PROFESA, Present and Future
by
Edwin A. Cordero, MD.
The Present
Welcome to PROFESA's blog!
Today, the Puerto Rican Professional Association (PROFESA) continues to move toward the future with the introduction of this communication tool. As is our tradition, it is our hope, desire and duty to utilize all means of communication to advance the directives and goals of our association, the only association dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the Puerto Rican Professional.
We will be celebrating our seventh year of existence this coming December, an achievement we embrace with pride. From the founders to the current Board, all volunteers committed to servicing our members and bound by our love of Puerto Rico, the organization has maintained a straight path leading toward community recognition and presence.
Anchored in our founding pillars of NETWORKING, EMPOWERMENT and CULTURE, we have been able to achieve very formidable goals. Through our dozens of networking events, many connections, friendships, and business deals have been conceived. We are the only Puerto Rican organization that publishes a Professionals and Business Guide listing Puerto Rican professionals and their businesses. Our Speakers Series offers a more educational, formal venue to learn about important subjects impacting the professional and business communities.
Our charitable contributions have no equal when it comes to a grassroots organization in South Florida. This has been one of our most important instruments of empowering our compatriots. Without grants or government assistance, we are happy to announce that last year we founded PROFESA's Scholarship Fund, of which we are truly proud, and awarded scholarships to three Puerto Rican students at Carlos Albizu University. We also provided funds to NACOPRO, Open Door Health Center, needy families going through medical crisis and many others. As has been our tradition, last year once again, we partnered several Puerto Rican organizations sponsoring local events and freely distributed information promoting these events throughout our over 3000 contacts. Our Jobs Opportunities/Jobs Seekers Service continues to be utilized by hundreds of individuals and companies both local and all over the United States and Puerto Rico. More than 50 jobs connections were made last year alone and our feedback from the business community has been fantastic.
Culture, the flag that keeps together the Puerto Rican Nation, is the cement of our organization as well. In South Florida, we are fortunate to have a wonderful organization dedicated to showcasing and preserving our beloved culture and traditions: The Puerto Rican Cultural Center of South Florida. We want to publicly acknowledge the unparalleled work they have done for this community. Our organization also promotes the culture by supporting local Puerto Rican Artists such Saria Mo, an upcoming talented photographer, by featuring Puerto Rican artwork in our Professional and Business Guide and by celebrating the Octavitas Tradition, held this year at Alcazaba Lounge, Hiatt Regency, Coral Gables. In the past we have held multiple art exhibitions, as well as hosted concerts and musical events.
PROFESA is 501 (c) 3, a not-for-profit organization, which generates all its income from membership renewals and donations made during sponsored activities such as our Golf Tournament. This unique event, the only one of its kind organized by a Puerto Rican organization in South Florida, not only shines brightly in our crown of achievements but after seven consecutive years has become a tradition among our members, partners and friends. This year, our Seventh Annual Charity Golf Tournament, was held, very successfully, at Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Silver Course on June 23. Due to carefully controlled finances, our organization has always been able have financial stability, no significant debt and still be able to donate much to the Puerto Rican community of South Florida, while maintaining a high professional image.
The Future
We at PROFESA continue to look for ways to improve the quality, services and communications of our organizations. At this moment we are actively working on our new PROFESA.org web site to build it into an interactive, useful tool that you will be able to utilize to gather information not only about PROFESA, but also events in Puerto Rico, surveys, forums and galleries which allow you to exchange information with other Puerto Ricans all over the world, and much more. Soon, items such as the PROFESA's Distinguished Puerto Rican Professional and Puerto Rican Professional-Virtual Hall of Fame will be up and running. We will also be starting a membership drive and have a number of networking and Speaker Series events in the planning stages. We will continue supporting and strengthening our Central Florida chapter and their recently elected board.
We are very excited about PROFESA's future. Hopefully this upcoming year our organization will reach another glorious step in its ladder of achievements. Remember if you are a Puerto Rican professional or business person wishing to be part of this progressive movement, do not wait any longer. Join us and enjoy the ride. Become a Profesista today!
PROFESA today, PROFESA tomorrow, PROFESA always!
