Wednesday, December 19, 2001

Why Members? III

As individuals, APAs are dragons and tigers. As a group, the APA community is a worm. Why? Because we can not unite and work together to build up our group power.
The conclusion is obvious. We need to unite in order to win our rights and become an equal partner in the making of the American Dream.

However, unity is easy in theory, but very hard to forge. Why? Because unity requires trust. Trust is very hard to come by, unless there is a written contract that is fair to all involved.

80-20's bylaws is such a contract. It is fair for every dues-paying member & for every component of the APA community. See
http://www.80-20initiative.net/bylaw.html .

If 80-20 has one million Basic members today, our annual war chest will be $35,000,000. Our community will no longer be treated like a worm. We'll win our respect and become an equal partner with the mainstream within the next 12 months. Imagine that!

A dream fulfilled if you'd only do your share!

Will you please join?

A Journey of a thousand miles begin with the first step. Your own commitment is the first step.

You spend thousands of dollars a year for home, health, and auto insurance. Would you consider spending less than 1% of that amount to insure the way of life you've struggled so hard to achieve in America? Do you want the same thing happened to Wen Ho Lee (and more recently Arab-Americans) to happen to you and your children?

What is your children's future worth to you? $35 is a small price to pay.

Please step up and be counted. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

You can be a member today using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html .
PERSONAL Checks are payable to "80-20 PAC", mailed to:
Professor Chun Wa Wong
3780 Keystone Ave.
Suite 106
Los Angeles, CA 90034-6363

Monday, December 17, 2001

Why Members? II

There are critics who don't believe that 80-20 will be open, democratic, and governed by our bylaws as explained in the last email. Here are the answers to five tough questions for 80-20.

1) Many organization have members and bylaws. Are all such organizations therefore "a property of the community, by the community, and for the community?"
Not necessarily. However, 80-20's bylaws are unique.

2) What is so unique about 80-20's bylaws?

80-20's bylaws require that

a) all Board members and its officers, and the Chairperson of the nomination committee be elected by dues-paying members. This prevents the leadership from passing power within a small clique of friends,
b) there must be at least two candidates for each available elective position. Many organizations nominate one person for each available elective position, making a mockery of the democratic procedure, and
c) a term limit is set for every elective position, which compels and induces the infusion of new blood into the organization.

3) I've heard of each of such provisions before. Tell me more.

To our best knowledge, there is not a single non-governmental organization with all three provisions. A few may have one or two of the above three. This combination is the best and tightest to prevent selfish leaders from using 80-20 for their personal benefit.

4) Is your Executive Director elected?
The Executive Director (E.D.) is an employee. S/he can be hired and fired by the Board at any time. So long as the Board is held strongly accountable to members by bylaws, there is no worry about having an E.D.,who is not responsive to the dues-paying members.

5) Bylaws are just words. Why should words matter?
Bylaws are not spoken words but written rules. If 80-20 doesn't abide by its own rules, its Board of Directors can be sued.

**********
You be the judge.
Is 80-20 worth your $35 or $50? You must do your share. You can be a member today using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html
*****
Your membership to 80-20 is the best gift you can give your children and grandchildren this holiday season.

Wednesday, December 12, 2001

"Why members?" -- 1 of 3 short e-mails

Here is why!

Being a political powerhouse is not good enough. 80-20 must forever be the property of the community, by the community, and for the community.

To achieve such a goal, 80-20 must be (1) open, (2) democratic, and (3) governed by its own written bylaws.

 (1) To be open,
80-20 invites any interested person to have a voice in 80-20. To achieve that goal, without creating chaos, there must be dues-paying members.

 (2) To be democratic,
80-20's bylaws provides all members with the right to vote and run for office. In addition, 80-20 requires that all Board members and its officers, with at least two candidates for each contested position, be elected by dues-paying members.

 (3) To be governed by its own written bylaws, 
80-20 has adopted a set of detailed bylaws, and posted them on its web site. In the long future, any change in the bylaws will required the 2/3 approval of dues-paying members.

The Basic annual membership is set at a modest $35 -- only 10 cents per day. You spend much more than that for your daily coffee.

