Change Your Name, She suggested.

A Texas Republican State Representative, Betty Brown, asked during a House testimony on voter identification legislation if Asian Ams should change names so that it is “easier for Americans to deal with.”

She asked, “Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” See Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/d cc6 isp/story.mpl/front/6365320.html

That of course has created a fire-storm in the Asian Am community. Besides the suggestion to change names, there are plenty of hints that she doesn't think Asian Ams are American citizens. How otherwise is one to understand "your citizens" and “easier for Americans to deal with.”

For those of us who think that the "perpetual foreigner" image against us is attenuating, think again! If your compatriots think you are a foreigner, can you get good jobs?

A number of organizations have asked for an apology. 80-20 supports that.

However, unlike others, if words & reasons fail, 80-20 acts!

80-20 punishes those politicians who don't share our rightful concerns when they run for an office again.

In Betty Brown's case, her fellow Republicans are likely to be so embarrassed by her that a good Republican believing in "diversity" and that "We are all Americans" will want to replace her for the glory of Texas in 2010. If so, 80-20 may want to create a "Victory for a Republican" fund to help elect that good Republican.

If you like our style and effectiveness, join as a dues paying member. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on the button "JOIN 80-20."

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A Related Story

A reporter emailed to ask:

"WE WERE IN CHINA LAST YEAR. MANY OF THE CHINESE WE SPOKE WITH HAD ADOPTED AMERICAN NAMES SO PEOPLE COULD TALK TO THEM EASIER. WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH THAT? IT IS A REALITY!!
LARRY SMITH"

My answer:

Dear Mr. Smith:

There is not a thing wrong with people voluntarily adopting names to make things more convenient for themselves and others. What is wrong is for others to suggest that.

If I say why don't you adopt a Chinese name in emailing me to make things easier for me, you might think me uncivil, to say the least, and perhaps uneducated and arrogant to the point of being Barbaric.

When you were in China, if a Chinese had suggested to you to adopt a Chinese name to make things easier for him/her, you'd probably write an article reporting a growing arrogance among Chinese now that they are economically doing well. Or if the Chinese government had suggested that non-Chinese naturalizing to Chinese citizenship need to consider adopting Chinese names, you'd probably write an article condemning the entire Chinese government.

Well, Betty Brown is an official, speaking in an official capacity.

Thanks for asking the question. It gives us a chance to exchange views.

Regards,

SB

Two Political Announcements

(A) Judy Chu, Vice Chair of California's Board of Equalization and a multi-year 80-20 member, is running for Congress in CA's 32 Congressional District. Her chance of winning is good. She has a very impressive list of endorsements.

(1) She is running for the seat vacated by Hilda Solis who became Labor Secretary under President Obama. Judy was endorsed by Hilda Solis's sister. Hilda Solis won her last election by 100%.
(2) She had also been endorsed by The Emily's List -- a powerful political org. that specializes in endorsing female candidates.
(3) She was also endorsed by Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. A large fraction of the voters in the 32nd are union members.
(4) She was also endorsed by Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder, United Farmworkers in a district where about 50% of the voters are Hispanics.

She faces a primary on May 19, 2009. You can help nail down her victory by visiting http://www.judychu.net. 80-20 PAC sent her $1,000. If she wins the primary, she will become the next Congresswoman from that district, since the district is strongly Democratic.

(B) Two Other 80-20 Members Are Running for High Offices.

Besides Judy, we have
a) Ted Lieu, an 80-20 Life member, is running for CA's Attorney General. Help him by visiting http://www.tedlieu.com/ . Ted is leading a valiant fight to give our children a level playing field in admission to Univ. of California. He'll face an election in 2010. See http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-rape3-2009apr03,0,7522775.story which is an LA Times editorial lauding Ted Lieu for his legilation on DNA evidence.
b) Sam Yoon, an 80-20 family member, is running for Mayor of Boston. Visit http://www.samyoon.com. Sam will face a primary election on Sept. 22, 2009. The Mayoral race is non-partisan.

80-20 has already donated to both wonderful candidates.

