A vigorous membership campaign has been launched this summer by FARV to under gird its fundraising activities. Overarching these major drives is the organization's development of communications and public relations tools.
For an annual membership fee of $25., FARV members can avail themselves of programs and activities that will educate them about immigration issues, naturalization and citizenship assistance, education and internship opportunities for Filipino American youth, political issues affecting individuals and families.
Membership can bring Filipino Americans closer to movers and shakers of the Republican Party in the Old Dominion, from state government to local counties' boards and commissions.
Membership will also give training opportunities in raising money and goodwill for the organization's treasury, how to run and manage a business, how to identify privileges as an American citizen, how to lead in a fast changing world, how to lobby for the community's interests.
Members are also encouraged to develop and present their personal goals as Republicans, a move that is expected to bring out the voices and concerns of Filipino American citizens in Virginia.
So far, FARV, as a GOP pilot project in political empowerment and participation, has covered 20 cities across the state and the counties of Northern Virginia. Its goal is to raise FARV membership from the state's 96 counties and 40 cities before November 2004, said Vellie Dietrich-Hall.
"But specifically, we are working at a membership that represents 90% of all the cities in the Commonwealth before the onset of November 4, 2003," she said.
FARV is also developing a Web site as well as a print newsletter. It has a news group/E-mail list serve organized last July. Its Web site will be activated at the end of August.
In an energetic move, it has linked its activities to the GOP in Virginia, as well as to various GOP events in Northern-Central Virginia. Meeting and greeting people in fundraisers of political candidates allow FARV members to personally connect with leaders, stars and rank-and-file of the party coming from all corners of the state.
For instance, FARV members were invited to meet Rep. Frank Wolf in the kickoff fundraiser of Kamal Nawash for the State Senate as well as Rita Thompson a candidate for the Fairfax County School Board and other party stalwarts. Congressman Wolf outlined his campaign against the DC commuter tax during the event.
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