 Is 80-20 urging you to join because it wants your money? Perhaps. You be the judge. Here is the statistical breakdown for the $78,000 in membership contribution that 80-20 has collected in its first 6 weeks.

Those who pay the minimum $35 or $50 represent more than 90% of 80-20's voters, while providing less than 22% of its revenue. 80-20 has anticipated such a trend and deems it ideal. 80-20 is a grassroots organization with the unique mix of the elite. Visit: http://www.80-20initiative.net/members.html to see how many generous persons have paid $1,000 to $10,000 to be Life members.

You must join, if you want 80-20 to work for you now and for decades to come. Many of the current leaders will soon fade away.

"Why have members, II?" will be in your mailbox soon.

Thursday, December 06, 2001

$55,000 Raised & Touching E-mails

Thanks to all of you, in one month, 80-20 raised $55,000 by recruiting hundreds of dues-paying members. Note, however, that not all of our big donors are rich. See below how some of our supporters sacrificed themselves to accomplish "Together, we shall overcome."

From Seattle, Mei-Ling Wu Hsu, enrolling as Life member, e-mailed: "Yes, I would like to help. But under the current circumstances, I am not able to come up with the lump sum of the money, not even $500 at a time. If you would, I could do monthly contribution of $50 for two years to become the life member. I am a single mother. Would you consider it? Thanks."

From a lady: "Dear Prof. Woo, thank you for all the information about 80-20. As I am over 80 and in retirement, I can only be a due-paying member of this project. I shall send my check to Prof. Wong today. Aili"

From Stella Yu of Denver, CO, who sent in $2,000 and pledged another $3,000: "Since you are doing all the work and the thinking, money is the least that I can contribute. $5000 is a lot for me on a City government employee wages, but I will be happy to do it if I can contribute in installments. .... Denver respects cultural diversity in its public and employment policies and I get to contribute as an Associate Director (in the Office of Art, Culture & Film). I want other Asians to have that opportunity."

There are other role models. Some simply sent in checks, large or small. Others gave not only money but encouragement:

From K.P. Chen: "I did make a $50.00 contribution today... proud to be an 80-20 ers... Thanks for the opportunity to be in a triple winning team.... US wins, 80-20 wins, I win as well... KP"

From David Yao of Yorktown Heights, NY : "I'll send in a check of $1500 first thing tomorrow. 80-20 has done a marvelous job. I salute you in particular for the time and effort you've put into the organization and the cause. Happy Holidays, David Yao"

80-20's membership drive was helped greatly by Ken and Pam Fong who enrolled as Honorary Life Family members for $10,000. May So and Stella Yu enrolled as Honorary Life members, at $5,000 each. Seven other couples enrolled as Life Family members at $1,500 each. Eleven others enrolled as Life members at $1,000 each. These names are on permanent display on 80-20's web site:
http://www.80-20initiative.net/members.html

You can be a member today using a credit card, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership.html,
or pay with a check, payable to 80-20 PAC, and mail to:
Professor Chun Wa Wong
3780 Keystone Ave.
Suite 106
Los Angeles, CA 90034-6363

"Together, we shall overcome" is a profound principle but an empty slogan, unless you put your shoulder to the wheel. Counting on you.

**** Special Note for 80-20 Supporters in NY/NJ ****

Please mark your calendar for 12/14/01 (Friday). 80-20 wants to organize a strong APA political org. in NYC. S.B. Woo will be in NYC to talk about it. He'll be the keynote speaker at OCA-NY chapter's 25th Anniversary Gala, when he’ll be honored with the "Visionary Award."

Place: Harmony Palace Restaurant, 98 Mott St., NY, NY
Time and cost: 6 p.m. ; $60.00 per person

-------- Paid for by 80-20 PAC, Inc. --------

 * * * * * * * * * * *
80-20 is a national nonpartisan Political Action Committee dedicated to winning equal opportunity and justice for all Asian Pacific Americans through a swing bloc-vote, ideally directing 80% of our community's votes and money to the presidential candidate endorsed by the 80-20, who better represents the interests of all APAs. Hence, the name "80-20" was created. For more details, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net