Practice "ESI" or enlightened self-interest. Derive happiness and self respect from plowing back to enrich your community. Join 80-20. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net and then click on the button "JOIN 80-20." United, we shall overcome.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
Acting Executive Director (a volunteer), 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Salute to the Magnificent 11

You may agree that 80-20 calls a spade a spade.

When government officials are not treating our community fairly, be they Asian Ams or non Asian Ams, whether they hold high or low office, 80-20 takes them to task.

However, we love to give credit when credit is due.

An extremely significant trend has developed among the elected Asian American Assemblypersons and Senators in CA. The 11 members formed a Joint Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. They

1) openly and responsibly share the rightful concerns of the Asian Am. community, and
2) exercise the clout of their offices as all other elected officials would.

In other words, these elected officials have come of age, and they are our heroes and heroines and are roles for other elected Asian Americans.

Who are they? They are:
CA State Senators: Carol Liu & Leland Yee.
Assembly-persons: Mike Eng, Paul Fong, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Alberto Torrico, Van Tran, and Mariko Yamada.

80-20 salutes them.

The following article by Peter Schmidt of The San Francisco Chronicle will make clear why 80-20 salutes them. The issue is the change of admission policy by the U. of Calif, Berkeley. The implicit issue is about whether a higher admission bar is set for Asian American students to enter first tier universities or not. Whatever UC Berkeley decides to do will impact other first tier universities. 80-20 has reported this matter to you earlier in its 2/19/09 e-newsletter entitled "UC Changes Admission Policy & Reactions to It."

"Asian-American Lawmakers Pressure U. of California Over New Admissions Policy" By PETER SCHMIDT

Two panels of the California Legislature that deal with Asian-American issues plan to jointly hold a hearing next week to scrutinize a new University of California undergraduate admissions policy that could lower Asian-American enrollments. The State Senate's select committee on Asian and Pacific Islander affairs and the state's 11-member Joint Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus plan to hear testimony from Asian-American activists, a member of the university Academic Senate who helped develop the policy, and a legislative analyst who examined the policy's impact, Andrew T. Medina, a consultant on the caucus's staff, said on Monday.

The university system's own analysis of the likely impact of the new admissions policy, adopted last month, had projected that it would cause a decline in the share of admitted students who are Asian American or Pacific Islander, with white students accounting for most of those who take their place.

University officials had argued, however, that such projections of the policy's impact on various racial and ethnic groups should not be given much weight because the system's estimates were based on outdated student data, from 2007, and did not take into account expected changes in student behavior or the uncertainty of the admissions process.

Speaking last month at the Education Writers Association conference in San Francisco, Mark G. Yudof, the university's president, called the new admissions policy "fair" and said, "I think Asian Americans will do well. That is my prediction."

Such statements have done little to reassure Asian American members of the State Legislature, who had responded to the concerns of many of their constituents by urging the system's Board
of Regents to postpone its February 4 vote on the policy change to allow more time to study its likely impact on minority groups. In a letter sent to the board the day before its vote, the leaders of the Joint Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus accused the system of doing nothing to solicit feedback on the policy from the caucus or the ethnic groups that it represents, and said the policy "has not received the proper vetting it deserves"

In a recent interview, State Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Democrat who serves as co-chairman of the caucus, said the Asian-American community "feels it was blindsided by this decision." He said he objects to the policy change partly because the university's analysis of its impact had lumped all Asian-American populations together into what he called "one monolithic block," thus failing to tease out how specific ethnic groups would be affected. He also complained that the policy change will do little to diversify the university's enrollments or to tackle the inequities in elementary and secondary education that have left the university's campuses with enrollments that do not reflect the racial and ethnic composition of the state. Mr. Lieu acknowledged that, under his state's Constitution, the Legislature has little direct say over the University of California's policies, which are set by the Board of Regents. But, he said, "Lawmakers do determine how much financial support the university receives in the state budget, and now "you have 11 upset legislators looking at this."

Ted Lieu, one of the 2 co-chairs of the Caucus, is running for Attorney General in CA. Checks are payable to "Friends of Ted Lieu 2010" and mailed to

Friends of Ted Lieu 2010
Attn: Campaign Accountant
1212 S. Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502

For more information, please visit his site: http://www.tedlieu.com

If you think 80-20 is doing the right things, please consider joining 80-20 as a dues paying member. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net & click on the "JOIN 80-20" button.

