On April 30th, 2006 we celebrated the First Convention of the Spanish People's Party in the United States. Over 300 participants, party members and supporters, attended the event celebrated at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ.

We were joined at the event by a delegation of the People's Party of Galicia, presided over by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the People's Party of Galicia and MP of the Parliament of Galicia for Pontevedra, Aurelio Miras Portugal, MP of the Parliament of Galicia for Ourense, and Rafael Louzán Abal, President of the Provincial Government of Pontevedra. We were also honored by the presence of Ana Pastor, former Minister of Health and MP of the Spanish Parliament for Pontevedra, Rafael Rodríguez Ponga, member of the National Executive Committee of Partido Popular, and Rodrigo Rato, General Secretary of the International Monetary Fund. Mariano Rajoy, National President of the People's Party of Spain in the United States, sent a heartfelt message to party members and supporters in the United States.

This First Convention, with a press coverage that included a dozen newspapers, radio networks, and electronic media served to set the basis for the internal organization of the party in the United States and to develop a strategy for expansion and coordination among the states in which the Party has representation. Other messages during the Convention included the support of the People's Party for the Spanish community and the role of the Party as a channel for social, electoral, and cultural activities that Spaniards wish to have in the United States.

During the Convention, the bylaws of the Spanish People's Party in the United States were approved and a new Executive Committee was elected, presided over by Ms. Neir Taboada. Also during the event, the basis for the creation of a New Generations branch of the Party in the United States was set.