The Asingan Association of Northern California, Inc. will elect a new set of officers on August 17 in conjunction with its annual summer picnic, and its focus this year is to tap young members to become involved in the electoral process.
While Fil-Am organizations have generally been on target in the pursuit of their goals and objectives, it is suspect if their current officers and members have serious plans in place to prepare their sons and daughters to someday take over the helms of their group.
The AANCI, headed by president Josepito Santos of Daly City, plans to tackle this issue head-on this election cycle. It wants to have the adult children of its present officers and members to seriously consider running for any of the executive posts up for grabs.
Preparing the young members for future leadership makes sense considering the fact that AANCI’s current membership has an average age of 60. Obviously, the future of the organization lies in their hands. It’s up now to parents to convince their adult children to actively involve themselves in the affair of their organization by becoming officers themselves.
“That’s good,” said Porfirio Romero, AANCI vice-president for Solano-Sacramento area, regarding the idea to draft young members for the different elective posts. “ If there are enough of them interested,” he continued.
First off, Santos is urging young members to attend the picnic and election of officers to be held at the Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont on Saturday, August 17, and put their names or their peers’ on the nomination process. This picturesque summer getaway is the birthplace of the Association, founded in 1989, and since then has been the favorite venue for its annual gathering.
AANCI sees many advantages in tapping its young members for future leadership. They are imbued with a keen sense of idealism, they are energetic, and they are more amenable to positive changes. These are the right attributes that propel any organization to be more dynamic and forward-looking.
On top of these, they are more technologically savvy than their parents and therefore, more expert and knowledgeable in the use of social media , such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. These are tools in their disposal that can be crucial in fundraising and the promotion of the organization’s programs and activities.
Current officers and members will still play a pivotal role in the success of the organization. They will serve as mentors and advisers. The question now is will there be enough young members willing to devote their time and energy to the service of their parents’ town organizations as officers.
The picnic – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.- is potluck and is expected to feature a variety of Ilocano dishes to be contributed by members. Picnic site is on Paseo Padre Parkway bounded by Mission View Drive and Baylis Street.
AANCI’s current officers :
Josepito Santos, president; Josie M. Bongbonga, executive vice president; Sofia Domingo and Cely Dorado, VP for San Francisco/San Mateo; Rosa V. Santos, VP for Daly City; Betty Hilario, Alex Bernardez and Eugenia Figuracion, VP for San Jose; Alex S. Tiongson, Humbel G. Taganas. Porfirio Romero and Carmen Cayabyab, VP for Sacramento/Solano;
Marides Manansala and Lita Campos, secretaries-treasurer; Norma T. Baldeviso and Sol S. Tiongson, auditors; Darius Cerezo, Isaiah Garcia, Diomar Deocares and Joel Figuracion, PROs; and Rod Peralta, sgt.-at-arms.
The Board of Directors is composed of: Norma T. Laya, chairman (emeritus), Rodolfo I. Necesito, chairman; and the following members: Loida Bernardez, Romeo Baldeviso, Arthur Manansala, and Leon M. Tualla (dec.).
Advisers are: Atty. Jose S. Banaria, Sr., Roland S. Tiongson, Letty Malalang Romero , Zenaida Guerrero and Ben Peralta.
For more information about the picnic and other upcoming events, please contact any of the following: Sol S. Tiongson, (650) 296-3943; Marides Manansala (510) 782-7374; Rosa V. Santos (650) 754-0829; and Josie Bongbonga (408) 258-9371.
For more information about the event, contact the following: Rosa Santos (650) 754-0829, Sol Tiongson (650) 735-5702, Betty Hilario (408) 926-4804, and Marides Manansala (510) 331-6706.
