The Tennessean published this list of the board members of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and among the names are Ramon Cisneros and Marcela Gomez.

Cisneros is the publisher of the Spanish-language La Campana newspaper and is also the President of the Board of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*.

Gomez is the President of Diversity Brands and the Hispanic Marketing Group.

According to the article, Cisneros and Gomez are returning members of the board. The changes, the Tennessean says, are as follows:

Bank executive Ron Samuels has been named the new chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors, the organization said Wednesday.

Samuels, the president and chief executive of Avenue Bank, replaces Darrell S. Freeman Sr., the chairman and chief executive of Zycron Inc., an information technology company.


Bert Mathews, president of The Mathews Co., a real estate firm, was named vice chairman, and Bob Grimes, marketing manager for Turner Universal Construction Co., will be secretary.

Ralph Schulz remains president, and Freeman becomes the group's immediate past chairman.

The chamber also announced seven new board members for the 2008-2009 term: Dennis Alpert, senior manager of public affairs/government relations for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; David Fox, a partner in the public relations firm McNeely Pigott & Fox; Kate Herman, president and publisher of Nashville Business Journal; Dr. Melvin N. Johnson, president of Tennessee State University; Larry Kloess, president of HCA Tri-Star Health Systems; Tom Oreck, executive chairman of Oreck Corp., a vacuum cleaner manufacturer; and Nick Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University.

Labels: business, chambers

The Tennessean posted this interview of Ramon Cisneros, president of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*.

Here is an excerpt:

In 1975, I came here to attend college. I was fresh out of high school. I stayed at UT-Martin for a couple of years, and then in 1977 I moved to Orlando, Florida, and graduated in environmental engineering from Central Florida.

I was in a very small town at UT-Martin. But because they had a big English as a second language program at the time, there were about 600 international students there, about 120 of them from Venezuela. At first, it was a pretty big cultural shock, because it's a rural area there, and the people weren't used to having foreigners around. But when we started buying in the stores, and things like that, the businesses started realizing this was an interesting group of people.

Right after graduation, or a couple of weeks later, I moved back to Venezuela and worked there for 11 years, until 1991. I started working with Exxon in the area of oil spills and environmental issues. I also attended college in Venezuela and got a master's degree in marketing during that time.

Cisneros was also profiled by the Nashville Business Journal in 2003 (story here).

Labels: chambers, immigrants, venezuela

Goodpasture Christian graduate with Cuban heritage, founded Nashville law firm

Nashville attorney Marc Walwyn is in his last year as chairman of the board of directors of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, which is more commonly associated with its President, Yuri Cunza. Walwyn addressed the group in its recent annual meeting (text of address below), highlighting increased influence and interaction with other local and national groups. Profiles of the full board are available here, including one of Walwyn:

Marc Walwyn is an attorney of Cuban heritage and the founder of the only certified minority owned law firm in Tennessee. Marc is very proud that his lawyers and staff speak to clients in their own language which include Portuguese, Korean and Spanish. While serving large American companies, Walwyn takes pride on serving families and those who need an advocate. He served as an Administrative Law Judge in Chicago before returning to his home town of Nashville. Marc graduated from Goodpasture Christian High School, obtained his B.A. from Carleton College in Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School where he served as Administrative Editor of the Wisconsin Law Review.

Walwyn's address to members of the chamber:

Dear members,

Last year has been both challenging and exciting for the NAHCC. Re energized by our successes we at the NAHCC will continue the work that will strengthen our Hispanic businesses and aggressively move the NAHCC forward.

This work cannot be done unless we all team up JUNTOS, because TOGETHER we can make a difference.

Serving as NAHCC Chairman has given me the opportunity to work with our Board of Directors to move the organization towards financial self-sufficiency.

This is a hard task for any volunteer board; I am very appreciative to those who have invested time and effort to advance the work of the NAHCC.

To our Board, President, staff and volunteers: THANK YOU for your determination and hard work.

Highlights from last year include our increased our influence and participation with the mainstream business community and government. We are here to serve our members, but to serve our members we are to work diligently, creating opportunities, building the much needed trust, creating a bridge between communities. In order to move forward the PARTICIPATION of all of us is needed.

To our members and supporters who helped us this past year, we THANK YOU for your time and commitment. JUNTOS we are creating a better Nashville for all.

