Dear Fellow Members of UPAA-W,
Siony and I wish you the best for 2016 … and beyond. May all your dreams and wishes come true — wish for more quality time with family, wish for happiness, long and healthy life, and other dreams that make extended life worth living.
Two thousand fifteen closed another chapter in the long history of our association, a chapter worth reminiscing down the road due in large part to the high commitment of many of our members and the very able stewardship of our immediate past president, Ike Pahm. I echo the numerous kudos and congrats already sent Ike’s way by other members for his invaluable contributions to UPAA-W, not the least of which was the successful launch of our website. As cited by Fe Visaya in her note of thanks, the “website brought our operations to the digital level of 21st century organizations.” Several attempts were made in previous years to develop a UPAA-W website but nothing came into fruition. One reason for this was the cost/benefit factor. Ike, with his computer expertise was able to surmount this issue. Thus, our dream of a UPAA-W website, standing on its own, became a reality.
We have members who are truly committed to the mission of our association. Three of these were recognized during the annual Christmas Party in December.
Ito Conti was honored for his unequivocal support for our scholarship program, especially for Diliman students whose families are financially strapped but very deserving because of high academic grades. He has been UPAA-W’s point man in exchanging tons of email and long-distance telephone calls with U.P. in keeping us abreast of “goings-on” with regard to scholars.
Fe Quevedo Visaya was honored for initiating successful fund drives (Filipino movie/Tag Adventure), generating revenues to support our scholarship program. In addition, she was cited for directing entertaining programs during Christmas parties over the past several years. Needless to say, our friends and supporters in the community appreciated the presentations and looked forward to the next presentation.
Jojo Agoncillo Ramos was honored for her work in preserving our Filipino Values, especially for young Filipino children born in this country who may have lost awareness of these values. As a member of the association’s Value Our Heritage committee, she has been active in providing ideas in pursuit of the committee’s goals. Her work has transcended into the PCCCF’s education
efforts by teaching Tagalog to those interested in learning the language.
To the active members of the association (you know who you are), we want to thank for your continuing efforts and involvement in association activities over the past forty-one years. We hope you will continue these efforts in fulfilling our responsibility to U.P., responsibility to our members, and responsibility to the community.
To our members who are still looking from the outside, this is a friendly invite to join us have some fun. Or to those who have been active before but had to drop out for one reason or another, perhaps this is the time to roll up your sleeves and rejoin in upholding the ideals of our beloved alma mater. Push on U.P.!
Finally, I would like to see UPAA-W break the so-called Pareto Principle* on organizations. According to this principle, named after Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist who in 1906 created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that 20% of the people owned 80% of the wealth. Also known as the 80-20 rule. In the 1930s -40s, Joseph Juran, a Quality Management pioneer in the U.S. observed this 80-20 rule and named it “vital few and “trivial many.” Even in religious organizations such as churches,
temples, etc. this principle seems to apply in that 20% of the congregation is responsible for 80% of the weekly collection.
In organizations, it has been applied with the observation that 20% of members are responsible for 80% of results. Could this be true to our own UPAA-W? I have not made a serious study but from casual observation it seems to apply to us also.
So, I certainly would be happy if we can debunk this principle in UPAA-W. I would like to see a reversed principle, “VITAL MANY and TRIVIAL FEW.”
Manigong Bagong Taon!
Roger
*Source: Internet