BY LUISA YANEZ

 The Cuban American National Foundation emphasized unity Saturday as it kicked off its annual board of directors meeting in Puerto Rico in the midst of a public
 ideological rift between younger and some older members over new strategies to end Fidel Castro's regime.

 But threats of a large-scale boycott of the two-day congress by its largely Miami-based membership never materialized, the foundation's executive director said.

 ``This is the heaviest attendance we've ever had and many of those who could not make it had other obligations,'' Joe Garcia said of the conference at the Hyatt El Dorado Hotel, where directors met behind close doors to discuss their game plan for the coming year. More than 75 of about 140 directors and trustees made the trip, Garcia said.

 One of those missing was popular director and longtime member Ninoska Pérez Castellón, 51, who resigned Thursday on the eve of the congress, making public CANF's internal rift with some old guard members. She headed CANF's radio show beamed into Cuba, La Voz de la Fundación, the Voice of the Foundation.

 Another of those who did not attend was Dr. Alberto Hernandez, a close friend of CANF founder Jorge Mas Canosa. Hernandez served as chairman of CANF for a year after Mas Canosa's 1997 death.

 Hernandez did not return a telephone call. Garcia said Hernandez notified him he would not be at the meeting, without giving a reason.

 A main topic at the congress was the future of Pérez Castellón's former show, which apparently will go on without her. Pérez Castellón interviewed dissidents and offered a grass-roots view of the island to listeners.

 The board of directors said it plans to revamp the show, beefing its transmission power and expanding it from two hours, Garcia said. With Pérez Castellón's departure, a new radio voice will take over.

 At today's closing session, CANF Chairman Jorge Mas Santos, who is Mas Canosa's son, will detail those plans and create a panel to find a way to make the La Voz de la Fundación more effective, Garcia said. Possibly affecting the show in the future is the appointment last week of Salvador Lew as head of the federal government's Office of Cuba Broadcasting, the agency that operates Radio and TV Martí, which broadcast to the island.

 Garcia would not say whether the foundation's show will end if Radio Martí is more successful.

 ``We are tremendously pleased with the naming of Salvador Lew and we have confidence in the direction and priorities the Bush administration is bringing to those
 stations,'' he said.

 Although Pérez Castellón was said to be on the short list for the job Lew landed, Lew said Saturday that is not the reason she resigned.

 ``She told me she did not want to work for the government and she wanted me to get the job,'' Lew said.

 On Saturday, Pérez Castellón again refused to clarify why she resigned after 15 years, tearfully packing up her belongings and carting them out of CANF's headquarters.

 In recent times, Pérez Castellón's role diminished as Garcia largely took over as spokesman for the foundation, an arrangement much different from the years when Pérez Castellón was often at Mas Canosa's side.

 She said she will detail her reasons on Monday on her own 1 to 3 p.m. Spanish-language program on WQBA-AM (1140), where she has worked independently of CANF.

 Mas Santos told reporters in Miami the former spokeswoman's dissatisfaction is long-standing and was not caused by a single event.

 ``This has been going on for months,'' said Mas Santos. ``This was not a one-day thing.''

 Pérez Castellón's husband, Roberto Martín Pérez, 66, a former Cuban political prisoner and dissident, also resigned, join a cadre of CANF's early members who have quietly left because they are unhappy with Mas Santos' strategies.

 Among CANF's new campaigns: a more public outreach to island dissidents and efforts to get financial and material aid to them; affiliations with both the Republican and Democratic parties; support for bringing the Latin Grammys to Miami, even though Cuban entertainers might perform at the event.

 ``We are welcoming new people and new ideas,'' Garcia said of the foundation's recent lobbying style. ``We have to stop preaching to the choir and get more people in church.''

 Among the topics on the conference's agenda: preparations for a post-Castro Cuba, a plan to send financial assistance to dissidents on the island and to push for the
 indictment of Castro by the United States.

 WTVJ-NBC 6 reporter Patricia Andreu contributed to this report.

                                    © 2001