Gracias
Marc Walwyn
NAHCC Chair 2006-2008

Upcoming events and announcements can be found on the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber's web site.

Labels: chambers, cuba, events, spanish

Debuts Spanish-language commercial

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* sent out this invitation to its 2008 Annual Membership Meeting:

Annual Membership Meeting
Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
DATE: Thursday February 21st, 2008
TIME: 5:30 P.M to 7:00 P.M

RSVP: RSVP@nashvillehispanicchamber.com

Our 'Annual Membership Meeting" is held every beginning of the year as mandated by NAHCC bylaws. At this meeting our members will be presented with a report about our work during 2007 and upcoming events for 2008 and programs for members of our growing business community. Start the year with new business ideas while supporting Nashville's leading Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Your input if very important, please join us!

We will reply to your RSVP with additional details including location, parking information and agenda.

View our "TOGETHER WE CAN" television commercial:

Labels: business, chambers, events, spanish

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* announced a Valentine's-themed networking event to be held on Wednesday, February 13 at 5:30pm at Ibiza:

Labels: business, chambers, events

Nashville Scene aims at those who aimed at immigrants in 2007

The 2007 edition of the Nashville Scene's Boner Awards (here) includes a category in which three local men are cited for their immigrant-related actions. Here are excerpts, with links to background stories:

Named for former Nashville Mayor Bill Boner, who set a high bar for low deeds during Music City’s dark days of the late ’80s, the Boner Awards have taken on a life of their own over almost two decades. That’s because greed, bad judgment and epic bungling never go away, despite our fondest hopes. Looking back over this year’s rancid harvest of goofs, gaffes and grotesqueries, one thing is clear: Boners are a renewable resource.
...
WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' BONERS!
...
Your “English only” amendment in Metro Council this year was the legislative equivalent of the Maginot line: a useless, expensive monument to irrelevance. [more on this Boner here and more on its demise here -Ed.]
...
This ooh-scary “theory” alleges that Mexican immigrant laborers—which he refers to loudly and often as “the illegal immigrant invasion”—are really one vast sleeper cell waiting to rise up and re-conquer the American Southwest. (That explains why so many are living in Nashville.) [more on this Boner here -Ed.]
...
The chump-change Scarface tried to give himself a $10,000-a-month salary with a $450 car allowance on the chamber’s dime. About a month after the story broke, he was fired from his chamber position and called “a cancer” on the Hispanic community by board members. We think “Boner” also fits the bill. [more on this Boner here and here -Ed.]

Photo by Emilie Eagan. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Labels: chambers, immigrants

From the Nashville Symphony:

For our special Christmas concert, why not bring in the very man who gave us "Feliz Navidad," a holiday classic known around the world? Singer and guitarist José Feliciano also known for mega-hits "Light My Fire" and "Que Sera" - is widely recognized as the first major Latin artist to cross over into the English-speaking music market, paving the way for so many big-name talents who came later. His signature sound, familiar from nearly 70 albums he's recorded throughout his career, will make this holiday celebration truly unique.

Discounts available through the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

Click HERE to purchase tickets or call 615.687.6400. Please mention this announcement for a special 20% discount thanks to our NAHCC member Nashville Symphony www.nashvillesymphony.org

Labels: arts, chambers, events

Two active Hispanic chambers of commerce attract their respective followings in Middle Tennessee

Information current as of November 2007

The most basic thing to know about "the Hispanic chamber" is that there is often more than one.

As of November 2007, there are two active Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Two other chambers are now defunct. The Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber was disbanded earlier this year by its founder Eva Melo, who continues to organize events in town (like this holiday party, also December 4 but not at the same time as the Nashville chamber luncheon). The incorporation of the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce lasted only a year - from June 15, 2006 to its administrative dissolution by the State of Tennessee on August 27, 2007.

Labels: business, chambers

The Nashville Business Journal published this story announcing the holiday luncheon of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, to be held December 4 at Scarritt-Bennett:

The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Susie Gray Dining Hall at the Scarritt-Bennett Center, 1008 19th Ave. S. in Nashville.

The menu will include turkey and the all the trimmings and attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food to donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Cost to attend is $18.95 per person plus tax. For more information contact the Hispanic Chamber at 615-216-5737.

