Redress rules, convention plans and the JACL budget debate

Vol. 123, No. 2, July 19, 1996. 12 pages. View this issue

Redress and the coming JACL national convention filled this 12-page issue. The Office of Redress Administration reported that its draft regulations for two new eligibility categories were under review, with DeDe Greene hoping for final rules by September. The California Assembly voted 63-0 to urge redress for Japanese Americans relocated to Japan as minors. A p.12 story had Greene explaining the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund. Several pages previewed the convention in San Francisco: workshops, tours, the Minoru Yasui speech contest, and a Sayonara banquet honoring Yuri Kochiyama, George Takei and George Tsutakawa.

The opinion pages turned to the 1997-98 budget, with Denny Yasuhara, Mae Takahashi and Karyl Matsumoto weighing in. Bill Hosokawa wrote on women in business, and Bill Marutani on being pigeonholed. Robert Sakaniwa reported on bills in Congress, including the Manzanar National Historic Site transfer. Page 1 also covered the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus opposing the end of bilingual voting aid.

What’s in this issue

Incarceration & Redress

• Regulations for New ORA Eligibility Categories Under Review, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Office of Redress Administration has published draft regulations covering children born after a parent left internment camp or evacuated prohibited zones, with the public comment period now closed and under review. ORA hopes to finalize both new eligibility categories by September and has established a new toll-free helpline as the program approaches its 1998 sunset date.
• California Assembly Supports New Redress Category for WWII Minors, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The California Assembly adopted a resolution, introduced by Assemblyman Louis Caldera, urging the U.S. attorney general to provide redress to Japanese Americans relocated to Japan from internment camps as minors during WWII. The measure passed 63-0, and a letter has been sent to Attorney General Janet Reno and the Office of Redress Administration.
• ORA Addresses Education Fund Concerns, by P.C. Staff, page 12. ORA administrator DeDe Greene clarified the distinction between authorized and appropriated funding for the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund, explaining that redress payments are entitlements while Education Board funding is discretionary and requires separate congressional appropriation. She emphasized ORA has not taken money from the Education Board’s efforts, which are considered equally important to the Civil Liberties Act’s goals.

JACL

• NCWNP District Takes Position Against Burning of Black Churches, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific District Board of JACL responded to the burning of black churches in the South with a $100 donation to the Burned Churches Fund and called on members to support rebuilding efforts. District leaders condemned the burnings as acts of hate and intolerance that cut across racial and religious lines.
• Can Native Hawaiians Seeking Sovereignty Use Redress as a Model?, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A convention workshop hosted by the Honolulu Chapter JACL will explore whether the Japanese American redress experience offers lessons for Native Hawaiians pursuing sovereignty. Speaker Puanani Burgess will address socioeconomic conditions and the political climate affecting the sovereignty movement, building on JACL’s 1984 and 1986 resolutions supporting Native Hawaiian sovereignty.
• Issues, Approaches to Teaching the JA Experience, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The JACL Education Committee workshop will feature Asian American Studies educators discussing issues and approaches to teaching the Japanese American internment experience. Panelists include Dale Minami, Bob Kumamoto, Janie Matsumoto Loe, Lloyd Kajikawa, and Paul DeWitt, moderated by Teresa Maebori.
• Financial Planning, Health Care Subject of Workshops, by Grayce Uyehara, page 4. A convention workshop will address financial planning and long-term care, featuring speakers Toshi Hayashi discussing long-term care insurance and Medicare/Medicaid issues, and Robin Morishita presenting on personal financial planning. The session aims to help JACL members plan for retirement and elder care amid changes to Social Security and health care programs.
• Session on Sexual Harassment, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A convention workshop titled ‘Sexual Harassment – Are You Safe?’ will feature attorney Roberta Hayashi and other panelists discussing workplace power disparities and harassment issues, especially as they affect people of color. The session was organized by Pat Orr of the NCWNP District JACL Women’s Concerns Committee.
• Take the Tours: See the Sights and Learn About Culture, History, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The JACL convention offers several optional tours including a San Francisco city tour, 17-Mile Drive/Monterey Bay Aquarium tour, San Jose downtown walking tour, and an Angel Island tour. Each tour includes lunch and costs between $39 and $59, with reservations taken through the San Jose Chapter.
• Whing Ding to Honor 1000 Club Charter Members, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Whing Ding Homecoming event will honor 120 surviving charter members of the National JACL Thousand Club, with five members receiving certificates presented by Etsu Masaoka. The furusato-themed event features entertainment by actor Lane Nishikawa, the Steve Nakano Jazz Quartet, and food from Nihonmachi restaurants.
• Speech Contest Set for Aug. 9, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Minoru Yasui Oratorical Competition will be held at the JACL National Convention with five district winners competing for the national title: Emily Durham, Jessica Deardorff, Nicole Itano, Jill Yamagiwa, and Michelle Amano. Each contestant will address topics related to multiculturalism, Asian American identity, and generational understanding.
• Actor to Host Awards Event at Convention, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Actor George Takei, known for his role as Mr. Sulu in Star Trek, will serve as toastmaster for the 1996 JACL national convention awards luncheon on Aug. 9 at the Fairmont Hotel. Takei has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a handprint at Mann’s Chinese Theater.
• Banquet Reception to Honor Japanese American of the Biennium Winners, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Congressman Robert Matsui and former Congressman Norman Mineta will host a reception before the Sayonara banquet, where Yuri Kochiyama, George Takei, and George Tsutakawa will be honored as Japanese American of the Biennium Award winners. Entertainment will be provided by San Jose Taiko.
• Restoration of $50 Million for Redress Education Fund Leads Way, by Harry K. Honda, page 6. The JACL Resolutions Committee reviewed numerous proposals for the National Convention, including a Golden Gate Chapter resolution insisting on full use of the $50 million CLPEF allocation and other resolutions addressing budget, staffing, WWII memorials, voter registration, and sexual harassment. Five resolutions were rejected on technical grounds while others were moved to the Constitution/Bylaws Committee agenda.
• Among Proposed Changes, Candidates Slate Sought from JACL Nominations Committee, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Several constitutional and bylaw amendments will be considered at the National Council meeting, including clarifying the Nominations Committee’s role, adding youth/student representatives to voting procedures, creating a Young Adult membership category, and establishing grounds for impeachment of Youth/Student officers. Details of each amendment and its sponsoring chapter are outlined.
• Chapters Respond to Satow Memorial Committee Offer, by P.C. Staff, page 7. More than 46 JACL chapters have responded to a program offering Bill Hosokawa’s book ‘JACL in Quest of Justice’ for educational purposes at libraries and schools. The book, dedicated to former JACL director Mas Satow and his wife Chiz, is available at no cost except shipping fees.

