2001 LULAC National Convention Information LULAC LULACLeague of United Latin American Citizens NEWS NEWS May/June 2001 $4.50 ourth Annual LULAC Legislative Awards Gala John Ruiz: An Interview PERMIT NO. 92 NO. PERMIT With the irst TX Latino Heavyweight CORPUS CHRISTI, CORPUS PAID Champion in History U.S. POSTAGE U.S. NONPROIT ORG. NONPROIT One of the highlights of the convention, as always, will be the Presidents Message LULAC elections, as our members gather from all over the 50 states and Puerto Rico to choose our national leaders. The LULAC Youth D will conduct their own workshops and also elect their leadership. ear Brothers and Sisters of LULAC: The 2001 Exposition will be our biggest ever, featuring For- It is time once again to pre- tune 500 companies, government agencies, colleges and universities, pare for the most exciting event and others displaying their products and services while also recruit- in the Hispanic community, the ing new employees at our Job Fair. LULAC National Convention Last but not least, you can expect to be thoroughly entertained and Exposition. This year’s throughout the convention as we travel to Phoenix’s most exciting event will see us gather in one of venues and bring together some of the best entertainment to keep you the most exciting cities in the dancing, laughing and having a great time. Southwest, Phoenix, AZ, for a I personally look forward to this year’s convention for several week filled with celebrity speak- reasons. I hope to be elected to my final term as LULAC National ers, important seminars and top- President so that I can continue to represent LULAC nationally and notch entertainment. lead the organization to new heights. I also look forward to the Phoe- Our 72nd annual conven- nix convention because it grants us the unique opportunity to ad- tion gives LULAC the exciting dress the most important issues currently facing Latinos in the state opportunity to address issues of critical importance to our commu- of Arizona and nationwide. nity in one of the fastest growing Latino markets in America. You I hope to see you all in Phoenix! can expect to hear from cabinet secretaries from the Bush Adminis- Sincerely, tration, members of Congress, local elected officials, top academics, and respected business and community leaders. We will form our new policy platform for 2002 and bring LULAC’s issues to the forefront. Seminars and workshops will fea- ture expert panelists addressing the issues that affect our communi- ties the most, from human rights on the border to 2000 Census redis- Rick Dovalina tricting. LULAC National President LULAC Index: The Numbers Tell the Story 1 # of Latino Heavyweight Champions in History (John Ruiz) 20 Percent of New AIDS Cases Contracted by Latinos 52 Percent of Annual Earnings of Latinas vs. White Males 62 Percent of Annual Earnings of Latino Men vs. White Males 150 # of Homes LULAC Provided El Salvador Quake Victims 7,000 Participants Expected at LULAC Natl Conv. in Phoenix $215,000 Amount Raised by LULAC Relief 0und for El Salvador eventually led to a success- Taking Steps orwards ful completion of her degree this May 2001. LULAC National Secretary Theresa Filberth recently completed “You really have to set graduate work and received her master’s degree. She completed re- your goals, make yourself ac- quirements for a Master’s Degree in Occupational Technology from countable to your own goals, the University of Houston. and make adjustments where Although completing her first degree was no easy task in itself, needed,” she said. “Where Theresa’s vision of a more difficult, higher degree was not within the ability may be insufficient, scope of her immediate sights. However, four years ago a few key effort can make an astonish- individuals encouraged Theresa to undertake the arduous task of be- ing substitute. And above ing accepted into graduate school. all, never say never.” Theresa proceeded to study all summer preparing for the Gradu- LULAC congratulates ate Record Exam (GRE) and took a course or two to raise her grade Theresa on her outstanding point average. Once accepted, Theresa took one class at a time which achievement! 