PALCUS celebrates Portuguese-American achievement 

in San Diego

PALCUS held its 17^th Annual Leadership Awards Gala on November 2, 2013 in the beautiful city of San Diego, California. Old friends and new acquaintances came together from across the United States to celebrate the achievements of Portuguese-American individuals and organizations in the areas of art, business, individual and corporate community service and scholarship.

 Photo by Jaclyn Anne Photography

The 2013 PALCUS honorees are (Front Row L to R):

• José "Joe" G. da Rosa, California: Founder's Award
• Julianna Sumida, University of Hawaii: National Graduate Scholarship Award
• Natália Luís and Cidália Luís-Akbar, Maryland: Leadership in Business/Entrepreneurship
• João de Brito, California: Leadership in Artistic Achievement
• Nathalie Pires, New Jersey:  Young Portuguese-American "Promessa" Award
• John C. Pinheiro, Massachusetts: Leadership in Community Service
• Idalmiro da Rosa, President of Cabrillo Festival, Inc., California: Special 50th Anniversary Recognition
• José Manuel Coelho,  Executive Director of TAP Portugal, New Jersey:  Leadership in Corporate Community Service
• Sydney Fultz, California: National Undergraduate Scholarship Award could not be present.

PALCUS Directors (Back Row L to R): Fernando Rosa (CT),  António Gato (NY), Mary Louise Nunes (MA), Marie Fraley (RI), John Bento (CA), Manuel Geraldo (MD), Cynthia Russo (NJ), Angela Simoes (CA), Odete Amarelo (MA), Onésimo Almeida (RI)

The annual gala was attended by a host of dignitaries representing the Portuguese and United States governments and foundations, including Congressman Jim Costa from California, who had this to say about the PALCUS Gala.

PALCUS Weekend Events:

The 2013 Gala Committee organized a busy agenda of activities designed to keep members and their guests entertained and informed throughout the weekend.

Friday, November 1^st: 

The traditional VIP Pre-Gala Reception was hosted by the Consul General of Portugal to San Francisco, Dr. Nuno Mathias at the United Portuguese Sociedade do Espírito Santo in Point Loma.  Leadership awardees, their guests and PALCUS members had their first opportunity to meet over a sumptuous buffet provided by Mr. Raymond Simas with the U.P.S.E.S. and wines provided by Morey Cellars and poured by Mr. Richard Morey.

Local San Diego leaders were recognized for their dedication to the Portuguese Community in San Diego.

(L to R): Idalmiro da Rosa, Therese Garces, Barbara Hosaka, Evelyn Feliciano, Manuel Leal

Saturday: November 2^nd:

The annual membership meeting was held in accordance with PALCUS by-laws. A report of the organization's financial and membership status, activities, accomplishments and plans was presented to the membership. The 2016 class of Directors was elected: Fernando Rosa (CT), Marie Fraley (RI), Angela Costa Simoes (MA) and Manuel R. Geraldo, Esq. (MD).   The seat of the Young Portuguese-American Director was filled by the election of Manual R. Geraldo, II.

A sightseeing bus excursion of the attractions of Point Loma was organized. The itinerary included a visit to the Cabrillo National Park and Monument, a specially prepared luncheon at the Gabardine Restaurant and a visit of the San Salvador Replica Shipbuilding Site.

Photos courtesy of Joao de Brito

A forum and book presentation was presented on "Civic Engagement and Portuguese-American Elected Officials in California" in collaboration with Portuguese Heritage Publications of California. The forum featured talks by Ambassador Nuno Brito,  FLAD Deputy Director Rui Vallera, Dr. Alvin Graves and Antonio Mendes, Jr. covering topics ranging from the importance of Portuguese-American political participation to Portugal-U.S. relations,  the support of citizenship initiatives by FLAD,  an overview of the phenomenon of Portuguese elections in the San Joaquin Valley to the relationship between political engagement and agri-business in California. 

Photo courtesy of NPG Productions

(L-R) Marie Ray Fraley, PALCUS Vice Chair and panel moderator, Antonio  Mendes, Jr., Ambassador Nuno Brito, Dr. Alvin Graves and Rui Vallera, FLAD Deputy Director

The event featured the presentation of the book, "California's Portuguese Politicians - A Century of Legislative Service"  by Alvin Ray Graves, Ph.D. published by Portuguese Heritage Publications of California and supported by the Luso-American Foundation.

