2002-2011

Despite the rising popularity and influence of the Society, in the 1990s, the administrative shift in 2004 curtailed people-to-people visits and exchange, which drastically limited the Society’s power in creating personal connections. However, Board members maintained relevance.

2002

Mike Feore, Jay Higginbotham and Jill Shinault attended the first National Summit on Cuba in Washington D.C. to campaign for a continuation of ease of travel and trade.

September

The Alabama World Trade Association and Alabama Export Council passed two resolutions, written by board members Tony van Aken and Mike Lee, calling for the promotion of trade with Cuba and eventual elimination of the embargo.

2003

August

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Ron Sparks, with Tony van Aken and Maria Mendez led a trade delegation to Cuba and obtained contracts for roughly $10m of goods to be shipped through the port of Mobile.

2004

January

The Society hosted Cuban poet, Raul Mesa, who delivered poetic readings at Daphne Public Library and the University of Mobile.

Society Mobile- La Havana traveled to the Third Annual National Summit on Cuba in Tampa, Florida to stress the economic and institutional importance of a strong relationship between the two cities. Several society members, among them was Maria Mendez and Jay Higginbotham spoke regarding trade normalization and historical importance between Havana and Mobile.

November

The Society won “Best Booth” at the Mobile International Festival.

2006

June

The First Trilateral King Conference in Kingston, Canada featured Mobile and Mike Dow as a keynote speaker as the conference dealt with sister-city relationships between Cuba and the U.S. The conference was a truly historic event as U.S. citizens reclaimed their rights to engage. Moreover, the appeal to international allies improved solidarity and assistance in the push for a global dialogue.

2008

September

The Society, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health in Cuba, contributed to the Cuban Hurricane Relief Effort to provide linens and disposable medical supplies to the island that had suffered great damage from Hurricane Gustav and Ike.