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First off, we would like to recognize those without whom, this collection of FIND information would not be possible. Thanks go out to Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and Drexel University as well as countless local sources.
The purpose of F.I.N.D. shall be to promote unity and cooperation of Filipino students at East Coast colleges, universities, vocational, and technical schools.
FIND is the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue. Our purpose is to promote unity and cooperation of Filipino students. Our goals are:
Founded on April 11, 1992, the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND) stands as a symbol to the ethnic consciousness presently seen on university campuses. With the growing number of Filipino organizations at these institutions, there exists an inherent "desire to know" about one's culture. Ranging from the personal search and identification to the large scale social awareness, FIND is an organization that opens the door to communication and collaboration among its members. It offers those interested an opportunity to see what else is out there: a broad perspective to the increasing Filipino presence in America. Aware of a strong but fragmented Filipino presence on the East Coast, college students from the Northern seaboard attended a dinner sponsored by KASAMA in April 1991 at Yale University. These college students discussed the collaboration of a formal network that would tie together smaller networks in the coastal regions. A group of enthusiastic students volunteered to form a Steering Committee for the formation of the East Coast Network of Colleges (ECNC). This steering Committee (SC) has met several times in the New England area prior to a second conference held at New York University (NYU). A constitution was created incorporating the SC's vision of an organization that would accommodate the need of the Filipino student. The International Filipino Association at NYU conference was structured to further the networking efforts and eventually facilitated the ratification of a regional network. The name FIND was chosen to illustrate a continuing process of student unification. An official Steering Committee was elected with representatives from each of the six established districts, mainly in the Northern region of the East Coast. A ratified constitution and bylaws of FIND were complete in time for the first FIND Conference held at Harvard in April 1992. FIND became a reality. (notes from 1995 UVA dialogue program) At a conference sponsored by KASAMA, at Yale University in April of 1991, Filipino college students from the Northern seaboard discussed the formation of a formal network capable of linking East Coast institutions. Realizing the importance of such a network, a group of students designed a Constitution to provide an efficient, effective structure whereby students could interact to discuss issues, to mobilize our communities, to celebrate our culture and heritage, and to support one other. With the formal ratification of our Constitution on April 11, 1992 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the framework for an organization capable of unifying Filipino students emerged. FIND was on its way to becoming a reality. Currently, our Network actively links over 90 East Coast college, university, vocational, and technical schools from. District 7 is evidence of FIND's expansion and success: it was recognized as a formal district in September of 1993. Most districts have formed an internal executive structure. Moreover, with such a structure in place, districts have been able to successfully sponsor their own events and raise money for the District and the Network as a whole. Strong, cohesive Districts are the key to FIND. Since formal ratification of the Constitution, well-attended Dialogues and Conferences have been sponsored by various districts:
Strengthening Network ties, a semi-annual newsletter, Ating Panahon, has been consistently published and a directory of participating schools and students is available. FIND has also established a working relationship with other networks such as the National Filipino American Youth Association (NFAYA), the National Pilipino Student Conference (NPSC), and the East Coast Asian Student Union (ECASU). We are building a foundation to legitimize FIND as an organization and to increase its visibility as a network. Fundraising is always an ongoing challenge as is maintaining nationwide contacts with students and non-student organizations. Through electronic mail, FIND has reached students in Canada, California, Michigan, Illinois, and Florida. Email has proven to be the fastest, most efficient, and cheapest way, to network, literally, with each other and to disseminate information nationwide. We are in the process of creating an archive system whereby everything FIND has done and is doing can be documented and saved so that future generations may benefit and the history we are creating is not forgotten. Another major undertaking is the incorporation of FIND. Incorporation legitimizes FIND and also, gives FIND more clout as an organization How do you become involved
with FIND? There are tons of ways to get involved with FIND: from participating in District events and attending Dialogues and Conferences to assuming positions in your District executive structure or the Steering Committee. To become an official member of FIND, you must pay your dues. Membership fees are as follows (checks should be made out to FIND):
Dues entitles the member to
You, FIND, and the entire Filipino student movement will benefit from your involvement!
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