The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States
Serving our Community for 28 Years!
Special Edition: Congressional Reception 2019
LUS US Newsletter
The Online Newsletter of PALCUS
 
In this issue......
 
PALCUS News  
  • PALCUS 2019 Congressional Reception
  • Meetings On The Hill
PALCUS NEWS
PALCUS 2019 Congressional Reception
March 27, 2019, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
PALCUS Directors with H.E. Domigos Fezas Vital, Ambassador of Portugal
(L-R): Laurinda Clemente (VA), Manuel Geraldo, Sr. (MD), Manuel Geraldo, II (DC), 
Katherine Soares, Vice-Chair (NJ), Ambassador Fezas Vital, Marie Fraley, Managing Director (RI), Anabela DaCruz-Melo, Secretary (NJ), Lisa Morris (MA), Cynthia Russo (NJ), Daniel DaPonte (RI), Fernando Rosa, Treasurer (CT
PALCUS Government Relations in Action
Members of Congress, Ambassador of Portugal Domingos Fezas Vital, PALCUS Directors and members and community leaders assembled for the Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill held regularly following the swearing of each new Congress. The event was hosted by Congressman Jim Costa (D, CA-16) on behalf of the caucus and sponsored by Anchor Construction, Potomac Concrete, Virginia Construction Supply and Fort Myer Construction.

Speakers included Ambassador of Portugal Domingos Fezas Vital, Friends of Portugal Senate Caucus Co-Chair Jack Reed (D, RI), Portuguese-American Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs Congressmen Jim Costa (D, CA-16) and David Cicilline (D, RI-1), U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Coordinator Ronald E. Brown and Marie R. Fraley, PALCUS National Census Director. Co-Chair Katherine Soares served as Mistress of Ceremonies presenting messages from Chairwoman Angela Simoes and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Topics of discussion included Portugal-US Bilateral Relations, the Make Portuguese Count™ in the 2020 Census Campaign and the important role of PALCUS as the national advocacy organization in the Portuguese-American community.

Logo of the Portuguese American Congressional Caucus
The Congressional Portuguese Caucus logo was revealed at the reception designed by 
João Francisco, Lunaer - Media, Branding and Strategy
João Francisco and Caucus Co-Chair
Congressman Jim Costa (D, CA-16)
Rep. Costa sporting his new 
Caucus lapel pin.
Caucus Co-Chair  Rep. 
David N. Cicilline (D, RI1)
receives pin from Marie Fraley.
Congressional Portuguese Caucus   Lapel Pin 
.
Rep. TJ Cox (D, CA-21)
receives pin from 
Katherine Soares

Rep. Jim Costa (D, CA-16)
House Caucus Co-Chair.
Sen. Jack Reed (D, RI)
Senate Caucus Co-Chair.
Rep. David Cicilline (D, RI-1)
House Caucus Co-Chair
Make Portuguese Count
Make Portuguese Count

Message from Secretary of Portuguese Communities Abroad José Luís Carneiro
debuted at the Congressionl Reception.
PALCUS is grateful for the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal and the Embassy of Portugal in promoting this important campaign for the benefit of the Portuguese community in the United States.
Congressman Jim Costa with Judge Phillip Rapoza

RI Delegation with Rep. Jim Costa and Amb. Rezas Vital
(L-R) RI Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, Rep. Jim Costa (CA), Sen. Jack Reed (RI), Amb. Fezas Vital, Rep. David Cicilline (RI) and Sen. Dan DaPonte (RI)

H.E. Fezas Vital
Bernardo Goarman, President, Portugal-US Chamber of Commerce with Marie Fraley and Katherine Soares

PALCUS Charter Members Mr.& Mrs. Manuel Fernandes
of Yonkers, NY.
Catherine Hallock & Gabriella Arias Villela of Dept. of State and Talia Guzman-Gonzalez of Library of Congress with Laurinda Clemente
.
PALCUS gratefully acknowledges the Sponsors of the Congressional Reception





Meetings on the Hill: March 27 & 28
PALCUS Directors stayed on the Hill for an additional day to educate and inform 
congressional leaders about issues of most concern to the Portuguese-American community .

Topics of discussion included:

  • the results of the PALCUS Index National Survey and the changing demographics of the Portuguese-American population;
  • areas of most concern to the Portuguese-American community;
  • and the importance of the Make Portuguese Count™ Campaign in the 2020 Census.

In addition, two members were added to the ranks of the Portuguese-American Congressional Caucus, including the first Portuguese-American Congresswoman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.


Congresswoman 
Lori A. Loureiro Trahan (D, MA-3)
First Portuguese-American Congresswoman
Congressman
TJ Cox (D, CA_21)

JOIN PALCUS
Are you a PALCUS member yet?  
We are stronger together!

I f you agree with the work undertaken by PALCUS to build the social, cultural and political capital of our community, then please join us and become a member today!

Strong membership participation means a stronger voice in the national Portuguese-American agenda. In order to advance Portuguese language education, increase presence in the congressional caucuses, and provide economic opportunities, the collective voice of thousands is needed!  

In addition, PALCUS is a member-driven non-profit organization that depends on membership dues and fundraising events to fund its operations.  Members of the all-volunteer board of directors donate their time and personal funds for travel, lodging and tickets to attend networking events and planning sessions so our administrative costs are relatively low but nonetheless critical to doing business on a daily basis.

There are membership categories to suit every budget and level of interest.  Please click on our membership webpage and join our voice today!

PALCUS announces that we are now using memberplanet, a user-friendly platform that will help us to serve you better.  It is an interactive service that will allow you to update your PALCUS member profile, track donations and dues and join PALCUS circles with members of similar interests all with the click of a mouse.  
 
When you become a PALCUS member, you will be prompted to join us on memberplanet. As always your information is confidential and will never be shared without your permission. Questions? Contact Graci for more information! 


Did you enjoy this newsletter? Do you know about all the programs PALCUS offers our community? Please visit our website and become a member today! 
We can't do what we do without your support!

Newsletter Archive

Read past issues of the LUSUS Newsletter at http://www.palcus.org/#!lusus-newsletter/cbac 

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Jobs for Portuguese Speakers
Jobs for Portuguese Speakers

If you want to put your Portuguese language skills to use in your next job, there are many opportunities out there! Visit the  Jobs for Portuguese Speakers Facebook page to see some job openings.

Contact Information

Website:  www.palcus.org
Phone: 202-466-4664

9255 Center St., Suite 404
Manassas, VA 20110
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PALCUS Mission

In order to create a singular voice to advocate  for the Portuguese-American and Luso-American communities at large, the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States Inc. (PALCUS) was founded in 1991 as a non-partisan, non-profit, organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. 
 
The PALCUS mission is to address domestic and international concerns of the Portuguese-American Community.
 
The Council conducts an expanding program of educational and public affairs activities on issues of interest to the Portuguese-American community and of salience to the Luso-American Relationship.
 
PALCUS is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between Portugal and the United States. In this role PALCUS advances the community professionally, politically and culturally while working to ensure that issues directly affecting our community are addressed through our network of government and community leaders.

PALCUS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization under the IRS tax code and  incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia.  Donations are tax deductible to extent allowed by law and will be acknowledged.



PALCUS has earned the 2018 Gold GuideStarUSA Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency.  Visit our profile HERE
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