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are two active Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Two other chambers are now defunct. The Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber was disbanded earlier this year by its founder Eva Melo, who continues to organize events in town (like this holiday party, also December 4 but not at the same time as the Nashville chamber luncheon). The incorporation of the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce lasted only a year - from June 15, 2006 to its administrative dissolution by the State of Tennessee on August 27, 2007.

Labels: business, chambers, events

Eva Melo and Telefutura Channel 42 are hosting a networking night at the Trace on December 4 at 5:30pm. Melo used to head the now-defunct Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The text of the invitation is as follows:

Join us for a
Holiday Networking Night

You're Invited!

Please join Eva Melo and Telefutura Channel 42 for a festive night of networking at the TRACE in Nashville on Tuesday DEC 4th from 5:30-7PM. Hors d'oeuvres provided. Cash bar. There is no charge for this event. Please bring your business cards and come socialize with us.

RSVP

RSVP before Friday, November 30th and you will receive complimentary valet parking and a drink voucher. You can RSVP by replying to this e-mail or at eva@latinmarketcommunications.com

Sponsored by Telefutura Ch. 42, Nashville's first Spanish language TV station.

The Trace
2000 Belcourt Ave
Nashville,TN
Tues. Dec. 4
5:30-7PM

Labels: chambers, events

From the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*:

NAHCC 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony
Tuesday October 9th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Country Music Hall of Fame
~ 222 Fifth Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37203 ~

We cordially invite you to participate of our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony to take place Tuesday October 9th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th-October 15th) recognizes and celebrates the rich cultural, economic, artistic, political, scientific, social and educational influences and contributions of Hispanics throughout the United States. This celebration was sanctioned by a U.S Congress joint resolution on September 17th, 1968. Twenty years later, on August 17th, 1988, President Ronald Reagan extended it to a month long celebration from September 15th to October 15th.

This year our event will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 9th and will have outstanding guests and other Hispanic business and community leaders as well as the recipients of our 2007 Hispanic Recognition Awards for outstanding work and achievements in business, education, art, cultures and community.

Please celebrate together with us as a united community in Nashville. Your support is very important.

Live music, silent auction, h'orderves, cocktails and more!

For more information about this upcoming event and to reserve your tickets please contact Alejandra Peña Rodriguez at : info@nashvillehispanicchamber.com

www.nashvillehispanicchamber.com

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501 6 non-profit business organization. The NAHCC keeps the highest level of accountability on sponsorship funds received or other corporate contributions. The mission of the NAHCC is to help Nashville become a better place to live, work and visit by creating positive environments conducive to business growth, education, integration, and cultural appreciation. Partnerships with corporate members wishing to fund NAHCC programs and events are subjected to Board of Director's approval and are primarily to support educational causes and/or empower entrepreneurship opportunities as well as mainstream business member initiatives not restricted to the Hispanic entrepreneur or market.

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are two active Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Photo by Chris Wage

Labels: business, chambers

Contribution by Cesar A. Muedas
As reported a few days ago in this website, the Nashville Symphony recently named Costa Rica native Giancarlo Guerrero as its next Music Director. The 38-year-old conductor was unanimously selected to be the Symphony's 8th Music Director by a 12-member search committee, half of whom were musicians from the orchestra.
Last night marked the first returning engagement of Maestro Guerrero this season in a program that included the world-renowned violinist Midori. Furthermore, the Symphony extended a gracious invitation to close to 30 Hispanic residents of middle Tennessee as special guests who also joined the conductor in a “meet-and-greet” gathering immediately following the performance. The adjacent photographs show part of the group (members of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*) and a candid moment between the maestro and Ms. Renata Soto, who is a fellow Costa Rican and executive director of Conexion Americas.

*Hispanic Chamber clarification - There are two Hispanic chambers of commerce currently active and with offices located within Davidson County: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Labels: arts, chambers

The Tennessean's Midstate Datebook lists tomorrow night's mayoral runoff debate, co-sponsored by the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals:

Saturday, Aug. 25
Mayoral debate

What: Nashville mayoral runoff candidate debate

Who: co-sponsored by the Davidson County Young Democrats, the Davidson County Young Republicans, the Middle Tennessee Urban League Young Professionals, the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and the Nashville Junior Chamber of Commerce

When: Seating for the debate ends at 6:40 p.m. for the televised 7 p.m. debate.

Where: Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music, 2400 Blakemore Ave.