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
Acting Exec. Director (a volunteer), 80-20 PAC, Inc.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our website is back up! Go http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on the "Join 80-20" button.

If you are a new member, your payment will be matched by a recent $3,500 pledge from an "anonymous."

YOU and YOUR children benefit directly or indirectly from 80-20's hard-earned political clout. However, that clout may disappear after the first generation volunteers of 80-20 have faded away. To survive that transition, 80-20 must begin to have broad-based support. Do your share PLEASE!

Announcements:

1) Vivek Kundra was named the Federal Chief Information Office at the White House.
2) John Liu of NY City has announced to run for Comptroller of NYC.
3) Carol Liu is ALSO a Calif. State Senator. 80-20 was wrong in not recognizing that in an earlier report.
4) Dr. Jim Yong Kim will become the President of Dartmouth. He'll thus be the first Asian Am president of an Ivy League School.
5) Ted Lieu, an 80-20 Life Member, is running for Attorney General of CA. 80-20 PAC made a $2,500 contribution to him.
6) Sam Yoon, another 80-20 member, is running for Mayor of Boston. Boston law prohibits Sam from accepting donation from national PACs. So S. B. Woo donated $250 to Sam's campaign personally.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Exec. Director, a volunteer for 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Fantastic Response to "Practice ESI"

Readers really responded to 80-20's urge for Asian Ams to "Practice Enlightened Self-Interest" (ESI). Without our prompting, readers wrote in. The pro/con ratio ran 15 to 1. Please read them -- some touching, others thoughtful, and yet others very emotional.

To me they signify the dawn of a much brighter future for our community. The original "Practice ESI" article is shown again at the bottom, in case you missed it the first time.

(1) Well said, S.B. I have given almost no money to my church this past year -- something I haven't done in all my hood. We are on the verge of bankruptcy or foreclosure within the next few months if we can't get a loan modification. However, you are right that we cannot just sit by doing nothing.

I will send $10 as a commitment for now and the remaining $25 as I can. I'm doing this for my 2-year old son and his future. Please understand this is a sacrifice. Don't use my name as my family doesn't know how dire things are. , San Diego, CA

(2) I am touched by your mail. I am a 83 years old female, I would like to pay $35 membership fee. Please advise where to send the money. I wish I do not need your help forever, but I know there is some one that I can talk to when I need to. Thanks. Margaret Yung

(3) A great letter. I'll match up to $3500 donation to 80-20EF if we can recruit 100 NEW members to join 80-20. Let us see if we can motivate 100 enlightened Asian Americans. (Name withheld by request)

So many of us YEARN for you to join 80-20, if you have not. See emails shown above and below. If you are a NEW member, every dollar you pay, 80-20 gets 2 dollars owing to the matching. Visit http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on the JOIN button. Or send your check to 80-20 PAC, PO Box 22509, Philadelphia, PA 19110.

(4) It is sad to say that the story of Barber & Asian Americans is very true about Asian American mentality. I have became a paid member of "80-20" simply to support this organization. Sophie

(5) Thank you for this message. The Barber joke was really illustrative and motivated me to renew my family membership. I vow to try to be more diligent about renewing my membership and supporting 80-20 initiatives. We seem to have made great strides and I would for our community to get complacent and allow any backsliding in progress. Take care. James Yee

(6) I shared your feeling reading the BARBER joke. I have been doing my kind of volunteer work for over 20 years. I know how tough it must be for you all these years. Your satisfaction and comfort only arrive when you realize no body could do a better job than you do. For Heavenly God knows how to pick the toughest person for the toughest job. I congratulate you to-day as I did 22 years ago. . . . . . Remembering that Rome was not built in one day, and with highest respect , I salute, Never Yield, Sulia

(7) Your point is well taken and articulated. I have passed it on and hope to do more on my part. Again my thanks for your continuing extraordinary efforts on behalf of the Asian American Community. So near and yet so far. Henry

(8) Hi. I'm one of your supporters and a member of the 80-20 for many years even many of my friends stopped paying their membership fees. First, I agree with your comments regarding the Asian American 100%. However, you are fighting a uphill battle and may have no chance to win.
. . . I believe that most A.A. do agree with you even they haven't paid their minimum dues. Thank you for all you have been doing for A.A.! J.P. Chen, from Connecticut

