If you want to keep up with the FCHCC, sign up to receive our monthly eNewsletter below!
If you're interested in how the FCHCC does business, download our Members Guide.
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President's Message - Betzy Santiago
 September is here and we are excited about our upcoming
Achieving the Dream Luncheon. Tickets are on sale now for those interested in
attending this premier event where we honor Hispanic students who have studied
to show themselves approved. Consider joining us this September 17th.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Jacksonville Jaguars for hosting our August Multicultural Mixer. This is our home team and we want to continue the celebration. Mark your calendars for the September 26th Game as we rally around our team and cheer them to victory. To all members of the FCHCC, the Jags would like to offer discounted tickets. More information about this event to come and will be posted on our website.
We are pleased that our July survey results are in as well and the feedback we've received from our respondents is so appreciated. One of my favorite quotations is: "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." The FCHCC cares very much about all our members, community, and our world. We work hard to improve our services so that we can offer you the benefits you need to help grow your business and enrich your life. The world around us is changing everyday and the FCHCC is committed to changing with it so that we're growing right alongside our members. If you're not a member yet, consider becoming one! To learn more, visit our website by clicking here!
Look forward to seeing you all at our next monthly networking event hosted by Merrill Lynch/Bank of America September 9th!
Board Member's Message - Julio Morales, FCHCC Programs Committee Director
 Saludos, I'm Julio Morales and I am your Director of Programs. I graduated
from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in Business Administration and
minors in Computer Science and Aerospace Studies. Upon graduation, I
obtained a commission in the U.S. Air Force where I served as an officer for six
years. Afterwards, I transitioned to Corporate America where I had the pleasure
to work for great organizations such as: Prudential Insurance in New Jersey, GE
Capital and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of FL here in Jacksonville. Most of my
experience has been in the business, technical, and project management areas.
In addition to my previous jobs, I have always been involved in
volunteer work. The time invested has helped me grow as a professional and in
my personal life. However, it wasn't until 2005 when I first served on an
organization's board: the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Project Management
Institute. I served as their VP of Programs for two years. So, when I had the
opportunity to get involved with the FCHCC, the Programs Committee seemed like
a perfect fit. I saw the potential
where I could make a difference.
Part of making a difference is ensuring that we, the Programs Committee
provide value by the organizing different activities to assist you to further enhance your business. That is why I urge you to continue
providing us with your feedback and great ideas on how we can improve our
calendar of events. Our 2010 calendar is already full however, 2011 is just
around the corner and we have a world of opportunities ahead of us to make it a
great year. I look forward to your hearing from you.
Julio
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September 2010 Calendar of Events
FCHCC Professional Networking Event
Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Hosted by: Merrill Lynch/Bank of America
Location: Merrill Lynch Campus
Address: 4800 Deer Lake Dr. East; Bldg 1
Rooms 101-102 (1st floor), Jacksonville, FL 32246
Be on the look out for your Official Invitation soon for more details!
FCHCC Annual "Achieving the Dream Scholarship" Luncheon
Date: Friday, September 17, 2010
Time: 11:30 - 1 PM
Location: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
Address: 225 East Coastline Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Be on the look out for your Official Invitation soon for more details!
FOR MEMBERS ONLY: Coffee and Learn Workshop
Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Be on the look out for your Official Invitation soon for more details!
Visit our website calendar for future meeting dates. |
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Welcome New and Renewing Members
The FCHCC is proud to announce our new and renewing members:
Small Business:
Aerostar Environmental Services, Inc.
Emed Urgent Primary Care PA
Individual Members:
Jose Barquero
Javier Nieto
Students:
Carlos Castro
Maritza Choisser
Betsy Lopez
Daniel Martinez
Luis Velasquez
We could not be where we are without our members so thank you so much for your partnership.
If you'd like to become a member, please visit our website for more information!
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Committee Happenings! Our members play an integral role in this organization. Enhance your experience and get involved.
Scholarship: Save the date! September 17th, we will be honoring the accomplishments of local Hispanic youth at our Achieving the Dream event. Sponsorship opportunities and Individual tickets are still available! Visit our website for more information.
Education Committee: We have reviewed and scored all the scholarship applications where the top 8 students will be selected to receive our scholarships. Thank you to everyone on the Education Committee for volunteering their time to assist in the process. It is greatly appreciated not only by the FCHCC but by the students. We will announce the winners soon and their names will be posted on our website.
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Amendment 4
 When we go to vote in November for a new Governor and U.S. Senator, we are also going to be asked to vote on Amendment 4, also known as the Florida Hometown Democracy Land Use Amendment.
What is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 is a proposed amendment of Florida's
constitution which would require taxpayer-funded referenda on all
changes to local government comprehensive plans. In other words, this
"Vote on Everything" amendment would force Floridians - not the
representatives they elect - to decide hundreds of technical
comprehensive plan changes each year.