National

• AP Group Opposes Effort to Eliminate Bilingual Voting Aid, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus voiced opposition to H.R. 351, the Bilingual Voting Requirements Act, which would eliminate minority language assistance provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Congresswoman Patsy Mink warned that eliminating bilingual ballots would disenfranchise thousands of Asian and Pacific Americans and other minorities.
• Legislative Activities on the Hill, by Robert Sakaniwa, page 9. JACL’s Washington representative reports on pending legislation including H.R. 3006 for the Manzanar National Historic Site transfer, H.R. 2636 for a Japanese American Memorial near the Capitol, and immigration reform bills with provisions threatening immigrant rights. The article also covers affirmative action legislation and the Bilingual Voting Requirements Repeal Act.

Military & Veterans

• Historical Perspectives from 3 Views, by P.C. Staff, page 4. A convention panel titled ‘Cementing Our History: A Monumental Task’ will feature retired Maj. Gen. James Mukoyama, Kibei-Nisei veteran Fukuhara, and 442nd veteran Rudy Tokiwa sharing their WWII and military service experiences. Video documentaries about Nisei soldiers will also be screened throughout convention week.

Commentary

• Women at the Top, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. A Worldbusiness magazine feature listed 50 world-class businesswomen including four Japanese executives: Mieko Morishita, Sawako Noma, Harumi Sakamoto, and Yoshiko Shinohara, plus designer Hanae Mori. The columnist notes six American women also made the list and wonders whether any Japanese American women deserve similar recognition.
• Pigeonholes, by Bill Marutani, page 8. The columnist discusses how ethnic minorities, including Asian Americans, are often forced into simplistic stereotypical roles, recounting a personal experience with a pushy car saleswoman and his own 1975 judicial appointment in Pennsylvania. He describes how society rationalized his appointment and subsequent election victory rather than accepting an Asian American could simply be a top contender on merit.
• Former JACL Leader Says Thanks to D.C. Rep, by Karyl Matsumoto, page 8. The former interim JACL national director writes to thank Leigh-Ann Miyasato, JACL’s former interim Washington D.C. representative, for her dedicated work tracking legislation and representing JACL on Capitol Hill. Matsumoto praises Miyasato’s professionalism and notes she performed this work for minimal compensation as a temporary contract employee.
• The 1997-98 Budgets and Membership, by Denny Yasuhara, page 9. JACL National President Denny Yasuhara details membership trends from 1985-1994 showing a net decline, and explains projected revenues and expenditures for the 1997-98 budget cycle. He notes that projected expenses are significantly lower than 1993-94 peak years and highlights strong grassroots fundraising support for the organization’s future.
• Does JACL Have Any Programs?, by Herbert Yamanishi, page 9. National Director Herbert Yamanishi responds to questions about what programs JACL provides, listing management/administration, National Board support, membership services, Pacific Citizen, scholarships, education programming, affirmative action advocacy, and immigration issue monitoring. He emphasizes that all programs carry fiscal impacts and are defined through Council resolutions, bylaw amendments, or Board action.
• 1997-1998 Budget: Will It Make or Break JACL?, by Mae Takahashi, page 10. The PC Editorial Board chair explains the bylaw-mandated process for preparing JACL’s biennial budget and details how the 1997-98 budget was developed through multiple governor and chapter input sessions due to data reconstruction challenges. She argues that a realistic and conservative budget is critical for JACL’s fiscal health going into the next century.
• Governors’ Budget: A Financial Setback?, by Karyl Matsumoto, page 10. The former interim JACL national director warns that the Governors’ Budget could put JACL in a deficit position due to unaddressed risks including potential membership revenue decline, a new discounted Young Adult membership category, and an inadvertently dropped $16,000 in personnel costs. She urges convention delegates to demand a sound, conservative budget and calls for holding district allocation increases pending further study.

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