Photo courtesy of NPG Productions

Dr. Alvin Graves presents the latest book from the Portuguese Heritage Publications of California 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors and donors for their support of the PALCUS Gala in San Diego.  Obrigado!

INNOVATORS CIRCLE

ESPÍRITO SANTO INVESTMENT BANK

JOHN G. REBELO AND SARAH B. MARSH-REBELO

LUSO-AMERICANO PORTUGUESE-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER: MEDIA SPONSOR

ANTÓNIO ANDRADE, SIGNATURE PRINTERS: PRINTING SPONSOR

ANTÓNIO FRIAS, S & F CONCRETE CONTRACTORS, INC.

TAP PORTUGAL: AUCTION ITEM

LEADERS CIRCLE

BANIF AÇORES, INC.

PACIFIC PRINCESS FAMILY-RICARDO DA ROSA: ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR

ALICE PEREIRA, UNITED REPROGRAPHIC SERVICES: GRAPHIC DESIGN

SPONSOR

BALBOA TRAVEL

PATRONS CIRCLE

AICEP, RUI BOAVISTA MARQUES

PORCEL

CABRILLO FESTIVAL, INC.

PALCUS FRIENDS OF SAN DIEGO

JOÃO DE BRITO: AUCTION ITEM

SATA - AZORES EXPRESS: AUCTION ITEM

FRIENDS CIRCLE

HEDCO, INC.

NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM

THE ROSA-SIMÃO FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MARC F. ROSA / MERRILL LYNCH: SCHOLARSHIP FUND

JACLYN ANN PHOTOGRAPHY: GALA PHOTOGRAPHER

UNITED PORTUGUESE SOCIEDADE DO ESPÍRITO SANTO: RECEPTION SPONSOR

RAYMOND SIMAS & KARL LOWE: RECEPTION SPONSOR

AND

MANUEL EDUARDO VIEIRA, A.V. THOMAS PRODUCE

HEAVY GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LABORER'S UNION LOCAL 427

DOMITILIA DOS SANTOS, MORGAN STANLEY

PORTUGUESE FRATERNAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: FLORAL SPONSOR

VINTAGE TRADING IMPORTERS: GALA WINES

CASSELLA PACKAGE STORE

H & L PACKAGE STORE

MOREY CELLARS: WINE FOR FRIDAY RECEPTION AND AUCTION

RAYMOND SIMAS, P. PACIFIC PREMIER BANK

RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, INSTITUTE FOR PORTUGUESE AND LUSOPHONE

WORLD STUDIES

BROWN UNIVERSITY, DEPT. OF PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN STUDIES

VIRGINIA CONTRACTOR'S SUPPLY

THE NUTSHELL PORTUGUESE-AMERICAN CUISINE

KENNY & KATHY ALAMEDA, CLIPPER OIL MARINE FUELS

PORTUGUESE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA

VENILDE JERÓNIMO: AUCTION ITEM

LYNN M. AND JULIO V. GUIDI, JR.: AUCTION ITEM

CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT

SAN DIEGO MARITIME MUSEUM- SAN SALVADOR SITE

LUSITANOS BAND

FLOWERS OF POINT LOMA

THE PORTUGUESE AMERICAN DANCERS OF SAN DIEGO

GABARDINE RESTAURANT

ZÉ DUARTE GARCIA - AUCTIONEER

JOSÉ & JEANETTE FINETE

MANDY'S JEWELERS

ZIG ZAG BOUTIQUE, INC.

CONTINENTAL TRADING AND HARDWARE

SOCIEDADE FILARMÓNICA RECREIO DO EMIGRANTE PORTUGUÊS

THE CASTELO GROUP

NEVES JEWELERS

CABRILLO CIVIC CLUB #16

PORTUGUESE HISTORICAL CENTER, THERESE GARCÊS

FESTA DO SANTO AMARO, INC. OF SAN DIEGO

BACI RESTAURANT

JULIETTE& JOSE SILVERIA

CECILIA & JOHN SANTOS

LAWRENCE ARMENTI, MD, PC

DR. TINO J. FERREIRA AND LYNN M. REIS: AUCTION ITEM

PEDRO AND GINA FERREIRA: AUCTION ITEM