Why: For 60 minutes, the runoff candidates will answer questions important to the next generation of Nashville leaders. The debate will be aired live on local television.

How: Free admission but advance tickets required. For tickets, please e-mail your name, phone number and number of tickets requested to nashvilleyoungvoters@gmail.com.

Photo by Chris Wage

Labels: chambers, justice

Relaunch of Tennessee Hispanic Chamber

The Hispanic Nashville Notebook has free tickets to a preview screening of El Cantante, the story of salsa singer Hector Lavoe, starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony (official movie site here, review here). The preview screening is at 7pm Wednesday, August 1, at Green Hills Regal Cinemas and is also being used as a kickoff event of the "new" Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, according to chamber President Ramon Cisneros.

For tickets, e-mail the editor of the Hispanic Nashville Notebook. The only information required is your name, your occupation, and your contact information, but extra consideration will go to submissions attaching original photos of anything related to Hispanic life in Nashville (for inclusion in the Hispanic Nashville Scrapbook).

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are at least two active Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is redefining itself after the ouster of its former President (story here).

Labels: arts, business, chambers

Ramon Cisneros, board chairman and acting president of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, is distributing a clarification of his quote in the Tennessean about the immigration bureaucracy modifications proposed by a group of U.S. senators this week:

My quote was..

"This is a country of laws, Undocumented immigrants break the law just as much as those who employ them and the government that fails to enforce them. An Immigration Reform is needed to return everyone to a system of laws"

The Tennessean wrote...
"We have to restore the law... These illegal immigrants are breaking the law."
...
I thought I needed to clarify this.

Ramon Cisneros

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: in alphabetical order, the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber was incorporated in 2006 (the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) but no activities have been announced.

Labels: chambers, immigrants, justice

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* announced its participation in the traditional intercity tourist oriented visit organized by the joint efforts of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau. This year's delegation visited the Baltimore and Washington D.C. region. The Tennessean reported on the trip here.

NAHCC President Yuri Cunza joined a powerful and diverse group of delegates in a very strategic community and regional development initiative that focused on showcasing best practices and lessons learned in a variety of timely issues and projects.

The attendees this year included Mayor Bill Purcell, Vice Mayor Gentry, Congressman Jim Cooper, former Congressman Bob Clement, Orrin Ingram (Ingram Industries), Tammy Geneovese (CMA), Butch Spyridon (Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau), Dr. Pedro Garcia and others.

The leadership of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is determined to lead with the example by joining in support of initiatives that will advance our community as a whole. "In an effort to be more prepared as we become active participants in shaping the future of our growing community, attending this year's study mission trip will definitely help us position the issues of relevance to our growing Latino population in Nashville as well as the city at large," says NAHCC President Yuri Cunza.

The Nashville delegation of more that 147 business and community leaders returned to Nashville on Tuesday, May 8, 2007.

Highlights and topics considered**:

* A visit to the Washington, D.C. Convention Center for a panel with hospitality and neighborhood leaders;
* A reception for our federal legislative leaders and other D.C. guests, coupled with a unique focus on the importance of our music industry with a "behind the scenes" tour and songwriter's performance at XM Satellite Radio;
* A look at Washington's emphasis on branding;
* Discussions with Washington museum leadership about the creation of a museum for today' visitors; in addition, a session at Baltimore's newly opened Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture;
* The role of higher education in a community with a focus on economic development;
* Community support for sports venues and entities;
* Public education, including charter schools;
* Arts, history and culture as an economic engine; and
* Waterfront development.

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: in alphabetical order, the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber was incorporated in 2006 (the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) but no activities have been announced.

**Source: Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Labels: business, chambers

Eight-year control by founders comes to a forceful close

Board Chairman Ramon Cisneros continues as acting president

Robert Chavez has been permanently removed from the presidency of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce*, marking the first time in the eight years since its inception that this chamber does not have a founder serving as its President. The control of the organization was tightly held by its two founders Greg Rodriguez and Robert Chavez. Rodriguez served as President until his death in June 2005 (story here), when Chavez was named his successor (story here). The way the pair obtained and maintained authority at the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber was one of the reasons the separate Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* was formed, according to the December 9, 1999 edition of the Tennessean:

"Less than three months after the public launch of a Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a rival Hispanic chamber is vying for members and political stature. Founding members of the second organization said they were dismayed that the first chamber's founders appointed themselves to administrative positions and didn't get a consensus from the Hispanic business..."

