Join us next week for 2 great events

On Monday, December 15th, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County joins together with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County and the Asian American Political Alliance for the annual Minority Legislative Breakfast. This is the 8th year that this breakfast has brought together minority business owners and advocates to discuss and focus our mutual priorities in the coming year of legislation. Please join us for a good breakfast, a discussion of our priorities, Minority Populations in Montgomery County: How Are They Impacted by Existing Policy, Programs, Initiatives and Pending Legislation, and hear feedback from local and state representatives.

8th Annual Minority Legislative Breakfast
Monday, December 15, 2008
7:30 am - 9:30 am

Registration and Coffee: 7:30-8:00 am
Breakfast and Briefing: 8:00-9:30 am

RSVP without delay

Learn more and purchase your seat in advance

Business attire.
Only 280 seats are available, so RSVP now!

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On Tuesday, December 16th, join HCCMC at Guapo’s in Bethesda for a Holiday Celebration and Fundraiser for Youth Programs! In collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, Corridor Mortgage, Law Offices of Craig A. LeVine, ReMax2000, and the Hispanic Business Foundation’s Children’s Miracle Fund, we’ll celebrate the holidays while raising funds to benefit our youth programs, which provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for learning, growth, mentorship and broadened horizons.

Come join us Tuesday to meet fellow supporters of minority youth, relax and have a good time! Admission is free (a suggested donation of $45 will directly benefit our programs and you’ll get 10 raffle tickets for great door prizes). We’ll also be collecting coats, children’s books and unwrapped toys for a holiday gift drive.

HCCMC Holiday Celebration and Fundraiser for Youth Programs
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
5-8 pm

Guapo’s Restaurant
8130 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

RSVP now

Learn more and make a donation

Sponsor this event to support programs for Latino and get an end-of-year tax deduction for giving to a charitable organization! Call (301) 332-2686 if you would like to be a sponsor (Learn more about the event).

Tags: celebration, fundraiser, holiday, minority legislative breakfast, youth programs

Media training - speaking about immigration raids, Dec. 2 @ 6pm

HCCMC has received this information with regard to a media training provided by CASA in Baltimore. If you or any one of your peers is interested in attending, please see email below. It will be held on Tuesday evening (tomorrow).

Friends and members of the Maryland Raid Response Network:

We will be holding a training for advocates, service providers, and faith leaders who are interested in gaining more skills in speaking about the issue of immigration raids in a variety of public settings, with an emphasis on developing and practicing a consistent message through media outlets, and developing a strategy for ensuring consistent, positive media coverage to further our campaign for fair and human immigration reform and a stop to civil and human rights abuses.

We hope to repeat this training again in the future, but encourage any of you that are interested to attend.  The training will take place at CASA’s Baltimore Workers Center, located at 2224 E Fayette Street, from 6pm-8pm on Tuesday, December 2nd. We will be joined by Mario Quiroz, CASA’s media specialist, and Toba Rainess, media guro from the Baltimore Jewish Council. Please RSVP to Liz Alex at ealex@casamd.org if you are interested in participating.

Tags: CASA de Maryland, immigration, media, public relations, raids

Doing Business with Corporate America

Thank you all who attended the most recent luncheon presentation on doing business with Corproate America. The presentation by Marriott Intermational’s Director of Diversity Procurement Michael Tobolski is now available.

http://www.slideshare.net/jorgerestrepo/doing-business-with-corporate-america-10-15-08-2-presentation.

The HCCMC thanks Ken Clark at the Maryland DC Minority Supplier Development Council and Michael Tobolski at Marriott for terrific presentations.

Tags: Procurement

Donate for Thanksgiving and Christmas for SEPA families

Dear friends of the HCCMC chamber,

I am appealing to your charitable nature and hope that I am not abusing our friendship.  There are 25 families in the SEPA program who are in dire need of food.  Many have lost their jobs, homes and cars.  We have some who have had fathers depeorted and mothers that are expecting a new child.  I would like to ask the members and friends of the Chamber to donate Giant or Safeway gift cards for these families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I do not want to establish an amount; I will leave that up to each individual.

