The 1996 JACL convention in San Jose and the Proposition 209 campaign

Vol. 123, No. 5, September 6, 1996. 12 pages. View this issue

The 34th biennial JACL National Convention in San Jose, held Aug. 6-11, filled this issue. Reports covered the National Council’s votes on resolutions and amendments, the Program for Action, and the awards: Mae Takahashi and Tom Masamori as JACLers of the Biennium, and Yuri Kochiyama, George Takei and George Tsutakawa as Japanese Americans of the Biennium. Mae Takahashi interviewed newly elected President Helen Kawagoe about her priorities. The Pacific Southwest District also launched its campaign against Proposition 209, with a debate series on affirmative action across Southern California. Al Muratsuchi argued for a No vote.

Bill Hosokawa wrote about Harry Honda’s long service to the paper after Richard Suenaga’s resignation, and Honda wrote on dues and membership. Thomas Hara explained changes to JACL’s endowment funds, and Yas Tokita argued against the dues increase. Herb Yamanishi looked at Justice Frank Murphy’s dissent in Korematsu and the Japanese Latin American redress lawsuit. Two pages of convention photographs and a report on Utah’s centennial celebration round out the issue.

What’s in this issue

National

• PSW Presents Affirmative Action, Anti-Prop 209 Debate Series, by P.C. Staff, page 1. JACL’s Pacific Southwest District launched a campaign to defeat California’s Proposition 209, which would abolish state and local affirmative action programs in education, employment, and government contracting. The campaign includes community education debates, fund-raising through Asian Pacific Americans for Affirmative Action, and voter registration efforts targeting over 16,000 California JACL members.
• Response to Welfare Reform Bill Sought, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The welfare bill signed by President Clinton on Aug. 22 will create new challenges for immigrant communities, with 15,000 elderly and disabled immigrants in San Francisco alone losing eligibility for SSI and food stamps. The Asian Law Caucus called for community volunteers to help ease the impact and emphasized citizenship as protection against future discrimination.

JACL

• JACL President Helen Kawagoe: PC Start Interview, by Mae Takahashi, page 1. Newly elected JACL President Helen Kawagoe discusses her feelings about being elected, her leadership style, and her priorities for the biennium including restoring JACL’s credibility and increasing membership. She outlines plans to seek professional assistance, establish advisory committees of past leaders, and collaborate with other civil rights organizations.
• Mae Takahashi and Tom Masamori Named JACLers of the Biennium, by Staff report, page 1. Mae Takahashi of the Clovis Chapter and Tom Masamori of the Mile-Hi Chapter were honored as JACLers of the Biennium at the awards luncheon. Takahashi was recognized for her financial oversight work and creation of a PC board manual, while Masamori was honored for his long service to the Mile-Hi Chapter and veterans liaison work.
• JACL Will Also Open Membership to Nonprofit Organizations, by P.C. Staff, page 1. A new National JACL membership category will allow nonprofit organizations to join, enabling JACL’s participation in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) which raised $189 million last year. The National Council approved an emergency bylaws amendment establishing dues scales for nonprofit organizations ranging from $50 to $500 based on operating budget, subject to chapter ratification by Nov. 8, 1996.
• Highlights of National Council Actions on Resolutions and Amendments, by P.C. Staff, page 4. This detailed report covers numerous constitutional and bylaws amendments and resolutions considered at the 34th biennial JACL convention, including votes on youth council governance, national memorial support, PC budget issues, and staffing allocation studies. Several resolutions were adopted, rejected, or withdrawn including support for a Japanese American Memorial in Washington D.C. and a resolution on 442nd RCT Medal of Honor awards.
• JACL Sweepstakes Winners Revealed, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The 11 JACL Sweepstakes winners were announced during the Sayonara banquet on Aug. 10, with Charles K. Matsumoto of Milwaukee winning the grand prize of two round-trip airline tickets plus $1,500. Other winners received cash prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000.
• JACL’s Program for Action: Coalition Building, Empowerment, Nikkei Values, by Harry K. Honda, Interim Editor, page 5. Delegates at the JACL convention debated and adopted a Program for Action built around three visions: civil rights leadership, political empowerment, and preservation of Japanese American cultural heritage. Delegates raised concerns about resources, accountability measures, and terminology including objections to the term ‘hapa’ which was ultimately removed from the final document.
• Regarding JACL’s Segregated Accounts, by Thomas Hara, page 9. Hara explains the origin and intent of a bylaw amendment consolidating JACL’s endowment funds for investment purposes, driven by new FASB accounting standards and a Select Committee’s findings on investment deficiencies. The changes create a National Investment Policy Committee to oversee $7.5 million in segregated funds while maintaining existing restrictions on principal and income use.
• JA’s of the Biennium Honored at Ceremonies, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Yuri Kochiyama, George Takei, and George Tsutakawa were honored as Japanese Americans of the Biennium at the JACL convention in categories of political/public affairs, artist/literature/communications, and education/humanities respectively. Tsutakawa was unable to attend due to illness, so his wife Ayame and daughter Mayumi read a thank-you speech on his behalf.
• Roll Call: Convention Workshop Reports, by P.C. Staff, page 10. Ten workshops were held at the JACL convention covering topics including Native Hawaiian redress, affirmative action, Japanese American veteran history, hapa issues, sexual harassment, U.S.-Japan relations, and Silicon Valley Asian entrepreneurs. The PC solicited summaries from moderators and attendees, with several reports still pending for the next issue.
• JACLers of the Biennium: Full Profiles of Takahashi and Masamori, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Extended biographical profiles detail Mae Takahashi’s career as a pharmacist and JACL financial leader in the Clovis Chapter, and Tom Masamori’s WWII service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and decades of service to the Mile-Hi Chapter. Both were honored for their extensive contributions to JACL and their communities.
• Hara: National Endowment Fund Committee Transition, by Thomas Hara, page 12. Hara continues his explanation of bylaw changes affecting JACL’s National Endowment Fund Committee, crediting life members Shig Wakamatsu and Roy Nishikawa for their dedicated service to the fund. He clarifies that the amendment addresses only investment policy and does not change existing restrictions on fund principal or income.