The Nashville Scene broke the story here that the Board of Directors would let Chavez go after suspending him earlier this year (the Scene also broke the story of the suspension here and ran a cover story here describing Chavez's alleged bad behavior, which was the apparent reason for the suspension itself.)

The Tennessean reported that, with Chavez's departure, the long-running rumors of a merger between the various Nashville-based Hispanic chambers* are circulating again (story here). Some Hispanic Nashvillians believe that having two groups is unnecessarily divisive, but Yuri Cunza of the Nashville Area Hispanic chamber is quoted in the article as saying that there are legitimate reasons for separate groups.

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's press release is below:

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has decided not to restore Robert Chavez as its president. By a unanimous vote the board of directors decided it was best to move forward under new leadership.

'We thank Robert Chavez for his assistance and taking the helm during a period of transition several years ago. We want to be very clear that Robert was not guilty of any unlawful acts against the Chamber. It was a matter of philosophical differences. Ramon Cisneros, board chairman will continue as acting president until the election of another president,' said Peter Woolfolk, public relations advisor to the Chamber.

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the three active chambers (in alphabetical order) are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber was incorporated in 2006 (the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), but no activities have been announced.

Labels: business, chambers

May Celebration Networking Night

Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Invites you...

to a Chamber networking night on TUESDAY, May 1st from 5:30PM to 7PM at the WILLIAMSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1314 Columbia Ave, Franklin, TN 37064. $5. All meetings are in English. Everyone welcome.

Directions: I65 to Franklin. Take a right at the exit onto 96/ Murfreesboro Road, Go straight until you hit the Franklin Square. Go around the roundabout and take a right on Main Street. Take a left on Columbia. It will be on your right. 1314 Columbia Ave.

Labels: business, chambers

Free admission to Mexico and Modern Printmaking exhibit

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* invites its members and guests to meet at the Frist to see the magnificent art exhibition honoring some of the most renown mexican printmakers such as Diego Rivera, Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siquieros and others, currently on display at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville.

Mexico and Modern Printmaking: A Revolution in the Graphic Arts, 1920-1950 examines the vital contributions made by Mexican and foreign-born printmakers working in Mexico. The exhibition features 125 prints and posters by 50 artists, including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, who, while best known for their revolutionary murals and paintings, made extraordinary contributions to the field of printmaking, which they embraced because it could reach a wide audience with their political message.

The exhibition also features works by some American artists affiliated with the Taller de Gráfica Popular, a celebrated cooperative print workshop founded in Mexico City in 1937. Playing a crucial role in sustaining the ideals of the Mexican Revolution, the workshop printed limited-edition works to capture the attention of international collectors, as well as mass-produced posters and leaflets intended for widespread distribution to the native populace.

FREE admission and complementary parking for NAHCC members and guests on April 5th, 2007 is made possible thanks to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.

NAHCC members wishing to attend please call Loraine Segovia or Alejandra Rodriguez at 615-216-5737 or via e-mail info@nashvillehispanicchamber.com

For additional information visit us online at: http://www.nashvillehispanicchamber.com

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber, the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was incorporated in 2006. Earlier this year, the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber suspended its president Robert Chavez and appointed Ramon Cisneros as interim president (story here).

Labels: business, chambers, mexico

Chamber under investigation

Original press releases below

Robert Chavez has been temporarily suspended from serving as President of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, its board of directors announced in a press release yesterday. The Tennessean is also reporting that "[t]he Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is under investigation by the Charitable Solicitations and Gaming section of the Tennessee Secretary of State's office, Todd Kelley, the division's director said Wednesday."

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (THCC) is one of four Hispanic chambers in Middle Tennessee (the four chambers were recently reviewed here).

Chavez was the subject of last week's Nashville Scene cover story, in which allegations about Chavez and his conduct cast a negative light on the Chamber leader. The article also stated that Chavez suffers from a lack of trust among Hispanic Tennesseans, which may be supported by the relatively low representation of Hispanics in the THCC membership - 18% of all members - compared to the Nashville Area and the Franklin Hispanic chambers, both of which have about 50% Hispanic membership (see article here).

The story of Chavez's suspension was picked up by WKRN (including an interview with Chavez following the suspension), the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Business Journal, Newschannel5 WTVF, the Nashville Post, and The Tennessean.

