JACL’s February 1994 board meeting and the Pacific Citizen dispute

Vol. 118, No. 6, February 18, 1994. 8 pages. View this issue

The JACL National Board met in San Francisco on Feb. 12-13, 1994, and nearly all of this eight-page issue covered it. New national director Randy Senzaki reported on his first months in office. Richard Suenaga wrote about the board’s work on a budget deficit, which Jon Kaji put at an estimated $75,269 for 1993. The meeting also centered on a dispute over the Pacific Citizen’s role. An Ad Hoc Committee chaired by President Lillian Kimura laid out plans to resolve it, the National Youth Council raised criticisms, and the paper printed its own response.

Elsewhere are an account of the board’s debate over same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue, Alan Nishi’s membership figures, and a commentary by Lillian C. Kimura on JACL finances. Bill Hosokawa and Tak Terasaki wrote about the Mile-Hi Chapter, Bill Marutani reported on a planned Nikkei monument in Washington, D.C., and Harry Honda reminisced at the Riverside JACL installation dinner.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Senzaki: His First Four Months, by P.C. Staff, page 1. New JACL National Director Randy Senzaki reported on his first months in office, describing visits to chapters and districts across the country, including the Midwest, East Coast, and Sacramento. He praised the national staff and emphasized that JACL remains a grassroots organization despite ongoing controversies.
• Board Deals with Deficit, by Richard Suenaga, page 1. The JACL National Board met Feb. 12-13 in San Francisco to address a significant budget deficit and the ongoing Pacific Citizen conflict. New governors attended their first board meetings while discussions covered future issues including gay rights, U.S.-Japan relations, and health reform.
• Ad Hoc Committee Charts Plans to Resolve PC Conflict, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by JACL National President Lillian Kimura, developed short- and long-term plans to address conflict over Pacific Citizen’s roles and rights. The committee will arrange dialogue among PC Board chair Ron Ohata, national director Randy Senzaki, and PC editor Richard Suenaga, while preparing policy options for chapters and governors to review.
• Charges, Criticism Leveled Against PC, by P.C. Staff, page 1. At the Feb. 12-13 National Board meeting, Kim Nakahara presented a National Youth Council resolution criticizing Pacific Citizen for not printing youth articles in a timely manner and failing to serve as an effective public relations tool. Ruth Mizobe also condemned PC for not covering the National Youth Conference’s expenses, prompting a discussion on the Youth Council’s grievances.
• Education Committee Reports on Guide, Seminar Resources, by Teresa Maebori, page 1. The JACL Education Committee, chaired by Teresa Maebori, reported to the National Board on progress with the JACL Curriculum and Resource Guide and announced a proposed education seminar for May 28, 1994 in San Francisco. The seminar aims to help JACL members promote Asian American history education and market the guide to schools and educators.
• Puzzled About PC Figures, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Jon Kaji, JACL national secretary/treasurer, presented a preliminary draft of the 1993 budget showing an estimated $75,269 deficit, less than originally projected. Discussion covered fundraising shortfalls and questions about future budget deficits raised by PC board member Peggy Liggett.
• Meeting Begins in Rocky Fashion Amid PC Controversy, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Board meeting opened with tension when a quickly convened Ad Hoc Committee meeting denied attendance to several PC-affiliated members, and disputes arose over videotaping the proceedings. Shig Wakamatsu, former JACL president, traveled from Chicago to express concern for preserving PC’s editorial independence on behalf of past presidents and grassroots membership.
• Yasuhara Asks Help in Spokane Battle; Named to PC Board, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Denny Yasuhara of the Spokane Chapter requested and received JACL National Board support for his chapter’s lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee over alleged racist remarks. Yasuhara was also approved as the Pacific Northwest member of the PC Board of Directors.
• Nishi, Kaji: On Membership, by P.C. Staff, page 2. Alan Nishi reported JACL membership at 24,490 with a 97.8% renewal rate, contradicting a lower figure of 19,000 cited by Paul Shinkawa in a Denver address. Jon Kaji called Shinkawa’s figure a misapplication of data.
• Board Views ‘Same-Sex’ Issue, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The National Board debated whether to support same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue, with Bill Kaneko presenting the motion following Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruling. Several governors requested more time to consult their districts, and the motion was tabled after a tie-breaking vote by President Kimura.
• Governor’s Caucus Files Reports, by P.C. Staff, page 3. Sharon Ishii-Jordan, chair of the Governor’s Caucus, reported concerns about resolving the PC conflict, clarifying PC’s role, and maintaining its non-partisan status. The caucus also requested clearer procedures for grievances and consistent presence of legal counsel at board meetings.
• PC Responds to Charges, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Pacific Citizen responded to charges made at the Feb. 12-13 National Board meeting, detailing extensive prior coverage of the National Youth Conference and explaining financial constraints that affected its ability to send a reporter to San Francisco. The response also addressed confusion between two conflicting financial reports presented to the board.
• Endowment Fund Use Explained, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Jon Kaji clarified that the $200,000 transferred from the Endowment Fund was accumulated earnings, not the fund’s corpus, addressing recent controversy. The Endowment Fund Committee recommended changing investment strategy to include growth funds and altering the earnings split between National and the fund itself.
• Minutes of Last Board Meeting Amended, by P.C. Staff, page 7. The National Board approved amended minutes from the Sept. 25-26, 1993 meeting, including corrections regarding Sharon Ishii-Jordan’s dissent on the motion to request Paul Shinkawa’s resignation and clarifications about PC’s role. Other corrections addressed the Denver convention accounting and legal counsel’s attendance.