(9) We just joined as a family. We appreciate all the work 80-20 has done for the community. . . . . We should all be selfish, but be smart selfish, be long term selfish. . . . . Mike

(10) . . . . I remember I read a story from New York times when I was studying in Cornell Medical College years back. A group of teenagers were bullying a couple in Chinatown. Nobody on the street would try to help to stop it except one young man. These teenagers turned around to beat up this young man and broke five of his ribs. . . . (The prosecutor asked) the couple to testify, they refused to be present to the court. JIANFENG

SOME SAID: Asian Am do practice ESI. We always take care of our family members. Agreed. We just need to extend the practice of ESI to our community, society, nation and the world. See a great analogy below:

(11) Use an analogy. Our own family is like our house, while the Asian American community is our neighborhood. . . . If we spend all our effort only in making our house better, but don't care about the future of our neighborhood, when we step out of our house, we are going to meet with
filthy environment and lowered respect from others, etc. Remember, the three most important factors of your house is location, location, location. David J. Liu

Feedbacks which sensed that I must be "frustrated" in sending out the "Practice ESI" e-newsletter

(12) I share your frustration as I forward most of the 80-20 news to people I know for the last many years, and I could only recruit 2 new members.

Most of the people in my circle are highly educated, well to do, and fit right in the descriptions in your letter. I am a lowly person in the group, but it does not stop me sending out information to new faces that I meet. I found that Chinese American with Ph.D.'s really do not like me when I engage them discussion on discrimination. . . . Gary Tang, LEED AP, Real Estate Consultant, Green Building Design/Construction Consultant

(13) I know where you're coming from. I share your frustration. I admire your tenacity and stalwartness. I too have tried to enlist a number of friends, all ABCs, to join, but I suspect I've been less than successful. (Only two to date have joined.) . . .

I'm now retired and even though I have little to gain from 80-20's current or future accomplishments, I support its efforts for the sake of my grandchildren and other Asian-Americans now and to come. . . . Weyman

(14) Thank you and other officers for the hard work over the past few years. I share your frustration . . . . To increase the membership recruiting effectiveness, I suggest that 80-20 asks each current member to help recruit two new members. . . . .Bin

S.B.'s Note: Frustrated? May be. I was mostly trying a different way to reach fellow Asian Ams so that we can be equal citizens of America. However, since so many of you sensed "frustration" through my words, I must be somewhat in that mood. Thank you all for your great empathy. :-)
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"Practice Enlightened Self-Interest"
(This is a reprint. It got us 43 members including two Life Members)

A sizable fraction of us do NOT practice enlightened self-interest (ESI). That hurts us all, including those who are selfish to the core and think that they are smart.

WHY? If one thinks of self-interest ONLY, then the groups one belongs to (ethnic community, society, state, nation, and the world) will likely be WEAKER. For Asian Ams that is the biggest reason that our collective political clout was so weak. That is why we are discriminated against in
workplaces resulting in the GLASS CEILING.

What is enlightened self-interest, ESI?

ESI can be practiced in 3 forms. (1) One works for self-interest ONLY, but takes care not to hurt the group interest. (2) One tries to combine self-interest with that of the group. (3) One may even sacrifice self-interest occasionally in order to improve the group interest, knowing that
the enlarged group interest will in turn help his/her self-interest. An example is paying 80-20 dues so that 80-20'll have more clout to fight for our equal citizenship.

At least 1/3 of Asian Americans, especially the educated ones, i.e. several million people, have heard of what 80-20 has achieved in its fight for equal rights for Asian Ams. The perception about 80-20 is mostly favorable. However. how many people have paid $35 per year or more to support 80-20's operating expenses (no Board member including me gets paid)? 2,000 members only, when we work like hell in recruiting!

Another example is the response to our last e-newsletter entitled "Letter to Labor Sec. Solis." Afterwards, we got a few members and a few "thank you" letters, which 80-20 is grateful for. However, we also got 10 emails asking 80-20 to help them secure government positions, or help fight their personal court cases -- none of them is a member. One was a professor at an IVY League medical school whom 80-20 has helped before. Now he/she wants more help including my personal time. Is he/she a member? NO!