St. Pete Beach implemented a local version of Amendment 4 in 2006. The measure
has decimated their economy, created chaos at the polls, and caused a
proliferation of special interest lawsuits. It is very important that all Floridians familiarize themselves with this Amendment. To learn more about this Amendment, visit www.florida2010.org.
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Membership Spotlight - North Florida Transportation Planning Organization - the Leader in Regional Transportation Planning
 How do we meet the transportation needs of our growing North Florida region? New and improved roads and bridges, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), greenways and trails, and transit don't happen overnight. They take years of planning, coordinating, and cooperation among many agencies across jurisdictions. And the North Florida TPO is leading the way. The North Florida TPO is the independent regional transportation planning agency for Duval and most of Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. It encompasses an area of over 1,000 square miles with a population of 1.2 million. The 15-member TPO Board includes elected officials and transportation agency representatives. Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey is the TPO Chairman.
The TPO's mission is to provide a regional forum for developing an effective transportation system that moves people and goods safely, economically, and efficiently while maintaining a high quality of life in Northeast Florida. We have several advisory committees, many agency partners, and varied programs and initiatives which include the following: - The Long-Range Transportation Plan, updated every five years, is the framework for meeting our future transportation challenges as our region's population is expected to grow by approximately 700,000 over the next 20 years.
- The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), updated yearly, details funding and progress of transportation projects through study, design, right-of-way acquisition, utilities, and construction over a five-year period.
- Our Commuter Services program, Cool to Pool, helps employers and commuters in five counties form carpools and vanpools to save time and money, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality.
- The TPO leads the North Florida ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) Coalition that develops plans for using technology to reduce traffic congestion, increase safety and provide the public with real time information on travel conditions.
In addition, the TPO provides research, planning, and funding for cyclist and pedestrian needs. We study freight trends and recommend policies, projects, and funding to ensure freight needs are incorporated in local and regional transportation plans. Serving the transportation needs of the elderly, physically and economically challenged, we assist the Duval County Transportation Disadvantaged Coordinating Board in setting policies and procedures relative to eligibility, service offerings, and improvements. For areas where major widening or new roads are not feasible, we study congested roads to develop alternate strategies for reducing congestion.
For more information about the North Florida TPO, please access our website at www.northfloridatpo.com or contact Marci Larson, Public Information Manager, at 904-306-7513. |
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The Survey Results Are In!
Last July, we asked you to give us some feedback on how we are doing and what things we could do better. Well, the results are in and here they are! - Most respondents mentioned they joined FCHCC to meet
and network with other business people. 87.5% thought we were meeting their needs. (Note: the remaining 12.5% felt there is room for significant improvement, some simply had not taken full advantage of their memberships and others
had not attended many of the meetings.)
- When asked what programs our members wanted, 69% asked us for
professional development workshops and 42% asked for workshops to help their
businesses. Since then, we began
our Coffee and Learn Workshops every other month and have had several board
retreats to empower our board. The
speakers have been phenomenal and very informative.
- Members who are small business owners requested being highlighted on the website,
the monthly mixers, and developing opportunities for referral business. FCHCC responded by creating Chamber
Chats. What better setting to get to know other members than to break bread
with them in a casual environment?
We are still working on the website, but the directory has been updated
and our Member Spotlight section in our monthly eNewsletter is there to encourage members to showcase themselves
and their businesses.
- 83% of our members stated that they would
attend additional events. We have
had a very active year so far with both community and business-related
events. Thank you to all of you
who registered and attended these events. That is what your membership is for - to take
advantage of all of the programs we have established for you.
- Members asked us to provide better audio and we now have our own
equipment.
- Members asked for more events to be posted on our website, and we have a calendar page that keeps you informed.
- Members wanted a posting mechanism or bulletin board and we created our Facebook page and our LinkedIn profile to keep you in touch with the chamber. These sites are yours to use. Social media is a great way to talk about
what you do and get answers to questions you may have about other's
businesses.
- Lastly, members asked FCHCC to be "presented" in as many local media
as possible. We are proud to
announce that this year both Hola Noticias and EcoLatino Media Group are
now FCHCC Media Partners!
2010 has been a busy year, but your committed volunteer board
and committees have been busy listening and addressing your concerns. This month you will see another
survey. We want to hear from you so take the time to let us know how we are doing, what we've done right, and how we
can improve. We look forward to
hearing from you! |
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Current Job Opportunities
Position: Customer Contact REPS/Customer
Sales & Service/Risk Bilingual
Employer: Citi
Position: Bi-lingual Customer Service Reps
Position: Seasonal Customer Service Insurance Sales
Employer: Convergys Corporation
Position: Administrative Front Office Assistant
Position: Medical Assistants
Employer: Academic Dermatology Consultants
Position: Sales Representative
Employer: Prudential Insurance
For more details about these positions and to apply, please visit our website here.
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Become our Fan on Facebook
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Click here to become a fan today!
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The FCHCC Accepts Credit Card Payments for New Memberships and Renewals
You can now pay to join the 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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