The First Communitarian Meeting of Cultural Associations took place in the city of Horta, Faial Island, between May 12 and 15, 2001 with the presence of about 30 participants from the United States, Canada and Bermuda.

Objectives:

- Participation and dialog of the attending Associations;

- Deepen the relationship between the communities abroad and between the Azores and those same communities, providing a mutual reflection in order to strengthen the dynamic of the Azorean cultural identity.

Themes in discussion:

- Preservation of the Azorean Cultural Identity;

- Divulgation of Portuguese Language. 

Conclusions:

A. Preservation of the Azorean Cultural Identity

The representatives of the attending Cultural Associations decided to recommend the Regional Department for the Communities:

1. the creation of a web site, an e-mail and links between the Regional Department for the Communities and the Communitarian Organizations, to facilitate the contacts between them;

2. the promotion and circulation of information in both languages, through pamphlets, books, audiovisual aids and CD-Roms. 

This work should be of cooperation in terms of research and publication, with the support of the Regional Department for the Communities, ICEP, Camões Institute and other organisms related to this matter;

3. the establishment of contacts with RTP, RTP-1 and RTP-A so the Portuguese Communities in Canada are allowed to retransmit the programs, or parts of the programming, with cultural interest to these communities;

4. the creation of youth summer camps with the possibility of family interchanges;

5. the stimulation of the cooperation between the RDC and the Institutions in the Communities, through cultural exchanges from the communities to the Azores and vice-versa and the establishment of communitarian partnerships, between the institutions abroad and the Regional Government of the Azores;

6. the encouragement of the training of the organizations’ leaders;

7. the organization of an annual festival of Azorean culture taking place in the North-American communities, with the objective of promoting and expanding the Azorean culture. This event will take place in Bermuda, East and West Coast of the United States, East, West Coast and Central Canada and, finally, in Toronto. The communities in the mentioned areas should coordinate the organization of this festival.  

The selection of the place where the festival takes place will be done by drawing, being the first two places selected during this meeting.

The Regional Department for the Communities will provide financial support to the organization of cultural or similar events.

8. The organization of a second meeting entitled “Second Meeting of Azorean Cultural Organizations Abroad”, within 12 months, preferably with the participants of the first meeting, each one accompanied by a youngster with experience on associative work.

The different organizer entities can also suggest the participation of other members, who will be called “observers”, thus being responsible for all the costs of transportation and stay of those members.

The First Communitarian Meeting of Cultural Associations will work close to the attending organizations in order to secure the mailing of its annual registration, with important and diverse information, as it has been requested by the Regional Department for the Communities in the last two years.

The participants of the First Communitarian Meeting of Cultural Associations pointed out the following important recommendations:

- the reduction of the commission period of the attending and non-attending organizations’ leaders to a minimum period of two years, to guarantee the continuity of their work;

- the importance of organizing the First Meeting of Communitarian Organizations of Social Service, to take place next October on Terceira Island;

- the importance of showing the DGACCP the need of creating a position of Cultural Assistant at the Portuguese Consulate in Montreal, to be occupied by someone close to the values of the community of the area.

All the attending associations agreed to work towards the inclusion of older people within their own activities.

B. Divulgation of Portuguese Language

The representatives of the attending Cultural Associations decided to acknowledge the Regional Department for the Communities with the following needs:

1. School Utensils:

Support all the Communities with CD’S and software programs for young people, allowing their interchange.

2. Divulgation of information:

The Azorean communities need: to be informed not only through the Consulates, but also directly; better contacts between Portuguese schools and State schools, beginning in primary school up until the university, including the Regional Department for the Communities; and better contacts between the teachers in both schools.

3. The role of Associations:

-Question and study the interests of the youngsters regarding, for example, music and sports;

- Provide a gathering place and point out a responsible person to develop that project;

- Research data within State schools teaching Portuguese and identify the success of those classes;

- Work harder on behalf of the introduction of Portuguese Language classes in the “curriculum” of State schools;

- Develop, in partnership with State schools, interchange programs addressed to young people, offering incentives, such as trips to the Azores and summer camps;

- Organize workshops about Portuguese Language teaching and self-esteem, and call the parents’ attention to the importance of Portuguese language, valuing its use together with the local language.

4. Teachers:

- Allow the teachers graduated in the United States and Canada to teach Portuguese in Portuguese schools;

- Give a significant subsidy, from the Portuguese Government, to the teachers;

Provide workshops in order to update the Portuguese language teaching methods.

5. Schools:

- Create a “pilot” school, a role model of Portuguese language teaching;

- Teach Portuguese through RTP-I and other Media;

- Create “Two Way Language Immersion” programs in the communities;

- Require the speaking of Portuguese in primary schools.

6. Advisers:

- The participants of the First Meeting of Associations.