Lawrence Wong with Pres. Clinton & V. Pres. Al Gore
DR WEN HO LEE -
CACA has been involved in the Wen Ho Lee case from the beginning with the presentation before the Board by Cecilia Chang, chair of the Wen Ho Lee Defense Fund. We have participated in press conferences, meetings, letter writing, petitions, made contributions on behalf of Dr. Lee.
JAPANESE MILITARY WAR CRIMES DURING WWIl -
CACA continues to participate in the Rape of Nanking Redress Committee. We have worked with California state elected officials (Mike Honda) and federal officials (Ca. Sen Dianne Feinstein) in passing resolutions asking for an official apology, reparations and release of vital information regarding the Japanese military Crimes.
CENSUS 2000 - CACA worked with other groups in getting the word out about the importance of being counted. We were also involved in the previous discussions about sampling to address any under counting that would occur in our community.
YEAR 2000 SAN ANTONIO MILLENNIUM RETREAT - I worked with the San Antonio Lodge in this very successful retreat (April 8-9) in which we garnered top speakers like Congressman David Wu of Oregon, Bob Gee, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy and Congressman Charles Gonzalez of San Antonio. Over 60 CACA members participated in this retreat experiment where members paid their own way.
MISSISSIPPI LODGE -
Worked with the Mississippi Lodge in helping it get off the ground and kept in touch with the new leaders. Regretfully, I was not able to attend the inauguration of the new Lodge due to my campaign for S.F. Supervisor.
SEISMIC RETROFIT LOAN - worked with the CACA Real Estate Committee in collecting a mountain of documents requested by the City of San Francisco to process the loan for the retrofitting of our national headquarters. I suggested the City Loan as an option over two years ago.
HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT - CACA has been involved with other groups from the beginning in lobbying for the passage of this Act which would strengthen the current 32-year old statute on hate crimes. In 1999, there were 486 anti-Asian American incidents, a 13% increase over the previous year. The death toll is the highest since the first audit was released in 1993. The actual figures are considered much higher as many Asian Americans do not report such crimes.
S.F. NEWCOMER HIGH SCHOOL - PART II -
Another attempt was made to close Newcomer High School. CACA was involved in the first effort to save the school over two years ago. CACA was again successfUlly involved in saving Newcomer High School from closure.
CACA INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE -
CACA was invited to the White House on May 25th for Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Joining me was members of the Washington DC Lodge. Gino Wang had his picture taken with President Clinton in the White House Rose Garden.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES -
CACA hosted a press conference with the Bill Bradley campaign to discuss Asian American issues. Vice President Al Gore was also planning a visit but canceled to his campaigning outside California. CACA joined with other API groups in condemning Senator John McCain for using the word "gook."
PRESERVING WWII U.S. INTERNMENT CAMPS -
CACA lobbied Vice President Al Gore in allocating $4.8 million to help preserve several internment sites throughout the West including constructing a visitor's center at Manzanar. We also lobbied Mike Honda.
FILIPINO VETERAN EQUITY ACT - CACA lobbied on behalf of this Act to provide medical, pension and burial benefits for Filipino soldiers who were drafted to fight side-by-side with American soldiers against the Japanese during WWII.
CACA CO-SPONSORED WITH LEADERSHIP EDUCATION FOR APT'S A DISCUSSION ON RACE RELATIONS -
Participated in a round-table discussion in San Francisco on the report issued by LEAP on "The State of Asian Pacific America: Transforming Race Relations" - March 2000.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS - CACA continues to participate in this national coalition as an executive board member. Last year various meetings were attended by Saykin Foo, Munson Kwok and myself. NCAPA is now going through a re-evaluation process in terms of deciding how it can be more effective and not duplicate the efforts of member organizations.
NEW CACA LODGES -
My goal for this year will be to create new lodges in areas where we lack representation. I have already started the discussion stage with people from Boston and will be exploring Sacramento and other areas where current CACA members have contacts. The key is to find committed people in those locales who will take the lead in organizing a new lodge and also keep it going.
PRESIDENT BUSH'S CABINET APPOINTMENTS - CACA applauds President Bush for his appointment of Norman Mineta as Transportation Secretary and Elaine Chao as Labor Secretary. We were concerned about his appointment of Senator Ashcroft as U.S. Attorney General. Ashcroft had fought "against"many of the issues that CACA fought "for" during the past few years.