2 www.LULAC.org LULAC NEWS • May/June 2001 ourth Annual LULAC National Legislative Awards Gala Celebrating 72 Years of Service to the Latino Community his was by far one of the best events I Jack Kemp, and California Congresswoman have ever attended in the city of Loretta Sanchez were honored with LULAC “TWashington,” said award-winning ac- National Legislative Awards. tor and Master of Ceremonies Tony Plana. The black-tie event was attended by “The script was superb and the program was members of Congress and the Congressional both exciting and riveting.” Hispanic Caucus, new members of the Bush The event referred to was LULAC’s administration, corporate executives, foreign Fourth Annual Legislative Awards Gala held ambassadors, and many Hispanic community in Washington, D.C. this past March 13, leaders. Verizon Communications’ Victor 2001. Gathering hundreds of business and Cabral served as the Gala Chair. community leaders at the J.W. Marriott downtown, the ceremony awarded three Presidents Award Photo by Luis Nuño Briones oustanding national leaders who have worked LULAC National President Rick Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) throughout their careers on behalf of the His- Dovalina presented the prestigious 2001 smiles as she receives the 2001 LULAC Legislative Award. panic community nationwide. LULAC President’s Award to former First “We hold this event to recognize and Lady and New York Senator Hillary Clinton Senator, I want to continue working for the show our appreciation for those national (D-NY). Senator Clinton was honored for goals that we set. I don’t think any family leaders who go to battle day in and day out her work on behalf of children and families should be denied healthcare and I want to to improve the lives and conditions of the for the last thirty years. work with you to ensure that every family has Latino community,” said Rick Dovalina, “Latinos continue to be the highest per- access to quality, affordable healthcare,” she LULAC National President. “We also make centage of the population without health in- said. an attempt to call attention to some of the surance,” said Dovalina. “During her term as She also discussed education and eco- critical issues that currently face Hispanics the first lady, Senator Clinton worked tire- nomic opportunity for America’s children and on a daily basis.” lessly to improve access to healthcare through- said we must promote small business in the This year’s awardees included New out the country.” Latino community. York Senator Hillary Clinton, who received Sen. Clinton brought that commitment “We have to do more to lift up small the LULAC President’s Award. Empower to the White House, where she led the fight business, which is the backbone of the His- America Director and former congressman for affordable health insurance for children panic community in this country, and to rec- of working ognize the accomplishments of our small families, ex- businessmen and women, and our profession- panded child als in every walk of life,” she added. care and after Sen. Clinton concluded by asking ev- school pro- eryone present to continue working hard and grams, made said that she can be counted on as a strong adoptions voice for the community in the Senate. easier, and in- “From our census, we now know that creased support Hispanic Americans have moved to the fore- for children and front of leading the 21st century image of families in the America. We must work so that every Latino adoption and child in New York, every Hispanic child in foster care sys- Chicago, every Chicano in Texas, every child, tem. She reiter- no matter who he or she is, can be told that ated that plat- they have a place at the table that is set by form to LULAC. America. That should be our goal and that is “I want to what LULAC has stood for all of these years,” pledge to you she said. that as the sena- tor from New National Legislative Awards York and as a The evening’s first legislative award was United States presented to Empower America Director and Photo by Luis Nuño Briones LULAC National President Rick Dovalina bestows the 2001 LULAC Founder Jack Kemp. A former nine-term con- President’s Award on New York Senator Hillary Clinton. gressman and Secretary of Housing and Ur- LULAC NEWS • May/June 2001 www.LULAC.org 3 business, to get access to capital, access to credit, access to education, and access to property,” he said. The second legislative award was pre- sented to Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA). She was awarded for her hard work and dedication to the Latino community in the House of Representatives, specifically on the Education Committee. She opened her remarks by emotionally noting how much the award meant to her be- cause it came from her own people. “Sometimes we are hardest on our own. And when someone like LULAC recognizes the work I have been doing, it is with deep felt appreciation that I thank you,” she said. The congresswoman spent much of her time speaking with tears in her eyes as she Photo by Luis Nuño Briones recalled the difficulty of her childhood and Photo by Luis Nuño Briones Empower America Director Jack Kemp the discrimination that her parents experi- Verizon’s Victor Cabral, Vice President of receives his 2001 LULAC Legislative Award International Policy and the 2001 Gala enced throughout their lives. from LULAC Vice President for the Chairman, highlights LULAC’s award- Northeast Regla González.