By Cyrus A. Natividad
CPUFOAA welcomes the newly elected President of the CPUAA Las Vegas Chapter, Justina Calasara Sy, along with the other new set of officers. They were able to meet last June 27, 2021.
A quarterly virtual meeting of the CPU Federation of Overseas Alumni Association, Inc. was held on September 25, 2021. The meeting which was presided by CPUFOAAI President Mr. Rod Gonzales was participated by 20 Federation Officers and Chapter Presidents. Each chapter reported on its activities and projects.
“Most of the Chapters, particularly in the U.S have started to resume in-person gatherings”, according to Pastor Edward Pormilos, President of Northern California Chapter (including San Francisco). He said that “Restrictions have been gradually lifted”. Pormilos echoed the success of their annual picnic that gathered 40 participants, the launching of a grant and aid program with 16 individually sponsored scholars; the start of Treasure Hunt Fundraiser (generating $340 proceeds) and their ongoing pursuit for tax exemption status.
The revitalized Florida Chapter reported on the success of their recent election and oath-taking of new officers, Mr. Honeylito Simon was sworn in as new President. The Midwest-USA Chapter that includes Chicago also gathered for their annual picnic. It also reported on their election of officers. Mid-West Chapter President Mrs. May Rogers and Mrs. Arlene Poblador of Southern California Chapter that includes Los Angeles mentioned about their very successful June picnic in the park. She added that another face-to-face meeting is scheduled in October and a holiday celebration come December are already planned and put in place.
For British Columbia, Washington State and Alaska Chapter, Chapter Co-President Daryl de la Cruz shared that their activities were still restricted by the Pandemic. Mrs. May Lynn Bond, group coordinator of Western Australia based in Perth, cited their in-person house-based fellowship. “Our big activities were still restricted by the pandemic.” She said.
Mrs. Norma Van Dusen of Toronto Chapter shared the status of preparation for the next global reunion that they will be hosting next. Working committees have been created and started to mobilize while they began to scout for accommodation and venues. With the need for a three-year window of preparation and the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, the Chapter proposed to postpone their hosting to 2025 but if any chapter can take over the hosting in 2024, they will move to 2026.
After the new postponement proposal of Toronto Chapter, there was a thorough deliberation on other available options. President Gonzales noted that the Dubai Chapter, which was originally and supposedly scheduled to host in 2024, has also withdrawn because of pandemic challenges.
A consensus was made to aggressively search for a chapter that is willing to host in 2024. It was assessed that 2024 is a good and probable year at this point considering the progress as promotion year with registration deadline on May 31, 2024, and 2024 event year, with probable dates on July 4, 5, 6 or 7. If there is no chapter to host for 2024, the Toronto Chapter will proceed with the 2025 hosting. While the next global reunion will be postponed, there was a decision to proceed with the election of new set of officers in July 2022 virtually but legal advice will be explored to clarify the constitutional provision when voting members are not in actual assembly. (With reports from Ed Pormilos / CPUFOAAI)