The Association of Latin and American Students will be having their first
meeting of the year on MONDAY, AUGUST 29 at 7pm in the basement of
Warfield Hall (CBCL). We will be having food and drinks and we will be
introducing what the organization is all about this year.
Also, feel free to look for some of the exec at the ALAS table this Sunday
at 4pm during Mega Fair. Please feel free to come and talk to us and
introduce yourselves and have us answer any questions you may have about
ALAS or anything we might be able to help you with.

Just as a heads up too, Friday September 9th is the big UniDiversity Latin
Festival at Uptown Park which starts at 5pm and runs until 10. There will
be various Latin American performers, vendors and foods there so please
come. After a few hours of that you can go and get yourselves ready to
Salsa and Merengue during ALAS' first Locura Latina hosted at The Stadium
Bar located Uptown. Our event will run from 10pm-2am and there will be a
small cover at the door. If you do not know how to dance don't worry (most
Miami students really don't) and if you come early some of us could show
you the basics. You really don't have to dance at our Locuras to have fun
but if you ever wanted to learn, this is a great opportunity.

Another opportunity to become involved with ALAS and diversity on campus
will be available through the College Leadership Development Program
(CDLP) from the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) which
I am beginning to plan and organize with ALAS and other minority
organizations. What the CLDP does is develops better communication between
the student organizations and the University Administrators so that more
development can happen on our campus involving diversity affairs. I think
it would be a great opportunity to get some first- and second-year
students involved who might be interested in taking over ALAS in the years
to come so please respond to me if this sounds like something you would
like to get involved with.

Last few things...
First I am going to start planning things out with Kofenya to re-establish
Cafe Y Conversation. For those who don't know what that is, it is where we
meet up at Kofenya, Uptown, and we sit around and engage in Spanish
conversations while drinking ethnic coffees and listening to Latin/Spanish
music. If you don't speak Spanish very well like me, please take the
opportunity to go and practice!!!

Last but not least if there are any questions about anything, feel free to
call me (419.290.4149) or email me at anytime.

Take care and hope to see you Sunday or Monday!!!

~Leo D Martinez, Jr