That reminds me of a "Barber and Asian Ams" satire that a member sent to me in 2001. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time:

Barber & Asian Americans

There is this barber in the US. One day a Caucasian florist goes to him for a haircut. After the cut, he goes to pay the barber. The barber replies: "No charge today. I am doing community service." The florist is happy and left. The next morning the barber finds a "Thank you" card and a dozen roses waiting at his shop door. An African American cop goes for a haircut and got the same "community service treatment." The cop is happy and left. The next morning the barber finds a "Thank you" card and a dozen donuts waiting at his shop door. An Asian Software Engineer goes for a haircut and he also got the "community service treatment". The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there. A dozen Asians waiting for a free Haircut.

Those who don't have the above mentality can laugh and cry with me. Others of us may want to use this satire as a mirror.

Why am I sending this brunt piece with a tart taste?

Blowing off my steam? No. Wanting to have more members? Yes, but there is a more important reason. 80-20 may have gathered some political clout to fight effectively for our EQUAL citizenship today. However, so long as not enough of us understand "ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST," 80-20 can lose that ability to fight for your equal rights very quickly.

Please practiced ESI. Join 80-20. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net. Or send your check to 80-20 PAC, PO Box 22509, Philadelphia, PA 19110

Share this article with your friends, if you agree with it. Save it, so that you can share it again and again.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Exec. Director of 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Quotation From a Reader: "The embarrassing 80-20 membership count shows vividly that very few Asian Americans, even the highly educated ones,understand this process. Perhaps, they are afraid of some kind of imaginary consequence? Perhaps. it is due to their lack of confidence in the democratic system in U.S.A.?? It is ironic that many of them would not hesitate to spend $200,000 for their child's college tuition (sound familiar ?), but they would not pay $35 for the 80-20 annual membership, also for the future benefit of their child. " - - - - - - Kien Hua

Practice Enlightened Self-interest

A sizable fraction of us do NOT practice enlightened self-interest (ESI). That hurts us all, including those who are selfish to the core and think that they are smart.

WHY? If one thinks of self-interest ONLY, then the groups one belongs to (ethnic community, society, state, nation, and the world) will likely be WEAKER. For Asian Ams that is the biggest reason that our collective political clout was so weak. That is why we are discriminated against in workplaces resulting in the GLASS CEILING.

What is enlightened self-interest, ESI?

ESI can be practiced in 3 forms. (1) One works for self-interest ONLY, but takes care not to hurt the group interest. (2) One tries to combine self-interest with that of the group. (3) One may even sacrifice self-interest occasionally in order to improve the group interest, knowing that the enlarged group interest will in turn help his/her self-interest. An example is paying 80-20 dues so that 80-20'll have more clout to fight for our equal citizenship.

At least 1/3 of Asian Americans, especially the educated ones, i.e. several million people, have heard of what 80-20 has achieved in its fight for equal rights for Asian Ams. The perception about 80-20 is mostly favorable. However. how many people have paid $35 per year or more to support 80-20's operating expenses (no Board member including me gets paid)? 2,000 members only, when we work like hell in recruiting!

Another example is the response to our last e-newsletter entitled "Letter to Labor Sec. Solis." Afterwards, we got a few members and a few "thank you" letters, which 80-20 is grateful for. However, we also got 10 emails asking 80-20 to help them secure government positions, or help fight their personal court cases -- none of them is a member. One was a professor at an IVY League medical school whom 80-20 has helped before. Now he/she wants more help including my personal time. Is he/she a member? NO!

That reminds me of a "Barber and Asian Ams" satire that a member sent to me in 2001. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time:

Barber & Asian Americans

There is this barber in the US. One day a Caucasian florist goes to him for a haircut. After the cut, he goes to pay the barber. The barber replies: "No charge today. I am doing community service." The florist is happy and left. The next morning the barber finds a "Thank you" card and a dozen roses waiting at his shop door. An African American cop goes for a haircut and got the same "community service treatment." The cop is happy and left. The next morning the barber finds a "Thank you" card and a dozen donuts waiting at his shop door. An Asian Software Engineer goes for a haircut and he also got the "community service treatment" The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there. A dozen Asians waiting for a free Haircut.

