A special New Year’s issue: JACL leaders and the year 2010 in review

Vol. 152, No. 1, January 21, 2011. 16 pages. View this issue

JACL leaders took stock of the organization at the start of 2011. National President David H. Kawamoto thanked volunteers and staff while describing a difficult financial situation, and National Director Floyd Mori wrote about changing the mission and structure of JACL as membership declined. Larry Oda, Gail Sueki and David Lin added reports on finances, the 2011 national convention in Los Angeles and a renewal campaign for lapsed members. Judith Aono wrote about keeping the Pacific Citizen strong.

A photo retrospective on page 7 recalled the images that shaped 2010, followed by short items on the year’s news, including Fred Korematsu Day signed into law in California, the fight over the Minidoka feedlot, and the JACL council’s vote to keep the P.C. in Los Angeles. District governors Chip Larouche, Toshi Abe, Kerry Kaneichi and Brian Morishita wrote about the year ahead. Five of its 16 pages carry holiday greetings.

What’s in this issue

JACL

• Thank You For Your Commitment to JACL, by David H. Kawamoto, page 2. JACL National President David Kawamoto reflects on his first five months in office, praising the work of volunteers, committees, and staff despite the organization’s difficult financial situation. He urges members to help with membership recruitment, donations, and fundraising to sustain JACL’s role as the leading Asian American civil rights organization.
• Keep the P.C. Strong, by Judith Aono, page 2. Pacific Citizen editorial board chair Judith Aono praises the P.C. staff for producing a quality newspaper despite limited resources, a maternity leave, and no business manager for part of the year. She highlights the newspaper’s digitization efforts, growing website traffic, and the JACL membership’s vote of confidence in supporting the publication.
• We Will Move Ahead, by Floyd Mori, page 3. National Director Floyd Mori discusses the need for JACL to adapt its mission and structure to changing demographics, declining membership, and fiscal pressures. He calls for enhanced program development, collaboration with other groups, and a restructured national board to compete for funding in the nonprofit sector.
• A New Era for JACL, by Larry Oda, page 3. Secretary/Treasurer Larry Oda reviews JACL’s accomplishments including Project Community!, the Camp Preservation Act, and the Congressional Gold Medal for Nisei veterans, while warning of financial challenges tied to declining membership. He describes the new president’s council of corporate sponsors as a potential path toward financial stability.
• Serving the JACL, by Gail Sueki, page 4. Vice President for General Operations Gail Sueki updates members on the consolidation of the PSW district office with the Pacific Citizen office, progress on the 2011 national convention, and her work chairing the national personnel committee. She also proposes changing the timeline for approving the program for action to better align with the budget process.
• Get Engaged in Reinvigorating the JACL, by David Lin, page 4. Vice President for Membership David Lin outlines an aggressive membership renewal campaign aiming to bring back over 1,000 lapsed members and describes three membership imperatives for 2011: renewal, youth recruitment, and leveraging JA population growth in states like Florida and Texas. He calls on members to personally engage in recruitment and retention efforts.
• Creating a Strong Network of Young Adults, by Matthew Farrells, page 5. National youth/student council chair Matthew Farrells describes the council’s new vision and mission focused on empowering young adults in the JA/AAPI community. The council has restructured itself and launched a campaign to increase youth delegate participation at the 2011 national convention.
• Excited and Optimistic About 2011, by Devin Yoshikawa, page 5. National youth representative Devin Yoshikawa expresses excitement for JACL 2.0 and the 2011 national convention in Los Angeles, along with planned youth summits across districts. He emphasizes JACL’s role as a civil rights organization advocating for social justice issues affecting communities of color.
• Which Version of History Will Stand?: Why the JACL Is Needed, by Ron Katsuyama, page 5. Vice President for Public Affairs Ron Katsuyama details JACL’s response to a Pacific Aviation Museum fundraising letter that falsely minimizes the JA WWII incarceration and its Niihau Incident exhibit that implies JA disloyalty. He describes a task force formed to correct historical inaccuracies and JACL’s ongoing commitment to educational projects preserving accurate JA history.
• Looking Ahead: 2011 — A Year to Celebrate!, by Chip Larouche, page 6. Pacific Northwest District Governor Chip Larouche celebrates the Congressional Gold Medal legislation for the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service, signed by President Obama in October 2010. He describes the newly formed National Veterans Network organizing the medal ceremony and encourages readers to support and attend the event in Washington, D.C.
• Assessments and Visions for JACL, by Toshi Abe, page 6. Eastern District Governor Toshi Abe discusses using Goodsearch.com as a fundraising tool for JACL and highlights growing use of mobile technology and cloud-based software. He also raises concerns about inaccuracies on JACL’s Wikipedia page and proposes ideas like a JACL merchandise store and property investment to improve financial stability.
• JACL National Council Votes to Keep Pacific Citizen in Los Angeles, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL national council voted in favor of an amendment to keep Pacific Citizen operations in Los Angeles as a budget-saving move. The consolidation places the P.C. and JACL PSW offices under one roof.
• JACL Honors APA Women at Salute to Champions Gala, by P.C. Staff, page 11. JACL honored APA women, including journalist Roxana Saberi, at its National JACL ‘Salute to Champions’ Gala, with Rep. Mike Honda congratulating the honoree. Saberi said that when enough people call out together for change over time, they can make a difference.
• The Next Generation of JACL Begins Now, by Kerry Kaneichi, page 13. PSW District Governor Kerry Kaneichi highlights the district’s youth development programs that engaged over 100 students in 2010, with plans to double that number in 2011. He previews the upcoming national convention in Los Angeles, the first held in an odd-numbered year, featuring a concurrent conference with the California Japanese American Community Leadership Council.
• JACL Needs Membership Workshops, by Brian Morishita, page 13. Intermountain District Governor Brian Morishita recaps a membership workshop held at the 2010 national convention that covered tactics for recruiting and retaining members. He stresses that membership building requires a customized, chapter-level action plan and calls for additional workshops at future district and national events.

