Focuses on "Power of Citizenship" |
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San Francisco,Calif. - Chinese American Citizens Alliance convened August 1-4 for the 49th Biennial National
Convention in San Francisco, its home city. "49th Convention in the 49er City," declared reelected
Grand President Munson Kwok, of Los Angeles, "I don"t mean just the home of the NFL football team,
but really the over 150 years of history that Chinese have experienced in the United States, starting with the
California Gold Rush and going through all the days of discrimination that followed."
Kwok, continuing at the opening press conference, said, "Our main priorities for convention
always are: 1. to have a good time and renew our friendships, bonds, and national networks, for we are
fraternal in nature; 2. to improve the organization so it can better serve our communities; and 3. to set our
policy advocacy guidelines for the next 2-3 years."
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Besides Kwok, also reelected was Grand Executive Vice President Carolyn Chan of Albuquerque, NM,
who now assumes responsibilities of the Alliance's advocacy as head of Civic & Public Affairs under new
constitutional mandates. New Vice Presidents are Virginia Gee of San Francisco (planning),
Vera Goo of San Francisco (membership), and Edward Yue of Phoenix, AZ (communications).
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| The Grand Ball, a banquet and dance, climaxed the Convention. During this event, the national Spirit of America awards were presented to Asian Pacific Americans who have made a great positive impact on our national Asian Pacific American scene over the years by showing great achievement or leadership. This year, the notable Chinese American historian, Him Mark Lai of San Francisco, the bio-scientist, Dr. David Hsi of Albuquerque, NM, and the Hon. Gordon Quan, noted civil rights lawyer and former city councilperson of Houston, Tex. were honored. |
| Opening Night took place at San Francisco"s venerable City Club. Keynoter was Hon. John Chiang, California Controller and the highest ranking elected state executive Chinese American official in the U.S. He reminded the audience that, although Chinese American and Asian Pacific American contributions to America are now considerable, they are still not respected or appreciated necessarily on an equal footing with those of others. Therefore, equal access to participation and political power must continue to be advocated in our communities at all levels by all. He gave examples of how those in a position to do so must be willing to leverage and apply influence to improve an APA community's involvement in any political power situation. His thesis was echoed by Grand President Kwok at the Grand Ball, "For too long, we have been in a position of defending (our civil rights and citizenship); it is time that we begin to act proactively on behalf of our communities." |
| Possibly inspired by Controller Chiang's words and the historical setting of the convocation, conventioneers who were also appointed delegates from their local Lodges were particularly productive, managing to examine over forty internal and external issues in less than 3 days. In the custom of the organization, as with a political convention, public declarations are expressed in the form of resolutions. |
| Foremost among the public positions taken by the Alliance is the continuing support of fair and just immigration policies, which safeguard family unification and family immigration for legal immigrants. The Alliance has consistently insisted on 100% or more increases in the quotas to handle the huge backlogs. In this position of renewal of its current advocacy work, the Alliance supports Dream Act provisions to provide education for undocumented minors, increased number of skilled workers' visas, and increased resources in the Citizenship and Immigration Services to handle all the paperwork.The Alliance contends that temporary workers should have a path toward seeking permanent residency. In immigration reform, the Alliance advocates efficient and effective border enforcement and also a path to legalization for the undocumented. On the issue of criminalization, the Alliance is concerned about the criminalizing of those who, unknowingly, have had to deal with the undocumented. Thus it has taken the position of opposing state and local laws which will penalize undocumented immigrant renters and those property owners who rent to them. Instead of criminalization of the undocumented, the Alliance advocates for a system in which safeguarding due process and humane treatment are higher priorities. |
While presenting a workshop on the project, Carolyn Chan, Grand Executive Vice President, stated,
"C.A.C.A. has renewed its partnership, as a contributing member, with the Veterans Oral History Project.
All lodges can help provide a resource for future academic study and give recognition to those Chinese
Americans who have served our nation." Additionally, Chan urged delegates to send e-mails to members
of the House Armed Services Committee and their Representatives for support of H. Res. 415, which would
recognize the service of Edward Day Cohota and Joseph Pierce, Chinese who served in the Civil War, and
other Civil War veterans of Asian ancestry. The Alliance will also continue to monitor accessibility and
quality issues for services provided at Veterans Administration facilities. Veterans make up 30 per cent
of the Alliance membership and delegate-veterans and family members of deceased veterans were
presented a special pin and recognized in special ceremonies.
