A Happy and Prosperous New Year 2017 to all! As we start 2017, we look forward to the schedule of work ahead of us in the coming months. Our last project of the year was a great success because of commitment on the part of everyone who participated in it and I personally thank you for it. We look forward to the progress that our leaders have planned for our community and we see some of that progress in the infrastructure projects developing throughout the city. We look forward to a new administration in our country and hope for a stimulated economy to improve workers’ wages that, in turn, will circulate many times through large and small businesses alike. As we look forward to better lives in a peaceful world, we look to see what our individual roles will be in the scheme of things. We all can make a difference somehow! The Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce can use your talents! As a member of the chamber, please consider our mission, consider your abilities, and consider serving in some capacity.
“The mission of the Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is to lead the efforts that strengthen and support small, minority’s and women-owned businesses; stimulate and advocate for business growth, development and opportunities; promote excellence in education; promote awareness and preservation of the Hispanic Heritage.”
Let’s make 2017 the greatest of years for Del Rio!
Otila Gonzalez

​Congratulations to Mr. Polo Del Rio on the re-opening of his restaurant Cripple Creek! It was a long-awaited event and it finally happened in January.   A special thanks goes to Mayor Robert Garza and his staff for hosting the January meeting and for  presenting the State of the City report and all the progressive projects that are being explored, modified, or implemented to make our community a better place in which to live and do business.
 February is a month filled with special days celebrating special people past and present.  February is the month of our Valentine’s Social at Border Federal Credit Union, Black History is celebrated all month long and this year there is an extra day to celebrate as 2016 Leap Year.  Ground Hog Day, Lincoln’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, Washington’s birthday, Levi Strauss (what would we do without jeans?).  We hope that  the days leading up to February 14th businesses will enjoy  a large volume of traffic  as it is probably the first big business day of the new year.  Please allow us to work with you to promote your business, keep sending information for the Weekly Blast and the Newsletter
Congratulations to all our new member businesses that received their plaques in January.  We look forward to your partnership and your participation.
Otila Gonzalez - President

​On behalf of the DRHCC I would like to wish you a happy and prosperous new year! As we begin the year 2016, we look forward to monthly calendars filled with activities to promote our member businesses and our community in general. While we were shocked and saddened by the tragic accident that claimed the life of one of our directors and injured three others, we rejoice in the recovery of the survivors and look forward to their involvement in 2016.  
   ​The schedule of meetings for the Hispanic Chamber will remain as in the past. Membership meetings will be held the second Thursday of each month. The Board of Directors will continue to meet on the last Monday of the month unless it falls on a holiday. We will strive to bring to you interesting and informative presentations from dignitaries and leaders from within our community and from our surrounding areas. With your cooperation and participation we hope to have a successful event in April and the very important Gutierrez Scholarship Dance event in June that will enable us to give more scholarships to deserving students this year.
   ​We encourage you to continue to use the weekly Blast and the monthly Newsletter to promote your businesses. The Newsletter will feature one of our directors each month so that you may get to know and call upon us. We look forward to serving you during the coming year.
Otila Gonzalez - President

​Greetings to all and my sincere wishes of joy and prosperity as we enter the 2015 holiday season!  In our last issue of the newsletter we welcomed the newly elected directors to our board. Having some vacancies that had yet to be filled, it is now my pleasure to introduce our newly appointed Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, Mrs. Cristina Guerra Valdez. Mrs. Valdez serves as an administrator for the Val Verde Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and brings to the new position a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.
   ​The new Director of Economic Development and Small Business is Mr. Juan Gallegos. Mr. Gallegos brings to the organization his experience from Sul Ross University-Rio Grande College Small Business Development Office.
   ​We are fortunate and happy to have these talented individuals committed and ready to serve you. On behalf of the board of directors we look forward to the opportunity to work for you in an effort to help make every business member a successful and prosperous one.
   ​A very Merry and blessed Christmas to all from your Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Upcoming DRHCC Board of Directors election.

Positions are for a two year term : October 2015 – October 2017.

Note = Board candidates must adhere to term limits requirement.
Cannot serve more than six consecutive years – 3 each two year terms.

Visit www.delriohispanicchamber.org for a review of the current By-laws.
Please review and submit nomination form by 5 p.m. August 17, 2015. Email submissions are welcome.

Paulo Pacheco, Nominating Committee Chair– Please ask prospective nominees to begin attending Board and monthly meetings so they can become orientated and decide if they would like to and can commit to the duties of the position they may assume if elected.

Remember 2016 is the 10th anniversary of our Chamber.

By Carmen Gutierrez - Chamber President
Strengthening our community’s ties with Laughlin AFB has been an ongoing effort for many years.   
This past year, Wing Commander Col. Hastings met with community leaders and various organizations to develop a strategic approach to Del Rio’s commitment to safeguard Laughlin’s position in our community.  
The goal in this “P4 initiative” is to have Laughlin become a more integral part of our community.  Several concepts were identified as key and include:  Quality of Life, Safety and Emergency Response, Grow Your Own/ Training and Education, Public Works, and Business and Economic Development.  Committees were formed to tackle concerns or issues in each concept.  
Your Del Rio Hispanic Chamber, the Del Rio Chamber, and the Texas Workforce Commission have been working on the Spousal Employment Program (Quality of Life issue).  All committees met monthly to report share ideas and report their progress.   
Implementation phase of these ideas has begun such as “Hosting an Airman for the Holidays” and although there was a change in command for the 47th Flying Training Wing, the end of June, we know the good work will continue.  Welcome to Del Rio Col. Thomas Shank.