A Note from our President (Spring 2003)
By Elena Del Valle - LNA Worldwide Communications

Dear HMCA members and friends:
Over the last year, we have offered you opportunities to hear from local and national presenters on Hispanic marketing related topics. We partnered with national companies and organizations such as International Quality and Productivity Center in November 2002; Strategic Research Institute in January 2003; Public Relations Society of America, Hispanic PR Wire, Hispanic Public Relations Association in February 2003; and the MFM Group in May 2003. We have also expanded our geographic reach by offering events in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Our next event, for example, will take place in Fort Lauderdale on June 4.

These events and alliances have been possible thanks to thevision, hard work and dedication of our board members. Special thanks are due Mayra, our loyal and dedicated vice president and newsletter editor, who took our newsletter from hard copy to e-letter and has contributed countless hours to HMCA business. The time has come for her to focus on her new company and pass the newsletter to other good hands. We wish her success!

During the Board’s April strategic planning meeting, we reviewed our existing strategic plan (posted on the HMCA website), and sketched out basic plans for the short and long term. As we enter our seventh year of operations, we realize we need a staff person to help take HMCA to the next level of excellence.

As a result, we have decided to seek grant funding and sponsorships in order to hire a part or full-time executive director. In this regard we can use all the help we can get. If you know a company who is seeking exposure to Hispanic markets and would like to sponsor us, please let us know. We will follow up with them and recognize your support. If you are aware of any grants that we might be eligible for, please pass that information along as well. Help us help HMCA grow for your benefit. Your assistance, suggestions, ideas and support are welcome!