​Each year, the U.S. Border Patrol and local volunteers help make the Women’s Seminar successful and offer attendees a chance to interact with professional mentors. The event brings together women who wants the opportunity for employment and connects them with people who help them reach sources giving them the confidence they need to succeed. These topics are what people have interest and want information on. “Our community is passionate about providing all people the opportunity to realize their human potential.”
In addition to the great guest speakers, we had work stations offering advice on beauty, finance, career mentoring and cyber-security. Also, women who are stay at home moms or work from home, had the opportunity to network their home business or re-connect to the work environment.
This year the DRHCC along with Ford sponsor the Wall of Hope, which are our Cancer Survival Heroes.
This special conference is designed to help develop yourself professionally and find fulfillment on everything you do. There is absolutely no limit to what you can achieve, especially when you have the right tools, the right plan and most important, the right attitude, and that is what this conference was all about. “We had the opportunity to spend the day with the most inspiring professional women and networking with women who are facing the same life situations you are. By far a meaningful day you won’t forget.”
“Often what women lack the most is confidence, so this event is a great first step to help women entering or re-entering the workforce to be prepared with the soft skills they need to succeed throughout their working lives.”

​Del Rio Hispanic Chamber members attend the TAMACC Quarterly meeting in McAllen, Texas.
President Otila Gonzalez, Secretary Dora Alcala, and assistant Judith Montalvo traveled to McAllen Texas February 16 through 17th to attend the Quarterly Board of Directors’ meeting of TAMACC.  The leadership of TAMACC in partnership with the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in McAllen and the Camaraderie de Comercio International presented a jam packed agenda of seven workshop sessions on Friday.  1. How to do Business in the U. S., TAx Tips and New Laws for Small Businesses, Immigration Update Under Trump Administration, Benefits of Certification of HUB and Women-Owned Businesses, Chamber Master Program, How to increase Your Membership through Benefits and, Understanding the Structure of a Chamber, Role and Responsibilities of Board of Directors. These sessions share information that is beneficial for all members.  I encourage more business owners and Directors to attend at least one meeting a year and we must make an effort to open our doors to TAMACC by planning to host one of these meetings in Del Rio.
Saturday’s 9:00 AM to1:30 PM meeting of the Board of Directors’ robust agenda included discussion of opposition of the 20% Tax Proposal on Mexican Imports and tentative plans for a Legislative Reception to be scheduled, to the upcoming BusinessConvention and Expo in the Fall scheduled to be hosted by the Irving Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Otila Gonzalez - President

​Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Ms. Dora Alcala, was recently installed as the new President of the local chapter of the International Good Neighbor Council.  Mrs. Estela Naranjo, International President of the organization, came in from San Antonio, Texas to do the honors.  The installation ceremony was held at the Sunblossom Room of Ramada Inn, with Mr. Joel Langston serving as Master of Ceremonies and attended by a capacity number of supporters and invited guests that included representation from Laughlin A.F.B, IGNC officials from Monterrey, Mexico, members and guests.  Mr. Alfredo Diaz,of Monterrey, Mexico and president of the organization in Mexico was in attendance as was the Vice President Ms. Trinidad Ibarra who resides in Eagle Pass.
The Local IGNC plays a central role in the October activities of Fiesta de Amistad in our community, as they are the organizers of the Abrazo Ceremony and the International Parade.  Throughout the year, this organization promotes friendship and goodwill between our sister cities and between the US and Mexico.  Their work is to share similarities and to celebrate differences, a task that they do well.
Otila Gonzalez - President

​Representatives of The Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gathered in  El Paso and its surrounding  communities plus Irving, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Seguin, Killeen, Austin, Brazoria, Fort Worth, Midland/Odessa, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, to name a few,  for  the 41st Annual Convention and Business Expo of TAMACC,  the leading Hispanic business organization in Texas since 1975.  The Del Rio delegation consisted of DRHCC President Otila Gonzalez, immediate past vice president Dora Alcala, and DRHCC secretary Judith Montalvo.  The delegation carried a variety of promotional items for distribution at the exhibit hall along with local products such as copies of the Grande Magazine and locally produced Peanut brittle which was donated by Kurt Lemp of Ranch Candies.  Drawings were held every hour for bags of candy and bottles of Val Verde wines which drew folks to the booth, where they were able to view a video of Del Rio and surrounding area attractions such as the Amistad National Recreation Area, San Felipe Creek, Val Verde Winery and its vineyards and olive orchards, Laughlin AFB, Ciudad Acuna, and local events.
   Along with networking opportunities, workshop sessions were attended as time permitted away manning the DRHCC booth.  One of the presentations discussed how the Overtime Expansion law will affect businesses when it goes into effect December 1.  This new law is raising what’s known as the overtime salary threshold.  The salary threshold is the number below which all workers have as right to overtime pay, regardless of their duties.  As of December 1, the new threshold will be $47,476, which is roughly double the present threshold.
   Next year’s Convention will be held in Irving Texas and we hope that our members can make plans to attend.

​The Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was one of the proud sponsors of the two-day Rodeo event held by the Rotary Club of Del Rio July 1-2, 2016 at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds.  The two nights of family style entertainment were the beginning of the long week-end of celebration organized by the City of Del Rio and its partners with the goal of making this year’s Independence Day celebration the best ever in honor of our country’s birthday! 
   The rodeo enjoyed maximum participation in all the children’s events and all other rodeo events throughout the evening to the cheers of a capacity crowd.  Some members of the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are also active members of the Del Rio rotary Club, which s common occurrence in communities of our size.  We all work towards making our community the best that it can be and for this, personal involvement if front and foremost.
O. Gonzalez