Those who don't have the above mentality can laugh and cry with me. Others of us may want to use this satire as a mirror.

Why am I sending this brunt piece with a tart taste?

Blowing off my steam? No. Wanting to have more members? Yes, but there is a more important reason. 80-20 may have gathered some political clout to fight effectively for our EQUAL citizenship today. However, so long as not enough of us understand "ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST," 80-20 can lose that ability to fight for your equal rights very quickly.

Please practiced ESI. Join 80-20. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net. Or send your check to 80-20 PAC, PO Box 22509, Philadelphia, PA 19110.

Share this article with your friends, if you agree with it. Save it, so that you can share it again and again.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Exec. Director of 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Quotation From a Reader: "The embarrassing 80-20 membership count shows vividly that very few Asian Americans, even the highly educated ones,understand this process. Perhaps, they are afraid of some kind of imaginary consequence? Perhaps. it is due to their lack of confidence in the democratic system in U.S.A.?? It is ironic that many of them would not hesitate to spend $200,000 for their child's college tuition (sound familiar ?), but they would not pay $35 for the 80-20 annual membership, also for the future benefit of their child. "
- - - - - - Kien Hua

Battlefield Conditions for OUR Children

This is a report to YOU on YOUR battlefield conditions for the looming critical battle -- the battle to become equal citizens of American -- that 80-20 Initiative has spent the last 10 years preparing.

Many others have helped. 80-20 didn't do it alone. Here are the battlefield conditions for us & our children:

Purpose of the Battle: To succeed in asking President Obama to "issue a directive to the Labor Department asking it to focus on enforcing Executive Order 11246 on behalf of Asian Americans, since in the past similar efforts have already been made on behalf of women and other minorities." If & when implemented, most Asian Am. employees in private industries and universities will have the glass ceiling lifted from them.

Forces on Our Side: 80-20 has quietly marshaled together the following.

1. The written promise by President Obama to do the above, providing that a Labor Dept public hearing confirms discriminations against Asian Am. workers.

2. Within the White House: Chris Lu, the White House Cabinet Secretary and perhaps Pete Rouse (a Japanese Am.), Senior Advisor to the President

3. The Labor Dept: Hilda Solis has been confirmed as the Labor Secretary. She is of immigrant parents who both worked in America. Her earlier Congressional District in CA, that included Monterey Park, has 29% Asian Am voters. Although she is Hispanic, she is a member of the Congressional Asian Am. Caucus.

4. The EEOC: The Acting Chair of EEOC is now an Asian Am., Stuart Ishimaru. He has been appointed by Pres. Obama since 1/23/2009.

5. The 80-20: It has the strongest Boards since the founding of 80-20.

6. The EEOC report on the "Bamboo Ceiling above Asian Am Federal Employees," issued on 1/9/2009, recommended that our President promulgated another "Exec. Order that addresses issues of discrimination against AAPI employees in the federal sector, and that supports programs to encourage professional advancement." *

ALTHOUGH THE REPORT IS ON ASIAN AM FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ONLY, THE LANGUAGE IS SO STRONG AND GENERAL THAT ARGUABLY IT HAS MADE UNNECESSARY A PUBLIC HEARING BY THE LABOR DEPT. ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIAN AM. WORKERS IN PRIVATE INDUSTRIES AND UNIVERSITIES.

With 80-20's Board's approval, I am reporting to YOU 80-20's estimate of YOUR battlefield conditions. From here on, unless prevented by tactical necessity, I will keep you posted periodically on the fast and furious actions that are going on behind the scene even at this very minute.

The battlefield conditions look good. However, we are unlikely to succeed until YOU DO YOUR SHARE. Please join 80-20. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net. Or send your check to:
80-20 PAC
PO Box 22509
Philadelphia, PA 19110

Respectfully yours,

S. B.
Acting Executive Director, 80-20 PAC, Inc.
A fulltime volunteers for 7 of the last 10 years.

*If and when such an executive order is issued, the governors of the 50 states normally will take similar actions regarding Asian Am. state employees. Hence, ALL Asian Am. government employees, including state university/college employees may soon have the glass ceiling against them lifted.

