Thank you, thank
you....muchisimas gracias!!!
Yes, we can!!!!! Si, Se
Puede!!!!
I want to first begin by
thanking 6 women who aren't just my friends...they're my sisters:
an amazing campaign
manager Vicki Adame and tireless advisors/leaders Yvonne Latty, Rebecca
Aguilar, Sylvia Jauregui, Maria Burns Ortiz and Joanna Hernandez.
None of this would have
been possible if not for you....las quiero con todo mi corazon.
I want to thank the
dozens of supporters, NAHJ members, colleagues and friends in and outside our
industry who supported me these last two months, encouraging me to keep
positive...amazing people like Monica Rhor, Veronica Villafane, Ivan Roman,
Daniel Morales, Ramon Escobar, Joe Rodriguez and countless others. Thank
you from the bottom of my heart.
I want to thank my
family at ESPN, who only after hiring me a few short months supported my
journey to run for NAHJ President, understanding how important this association
is to me and all of us. To ESPN, PepsiCo, United, General Motors, Univision and
our many sponsors -- thank you. You are our partners and make many of the
projects, services and programs NAHJ champions possible.
I want to thank my
family....certainly my wife Adriana.
She's the foundation
that helps me "keep on, keeping on".
And while she isn’t here
– I think it important to recognize her love and support.
I want to recognize Russell
Contreras and all of the candidates who ran for board positions. The path to
lead is paved in sacrifice...we all thank you and hope that regardless of the
election outcome....you will actively participate in restoring NAHJ.
I ask that all of
you...help me salute president Michelle Salcedo and the current board. Thank
you...due, in great part to your decisions - NAHJ is still here for all of us
and the community we serve.
NAHJ Nation....there are
no obstacles we cannot overcome together.
I, confidently accept
the position of NAHJ President....knowing in my heart that no matter what
challenges are ahead - I am not facing them alone. This isn't an association
led by one person or a few. It is a nation of journalists, students, associates
and others who will come together and restore NAHJ.
We will restore NAHJ's
financial stability.
We will restore NAHJ's
reputation.
We will restore NAHJ's
pride.
While NAHJ must
continue to make conservative decisions on spending, it will not be at the
cost of core services to members and sponsors.
We need to grow again
and create new revenue streams by actively fundraising. The board, the local
chapters, sponsors and you -- the members of NAHJ will be key in our success.
Student members
currently represent the majority of NAHJ's membership. They are not just the
future of NAHJ....they are its present. You will have the right to
decide NAHJ’s leaders.
The National Association
of Hispanic Journalists has a proud history of speaking out for, on behalf of
and support in the fair treatment of Latino journalists. NAHJ advocates for the
proper representation of Latinos employed in the media, the training and
education of its members and engages in debate that promotes the fair and
accurate coverage of the Latino community.
As President, one of my
main responsibilities will be to lead the Board in ensuring the
association is faithful to that mission.
My vision is not only
for NAHJ to fight for a just media system, but to lead the discussion towards
that end. We must nurture relationships with media companies in order to
assist them in reaching goals and avoiding questionable practices. It
is only through those “enlaces” that NAHJ can help develop strategies that can
be measured and held accountable.
Massive journalism
cutbacks have ousted many of our dedicated members, some lifetime members from
the industry. They may now be working in the public relations or communications
field, but they're still journalists at heart. Let's welcome them back home and
get them a seat at the table. This isn't the time to segregate, but unify NAHJ.
Their experience will help the association cover new relevant ground.
Aquí también se habla el
Español. La Associacion de Periodistas Hispanos no es solamente para los
latinos en los medios de inglés.
Tenemos que ofrecer mas
servicios, oportunidades de empleo y mas apoyo a los miembros que trabajan en
medios en español.
NAHJ leadership will be
clear and inclusive in the decision-making by allowing members to voice their
opinions and participate in the process.
We will have an
open door policy for members to have their voices heard and feel respected. No
one person can claim success or failure. We win or lose together. Unidos
hacemos la fuerza.
NAHJ NATION...the saying
in Las Vegas goes "what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas. Don't let that happen.
Let members, sponsors,
like kind associations and friends from the Big Apple to South Beach...from the
Windy City to don't mess with Texas...from the Rockies to Hollywood know --
that we, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists came together, put
aside our differences, united at unity 2012, daringly facing the challenges
before us and in one powerful, confident voice said --- YES, WE CAN....SI,
SE PUEDE!!!!
