Join Us And Be Empowered!

Greetings from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

NaFFAA is a national organization representing the voice of over five million Filipino-Americans in the United States, including Guam and the Marianas Islands, and is comprised of 12 regions. This letter comes from Region 3, whose nine Midwestern states include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

NaFFAA has successfully accomplished its programs and projects these past two years through the generosity of and partnership with several corporate sponsors. A major portion of corporate sponsorship last year went towards activities and advocacy work, and it also supported the successful 7th Empowerment and Global Networking Convention held in Hawaii in September 2006. Over 1200 Filipino-American community leaders from across the United States and from Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia participated in this global event.

This September 28 to 30, we will conduct the 2007 NaFFAA Region 3 Empowerment Conference at the Dayton Marriott in Dayton, Ohio. Delegates from all 12 Regions of NaFFAA in the United States will attend the Midwestern conference, which will be hosted by NaFFAA-Ohio. The sessions are aimed at encouraging community leaders, organizations, and businesses nationwide to participate in the move to awaken Filipino-Americans to the urgency of helping individuals and organizations achieve self-actualization in the exercise of their full citizenship.

We’ve invited several local and national dignitaries and community leaders to speak on various topics. The topics include the media and arts; marketing and business opportunities in the region; community empowerment and networking; and issues affecting veterans, tourism, immigration, and homeland security. The guest list is topped by State Senator Steve Austria of Ohio’s 10th District; Rudy Pamintuan, White House AAPI Presidential Advisory Chair; Philippine Consul General Blesila Cabrera; Director Vernie Morales, of the Philippine Department of Tourism; Susan Roces, an acclaimed movie actress and senatorial candidate in the Philippines; Jose "Boy" Montelibano, well known Philippine Journalist-Activist; and Alma Kern and Rosita Lee, NaFFAA National Chair and Vice Chair Directors, respectively.

We invite you to participate and attend both the conference and banquet and acquire the tools that will promote personal and community growth in the area of citizenship. May we count on your presence?

Thank you in advance for your support of the 2007 NaFFAA Region 3 Empowerment Conference.

Sincerely Yours,

Vilma Helms (doc1helms@aol.com)
Chairperson, NaFFAA-Ohio
6307 Germantown Pike
Dayton, OH 45418-1756

Eduardo Navarra (ejn0115@aol.com)
Chairperson, NaFFAA-Region 3 (9 Midwestern States) &
NaFFAA National Director for Development
2898 Colonial Trail
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-1618