President's Message
President's Report- A Year End Review
The year is over and what a successful and wonderful year it has been for which we are grateful. I thank you for the great honor of being president of Silliman University Alumni and Friends @ San Diego. I am proud that I could work with such nice and responsible colleagues like you. Thank you for your dedication and thank you for sharing your talent. We enjoy what we do, how we do it and for whom we do it.
I am delighted to summarize all the important events and accomplishments of 2011.
Support for Silliman University and Alumni
An important goal of SUAF is to maintain its ties with its Alma Mater by being an effective partner in supporting its programs, initiating projects for the benefit of the university, and involvement in its activities through membership with SUACONA. This year, SUAF sponsored one of the rooms in the newly established Student Center, a service center for the students. Rooms in the Center include the offices of the Dean of Students, Student Organizations and Activities Division, Guidance and Testing Division, Student Government, Council of Student Organizations, and student publications, the Weekly Sillimanian and Portal.
The Scholarship project is an ongoing project of SUAF. The program helps deserving students obtain a high standard quality college education in Silliman University. Quite a unique program, it appropriates scholarship money to a single student chosen in the selection process the opportunity for free tuition and books until graduation as long as the GPA requirements are met. Our scholar, Jason Tubog, so far has been consistent.
SUAF also created a new committee, OSA (Outstanding Sillimanian Award) Committee to facilitate in endorsing a nominee for the award. We are proud to nominate our member, Tenette Esperat, for the OSA. Her credentials, accomplishments and service are manifestations to the motto, Via, Veritas, Vita making her truly deserving of the award.
Community Outreach
We also participated and contributed to the well-being of our community, San Diego. This summer, a group of SUAFers joined other organizations to help clean up the river for a healthy environment.
SUAF also conducted two fundraisers to help the Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego in its mission to provide a home-away-from-home for families with a hospitalized child being treated for a serious, often life-threatening illness.
The recent calamity that devastated the Philippines, typhoon Sendong, prompted SUAF to immediately respond and send aid to the victims through SUACONA.
Member Activities/Outings
To foster fellowship among members and their families, outings are regular activities. There were quite a few this year - the Carlsbad Flower Fields in the summer, and apple picking in Julian in the fall. Likewise, we held our annual picnic at the Embarcadero with fellow Sillimanians from the LA chapter joining us. In February, we also visited Mrs. Appleton, an early missionary of SU in Pasadena for her 100th birthday.
Besides fellowship, it's important to note that members also care for one another when it comes to helping members relocate, visiting sick members and their families, or conveying tributes when there is death in a member's family.
Fundraising Campaigns
Remarkably, we have had four this year. First, we had the induction dinner dance for the new officers of 2011-2012. It was the biggest fundraiser in the history of the organization having raised the most amount of revenue in any fund drive we’ve had. The goal was to support the scholarship project and the organization's treasury. Then we had the two fundraisers for the Ronald McDonald House Charities to help families of sick children get free overnight accommodations. The Souplantation fundraiser and Pennies with a Purpose just did that. The last fundraiser and the most recent one was the Christmas caroling. The purpose was to kick start the campaign for the library project next year.
Visits from Dignitaries
A first for SUAF was a visit from the president of Silliman University to San Diego. SUAFers welcomed the opportunity to meet and greet and listen to President Ben Malayang and his wife, Gladys, give a talk concerning the state of the university.
Rev. Nihal Attanayake, director of UUCP, was one more dignitary to visit San Diego and met some of the SUAF members at a presentation in Escondido. The Rev. had his theological training at Silliman.
Recognition
One of my greatest pleasures is to recognize members for their outstanding work for the organization. These members were also recognized at the Christmas party. What would it be like without their commitment and for putting in the extra effort and the extra hours for any task given to them to make things happen? We do take notice, we do appreciate what they do, we do value it, and we are grateful. And we thank them for refusing to make excuses!
Ligaya Simpkins For her commitment and professionalism in handling all matters pertaining to the Scholarship Program and OSA in addition to being the Ways and Means committee chairman. She is also the most engaged and conscientious Vice-president I've known. Fely Narvaez For her loyalty to SUAF; for being the person that everyone contacts for information; for being the coordinator of all activities and putting things in order for the organization. Amy Buluran For her generosity to SUAF and sought-after advice on important decisions. Oswald Esperat His idea of the SD Portal Xtra was a huge contribution to SUAF that made us known and admired in the Silliman community. He demonstrated that distance is not an excuse when help is needed (His family lives in Texas, by the way). He let Technology bridge the gap to work as an editor of the newsletter. John Olivar He works quietly behind the scenes yet he has endorsed great ideas to the organization. OUR RISING STARS Alma Lavergne For stepping forward as the new Membership Committee chairman; for helping out in any way she can; for participating in all activities; Precy Garrido For being the single person handling the Albertson's fundraiser for 9 cycles now; for representing SUAF in social events.
And to the members who do not take the limelight without whose hard work SUAF would not function.
Financial Condition of SUAF
Despite the many projects the organization has undertaken this past year, the organization’s treasury remains sound with the help of the fundraisers and increase in membership. The financial statements are always available to members upon request.
A Look Ahead in 2012
I would like to share with you my thoughts on the months ahead. Next year promises to be just as active as 2011 even with the new challenges ahead. I am sure that once again, I can count on all of you. You are all, whatever your role and responsibilities, indispensable to our organization.
Future Projects:
- Project to give tribute to the missionaries of Silliman University. SUAF will partner with Silliman University in this project. Gaya Simpkins is the head of the project. She also conceived the idea.
- Mira Mesa Library. Replenishment of the inventory in the Filipiniana section of the library.
Future Social Activity:
- Santa Catalina Island outing.
- Proposed sports competition with the LA chapter in the summer.
Future Fundraiser:
- Casino fundraiser
Thank you all.
Laarni Catague Gularek
President, SUAF@SD