Chapter Information
| Chapter Name & Year Established | ENC Justo Gonzalez, USCG | 2016 |
| President | LTJG David Castillo, USCG | MiamiFL@ansomil.org |
| Vice President | LTJG Ignacio Fernandez-Cuervo, USCG | |
| Secretary | LCDR Theresa Bigay, USCG |
Supporting HISPA
Last Thursday, ANSO Miami Chapter members attended the annual Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) 3 Kings Banquet at the Intercontinental Hotel, Doral, FL. The annual awards and fundraising event took place in person in three locations: Edison, NJ, Doral, FL, and San Antonio, TX, to honor the Latino professionals who support HISPA’s educational programs and raise funds for these programs. The night was a total success with several HISPA role models and supporters receiving awards.
Thank you to ANSO BOD for supporting the Miami chapter and allowing members the opportunity to represent ANSO during such a special evening.
On Friday, 13 Jan 2023, LCDR Kim Glore (USCG) participated as a HISPA role model at Okeeheelee Middle School in West Palm Beach. LCDR Glore spoke to middle school students about her journey to success as a female military officer and the steps she took to get to her current position.
ANSO and the Miami Chapter continue to support and work hand in hand with HISPA to support our community and our future leaders. For upcoming opportunities and to get involved, please visit HISPA’s events calendar and contact HISPA directly via their website, or send an email to miamifl@ansomil.org to participate as part of a Chapter volunteer group.
Hialeah Elementary School Career Day
Finishing 2022 strong, on December 20, 2022, Miami Chapter members participated in the first career day for Hialeah Elementary School since COVID-19 lock-downs. The day started out with a light breakfast and then participants were assigned classrooms and were sent on their way. Eager student volunteers helped participants get to and from their classrooms and ensured everyone stayed hydrated and fed. One student volunteer kept asking participants if they were a detective, and fortunately for her, she eventually met one and was able to ask all her questions.
Participants came from the private, government, and non-profit sectors and included Fire Rescue, Police, Medical, Finance, Education, Military, Animal Rescue, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Park Service. Classrooms were comprised of students in grades K-5, with some classrooms containing only Spanish speaking students. Presentations were done both in English and Spanish.
The day culminated with lunch hosted by the school. The principal closed the day by thanking participants, the student volunteers, and the staff for their time and effort. Overall the event was a tremendous success. Miami Chapter will continue to build relationships in the community and will post future opportunities in the events calendar. For more information on how to get involved in the Chapter, please email miamifl@ansomil.org.
November 2022 Message and Season’s Greetings
En Familia
Just as lights, decorations, parties, and special meals highlight the holiday season, the recent Western Regional Symposium (WRS) became an unforgettable energizing experience for the ANSO family. With in-person and virtual options for participants, WRS offered high-value presenters and multiple opportunities for professional networking. Mentoring sessions and panels at all levels of the enlisted and officer ranks allowed for reflection, growth, and re-commitment among participants from all Sea Services. WRS was a unique experience for many in attendance, particularly among those joining for the first time.
During the 2022 WRS, many participants and presenters shared personal stories of resilience and strength. These narratives were, for many, the most meaningful part of the event. The subjective nature of these narratives transcended through the experiences of connection generated by the spoken word. As Brene Brown has said, “maybe stories are just data with a soul.”
These shared narratives seem to have served the group in three different ways:
- Encouragement: The experience of sharing a personal story is a journey of vulnerability. Certain areas of our past may come through that we are not proud of or may not want to reveal in public. Sharing about ourselves is to embrace those parts of our stories for what they are. By engaging in this process of open vulnerability, courage shines forth. Every step in this journey of self-revelation becomes an opportunity to embolden others to own and share their narratives finding value, meaning, and purpose in them.
- Empowerment: The phenomenological character of personal narratives speaks of the ups and downs that led to this time and place. The rich details of travels, people, opportunities, challenges, tears, and laughs make it what it is. At times, thoughts of not being good enough (impostor syndrome) or perceptions that no one else understands may reduce the desire to speak up. The process of telling our story is an exercise in empowerment, confronting the fallacy of empty doubts and taking steps forward with renewed strength. “Si se puede!” recovers its meaning.
- Empathy: The most effective way to consider the impact of sharing a personal narrative with an audience is by noticing how the story creates connections. A smile, a nod, a tear, or another emotional response amplifies the universal meaning of shared stories. Spoken narratives unify the speaker and audience through shared empathic interactions and active listening. For many, this is an opportunity -or only opportunity in a while- to celebrate belonging and acceptance.