In-Depth

• Relive the Images That Shaped 2010, by P.C. Staff, page 7. A photo retrospective feature highlighting key events of 2010 including a 442nd veteran photo from 1942, and Sam Fuji’s story connecting the 100th Battalion and 442nd RCT veterans to Washington, D.C. commemorations. The spread introduces a series of pages recapping major JACL and Japanese American community milestones of the year.

National

• JACL Opposes Arizona’s SB 1070, by P.C. Staff, page 8. At the Chicago national convention, JACL delegates voted overwhelmingly to continue opposing Arizona’s controversial immigration enforcement law, SB 1070. Vice President of Public Affairs Ron Katsuyama addressed the national council on the issue.
• Gulf Coast Oil Spill Impacts APA Communities, by Nalea J. Ko, page 8. For over three months, oil gushed into Gulf waters, killing sea life and vital fishing jobs, with local APA communities especially impacted. P.C. Reporter Nalea J. Ko traveled to the region to document stories of heartbreak in the Gulf Coast.
• Texas Board of Education Curriculum Fight, by P.C. Staff, page 8. When the Texas Board of Education voted to approve controversial curriculum amendments excluding JA WWII history, community leaders appealed the decision and won. The effort involved advocates including Donna Cole, Sandra Tanamachi, Glen Gondo, Dr. Abbie Grubb and Linda Toyota.
• JACL Council Votes Down Commemorative Stamp Resolution, by P.C. Staff, page 8. The JACL national council voted down a resolution that would have endorsed a commemorative stamp proposal for a national memorial instead of Nisei veterans. Opponents argued that efforts to honor Nisei veterans with a special stamp have not been exhausted.
• Sen. Daniel Inouye Becomes President Pro Tempore, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Sen. Daniel Inouye was named president pro tempore of the Senate, making him third in line to the presidency. This milestone marked a significant moment for Japanese American representation in national politics.
• Commission Settles Probes Into South Philadelphia High School Violence, by P.C. Staff, page 8. A commission settled federal and state probes into allegations of racial violence against APA students at South Philadelphia High School. The settlement addressed concerns about the safety and treatment of Asian Pacific American students at the school.
• Community Leaders Work to Ensure APA Census Count, by P.C. Staff, page 8. In 2010, community leaders including Gary Locke and JACL worked to ensure everyone in the APA community was counted in the Census. The effort aimed to secure accurate representation and resources for Asian Pacific American communities.
• Nisei Receive UCLA Honorary Degrees Decades Late, by P.C. Staff, page 10. In 2010, ceremonies for Nisei honorary degrees continued across California college campuses, with recipients like Toshio Matsumoto finally receiving their caps and degrees over six decades late. Justice was restored with the passage of AB 37, authored by Assemblymember Warren Furutani.
• Same-Sex Marriage Battles in Hawaii and California, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A measure that would have granted Hawaii’s gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits as married couples was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle. In California, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the Proposition 8 case to the California Supreme Court.
• Korematsu Day Signed Into Law, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A man who challenged the World War II internment of Japanese Americans will be honored in California every year under a bill signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor signed Assembly Bill 1775 on Sept. 23, designating Jan. 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution.
• Fight Continues Over Minidoka Feedlot, by P.C. Staff, page 10. A lawyer representing community groups filed an appeal of a judge’s decision in favor of a county permit to build a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation near the historic Minidoka site. The fight to save the historic site from the feedlot continues.
• JACL Calls for Review After UC San Diego ‘Compton Cookout’, by P.C. Staff, page 11. JACL called on UC San Diego officials to review internal policies on hate incidents after an off-campus ‘Compton Cookout’ party mocking Black History Month ignited racial tension on campus. The incident sparked broader conversations about racial sensitivity at universities.
• Norman Mineta Portrait Installed at Smithsonian, by P.C. Staff, page 11. A portrait of former U.S. Transportation and Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta was installed at the Smithsonian Museum. The installation recognizes Mineta’s significant contributions to American public service.