EXCITING News! Gary Locke & Hilda Solis

Gary Locke, former Governor of Washington and a Chinese American, will be nominated as Commerce Secretary. He will be the third Asian Am. to serve in Pres. Obama's Cabinet -- a historic high. We thank President Obama and his Transition Team for a most positive response to the main theme of 80-20's colored, full page ad in the Washington Post -- "Asian Americans
yearn to make greater contributions to America." See the ad for yourself, click HERE.

We want to emphatically thank those who donated to 80-20 Educational Foundation to help it buy this costly ad. Their names are listed in the lower right hand corner of this ad.

If one has enough to live on, what is money for, EXCEPT to donate to such a worthy cause in order to change history for the betterment of America and million of one's fellow citizens. At times, we must dream to achieve highly!

However, our major job is NOT done -- winning equal opportunity for millions of Asian Am. workers. Happily, there is good news on that front as well.

Hilda Solis was confirmed as Labor Secretary yesterday. Labor Department is what will enforce Executive Order 11246 so that Asian Americans will, like all other Americans before us, ALSO enjoy equal opportunity in workplaces.

Sec. Solis was born to immigrant parents who worked in America and were Union members. Her former Congressional district includes Monterey Park, CA and has about 29% Asian Am. voters. We trust that she will be very different from Elaine Chao, the Labor Secretary under Pres. Bush. Elaine Chao publicly stated that the reason that Asian Ams were lacking in the managerial level was because Asian Ams lacked tail party skills. Chao, wife of Senator McConnell of Kentucky, has of course ample tail skills. She refused to enforce Exec. Order 11246 for Asian Ams.

80-20 will soon be in contact with Sec. Solis regarding 1) EEOC's recent finding that Asian Ams were discriminated against as federal employees, & 2) Pres. Obama's written promise to 80-20 regarding the enforcement of E.O. 11246.

Be vigilant. We are now fighting the biggest battle for our community's future. Please do your share.

Do you have enough to live on and send your kids to colleges? If you do, please consider joining 80-20. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net.

We make progress because people like YOU care and are willing to sacrifice a little. See the ad stating "Asian Americans yearn to make greater contributions to America."

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo (a volunteer)
Acting Executive Director,
80-20 PAC, Inc.

UC Changes Admission Policy & Reactions to It

The Regents of the Univ. of California have passed a NEW admission policy to replace SAT II (Subject Tests) with SAT I (Aptitude Tests). The new policy will begin in 2012.

The California Joint Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral legislative organization, wrote the Regents to seek additional information. The Board of 80-20 Initiative, after 2 days of intense debate, in a 16-0 vote, with 2 members abstaining, passed a
motion to support the said Caucus in its seeking of additional information. The complete statement is presented below.

" The 80-20 Initiative, Inc., which is by far the largest Asian American political action organization in the nation, expresses its support for the letter dated February 3, 2009 which was sent to The University of California Board of Regents by the California Joint Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. The Joint Caucus is bipartisan and bicameral. It is composed of all 11 Asian American elected officials in the California Senate and Assembly.

The letter urged the Regents to do a more thorough evaluation of how the changed admission policy, to begin in 2012, would impact low-income & minority students including Asian Americans. The new policy will use aptitude tests (SAT I) over achievement oriented tests (SAT II).

The letter also expressed concern that "No Asian Pacific Islanders serve on UC Regent Comm. on Education Policy & only one of the 26 members of the UC Board of Regents is of Asian Pacific Islander decent."

The Joint Caucus further intends to hold hearings and bring sunshine to this rather opaque decision by the Board of Regents.

80-20 is delighted that elected Asian American officials are sharing the concerns of the Asian American community in such a firm but responsible manner. We urge all to follow keenly the subsequent development of this issue, and appreciate the efforts made on behalf of our community by these elected officials.

