The growing Filipino community in Austria has been a valuable partner for the Philippine Embassy in the conduct of its functions in the service of Philippine national interest and the protection of overseas Filipinos' rights and welfare. The Filipino community in Austria is highly organized. Altogether, the Embassy lists more than fifty (50) organizations, clubs and associations of Filipinos or Filipino-Austrians -- organized along either regional, ethnic, professional or religious lines, many of which maintain excellent cooperative and consultative ties with the Embassy and are actively supporting the Embassy in projecting a positive image of the Philippines through regular activities and projects. These cooperative ties are cultivated and developed principally through the monthly Filipino community-Embassy meetings chaired by Consul General Julio C. Dery. (Source: Philippine Embassy - Austria: http://www.philippine-embassy.at/)