Hello everyone. I can’t believe that it is already 2011. It was twenty years ago when this association (West Michigan Filipino-American association, WMFAA) was founded. With the help, dedication and unconditional support of everyone, this association bloomed and prosper on what we are today.

We started our celebration during our recent Valentines Party that a little flower was given to all the ladies who attended this event.  Music and Sound System was provided by Russ Kruizenga; our volunteer photographer Fred Powell took a lot of photos and published them in our Facebook (www.facebook.wmfaa.com); Randy Reed is the Emcee for the night; George Bailey is the Chairperson of this event with the help of Nora Tan as his co-chairperson and the rest of the Board of Officers and Board of Directors present that evening made this event an enjoyable event. It was a fun night, everyone enjoyed the evening.

There is a list of our planned activities for the year 2011, including our “Pista sa Nayon (April 30, 2011)” and the annual Christmas Party (December 10, 2011) where we are going to invite all the Presidents, Officers and Board of Directors who lead us all through the years. We would like to acknowledge our past Presidents (Teri Zaratan, Vilma Abbgy, Minnie Morey, Remi Kuklewski and Faith Vant’land). We are also going to check out the WMFAA Scholarship Awardees, where they are now and what are they doing; the “Beauty for a Cause” participants, the WMFAA Beat under the tutelage of Perla Scott (Dance Instructress) and its dancers who provided entertainment in our events,  and the volunteers who have supported us in all of our endeavors.

Our planned activities include our annual picnic, the Halloween Party and Children’s Christmas party with our Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus (Mitch & Marlene Jordan).

WMFAA is again planning to join several parades in our neighboring communities including the Holland Tulip Festival, the July 4th Parade and the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival to name a few. We would like to increase our visibility in West Michigan and beyond.

The list of our planned activities is listed in our Event/Activities section of our website.  Please check it out.  You can pick and choose what events you want to participate and join in some of them or join them all; the more the merrier….

As we move forward to 2011, let us pray that we grow bigger and stronger in our relationship with each other. I am very positive that our economy will rebound like the old days.  Life is too short, let us enjoy every moment of it.
From the WMFAA administration, we thank you all; our donors, supporters, volunteers and all the members in helping us to carry out the job associated with our positions.
Again, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to serve you as your President of this association, WMFAA.  May GOD bless us all.  See you soon in our forthcoming events. 
Cynthia Sasota-Wright