Otero County LULAC Council 8105 Named New Mexico Council of the Year at State Conference

Alamogordo, NM — Otero County LULAC Council 8105 was recognized as New Mexico Council of the Year during the recent LULAC state conference, highlighting a year of strong community engagement and impactful service across Otero County.

Council delegates representing Otero County at the conference included President Joann Chavez Vullo, Vice President Stephanie DuBois, Treasurer Linda Gonzales, and Communications Director Shari Adkisson. LULAC members from New Mexico’s Northern, Southeastern, and Western Districts attended the gathering, joined by special guest National LULAC President Roman Palomares of Dallas, Texas.

President Palomares addressed attendees, noting that LULAC is part of a legal coalition actively filing lawsuits to safeguard voting rights and immigration rights. He highlighted a newest lawsuit aimed at protecting mail-in ballots.

Council 8105 submitted a comprehensive binder documenting its activities over the past year, which helped secure the New Mexico Council of the Year honor. The council was nominated by NM LULAC Director Javier Marrufo and advanced as a candidate for National LULAC Council of the Year at the national conference held in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. While the Houston LULAC Council ultimately took the national award for its voter registration and participation efforts, the recognition underscores the strong work being done locally.

During the conference, Joann Chavez Vullo was appointed District Director for the Southeastern region, where she will represent Southeastern counties on the state board. Her primary objective is to expand LULAC’s presence by organizing new councils in Lincoln, Chavez, Eddy, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties. “Our district has only one council and my prime objective will be to organize councils in Lincoln, Chavez, Eddy, Lea, and Roosevelt Counties,” Vullo stated. “The presence of LULAC tends to be a deterrent for discrimination by ICE.”

Stephanie DuBois was re-elected as Deputy Director of the Elderly. She presented on efforts to raise awareness of patients’ state and federal rights, promoted through the NM Ombudsman program. DuBois also oversees the council’s Comida por Los Señores y Familias initiative, which collects and distributes Road Runner food to seniors at the Tularosa apartments and to Head Start families in need.

The New Mexico LULAC annual Convention and Meeting will be hosted next year by the Silver City LULAC Council.

Otero County LULAC remains deeply involved in local community life, participating in events such as Juneteenth, where members conducted voter registration. The council’s ongoing projects focus on Civil Rights, Social Justice, Voter Rights, Immigration Rights, Environmental Awareness, senior and family food assistance, and support for the unsheltered. This year, the council plans to establish a Youth group to help promote its initiatives and develop a scholarship fund, which will be matched by National LULAC.

Those interested in getting involved with Otero County LULAC Council 8105 are encouraged to join and help promote the community’s culture and vitality. For more information or to become a member, email oterocountylulac@gmail.com.

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