Community

• JACL Campaigns to Change Racist School Nickname, by P.C. Staff, page 11. JACL successfully campaigned to have Akron, Ohio’s East High School change its racist nickname from ‘Orientals.’ The campaign reflects JACL’s ongoing civil rights advocacy work at the community level.
• New Memorials Stand at Former Assembly Centers, by P.C. Staff, page 11. New memorials now stand at the former Merced and Turlock Assembly Centers to remember the thousands of Japanese Americans who were incarcerated there during WWII. The memorials serve as lasting tributes to those who passed through the sites.
• Little Tokyo Hotel Owners File for Bankruptcy, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Little Tokyo Partners, the owners of Little Tokyo’s Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens and Weller Court in Los Angeles, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The filing raises questions about the future of the historic Japanese American enclave.
• JACL Marks 10th Anniversary of Resisters Apology, by P.C. Staff, page 11. 2010 marked the 10th anniversary of JACL’s decision to mend community ties and apologize to the WWII draft resisters. The Fukushima family, whose grandfather served in the MIS during WWII, was featured in coverage of the milestone.
• Hiroshi Miyamura High School Dedicated in Gallup, New Mexico, by P.C. Staff, page 11. Hiroshi Miyamura High School was dedicated in Gallup, New Mexico, honoring the Medal of Honor recipient. The dedication celebrated Miyamura’s legacy and contributions.

Obituaries

• Farewell: Victoria Manalo Draves, Maj. Gen. John L. Fugh, and Others Remembered in 2010, by P.C. Staff, page 12. This tribute page remembers notable Japanese and Asian Americans who died in 2010, including Olympic diving champion Victoria Manalo Draves, Maj. Gen. John L. Fugh, MIS veteran Grant Hirabayashi, redress activist William Hohri, translator Chiyoko Doris Aiso Hoshide, 442nd veteran Joseph Ichiuji, scientist Harvey Itano, coach William Kajikawa, and Hawaii Chief Justice William Richardson. Each entry details their significant contributions to their fields and communities.
• Frank Emi, WWII Draft Resistance Leader, Dies at 94, by Associated Press, page 12. Frank Emi, a Japanese American who helped lead draft resistance at a World War II internment camp, died Dec. 1 at a hospice in West Covina, Calif., at age 94. Emi and six others formed the Fair Play Committee in 1944 arguing JAs shouldn’t be drafted while denied freedom at home, leading to their conviction and eventual exoneration in 1945.

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