Photos from May's "Law for the Public" Event at Florida Coastal School of Law
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President's Message - Giselle Carson
 Happiness is now! We sometimes convince ourselves that after the economy gets better, we will be happier. However, there is no better time to be happy than now ... summer is here and we have longer and pretty days! ... if you feel you have extra time, use it to do the things that you always wanted to do ... it can have an amazing effect on your life!
During May, we had four very instructional and practical legal seminars on the topics of naturalization, bankruptcy, consumers' rights and family law. Attendees commented to the timeliness and value of information given. Thanks go to all the many people and organizations that made these events possible.
For June, we have our next multicultural networking event planned and thank CSX for hosting us. This is another opportunity to be happy! and connect with members of our diverse community. The event will also feature a short presentation about the 2010 Census and the importance of Hispanics participation.
Feliz Dia de los Padres! Hasta pronto!
Giselle
Board Member's Message - Jose Rodriguez
 Thank you for granting me the opportunity to serve as the Director for Education and Executive Board Member of the FCHCC. It was a great and genuine honor to accept such nomination and responsibility back in late 2007. Throughout the years, I have contributed greatly to this organization, however, it is your encouragement that has brought us this far. My vision is to remain committed to the people whom I serve by translating the idea of leadership into that of service. And, I am sure each of our Executive Board members and Directors will concur with this idea.
I joined the FCHCC networking meetings back in 2005 when I was assigned to represent our trustee member Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL). As an employee at BCBSFL, I had the honor to be one of the founding fathers and past chairman of the Hispanic Organization for Learning & Advancement at BCBSFL (HOLA). HOLA is today one of the most prestigious and largest statewide employee resource groups in our company. I am a proud member of the Hispanic community in Northeast Florida and an ambassador in heart and soul of the Peruvian culture and our great Inca heritage. I moved to the U.S. at a young age and was able to become a reputable professional in healthcare and medical sciences, largely based on my educational foundation and the core moral and spiritual competencies planted by my parents.
I strongly believe that education is one of the key areas for sustainable development. It is intolerable that around 1 in 5 of the world's adults is illiterate and at least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. I always questioned myself and society: how can poverty be eradicated when the roots of ignorance are left undisturbed? In a world constructed around the assumption that everyone has the basic skills of education and where education and freedom are indissolubly linked, to be uneducated or illiterate is to be "UNFREE". Therefore, the overall goal of the FCHCC Education Committee is to lay the foundation to integrate education and learning as one of the core principles or milestones in order to encourage changes in behavior that will create a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity for our community, economic viability for our members, and a just society for present and future generations.
Since it is our mission to promote the welfare and growth of Hispanic business utilizing our strength in numbers and unity, it's my honor to announce that this year the FCHCC has joined with Mayor John Peyton's Hispanic American Advisory Board (MHAAB) to award scholarships to the First Coast's top Hispanic students. Sixteen scholarships ($2,000 each) will be presented at the "Achieving the Dream" scholarship breakfast to be held October 23, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. All scholarship applications must be submitted by September 4, 2009. As we make the final preparations for the scholarship event, we must draw upon your support for sponsorship and sharing the information about our event to other Hispanics in the community. We all can benefit from this great opportunity in investment for education. Keep in mind, that sponsorship will help your organization create long-term community goodwill through valuable relationships and heightened media exposure leading up to the event.
For more information on the event, for applications, to purchase tickets or sign up to sponsor this event, please visit us here. Thank you for helping us build a stronger society and for making a difference for present and future generations through education investment for sustainable development.
Best Regards,
Jose A. Rodriguez
jrodriguez@fchcc.com
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Membership Spotlight - Laura Zaplah, Senior VP for one of our Trustees, Citi
 Citi's Commitment to Diversity and Community Involvement
Meet Laura Zablah, Senior Vice President, Human Resources Director for Citi since 2001. In her current role, she leads the national HR group for North America Cards Information Technology. Laura has held a number of HR roles in the healthcare, education and manufacturing industries. She grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and resides in Jacksonville, FL with her husband Jaime and their children Daniela, Natalia and Elias. Laura is proud to represent Citi as a member of the FCHCC.
Citi values a work environment where diversity is embraced, where employees are promoted on their merits, and where people treat each other with mutual respect and dignity. The company believes that diversity greatly enhances its business proposition for employees, customers and shareholders, and it is committed to a culture of inclusion and opportunity. Citi has won numerous awards and recognition, including being named one of the top 10 companies for Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine, one of the top 50 companies for diversity by Diversity Inc magazine, and one of the top 100 companies for working mothers by Working Mother magazine.
In addition, Citi works to be known as a company dedicated to community service -- working with organizations that includes funding and developing business and nonprofit training programs, sponsoring educational and networking events, and delivering Citi Financial Education curriculum to the individuals and families that need it most.
Citi is one of the world's largest financial services companies, with approximately 200 million customer accounts, doing business in more than 140 countries. Through its two operating units, Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services. These include consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management.
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June 2009 Calendar of Events
Date: June 6, 2009
Event: Homebuyer Forum
Hosted by: The Office of Senator Mel Martinez,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Location: University of North Florida, University Center
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Address: 12000 Alumni Drive
Tel: 904-398-8586
RSVP: rsvpevent@martinez.senate.gov
Additional Information:
The
workshop will provide information about first-time homebuyer programs,
applying for a FHA loan, first-time homebuyer tax credits, and credit
counseling.
An RSVP is required to attend the workshop due to limited space. Please call 904-398-8586 or email rsvpevent@martinez.senate.gov.
Multicultural Professional Networking Mixer
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Hosted by: CSX
Location: 500 Water Street, North Entrance; Jacksonville, FL
(Park in the secure enclosed lot)
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Additional Information: Learn about CSX's Inclusiveness Incentives and How to Expand your Business, also Karen Kagalis from the Census Bureau will be our guest speaker discussing the 2010 Census. Open Networking following our speakers, come meet, greet, get and give referrals! RSVP is required for security purposes, be sure to reserve your spot by June 10th before Noon! Look for the next meeting announcement in your email!
Visit www.fchcc.com for future meeting dates.
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IRS Recruiting Agents
The IRS has begun a major hiring effort to fill hundreds of critical
jobs nationwide. Most of these jobs are for internal revenue agent
positions (look for series number 0512). At least 30 hours of
college-level accounting coursework is required for revenue agent jobs. To learn more, click here.
To apply for these and other IRS jobs, visit the IRS job search on USAJOBS by clicking here.
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Donate to the "Achieving the Dream" College Scholarship Fund
Your contribution will help the most talented Hispanic students on Florida's First Coast pay for and graduate from college.
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Job Opportunities
Position: Internal Auditor
Employer: Crowley Maritime Corp.
Position: Port Captain
Employer: Crowley Maritime Corp.
For more information or to apply for any of these positions, please visit our website here.
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FCHCC are proud of our Trustees!
The
FCHCC recognizes the leadership and support of these leading
organizations which are also our trustees.
If you would like additional information
about this important program, please click here to learn more. |
FCHCC Accepts Credit Card Payments for New Memberships and Renewals
You can now pay to join FCHCC or renew your membership with any of these credit cards.
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The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FCHCC) strives to establish and encourage better business practices among Hispanic-owned and -operated businesses in northeast Florida and south Georgia. All business professionals, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, are welcome to become involved with our Chamber. The FCHCC also strives to foster understanding of Hispanic heritage through educational endeavors, business opportunities and social interaction.
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To learn more about the FCHCC, please visit us on the web at www.fchcc.com. Or send us e-mail at: fchcc@fchcc.com.
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