I attended my first Pacific Southwest District Meeting on Sunday, May 18th, and found it an interesting experience. There are 29 chapters in the Pacific Southwest District, and those unable to attend are asked to have proxies authorized to vote in their absence.
The meeting was presided by Gov. David Kawamoto and his wife Carol, the Vice Governor, who drove up from San Diego. Chapter leaders attended from as far as Las Vegas and Arizona.
During the lunch break, candidates for the next 2-year term were allowed to speak. Mr. David Lim, current national president, gave an impressive talk of the organization and during a question, indicated JACL’s critical need for a Development Director which was being addressed in next year’s budget. Secretary Gary Mayeda, ably handled the technical details of Skype to allow candidates from the east coast and Midwest to be able to address us and see us!
The issues facing the affirmative action amendment, SCA-5 were presented by Kanji Sahara. I have requested a copy of the slides presented as they contained information of interest to us all.
Phil Shigekuni and Yukio Kawaratani discussed the resolution forwarded by our SFV chapter, and the modifications suggested by Andy Noguchi and the Florin chapter. Ultimately, Yukio Kawaratani requested that we withdraw the resolution, and the ad hoc committee which included Barbara Takei, historian of Tule Lake, agreed that more ground work needed to be done before any resolution on the issue was brought to the national convention floor.
Phil and I agree that a greater understanding of the Tule Lake Segregation Center is needed for current and future JACL members. Education remains a goal for all of us that worked together on the resolution.
A new experience for the SFV chapter will working together with an intern resulting from PSW’s new Local Leaders program! Ms. Louise Fonua will be meeting us at the June meeting and will be working with us for the next three months!
Sincerely,
Harold Kameya
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