Please send to HCCMC, 150 Maryland Avenue, Rockville Maryland, or drop off in the mailbox at that address, or call me and I will arrange to have someone pick up the envelope from your home or office. For more information, please email info@hccmc.org or call 301-654-9424.

* The Wheaton  High School’s Students Engaged in Pathways to Achievement (SEPA) program was developed in response to the growing needs of older high school ESOL students with interrupted or limited formal education and their families.

Wed. 11/19 Lunch Speaker Series

Michael Tobolski of Marriott International
and
Kenneth Clark of the Minority Supplier Development Council
discuss how to get business from Corporate America

And the certification as a minority supplier for the private sector
Companies such as CareFirst, Marriott International, McCormack, Macy’s, Johnson and Johnson, Disney, Verizon, and others, look for minority owned businesses for contracting out work, but the way they go about finding the right company is different from the government.  The Minority Supplier Diversity Council offers a national network of support, and provides certifications that is well regarded and respected by large corporations.

Please come, it will help you boost your access to opportunities and revenues.

Register now!

Wednesday
November 19, 2008
12 noon to 2 pm

Agio Restaurant (in the private room)
Marriott Hotel
5151 Pooks Hill Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Vote No on Question 2 - HCCMC Against introduction of gambling slots in Maryland

HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Officially Against SLOTS

          October 22, 2008. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County has taken an official position on the upcoming slots referendum.  After careful and thoughtful consideration the HCCMC has decided not to support the slots ammended included in the referendum.  HCCMC Board President Jorge Restrepo says, “The Hispanic Chamber stands for socially responsible business activity and fiscally responsible behavior. Allowing the institution of gambling slots in the state undermines both objectives. In addition, addiction and other secondary effects are most likely to impact the Latino community hardest. “

Legislative Chair David Fraser-Hidalgo says “Annapolis does not need slots it needs to learn greater fiscal responsibility. Proponents of the gambling slots  endorsement fail to realize that accepting the initiative is an excuse to avoid dealing with the hard questions of an excessive expenditure budget.  If we have learned anything from the sub-prime melt-down it is not to spend what we don’t have and the worst thing you can do in a recession is raise taxes”.  

The Chamber is also concerned with fact that slots and gambling will disproportionally affect minorities, the lower the income and education the more vulnerable.  Board Member Carmen Larsen “why do we want to encourage gambling and alcohol abuse in the state of Maryland?  We know not everyone will be a casual alcohol user or gambler.  Furthermore, what will be the total cost in state and local recourses to deal with that abuse?” 

The HCCMC believes this is not in the best interest of the Hispanic Business Community in Maryland and encourages everyone to vote against slots.   The HCCMC also encourages all residents to vote no to slots and contact your Delegates, Senators and the Governor and encourage fiscal restraint.

Tags: HCCMC, Legislation, Slots

Managing the Credit Crunch - HCCMC Lunch Speaker Series, Tues. 10/20

Tags: economy, finance, personal development, professional development

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Tags: website maintenance

GCHA Hispanic Heritage Awards 2008 - Submit your nominations by 9/12

Nomination Form 2008 UPDATED 1.doc
Nomination Form 2008 UPDATED.pdf

Ruby Stemmle
Executive Director
Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs
New Website: www.maryland.hispanic.gov

August Networking Mixer

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County cordially
invites you to join us for our monthly networking mixer on Tuesday,
August 12, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at La Tasca Restaurant & Tapas Bar,
141 Gibbs Street in Rockville town center (parking available in
surrounding areas). Bring your contact information, relax in the
company of friends and leave with new opportunities!

Free to members, $10 for non-members and the first drink is on us!

RSVP and register here: http://www.hccmc.org/events/networking.html