The THCC press release, and a responsive press release by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, are below.

Chavez's personal bio on the THCC web site is here.

TENNESSEE HISPANIC CHAMBER SUSPENDS PRESIDENT

The Board of Directors of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has
voted unanimously to suspend its president, Robert Chavez, from serving
in that capacity for a minimum of ninety days pending further actions by
the board.

The board's actions were based upon a recent cover story in The Scene
which called into question certain actions of the president and the
board's concerns over the resulting negative implications of the article
on the Chamber.

In a subsequent action, the board appointed as acting president Ramon
Cisneros, the Chamber's vice president.

During the period of suspension, the THCC Board members will review all
available information and make decisions based on their findings.

NAHCC CHAMBER REACTS TO THCC PRESIDENT’S SUSPENSION

The NAHCC Board of Directors through its chairman Marc A. Walwyn releases the following statement:

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce supports the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's decision to fully investigate the allegations brought against its president in relation to his THCC involvement.

Despite the fact of not having a established relationship with the THCC, some of their Board Members such as Miguel Torres and Ricardo Santiago are recognized by our organization for their active participation and support of advancement opportunities for our emergent Hispanic business community and community at large.

The NAHCC fully supports its members, business owners and the community and will provide any and all resources to ensure ethical business practices are followed.

Labels: chambers, negativity

There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber, the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was incorporated in 2006. Middle Tennessee's Hispanic chambers closely track the geographic distribution of non-Hispanic business groups such as the Nashville, Tennessee, and Williamson County-Franklin chambers, as pointed out by the Hispanic Nashville Notebook in this recent article.

The latest on these four chambers is below.

Nashville Area Chamber membership meeting February 21

NAHCC Annual Membership Meeting
February 21st 2007
5:30 pm-7:00 pm

Every year the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosts this meeting at the beginning of the year as stipulated in Article XIII Section 1 of our bylaws to offer members an opportunity to learn about the work of our organization, upcoming projects and about opportunities for volunteer participation.

This year the NAHCC will introduce its newly elected Board of Directors for the 2007-2009 period. We are proud to announce that the following members have been elected to serve as officers:

Marc Walwyn, Chairman
Luis Bustillos, Vice-Chairman
Chalene Helmuth, Secretary
Loraine Segovia, Treasurer

Please confirm your attendance via this RSVP link or e-mail us at RSVP@nashvillehispanicchamber.com

Franklin Chamber networking night February 27

The Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invites you to a Chamber networking night on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 at 5:30PM at TORTILLAS MEXICAN BUFFET AND GRILL, 1401 Liberty Pike Suite 400 Franklin, TN 37067-8648. Bring your business cards and make some new friends who share a passion for diversity. Nashville and other area businesses welcome. All meetings are in English. Cost is $5. If you would like to host a meeting call 615-599-0045.

Tennessee Chamber President under fire

The Nashville Scene dedicated last week's cover to Ismael "Robert" Chavez, the President of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The piece focuses mostly on Chavez's alleged personal and business affairs outside the Chamber, and how he is viewed among Hispanics locally and at the national level. Where the article addresses the Chamber directly is to allege that the Chamber is out of compliance with state tax laws governing non-profits. Furthermore, according to the article, the Chamber's board of directors recently proposed audits "to keep our finances clean and our affairs transparent" and called for elections in which past presidents would be excluded from running.

The next event on the Tennessee Chamber's web site is a June 25 golf tournament.

Middle Tennessee Chamber establishes web presence

The Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is online (here) and has attracted at least one major sponsor (AIG), but the Hispanic Nashville Notebook is not aware of any Middle Tennesee Chamber events since its 2006 incorporation.

Labels: business, chambers, english

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* sent out invitations for its 2006 Holiday Party, to be held Wednesday, December 20, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. See the invitation to the right for more details.

The invitation does not list the location of the event, but sponsor Las Cazuelas on Nolensville Road is the likely venue. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations in support of Second Harvest Food Bank.

RSVP at info@nashvillehispanicchamber.com or (615) 216-5737

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber was incorporated this year (the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) but no activities have been announced.

Hispanic Nashville Datebook

If you know of an event that should be listed in the Datebook, please contact the editor.

