Year 2007,
A New Challenge for the 2nd time around.

The Year 2007

REMEMBER THOSE WHO CAN NOT REMEMBER

Our annual Assembly was celebrated on November 18, 2006.  I was elected President of this organization for the second time in a row for which I am grateful.  Grateful to those who once again placed their trust in me.  Grateful to those who recognize that changes should be made to improve our image.  Grateful to those with a genuine interest to see our Organization continues in its quest.  Grateful for the support and commitment offered by the newly elected board, which has already begun to work diligently.

We had the services of Marilyn Diaz, Certified in Parliamentary Law, to oversee the proper function of the Assembly.  We also had Dr. Joachim de Posada as a speaker who offered us a very motivating as well as amusing session.

2006 was quite a challenging year.  We began with the series of Educational Conferences and continued with the Early Intervention group and other support groups throughout the island.  We had a Wine Tasting activity, our yearly Acuaerobics and the Memory Walk (la Gran Caminata).  Offered various educational talks island wide.  Had the privilege to have Mrs. Orien Reid, Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International visit with us and share her own personal experience with the disease under the theme “Alzheimer, a Global Challenge, The Time is Now”.  This session was enjoyed by an audience of over 65 persons.  She (Mrs. Reid) took the time to visit our First Lady, Mrs. Luisa Gándara to discuss the seriousness of the disease.  We had a press conference with the participation of Mrs. Orien Reid, Dr. Heriberto Acosta, Dra. Luz T. Amador, Dr. Waldert Rivera, Mr. Gilberto Rios, General Manager, Pfizer Caribbean, Miss Lizzie Perez, Public Relations, and various member from Corporate Communications, the organizers of this activity.  Also in attendance, most of the member from our Board of Directors.  Shortly after, we had a gala celebration where most of the people mentioned above participated.  This gala was sponsored by Pfizer Caribbean.

I had the opportunity to travel to London, England; Monterey, México and Berlin, Germany in representation of our Asociacion de Alzheimer for a Board Meeting in London, a Congress in Monterey an a Congress in Berlin.

This year, our Organization begins its 24^th year in existence offering its services to our community and this obviously means we are doing a good job.  An organization, whether for profit or non-profit usually is not considered successful until after the first five (5) years.  Obviously, in spite of some minor stumbles, we have passed the test.

I would like to think that in my having been connected with this organization for the last 5- 6 years; first as a member/volunteer, then as part of the Board of Directors as an elected member and finally its President, that I have contributed with the proverbial “grain of sand” to foresee that our organization continues on.  I realize that in every government, organization, society, business entity and matrimonies, there always are disagreements and conflicts.  It has not been any different for our organization this year.  However, I instill upon our members and those who in some way may become involved with our organization, not to allow past differences or disagreements to get in the way to deter us from our purpose and reason to be.

Last year during my acceptance speech I closed with the theme, “Your Help Today is Our Hope for Tomorrow” a theme which I used in everything I wrote.  This year I accepted the position with a new theme “Remember Those Who Can Not Remember”.  Please do not forget.

J A “Tony Salgado”

Board President 2006 - 2007