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| Chinese American Citizens Alliance also took positions on national issues such as healthcare, to improve access for all, including language and cultural sensitivity assistance and to collect data on special health conditions particularly affecting Asian Pacific Americans. On rising college costs, the Alliance has underlined a need to lower interest rates on student loans (such as Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunities, Academic Competitive, and SMART programs) and more importantly, expand the program once again to include Asian Pacific Americans. Realizing that 2008 will be a presidential election year and just noting the lack of Asian American visibility in the recent process for selection of Supreme Court Justices, the C.A.C.A. also took a position to remind our communities to continue the advocacy to seek high federal appointments for qualified Asian Pacific Americans in both the Executive and Judiciary. Delegates reaffirmed their support of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, the DC Voting Rights Act, and HR 121, a bill seeking apologies from Japan for the comfort women atrocities of World War II. |
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| Conventioneers, numbering over 160 and reaching a high of nearly 400 at the Grand Ball, enjoyed a week of hands-on Chinese American history. Attendees visited the famed City Club at the top of the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange Building, graced by the rarely viewed mural on the grand staircase created by famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera in 1931. The next night, the registrants were in San Francisco's Italian North Beach, for an authentic Sicilian dinner at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. The high point was Friday, when 150 strong set a record for touring Angel Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, for a preview of the Immigration Station barracks, still under a $30 million renovation to be completed in 2008. The long day climaxed with the reception to open the exhibit, "To Defend and Enjoy American Citizenship," at the Chinese Historical Society of America's Museum and Learning Center on Clay Street. The Alliance had partnered with the Society to create an historical exhibit timed to the convention about the Alliance's founding and its earliest days of battling discrimination. In the exhibit, the Alliance's pioneering work in fighting for immigration reform in the difficult days before World War II is placed in the context of San Francisco and national history. The exhibit will run through mid-December. |
| In its most important organizational action looking to supporting and expanding its youth leadership development programs, C.A.C.A. created the new Youth Leadership Endowment Fund. Current Alliance programs include the national and regional annual youth conferences for leadership and personal development, the national essay contest to hone English writing skills, the national art contest to encourage cultural artistic skills reaching from Grade 1 upward, and high school youth councils sponsored and mentored by the local Lodges (chapters). In considerable enthusiasm, delegates pledged over $26,000 to start the new fund, at the Convention. Readers desiring to participate can write a check to "National C.A.C.A. Community Involvement Fund" or "CIF-youth" and send to Grand President Munson Kwok, Los Angeles Lodge, 415 Bamboo Lane, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012. A letter acknowledging the tax-deductible contributions will be sent to donors to the fund. |
Grand President |
Names 2007 Spirit of America Honorees |
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The Chinese American Citizens Alliance presented its highest honor, the Spirit of America Award,
at the closing banquet and ball of its 49th Biennial National Convention at the Empress of China Restaurant
in San Francisco, California, on Saturday, August 4, 2007. David Ching Heng Hsi, Ph.D., of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Him Mark Lai of San Francisco, California, and Gordon J. Quan of Houston, Texas were each honored for a lifetime of dedicated service and leadership in their specific field. Their selection was made from among many nominees who embody the indomitable spirit of our great nation and who have demonstrated superior leadership in any field - government, education, advocacy, sport, law, media, arts, theater, volunteer services, history, etc. The outstanding achievements of the three recipients have had a national impact on all Americans and a world-wide reach. |
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Dr. Hsi is being honored as a pioneer agricultural scientist, educator, senior Olympian, volunteer, and
goodwill ambassador. He recently accompanied Martin Chavez, Albuquerque Mayor, on an economic
exchange trip to China to seek loan of a panda bear to the City of Albuquerque. |
 Mrs Lai being presented with award on behalf of Him Mark Lai by Exec. VP Carolyn Chan & Grand Pres. Munson Kwok |
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Mr. Lai is a pioneering scholar, historian, author, and teacher known as the "Dean" of Chinese American
studies and co-founder of the Roots program, in which youth with heritage from Guangdong Province,
visit their ancestral home in the Pearl River Delta to find their roots. |
 Mrs Lai presented with award on behalf of Him Mark Lai by Exec. VP Carolyn Chan & Grand Pres. Munson Kwok |
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Mr. Quan, former City Councilman for Houston who served as president pro-tempore, is an advocate of
immigrant and civil rights, an educator, mentor, humanitarian, and a public servant. Several years ago,
Mr. Quan was featured as a rising political star in a special report by the late Peter Jennings in an ABC
report on Asian Americans. |
 Gordon Quan presented with award by Exec. VP Carolyn Chan & Grand Pres. Munson Kwok |
| Awardees serve as role models for youth, beacons of pride for Chinese Americans, and an inspiration for all Americans. Each of these men has motivated and empowered our community, nation, and world. |