Labels: business, chambers

Plus: Christmas party this Friday December 15

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce* has announced an ambitious agenda of cooperation with Hispanic business groups in Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. A press release is below, and the Nashville Business Journal published this report. The groups were brought together by the law firm Frost Brown Todd.

Pledging regional collaboration to further advance their members, several key leaders of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in Cincinnati, Louisville and Tennessee ("Trio") met recently at a summit sponsored by the law firm of Frost Brown Todd LLC and its Hispanic Business Initiative. Representatives from the Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber, Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Greater Louisville’s Hispanic Latino Business Council, a GLI affiliate, planned to offer expanded business opportunities for their members in 2007 including:

* Assisting Latin American countries in business development initiatives including locating in the Mid-American region,
* Sharing resources such as a consortium on construction and hospitality enterprises,
* Business and career expos for Hispanic businesses,
* Educational seminars presented at all locations,
* Offering Scholarships to Latinos and other international employees, and
* Helping Hispanics with communication and education regarding doing business in the U.S.

The impact of Hispanics on local economies is great, according to Alfonso Cornejo, President of the Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber. Hispanics in the Cincinnati area contribute $2.3 billion per year to the local economy.

The Trio plans to meet again in early 2007 to implement some of the initiatives discussed in the summit, as well as to extend an invitation to the newly formed Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Tennessee Hispanic Chamber is also throwing its Christmas party this Friday at Bill Heard Chevrolet:

THCC ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE AND CELEBRATION

To benefit La Voz Campanitas Navideñas 10th annual to benefit the Latino community

Live music!! Authentic Mexican Holiday food!!

DATE
Friday December 15, 2006

TIME
6 PM to 10 PM
Registration begins at 5:30 PM

Registration/Entrance fee includes bringing a new toy
(still in its original package and unwrapped)

Sponsored by

Posada Navideña

PLACE:
Bill Heard Chevrolet Grand Show Room
5333 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Antioch, TN 37013

Registration:

Members: $25.00 plus a new toy

Future Members: $35.00 plus a new toy

Hispanic Nashville Datebook

If you know of an event that should be listed in the Datebook, please contact the editor.

*Hispanic Chamber 101: There are four Hispanic chambers of commerce in Middle Tennessee: the first three are the Franklin Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessean profiled these three chambers in this article in June 2006. A fourth chamber was incorporated this year (the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) but no activities have been announced.

Labels: business, chambers

On Saturday January 6, 2007 at 3:00 pm the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Organization (HOPE) will host a FREE Spanish-language forum at the Main Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, TN 37040.

Officials of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Justice will explaining the laws governing discrimination in housing, employment and Public Accomodations; how an employee can get paid when their employer refuses to pay them and identify federal Community programs to stop discrimination. There will be a question and answer session at the end of the forum.

Labels: chambers, spanish

The Tennessean reports here and the City Paper reports here that the Metro Council did not pass the proposed language ban on third reading last night (most recent story here). Instead, a final vote on the ordinance alternately called "English First" or "English Only" was postponed until February.

The media will spread this story far beyond Nashville: the (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union has already published this AP report, which frames Nashville's action in this area as a big city considering whether it wants to join the growing number of small towns aiming ordinances at both legal and illegal immigrants. Update: a Google news search shows that as of 10:45am, publications in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina, as well as the International Herald Tribune, have already picked up the AP story.

The City Paper article described opponents of the ban appearing "en masse" at the Council hearing last night, while supporters were silent, if not absent.

The AP report contains this quote: "[The sponsor] deferred this because he didn't have the votes,' said Ralph Schulz, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. 'It cruised through the first reading, passed the second and tonight it was not passable.'"

The ban's sponsor said that the measure is misunderstood and that he would attempt to educate his fellow council members in the coming months.

Labels: chambers, council, english, immigrants

Final vote on ‘English First’ bill expected tonight - Nashville City Paper

Hispanic chamber urges defeat of English-first bill - The Tennessean

Previous stories on this topic appeared here and here in the Hispanic Nashville Notebook.

Labels: chambers, english

"Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." -Letter from Birmingham Jail

The Tennessean reports in this article that a plan to make Nashville's 2007 parade celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. the biggest in the country includes an outreach to Hispanics.

"About 7,000 people attended the Martin Luther King Day Parade earlier this year. The event included services at the Jefferson Street Baptist Church and an outdoor program with music and performances that was geared to younger people."

