SUMMER HEAT CAN’T STOP COFACC SURGING FORWARD!
By: Jane Rolen, Editor-in-Chief, COFACC
May and June promised to be busy months for COFACC. And the promise was delivered! Our Chamber Members engaged in executing regular monthly activities and engaged in other special events! So inspiring to see the teamwork, collaboration, and not only volunteerism within each Chamber, but also between Chambers! Most of all, it is gratifying to see our Chamber members succeed and excel. With these engagements and collaborations, we see friendships formed, member Chambers blossoming, and skills developed. We have a very impressive list of impactful trainings! Indeed, there are many reasons to be grateful to COFACC!
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that May was the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPIHM) Heritage Month. We set this time aside to recognize the rich achievements and accomplishments of AA and NHPIs in America’s history and culture. It used to be called Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month. By virtue of the Executive Order (EO) 14031, Advancing Equity, Justice and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, dated 5/28/2021, the name and scope was expanded to re-establish and reinvigorate the White House Initiative to include Native Hawaiians for the first time. This EO was built on the policies outlined in EO 13985, signed by President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021. Happy AANHPI Month Everyone!
I also want to share this “Pinoy Pride” story! A US Navy battleship is named after a Filipino!!! On May 19, 2022, “The Secretary of Navy named Future Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer, Telesforo Trinidad! Telesforo Trinidad was the only Filipino in the US Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in 1915 aboard USS San Diego, where he risked his own life to save two of his shipmates! This has been a two-year campaign by the USTTC (United States Telesforo Trinidad Campaign) Team. Congratulations to the USTTC Team!
In May, COFACC welcomed Executive Board members from our newest Chamber Members: FACC Tri-county – Nick Munoz; FACC Hollywood – Katherine Bercasio; PCC Southern NV – Kate Toress Recto, Ron Sumbang, Maricres Crissler; and PCC Michigan – Betsy Henry, Ryan Rosario and Gerardo Carbonell .
June, of course was the “Kalayaan Month!” – I made the title up. It is because all our Chambers conducted a program/events relating to the Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 1898, when we acquired our Independence from Spain. All month long in June, each Chamber and conducted either a business related meet and greet, a seminar, a face to face mixer, with the Philippine Independence Day as the theme for the whole month. We stayed the course in following our Vision, Mission and Values. But it was also natural for each and every Chamber to celebrate our Kalayaan Day!
In June, COFACC welcomed new Executive Board members from – FACC Texas Houston – Atty. Aileen Ligot Dizon and FAMO – Estela Fullerton and Shirley Byrne. COFACC is growing fast! And on Friday, June 24, 2022, COFACC Chambers participated in the JES Leadership Training, “Strengthen Your Ambassador Team and Maximize its Impact,” by Shari Pash. The session was insightful, informative and inspiring.
Our Training Department has lined up the succeeding Trainings for the next two months: On July 22, 2022, ACCE Faculty Trainor Kyle Sexton will discuss – “Turning Social Media Into Business Media,” and on Aug. 19, 2022, ACCE Faculty Trainor Cathi Hight will discuss – “Why You Need to Shrink to Grow Your Chamber (A Purposeful Abandonment).”
I hope everyone takes advantage of these valuable upcoming Leadership Trainings provided by COFACC. Please Watch out for announcements of details for these Leadership and Business trainings!
On a final note, upcoming huge and meaningful activities that will be impactful for all our Chamber members are in the works! Let’s KEEP MOVING COFACCI! Many of your Executive Board members are hard at work behind the scenes for many exciting programs! Your enthusiasm and excitement are both inspiring and energizing!
Have a good summer, stay cool, and stay healthy!
-END-