doctolib). Flu shots (vaccin anti-grippal) require a medical prescription from your physician. Generally, flu shot vaccinations need to be purchased from your local pharmacy. Your physician or nurse practitioner or pharmacist may be able to administer the flu shot (i.e. give you the injection in your arm), and there may be a cost for this service. For more information, please consult your Medecin traitant (primary physician) or your local pharmacy.
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SSA Paris Group https://www.facebook.com/ groups/ssaparis
SSA Global Community https://www.facebook.com/g roups/1434493720206747
SSA Paris Buy and Sell https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1827136127499775
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SSAFara (SSA Global website) The new access portal will be via this URL https://iam.slb.com/. The request must be filled in by SLB employee sponsoring Spouse.
Click on Create a Guest User and fill out the information. The Vendor you select will be SSA – Schlumberger Spouses Association The Spouse will then receive an email from the system and has to click on click here link to fill out the form. The Spouse will then receive an email from Microsoft and will need to follow the instructions. Once successfully completed, the Spouse can paste in the SSA link and access the system The maximum validity is of 180 days, meaning the Sponsor will have to renovate it each 6 months. FYI, the system will send 4 reminders to Sponsor informing of ending date, 30 days prior, 15 days, 7 days and 1 day.
If you have any issues logging in, please contact: * Erna Farizan, SSA Webmaster: ssa-webmaster@slb.com * Evelyn Bicelis, SSA Global Communications Coordinator: ssa-communications@slb.com * Pia Dey Verma, SSA Global Coordinator: ssa-global-coord@slb.com
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To keep our chapter running and to offer even more services and activities for you, we need more volunteers. Right now we are looking for these positions:
Social Media Coordinator
Charity Coordinator
Mentor Network Leader
Activity Leader Assistant
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Charity Coordinator *This position is part of the SSA Paris Board of Directors
SSA Paris is looking for a volunteer Charity Coordinator to provide leadership in managing charity activities of the SSA Paris Chapter. The charity coordinator will work with the activities coordinator to develop ways to engage members in social action to help those most in need. The Charity Coordinator should: Identifies and coordinates charitable activities on behalf of the Chapter. ● Ensures that charity projects are approved by the Chapter Board and SLB management, where necessary. ●
● Be responsible for all funds or items collected and dispersed for charity purposes. ● Attend the board of directors meetings Desirable Qualities and Skills: ★ Pro-activity and flexibility. ★ Enthusiasm and dedication for your chosen charitable cause. ★ Team-working and people skills. ★ Communication skills: oral and written (preferably in both English and French)
If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact ssaparis.info@gmail.com or ssaparis.coordinator@gmail.com
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Website / Social Media Coordinator *This position is part of the SSA Paris Board of Directors
SSA Paris is looking for a volunteer Website Coordinator to perform the following duties: ➢ Collects practical information about everyday life for spouses/partners, placing special emphasis on information for newcomers. ➢ Acts as Admin for the Chapter’s SSA website page. ➢ Acts as Moderator on the Social Media platforms along with the Communication Coordinator. ➢ Informs the SSA Global Webmaster of any changes (assigning/removing) in Admin rights for the Chapter. ➢ Publishes and posts relevant local content to the Chapter website and maintains communication with the SSA Global Webmaster. ➢ Respects Schlumberger policies and image. ➢ Works with the Global Communications Coordinator and the Area Coordinator to promote HSE related information in the SSA website. ➢ Maintains files to hand over to successor. ➢ Attend the board of directors meetings
If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact ssaparis.info@gmail.com or ssaparis.coordinator@gmail.com
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Mentor Network Leader SSA Paris is looking to set up a network of Volunteer Mentors to provide peer-to-peer support to other spouses seeking tips and advice on dealing with challenges in daily living and in adjusting to life in a new country and city. The Mentor Network Lead will provide hands-on leadership in recruiting volunteer spouses as Mentors who want an opportunity to share their experience with and to support other spouses (“peers”) in dealing with many of the very same challenges and issues that they themselves faced in relocating to France. The Mentor Lead will be a volunteer resource to other Mentors and will work with the HSE Coordinator and the Welcome Coordinator and other SSA Paris board members.
The intention is to create a network of mentors identified to offer help on specific challenges and topics. The mentors will have an opportunity to work with and support each other. The mentors will be supported by information sheets and the HSE Coordinator in linking with helpful resources available through Schlumberger or elsewhere. Desirable Qualities and Skills: ● Enjoys working with others, and Problem solving ● Good oral communication skills ● Patience, empathy and good listening skills ● Networking skills and Team work skills ● Confidentiality, trustworthiness ● Willingness to meet other spouses in person and by phone or online
If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact ssaparis.info@gmail.com or ssaparis.coordinator@gmail.com
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Activity Leader Assistant SSA Paris is looking for an Desirable Qualities and Skills: Activity Leader Assistant to ● Enjoys working with integrate our team others, and Problem solving The Activity Leader Assistant ● Good written and oral will working under our communication skills Activity Coordinator, helping ● Networking skills and to organize and hosting our Team work skills tours club and social clubs, ● Good level of French is helping to find new places desirable (but not and activities for our future mandatory) events
If you are interested in volunteering for this position, please contact ssaparis.info@gmail.com or ssaparis.coordinator@gmail.com
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SSA Global is calling for Applications
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Activities Leaders Contact List
SSA Paris offers a variety of activities that happen on a regular basis. If you wish to participate please contact the leader listed to join the FUN!
Paris Guided Tours Leader: Georgina Corona Contact: ssaparis.activity@gmail.com
Painting Club Leader : Liz Del Pilar Contact: lizpila1@gmail.com ☎ 07 88 26 67 96
French 1 (Beginners) Leader: Consuelo Manier Contact: 07 82 57 32 95
Cooking Club Leader: Stacey Cartier Contact: 06 82 98 05 08
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SSA Paris Activity Fees Policy: Participants in SSA Paris events are asked to sign up and/or cancel within set deadlines. This helps SSA Paris to avoid unnecessary costs and to plan for attendance. Late cancellations and no shows prevent other members from joining activities. Showing up without registration may result in disappointment if no space is available. Late cancellation or no show may result in a request for reimbursement of costs to SSA Paris. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
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Tour Palais Garnier 14/02/2022
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Membership Form
We are digitizing our database and therefore it is necessary that all members (old and new) fill in the form below. It will only take a few minutes and you will help us a lot to improve our communication. Please don't forget to hit the SUBMIT button at the end. https://forms.gle/gQXgU2h1YMXPW39B9
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Board Members 2022-2023 Contact List
Position
Name
Telephone number
Email address
Chapter Coordinator
Ivan Moreno
06.37.65.39.53
ssaparis.coordinator@gmail.com
Treasure
Kim Ross
07.85.90.21.33
ssa.paristreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary
Naila Shamsi
06.32.66.76.85
ssaparis.secretary1@gmail.com
Communication
Tânia Vaillant
06.72.35.53.81
ssaparis.communication@gmail.com
Welcome
Consuelo Mainier
07.82.57.32.95
ssaparis.welcome@gmail.com
Activities
Georgina Corona
07.78.84.63.92
ssaparis.activity@gmail.com
HSE
Darryl Perry
06.31.18.50.64
ssaparis.hse@gmail.com
Charity
VACANT
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ssaparis.charity@gmail.com
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