Akbayan - FANEW
By Manuel Moraleda

There is a Filipino-American organization in NE Wisconsin, called Akbayan-FANEW. Its members are Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in and around the cities of Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. The organization was formally organized four years ago. We had our Fourth Annual Christmas Party Celebration on Dec. 2, 2006 at Monarch Gardens in Appleton, Wisconsin. During the party, 269 members, guests and visitors attended. The celebration was highlighted with the crowning of Mrs. Marieta Hermitanio, 2007 Akbayan Queen of the Green Bay chapter. Congressman Tom Petri from the 6th Congressional District of Wisconsin, the guest speaker, crowned the queen. There were seven other winners from the different area chapters. They made up the 2007 Akbayan Queen and her Court. It was a truly memorable occasion!

Akbayan means helping each other shoulder-to-shoulder and FANEW is the acronym for Filipino-Americans of Northeastern Wisconsin. We call each member, "Akbayan." We are a non-profit organization recognized by the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue with the issuance of a Certificate of Exempt Status (CES) number by the department.

We would like Filipinos living in NE Wisconsin to know that Akbayan-FANEW, Inc. has kababayan members with open arms ready to welcome them. The elected officers are: President-Nestor Delica; Vice-President-Will Finch; Secretary-Judith Lim; Corresponding Secretary-Imelda Druke; Treasurer-Dorie Huss; Asst. Treasurer-Zenny Duenas; Auditor-Dr. Lorenzo Cruz; Public Relations Officer-Manuel Moraleda; and Business Magager- Cely Delica.

To provide ease of communication to members due to the large area covered in NE Wisconsin, the group decided to appoint representatives (contact persons) in each chapter. The area reps are: Dr. Norma Cruz-chapter rep for Green Bay and surrounding areas; Marilou Lett & Mildred Lamere-chapter reps for Oshkosh and surrounding areas; Joey Tucker-chapter rep for Fond du Lac and surrounding areas; Gloria Finch-chapter rep for Appleton and surrounding areas; Mary Kitowski-chapter rep for Menasha and surrounding areas; Monina Thatcher-chapter rep for Princeton and surrounding areas; and Anne Beggs-chapter rep for New London/Clintonville and surrounding areas.

Akbayan-FANEW, Inc.: 423 Mustang Lane, Fond Du Lac, WI 54935, ph. #920-926-0029, e-mail: www.akbayan-fanew.com