Commentary

• Words from Herb: Justice Murphy and JLA ‘Redress’, by Herb Yamanishi, National JACL Director, page 3. Yamanishi reflects on two August events: a ceremony honoring Justice Frank Murphy’s dissent in Korematsu v. United States, and a lawsuit filed by the Campaign for Justice seeking redress for Japanese Latin Americans forcibly brought to U.S. detention camps during WWII. He argues both cases raise fundamental questions about whether military necessity can override constitutional and civil rights during national crises.
• A 40-Year Mainstay of PC, by Bill Hosokawa, page 8. Hosokawa reflects on Harry Honda’s long service to Pacific Citizen following editor Richard Suenaga’s resignation, noting Honda has repeatedly stepped in during editorial transitions despite being previously sidelined. He praises Suenaga’s tenure for its vigorous reporting that helped correct organizational problems, and wishes the PC Board luck finding a worthy successor.
• Swallowing Camels, by Bill Marutani, page 8. Marutani recounts his experience with a Protestant church during a period of church fire bombings in the South, describing his refusal to recite certain creeds and his failed attempt to redirect Easter flower funds toward rebuilding burned churches. He ultimately left the church after a bishop’s pastoral letter opposed busing for parochial school children while remaining silent on the fire-bombings.
• Member Makes Correction on National Rifle Association Dues, by Ronald Shibata, page 8. Shibata corrects an error in a previous article about NRA dues structure, noting actual annual dues are $35 rather than the figure cited. He also proposes forming an at-large association of JACL members who are also NRA members to advocate for Second Amendment rights within JACL.
• One Member’s Dissent Over Clinton ‘Snubs’ JACL Story, by Clyde Nishimura, page 8. Nishimura disagrees with a previous PC article claiming President Clinton ‘snubbed’ JACL by not appearing before the National Council, arguing that Clinton did meet privately with JACL’s executive council. He contends that public criticism of the President could harm future access to policymakers and that substantive policy discussions should be highlighted instead.
• Why Californians Should Vote ‘No’ on Prop. 209, by Al Muratsuchi, page 9. Muratsuchi argues Californians should reject Proposition 209 because it is too radical and sweeping, threatening beneficial outreach and scholarship programs, and because it would weaken legal protections against gender discrimination by replacing the ‘compelling government interest’ standard with a lower ‘reasonably necessary’ standard. He urges readers to spread awareness and contact JACL regional offices to join efforts against the measure.
• Very Truly Yours: Need More Revenue? Get More Members, by Harry K. Honda, page 9. Honda recounts the history of JACL dues increases dating back to 1960, noting that a $1 increase then funded the Pacific Citizen’s move to one-per-household distribution and doubled circulation. He argues PC could still serve as a vehicle for JACL growth by opening its pages to a wider community audience and inviting subscribers to join JACL.
• Budget Debate: A Call for Membership Growth Over Dues Increases, by Yas Tokita, page 12. Tokita, Intermountain District Council Governor, argues against the JACL budget’s dues increase, citing historical evidence that past dues increases led to membership decline. He proposes alternatives including a stronger membership campaign, delayed reassessment of the dues increase, and expanding Pacific Citizen back to more frequent publication as a tangible member benefit.

Community

• Debate Schedule: JACL Presents Series on Affirmative Action and Proposition 209, by P.C. Staff, page 3. JACL announced a series of debates on affirmative action and Proposition 209 to be held at various Southern California locations including San Diego, Gardena, Pasadena, and Irvine. Each debate features speakers both for and against the initiative from organizations like the ACLU, Rebuild L.A., and Republican groups.
• Convention Snapshots: JACL National Convention Highlights, by P.C. Staff, page 6. Photo spread capturing moments from the 34th biennial JACL National Convention held in San Jose, including officer installations, workshop sessions, and social events. Featured are National Council debates, the Whing-Ding event, and recognition of longtime San Jose chapter members.
• Convention Snapshots Continued: Team Leaders and Exhibits, by P.C. Staff, page 7. Additional convention photos show San Jose Chapter organizers, EDC delegation members preparing for National Council sessions, and 1000 Club old-timers being honored with certificates of appreciation. The photos also capture exhibits and youth leadership recognition including Masaoka Fellowship interns.
• J.A. Utah Centennial a Rousing Success, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Japanese Americans celebrated Utah’s centennial in record numbers, drawing over 860 attendees at the banquet and hundreds more at related events over the Aug. 23-25 weekend. Japanese Ambassador Kunihiko Saito headlined speakers alongside JACL President Helen Kawagoe and LDS Church leader Chieko Okazaki.

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