PRESIDENT MESSAGE
By Terri Torres
Hello All,
Our year is winding down, but we're still as busy as ever! This month, to celebrate National Filipino American History Month, we held our 4th Annual Awards Recognition Dinner and Dance, where we honored four community members: Violet Juanitas Dutra, Eudosia Bravo Juanitas, Suzanna Caballero Mangrobang and Flora Arca Mata. We also posthumously honored Claro Candelario for all his past achievements. We held a major fundraiser for the National FANHS Museum Project by sponsoring a performance of the University of Philippines Concert Chours on Oct. 28 (hopefully, you'll get this newsletter before their performance and can attend!).
And the reason for this issue being late, well, I've been helping my sister and her family move to Kansas all summer long. We finally got there on Oct. 6, after a long 4-day drive. I didn't get back to Stockton until Oct. 14, just in time to work on this newsletter, attend the Awards Dinner and then head back to Kansas until further notice. I have no idea what's ahead for me in the next few months. I'm being pulled in two pieces to be here and in Kansas. I'll be glad when new officers take over so that some of the pressure is taken off me, but I do hope to stay involved with FANHS. I can still do the website and maybe the newsletter, unless someone else wants to take over. I don't know when or if I'll move permanently to Kansas, but I do know I'll be spending a lot of time there, more than here, at the beginning anyway. So, I'm hoping that our members rally around the new officers and give their time and manpower to further our cause. Farewell!
PRESIDENT MESSAGE
By Terri Torres
Greetings to All;
So much has been happening these past months that it’s almost impossible to relay it all to all of you, but I will try! Big things have been happening with the National FANHS museum project and the Little Manila Historic District. I’m sure most of you have heard that Stockton’s Little Manila area is being targeted by developers for demolition. Through the pleading of several community members, Stockton’s City Council has given us until October 3, 2003, to come up with a profitable redevelopment plan for the area. A community forum was held on June 29 for all interested parties to contribute their ideas for the redevelopment plan. Of course, FANHS would like the museum to be in that area and Mel LaGasca, Virgie Melear, Anita Bautista, and other chapter members were present to voice our wishes and concerns. Keep an eye on the Little Manila website for further news [www.littlemanila.net] and read about it here in our newsletter.
We only have 3 months now to have our museum business proposal and all legal documents completed as a finished package to present to possible investors and grant money institutions. We’ve been asking for help for the past few years with little or no success but with all the publicity that Little Manila has been receiving these past few weeks, a few people have stepped up to help us out. We always thought we had time to work on the museum project – time that was slated as “spare time” – time that was available after our jobs were done, after our families were taken care of and after our chapters were taken care of – but we don’t have that luxury of time anymore – we now only have until Oct. 3 to complete the whole plan if we want the museum in Little Manila. Otherwise, we lose! FANHS loses. Future generations lose. Money and manpower is what we need immediately. Are you willing to help?
By Terri Torres
Greetings to All
We've been very busy this year! There has been something happening each month – Sacramento archives in January, "Untold Triumph" in February, Trustee meeting, Sacramento Zoo exhibit, and Stanford students all in March – and more events to come in the approaching months! Speaking of the Trustee meeting, I had a wonderful time in Albuquerque and what great hosts the Rio Grande Chapter were! We were treated like royalty! The New Mexico Chapter members are very dedicated and committed to FANHS and were so gracious to all of us, we didn't want to leave! I thank them very much! And speaking of "thanks", I really want to thank Anita Bautista and Virgie Melear for their dedication and commitment to our chapter. Because of them, we haven't had to say "no" to the many organizations who have asked us to display our historical exhibit boards at the numerous events that have come up at the last minute. Our chapter would be lost without them!
We have a lot ahead of us this year, and I hope everyone will get a chance to come and help support our chapter and other FANHS activities. Keep an eye on our calendar of events and please come out and enjoy yourself!
PRESIDENT MESSAGE
By Terri Torres
Happy New Year Everyone!
We have a lot of things planned for 2003 and I hope you'll be able to join us!
First off, we're helping the University of Pacific bring "An Untold Triumph: America's Filipino Soldiers" to Stockton to show to their students as well as to the public. Many Stockton Filipino organizations are involved. It will be on February 22 and more information will be at our website when available.
Secondly, we are planning our annual Museum Dessert/Dance for sometime in the spring, so watch for that and support the museum project!
We've already set the date for our 4th annual Award Recognition Dinner/Dance for October 18, so mark your calendars! We're accepting nominations, so send them in!
Our monthly presentations will begin at our February 1 meeting with Deanna Balantac speaking about Filipinos in the nursing profession. Then our March 1 meeting will feature the video "Jose Rizal: The Man, The Hero, the Filipino" graciously donated by Adela Navarro. We have more planned for the months ahead, so come and give us a look see!
I hope the holidays were as enjoyable for you as they were for me and I hope that the coming year brings each of you happiness and, as always, closer to FANHS!