Commentary

• Clearing Up Financial Matters, by Lillian C. Kimura, page 3. JACL National President Lillian Kimura addressed questions about JACL’s finances, including a clean 1992 audit and clarification that the $200,000 transferred from the Endowment Fund was interest income, not corpus. She also detailed JACL’s financial contributions to the 30th Anniversary March on Washington and discussed the organization’s 1993 budget deficit.
• In Remembrance, by Dr. Mitsuo Miura, page 3. A poem reflecting on memory and tribute to those who lived through a significant historical experience, emphasizing bravery and enduring truth. The piece is dedicated to those who remained faithful throughout difficult times.
• An Insult to the Mile-Hi Chapter, by Bill Hosokawa, page 6. Bill Hosokawa criticizes former JACL national director Ron Wakabayashi for suggesting no speech at the Mile-Hi Chapter deserved front-page coverage in Pacific Citizen, calling it insulting to inland chapters. He argues that Mile-Hi’s historic contributions to JACL, including hosting the first postwar convention, warrant respect and an apology from Wakabayashi.
• Tribute for Eternity, by Bill Marutani, page 6. Bill Marutani details the progress of a Nikkei monument planned for Washington, D.C., honoring Japanese American patriotism in World War II, as introduced by Congressman Norman Mineta’s legislative bill. The piece explains the significance of the monument’s location and the hurdles it overcame, including approval from the National Capital Memorial Commission.
• Wakabayashi Should Apologize to Mile-Hi, by Tak Terasaki, page 6. A letter to the editor from Mile-Hi Chapter member Tak Terasaki demands an apology from Ron Wakabayashi for dismissing the chapter’s speeches as unworthy of front-page coverage. Terasaki highlights Mile-Hi’s historic role in shaping JACL’s postwar legislative and human rights programs.
• Thank You to Person Who Made College Possible, by Miyuke T. Takeuchi, page 6. A letter from Miyuke T. Takeuchi expresses gratitude to Judy Austin Rantala for her efforts enabling the author to attend the University of New Hampshire during WWII through the Student Relocation program. Takeuchi recounts a positive college experience free of prejudice and lifelong friendships formed there.

Community

• Youth Council Presents Resolutions, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Kim Nakahara reported that the National Youth Council unanimously passed resolutions supporting President Kimura’s decision to request Paul Shinkawa’s resignation and expressing appreciation for National Staff’s assistance with the National Youth Conference. The council also expressed concern over what it saw as one-sided Pacific Citizen coverage of National Staff.
• Riverside JACL Hears PC Editor Emeritus Reminisce, by P.C. Staff, page 7. PC editor emeritus Harry Honda reminisced about his 40 years with the paper at the Riverside JACL installation dinner on Jan. 29, encouraging delegates to use their power within JACL. The event also honored the chapter’s 25-year Sister City relationship with Sendai and included remarks from UC Riverside professor Dr. Ron Loveridge.

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