JACL chapter news, a health plan and immigration reform, 1965

Vol. 60, No. 6, February 5, 1965. 4 pages. View this issue

Chapter life and member services filled this four-page issue. The Cal-Neva JACL Health Plan opened its initial enrollment period through March 1 and took a new name, while City View Hospital and Capitol Life Insurance Co. sped up JACL Major Medical claims. Mike Masaoka reported that congressional hearings on immigration and naturalization reform, including the McCarran-Walter Act, were due in February, and Alice Sasaki wrote about a Utah bill validating mixed marriages entered into before the state repealed its anti-miscegenation law.

Also inside: installation news from Berkeley, Sequoia, Snake River Valley and Downtown Los Angeles, a San Jose plan for a community center and senior citizen home, and Congressman Spark Matsunaga’s address in San Francisco. William Marutani’s East Wind and Tamotsu Murayama’s Tokyo Topics are on the commentary pages, along with a look at Issei lettuce and celery farming in Santa Maria.

What’s in this issue

Community

• Cal-Neva JACL Health Plan in Initial Enrollment Period to End Mar. 1; Group Gets New Name, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Cal-Neva JACL Health Plan opened its initial enrollment period, which runs through March 1, and the group received a new official name. Chapter members across the district may enroll now, with eligibility subject to health screening after the deadline.
• JACL Major Medical Claims Expedited at City View Hospital, page 1. City View Hospital and Capitol Life Insurance Co. have cooperated to speed processing of JACL Major Medical claims. Many members covered by the plan praised the fast, efficient claim handling they experienced.
• San Jose JACL Reveals Plans to Construct Community Center and Senior Citizen Home, by Phil Matsumoto, page 1. San Jose JACL president Henry Uyeda announced the chapter board is considering a proposal for a community center and senior citizen home on the present JACL site. He also said plans are underway to form a San Jose Jr. JACL chapter.
• Berkeley JACL Installs Tom Ouye as Chapter Head, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Tom Ouye, a city employee active in the Berkeley Gakuen and Eastbay Sequoia groups, will be installed as president of the Berkeley JACL chapter at a February 13 dinner. The event is scheduled at the Berkeley Hotel Mosel.
• Sequoia Elects Kuwano, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Fujisuwano of Japan Air Lines was elected president of the Sequoia JACL chapter at its recent executive meeting. Board members were also named for the coming year.
• JACL Expects to Sign Up 1,300 Members in San Francisco Campaign, by P.C. Staff, page 1. San Francisco JACL reported that about three-fourths of its members had already renewed as the membership campaign neared its February 28 deadline. Volunteer solicitors are working to reach the goal of 1,300 members.
• Snake River Valley Issei-Nisei Lauded, page 1. Radio station KCIX manager Clair B. Hull praised the contributions of Japanese Americans to the development of the Snake River Valley at a joint installation dinner for Boise Valley and Snake River Valley JACL chapters. Officers for the coming year were installed at the event.
• Chicago JACL Credit Union Elects New Directors, page 1. The Chicago JACL Credit Union held its annual dinner meeting and elected new directors for the coming year. Reports on the credit union’s strong financial record were presented to members.
• JACL’s Public Relations Role Sketched by Masaoka at Downtown LA Installation, page 1. National Director Mike Masaoka outlined JACL’s public relations program at the Downtown Los Angeles JACL installation dinner. He emphasized the Nisei’s responsibility to extend democratic privileges to all Americans regardless of race.
• Santa Maria Issei Popularize Salads With Extensive Lettuce, Celery Farming, page 1. Issei farmers in the Santa Maria Valley pioneered commercial cultivation of lettuce and celery in the early 1900s. The article traces how the crops became established in the local agricultural economy.
• Rep. Matsunaga Addresses San Francisco JACL Installation, page 3. Congressman Spark Matsunaga addressed the San Francisco JACL installation dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, stressing that education is key to solving problems facing America. He spoke about the civil rights legislation passed by Congress and the continuing need for equal opportunity.
• Olivel Establishes Abe Hagiwara Memorial Fund to Promote Leadership Opportunities, page 3. A memorial fund was established in honor of Abe Hagiwara to provide leadership opportunities for young Nisei. The fund is intended to support education and community development programs.

Commentary

• Membership Appeal: A Community Retirement Campus Proposal, page 1. A writer proposes that JACL explore developing a cooperative retirement community with recreational facilities on wooded land for fraternal members. The writer urges the National Board to appoint a study commission to investigate feasibility.
• East Wind: Japanese Redheads, by William Marutani, page 2. William Marutani reflects on young Japanese American women with red-dyed hair and the tension between cultural identity and assimilation. He contrasts their lighthearted appearance with the quiet dignity of earlier generations.
• Tokyo Topics, by Tamotsu Murayama, page 3. Tamotsu Murayama reports on memorial services being planned in Los Angeles for Kyutaro Abiko, founder of the Japanese American News, and on Japanese news items of interest. The column combines personal recollection with community news.
• Impressions, page 4. A short column offers the editor’s personal impressions of recent community events and JACL activities. It reflects on the importance of chapter involvement and member participation.

National

• Hawaii Senate Upholds Prop. 14 as Constitutional, page 1. A California court judge upheld Proposition 14 as constitutional, reversing an earlier ruling that had thrown out a challenge to the measure. The decision concerns fair housing and the ability of landlords to refuse tenants.
• Immigration Amendments Due for Early Committee Study, by Mike Masaoka, page 1. Congressional hearings on immigration and naturalization reform, including changes to the McCarran-Walter Act, are scheduled to begin in February. JACL has requested that the committee consider repeal of discriminatory national origins provisions.
• Mixed Marriages Before Repeal Validated in Utah, by Alice Sasaki, page 1. Utah legislators passed a bill to validate mixed marriages entered into before repeal of the state’s anti-miscegenation law, sending it to the governor. The measure was sponsored by Rep. M. Phyl Poulson and Rep. James H. Cochran.

JACL

• 18th Biennial National JACL Convention in Detroit, page 2. The 18th Biennial National JACL Convention is scheduled for Detroit, with delegates expected from across the country. Convention planning and program details were outlined for members.

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