Collaborative Opportunities for Raising Empowerment

Dear Members,

As we move forward and celebrate this holiday season, CORE would like to reflect back on a transformational 2008. Despite critical changes in the leadership team throughout the year, the organization managed to conquer adversity with spectacular results. Special thanks to the volunteers, our outstanding partners (including performing artists, venues and organizations) and the members who made contributions this year.

Here are some brief highlights that were recognized at this year's Holiday Soiree...

Deepened our relationships with annual partners through collaborations including but not limited to:

Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. by serving on the organizing committee for the 3rd Annual New York Community Leadership Conference in November, partnering with Young Korean American Network, the Greater Chinatown Community Association and State Farm;
FAHSI, the Jaycees and the Philippine Consulate, through our collaborative effort with Simbang Gabi in December;
Coalition for Asian Pacific Americans, through our participation at the Asian American Heritage Festival in May and two Talk Tuesday events during the last half of the year;
Asian Cinevision, as community sponsors for several films and shorts during the Asian American International FIlm Festival in July.

Discovered or revitalized new power-through partnerships with other organizations, specifically:

Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM), by assisting their marketing drive for their grant funded cultural programs, especially Pasalubong from our Journey;
Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, by sponsoring both FIND conferences at the University of Maryland in April and Rutgers University in November;
Ayala Foundation USA, through efforts to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Frank during the summer, in two showcase benefit fundraisers, one of which was coordinated by CORE and the other by independent artists and producers;
Filipino Association at Stevens Institute of Technology (FAST), by introducing college students to CORE and the value of networking and career planning through CORE as college students and recent graduates;
ORIENTED.com, through collaborative networking socials to broaden connections between communities and increase resources.

Strengthening our membership base and process:

Coordinated 10 networking socials to facilitate interactions among members and guests; and brought back CORE's Summer Picnic to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ;
Facilitated over 10 Orientation Sessions to familiarize new and potential members to CORE and introduce them to our breadth of volunteer opportunities;
Redefined the membership application process to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for CORE and its members;
Developing a continually improving communications process through our technology infrastructure that includes a new quarterly newsletter, event calendar and website updates.

Continued execution of our fundraising initiatives through Write to Our Culture and the annual Pool Tournament. Stabilizing infrastructure in policy and process:

Building more efficient program planning and execution, to include program evaluation, stronger marketing and compliance;
Developing policies that include code of conduct, conflict of interest, contractual / partner agreements, technology guidelines, etc.;
Exploring new methods to strengthen the CORE brand, focus its message and deliver on visioning statements that improve efforts toward sustainability;
Formalizing these process to ensure compliance with funders and sponsors.

Recognition from the community:

On October 25, 2008, during their 45th Anniversary Celebration, the Jaycees honored CORE with a Recognition Award for the organization's "dedicated service and commitment to the young Filipino-American professional community."
On November 13, 2008, CORE was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation "for its significant monetary contribution to Ayala Foundation USA and its accredited non-profits with the assistance of the New York / Tri-State Volunteer Group," specifically through fundraising efforts in support of the victims of Typhoon Frank.

At the holiday soiree, we also recognized the contributions of our volunteers, our community partners, our 2008 sponsors and this year's board members. We also bestowed the highest honors to the following awardees for their contributions and participation this year.

Iris Buhay, 2008 Outstanding New Member
John Entrada, 2008 Outstanding Member / Volunteer
Marc Galindo, 2008 Lifetime Contribution Awardee
Ayala Foundation USA, 2008 Partner of the Year

All this despite so much change in the leadership team. I personally want to thank all the board members this year who contributed in the organization's success. On behalf of the leadership team, I would especially like to thank all the volunteers who assisted us in making great things happen. CORE is extremely grateful for the energy, enthusiasm and dedication you bring to our organization, who benefit immensely from your commitment.

Next year, the Leadership Team is committed to delivering at least 80 CORE-related events next year. This includes two Speaker Series events and several new partnerships, highlighted through a new relationship with the Census Bureau. We will also be launching new initiatives in fundraising and marketing, delivering a more in-depth and valuable series of membership events and services, and building on collaborations that encourage leadership development and collective empowerment. Through this process, we want to engage you, our members, so we can better serve you.

We ask you to participate with us by investing in the organization and completing our membership renewal process. You can find information on this new three step process in the newsletter. Please remember to renew by January 5 to ensure that there is no lapse in your membership. Click PDF or MS Word for the Membership Forms and email to membership@core-nyc.org or renew online.

Happy Holidays and on behalf of the CORE and its leadership team and board of directors, we thank you again for your tremendous support.

Sincerely

Mark A. Habana
Chair