"But this latest effort to beat Atlanta — think the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Tony Giarratana's 65-story tower, which would be the tallest building in the South — is fueled by a desire to realize King's dream of including all people."

"Organizers are reaching out to more whites and Hispanics, many of whom have participated in the past, as well as to Asian and Kurdish residents."

"Yuri Cunza, president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said Hispanics' participation made sense even though the black quest for civil equality in the 1960s was different from the current Hispanic struggle."

"'It's only natural for a population like ours to relate and embrace and respect that history,' Cunza said. 'Ours is a different struggle, but at a human level and civil rights and human rights level we can relate to them."

"'We want to be there for them as we would want them to be there for us.'"

The Hispanic Nashville Notebook turned to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Letter from Birmingham Jail as a voice for inspiration in 2006 (story here).

Labels: chambers

Update 11/22: Language ban passes second of three readings

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition circulated this action alert for a response to three international bans before the Metro Council tonight. This is the second reading for the proposed language ban, and the community is again asked to wear yellow as an expression of solidarity.

More information on the three international bans is available in yesterday's Hispanic Nashville Notebook, here.

Update November 22, 2006 6:00 a.m.: The language ban passed its second of three hurdles by the minimum vote necessary. The other two international bans were suspened indefinitely. Related stories below.

The Tennessean - result of vote, mentioning opposition of more than 100 people including "Japanese, Colombians, Kurds, Somalis and more"

WKRN - Result of vote, with focus on Hispanic community and Nashville Chamber position (video)

Nashville City Paper - Result of vote, mentioning "light applause in one section of the audience and dead silence in the other"

The Tennessean - story today on English-learning program in Nashville

WPLN - story before the second vote, on English-learning in Nashville

Labels: chambers, council, english

City's reputation at risk

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has joined the chorus of voices questioning the wisdom of three bans that are currently pending before the Metro Council - a language ban, a landlord ban, and an employer ban - all relating to internationals living in Nashville (column published by The Tennessean here). The three pieces of legislation are up for a vote Tuesday night. The three bans are the latest in a series of legislative proposals from the Council that would have an adverse effect on internationals. The previous bans considered by the Council were a sidewalk ban and a taco ban.

Michael A. Carter, vice chairman of small business for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is quoted as saying that the new bans "will damage Nashville's international reputation as an open, inclusive and increasingly diverse community." Carter further points out that "[t]he Nashville region is increasingly competing for economic recruitment in the international arena, and, collectively, the proposed ordinances send a negative and unwelcoming message to relocating companies, particularly international companies that employ large numbers of foreign-born populations."

A lot of newsprint has been spent on the language ban. Various letter writers expressed their opposition to the language ban in this article and also in this article. Yuri Cunza, president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (not the same as the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce), penned this column opposing the language ban. An editorial earlier this year in support of language respect was written by Virginia Scott and is here. Translation for internationals in transition has been applauded by both the Nashville City Paper and The Tennessean. (The Tennessean's editorial on the wisdom of the landlord ban is here.)

English-learning is thriving in Tennessee, as are efforts to reach out to non-English speakers, as indicated by this article in September 2006 about Volunteer State Community College's efforts to assist non-English speakers with their transitions; this article in September 2006 about the Marshall County Library's refusal to impose a language ban on its collection; this report in June 2006 about Nashville public schools' success in converting English learners to English-speakers; this story in May 2006 about legal rights forums directed at Spanish-speaking immigrants, sponsored by the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission; this story in March 2006 about Metro Schools Director Pedro Garcia's reaching out in Spanish to Hispanic parents; this article in December 2005 about the efforts of Middle Tennessee YMCA and Girl Scout programs to integrate Hispanic and bilingual students; this story in October 2005 about Senator Lamar Alexander's proposal to offer a $500 credit and other incentives for prospective citizens to learn English;
the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary's discipline of a Middle Tennessee judge in September 2005 for improperly conditioning a mother's custory rights on her ability to speak English (story here); this story in July 2005 about Metro Police's use of volunteer interpreters; and this story in June 2005 about Cracker Barrel's English-learning programs for employees.

More background on the status of the language ban is available in this previous article on the Hispanic Nashville Notebook.

Nashville ranks 47th nationwide in linguistic diversity (story here).

Labels: business, chambers, council, education, english, negativity<