To all
students affiliated to PRSSA that will be voting tomorrow:
I write to
encourage all of you to take a vote tomorrow and let your voice be heard. The
most fundamental right in a democratic society, like the one we claim to live
in, is the right to vote. Tomorrow, you will choose 5 members that will lead
the National Board of the PRSSA on an historic semester, as we approach the
Status plebiscite.
As the
incumbent National Associate Vice-President I want to urge you all to choose
wisely. You must not choose based on friendships, nor on contacts, but choose
the candidates that will be actively involved in helping re build the chapters
in Puerto Rico. Many of the candidates, emulating many of the candidates in the
colonial political system, will promise to do a lot of thing, and will do 1 or
3 things of that list.
You will
probably never meet the entire National Board in person, because those that are
in the States rarely come to Puerto Rico to do anything of significance
locally. Some in the National Board only work to advance “the cause” when they
see their position in the NB being threatened. It is important to have a
presence in the mainland, but the hard work is to be done here.
I also warn
you of the following. There are some in the National Board that are only
interested in advancing their own political growth within the party system,
whether that is the NPP, the Republican or Democratic Parties. 3 years of said
attitude has led PRSSA down a path of very little membership, to the point that
one of our main missions, the promotion of the absentee vote campaign, is being
led by a new organization done to fill in the space left by the PRSSA.
Please talk
to all the candidates, and ask them what their plans are, and if their running
for re-election as a member of the National Board, ask them what they have done
in the National Board.
I leave with
my head held high, as I have been able to do some of the goals I set myself to
do throughout this year. I participated in a vigil prior to President Obama’s
visit to the island last summer; I helped organize the forum with the current
Secretary of State, the Hon. Kenneth McClintock, last fall; I contacted several
students in different campuses to establish chapters in the island, most being unsuccessful.
I also helped organize the state meeting
with the current National Secretary, Josué Rivera, in the UPR Bayamon.
What this
organization needs is to go back to its grassroots roots. We need to make the
members feel that this is their organization and that they have a say in what
goes on. We need to rescue the chapters of Rio Piedras, Humacao, and Mayaguez.
We need to have hands on leaders, and not just leaders in title. A leader is
not defined by the title they hold, but by the initiative and hands on work
they do. Do not vote for someone just because you’re told. If you don’t agree
with a candidate vote NO, and if you do vote YES.
I will be available
to help anybody out next semester that needs my help, regardless of whom they
are.
I wish the
best to all of you, and hope you all pick wisely.
Signed,
-Edwin R.
Jusino-