The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce of the United States (also known as the Coalition of Puerto Rican Chambers) held its Board Meeting for the fourth Quarter of 2006 in Orlando, Florida on Friday, November 17, 2006. At this meeting, the Board of Directors approved the new ”Accreditation Program” – prepared by the Cámara de Comercio de San Juan in Puerto Rico – to certify Puerto Rican Chambers of Commerce outside the Island.

According to the Coalition President Mr. Manuel Mejia, this Accreditation Program will identify those Chambers which have official recognition from the San Juan Chamber. This recognition must be then ratified by the Coalition Board of Directors. Such an Accreditation Program indicates the seriousness and importance of the work done by a Chamber of Commerce, and will discourage the creation of Chambers and similar organizations in localities where they already exist. The philosophy behind this Program is that strength lies in unity, and that the Puerto Rican business community must avoid duplication of services, dissention and division within its ranks.

The following ten (10) member Chambers were present at the meeting:

Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico (Manuel Mejia, President and Edgardo Bigas, VP); Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida (Luis De Rosa, President); Puerto Rican Chamber of the Treasure Coast(Bobby Rodriguez, President); Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida (Pablo Vazquez, VP and Ralph Suarez, Treasurer); Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach (Mike Rios, President); Florida Puerto Rican / Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Sam Lopez, Chairperson and Teresa Lopez, President); the Puerto Rican Chamber of the Gulf Coast (Elizabeth Saldana, President); Northeast Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville (Nilda Alejandro, President); the Southwest Florida Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce (Robert Perez, President) and the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Sarasota (Elizabeth Cuevas, President). These last two Chambers were officially received into membership during this meeting.

At this meeting, Mr. Frank Nieves of the Broward County Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce was removed as Vice President of the Coalition; and Mr. Pablo Vegas, Vice President of the Central Florida Chamber, became that Chamber’s official representative to the Coalition, replacing Mr. Emilio Perez.

The following activities are currently scheduled by Coalition members;

1. The Palm Beach Arts Fest and Business Conference is tentatively scheduled for early May, 2007 by the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach.

2. A Puerto Rico Relocation Expo, to assist Puerto Ricans seeking to relocate from the Island to Central Florida, has been tentatively scheduled for late May, 2007 by the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida.

3. The Salsa Cruise for the Education and Cultural Fund has been scheduled for October 28 through November 1st, 2007 by the Florida Puerto Rican / Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will take place during the first quarter of 2007 in Tampa, Florida.