ADNAA Northeast 2004 Review

The ADNAA Northeast Chapter headed by Ms. Connie Robles, 2004 Board President, had a very fruitful year of alumni activities and events. Despite being miles and miles away from their Bicol homeland and their beloved Ateneo, this determined group bonded together as Bicolanos and strengthened values and traditions as Ateneans. Ms. Connie Robles summarized their past and future activities in this 2004 Review.

ADNAA NEWS
January 2005

2004 in Review

In order to know where we are going, we should look back to where we were. As I review our agenda last year, we should all be happy and proud of what we’ve done as a group. We strengthened the foundation of our association by:

1. Streamlining and developing an exclusive ADNAA email system to communicate efficiently to each other. This eliminates the tedious travels to meetings and we always have a quorum. Today, there are 57 bona fide, blue-blooded Ateneans in our circle and counting. I invite those of you who are not in the system to send me an email to be included (Csarny2@aol.com).
2. We formulated an accounting format that is easy to follow and that meets IRS accounting requirements for not-for-profit associations. We are continuing to work on putting safeguards in our account.
3. We established regular communications with ADNU’s Admission and Aid Office to clarify issues on our Scholarship Program. To date, we graduated 3 College students who are now gainfully employed; we are sending 4 College and 12 High School students to school and our perpetual fund is all accounted for. (Click here for details on how to donate for scholarships)
4. We mailed 4 newsletters to members with no email addresses and an invitation to our Christmas Party to keep them informed and involved.
5. Through our various working committees (please refer to previous ADNAA News) we made:
   • 2 fund raising trips to Atlantic City;
   • Raised scholarship money from our BBQ sale in Passaic;
   • Participated in the 6th International All Ateneo Alumni Association Convention in Toronto;
   • Sponsored the Ateneo Night for the Peñafrancia Fiesta and
   • Closed the year with our Annual Christmas Celebration with songs, fun and a strong sense of camaraderie that hallmarks our activities.
6. For the first time in this year on review, we offered the “lifetime membership” category of $250.00 per member. We raised $1,500.00 for our general fund with 6 members contributing.
7. We continue to update our membership directory and recruit Ateneans in the Northeastern US for our listing to expand our networking capabilities.

What’s our plan for 2005

From our membership suggestions, we are looking forward to:

1. Weekend Holy Retreat – March 19-20, 2005 (as part of Holy Week observance) – Boojie Amador – Chair
2. Summer Picnic – July 3,2005 – (Sunday of July 4th Celebration) – Nilda B. Largoza – Chair
3. Peñafrancia Celebration – September 16,2005 (Friday, Ateneo night) – Bobby Palanca – Chair
4. Christmas Celebration – December 17,2005 (Saturday) - weekend before Christmas – next ADNAA President – Chair

We agreed to hold our election at our Summer Picnic in July. Please note our activities in your calendar now. Make time to help ADNAA, our support and networking group as Ateneans and Bicolanos here in America and the helping hand to poor but deserving students in Bicol though our Scholarship Program.

Thank you to all our officers and members who contributed Time, Braun, Brain, Money, Home and Resources to make 2004 the year that it was. As we would all say – Dios Mabalos na marhay. Let’s make 2005 even a better year! ANIMO ATENEO!!!!

Connie San Andres-Robles
ADNAA, USA
Northeast Chapter, Inc.