As the holidays approach, share your story. Whether your tradition is to celebrate Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or just the end of the year with special family rituals, food, or music, reach out and pull from your memory what makes this time of the year so meaningful. Share your story with those close to you or take advantage of the opportunities provided by ANSO to share your narratives through social media. Sharing your story has immeasurable power. Give it a try today.
ANSO Familia, build new memories with your loved ones! Enjoy this extraordinary time of the year. May your season be filled with joy, peace, and hope, a blessing to you and your family.
Check out our Season’s Greetings playlist on our YouTube Channel where members share their fondest holiday memories
Meeting HISPA Founder
Last Friday ANSO Miami Chapter President had the pleasure and honor of meeting Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisee, founder of HISPA, and met several local leaders from different industries committed to mentoring and supporting our future leaders. We continue to connect with leaders from various industries, sharing ANSO’s mission and commitment to giving back to the community.
Email our chapter at MiamiFL@ansomil.org to learn more about our relationship with HISPA and how you can also become a role model for middle school students in your community.
Adelante con ANSO!
David C.
ANSO Miami Chapter President.
ANSO and HISPA Together for our youth
We invite you to join ANSO Miami Chapter on November 18th from 1430 to 1600 to meet and greet Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse, HISPA founder, and learn more about their mission. Together we can work supporting and mentoring our future generations. HISPA already have connections with several schools in Palm Beach County and Miami Dade County. ANSO Miami Chapter will continue to foster our relationship with HISPA and will continue to support events mentoring young students who will be our future leaders.
ANSO Fundraising Program Launch
As part of ANSO’s strategic plan, we have launched a fundraising program to advance our mission through improved regional symposiums, the ANSO/CTR Factor Non-Profit Alliance Joint Leadership Institute, and the advancement of grass-root community outreach initiatives.
Each one of our five pillars is essential to our mission success, but community outreach can arguably be considered the most meaningful. Through our community initiatives, we (each ANSO member) share our experiences, educate both parents and young men and women on the opportunities available in the military, and mentor those who aspire to become the future leaders of our sea services.
Since 1981, ANSO has shaped the path of some of our highest ranking leaders serving today, and those leaders continue to be part of ANSO, but there is still much work to be done. ANSO members must navigate key assignments and professional development milestones to achieve personal and professional goals, and successfully compete for promotions and opportunities. The ANSO network can play a vital role in guiding those career decisions.
So, be a part of a future sea service leader’s journey and donate TODAY!
Please share the fundraising program with your personal and professional networks.
You can donate through our fundraising page or text “donate” to 202-831-9777.
Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive your tax receipt via email once the donation is processed.
Thank you for your continued support, and adelante con ANSO!!
L.C. Swain Middle School AVID Career Day
Today, ANSO Miami Chapter and Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA) participated in the L.C. Swain Middle School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) career day. Speakers were asked to share about their background, their career in the military, their career’s educational requirements, pros and cons of serving in the military, and the overall opportunities and benefits. Students were very engaged and asked a lot of questions. ANSO Miami and HISPA will continue to work together in the South Florida community to educate students about the different opportunities available through military service. Anyone interested in participating in future community outreach events please reach out to the Miami Chapter President for details and to be included. Adelante con ANSO!!
Welcome to ANSO Miami Chapter
On August 17 we held our second chapter meeting. During our presentation, we introduce the current President, Vice President, and Secretary to current members and future members. Additionally, we took this opportunity to educate others about ANSO and recruit new members and supporters.
We are still looking for representatives from Military Units within the South Florida area (i.e SOUTHCOM, Homestead Reserve Air Force Base, Recruiting Offices) to help us get our message out.
We are just getting started, there will be different events and community outreach opportunities coming soon. Stay Tune!
Thank you to the national leadership for your constant support and guidance.
Thank you for visiting our page! If you have not joined yet, don’t forget to click the “Join ANSO” link and become a member!
Miami Chapter is back!
First Social Gathering 2022
Wepa! After a long inactive period ANSO Miami chapter is reactivating and coming back. We had our first social event on Thursday February 17th, it was great to put faces to names. Among our distinguished guest present were: LtCol Montalvan (ANSO National USMC Representative), Mr. Aranibar (ANSO National Membership Coordinator) Ms. Paez (Village of Palmetto Bay Parks and Recreation Department), Mr. Orozco (City of Coral Gables and Hialeah), CAPT Noreña (USCM), and SSgt Timoney (USMC).
Joining the team leadership, LTJG Fernández-Cuervo (USCG) assumed the Public Affairs Officer position and LCDR Bigay (USCG) is our new Secretary. Additionally, CAPT Noreña (USMC) volunteered to reach out and find a POC in SOUTHCOM to enlarge our footprint in the area. Our Vice-President position is still open and available for anyone who would like to join us!
For our next official event we are looking to set our first community outreach with local high schools.