They are Ted Lieu, and Van Tran, who are co-chairs of the Joint Caucus. Additional members are Mike Eng, Paul Fong, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, Carol Liu, Fiona Ma, Alberto Torrico, Mariko Yamada, and Leland Yee who is the only Asian American CA State Senator. "

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Ted Lieu, a highly respected California Assemblyman and an 80-20 Life Member, is running for Attorney General in California in 2010. Ted currently leads the other candidates in fundraising.

2) Sam Yoon, a Korean American Boston Councilman who is the media favorite and also an 80-20 member, has announced to run for Mayor of Boston.

3) Time Magazine reported the passing of Xiangzhong (Jerry) Yang, 49, a former 80-20 Board Member in p. 15 of its Feb. 23, 2009 issue. Dr. Yang was the first person to clone a farm animal in the US, and was an advocate for the use of human stem cells in disease research. Flowers were sent in the name of the Board to Jerry's wife, Cindy.

Join 80-20. http://www.80-20initiative.net.

S. B. Woo (a volunteer)
Acting Executive Director
80-20 PAC, Inc.

Correction: 80-20's resolution to defend Asian Am. political candidates under a racist attack was passed in 2002 (not 1992).

An Asian Am. President soon?

Announcements:

Alice Huang, an 80-20 Board Member, has just been elected President-elect of AAAS. AAAS publishes the "Science" magazine & is one of the nation's most prestigious science organizations. Congratulations, Alice.

Ivan K. Fong, a participant in one of 80-20 Educational Foundation's projects, has been nominated to be Homeland Security General Counsel, having the rank of a deputy secretary. Congratulations.

Subject: An Asian Am. President soon?

Inspired by the election of President Obama, Asian Americans are running for higher offices.

Ted Lieu, a CA Assemblyman, is running for CA's Attorney General. Judy Chu, Chair of CA's Board of Equalization, is running for Congress. John Liu and Sam Yoon respectively city councilmen of NYC and Boston are considering a run for Mayors of those cities.

What are their prospects? Bright, we think. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

An important relevant fact is that 80-20 has already cleared a severe & improper barrier to their successes and that of any Asian Am. candidate, since 1992. How?

A truism in America is that the higher the political office a minority candidate seeks, the more he/she is subject to racist attacks. In 1992, a Chinese Am. Alice Lai-Bitker and a Filipino Am. Christopher Gabaldon were running for county level offices in California. Even at those levels, they came under racist attacks by their opponents. Visit http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008.asp. See item 9.

As a result of these attacks and similar earlier attacks against Matt Fong in CA and S. B. Woo in Delaware when they ran for the US Senate, 80-20 RESOLVED that

"In marginal cases (of racist attacks), 80-20 may provide support to attacked APA candidates, and

In the worst cases where the racist attacks have clearly crossed the line of decency, 80-20 will (1) help the attacked candidates with its resources so as to win the race out right, (2) aim to defeat the attacker in the next election, if the attacker wins that election, and (3) greatly publicize the name(s) of the political consultant(s) and his/her firm and boycott both, if the person(s) is from an established political consulting firm."

That RESOLUTION was posted on 80-20's website and widely circulated to Asian Am candidates. In addition, 80-20 advised all Asian Am candidates to "find a way to subtly make the above resolution known to their opponents," because "an early preventive measure is usually the best measure."

Result? No racist attacks against Asian Am. candidates had occurred in the 2004, 2006 and the 2008 election cycles!

That is how 80-20 uses its GROUP political clout to serve the Asian Am community and help make America "a more perfect Union."

To all Asian Ams. In Politics:

Please consider joining 80-20. The more you help 80-20, the more 80-20 can help you. A third party like the 80-20 PAC is in a much better position than the Asian Am candidate him/herself to turn the tide against the racist attacker. To join, go http://www.80-20initiative.net. Or send your check to
80-20 PAC
PO Box 22509
Philadelphia, PA 19110. Thank you.

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Exec. Director, a volunteer

A huge jump in 80-20 membership this year

(A) A Huge Jump In Members As Of Jan. 31.

If you are not a member, join and be a part of this great org.!

Here are the membership records as of 1/31 from 2006 to 2009:

2006: 661
2007: 600
2008: 387
2009: 1,100 -- a 65% jump over a good membership yr. of 2006

WE THANK YOU. This is a critical year for our community. President Obama is with us. EEOC is with us (see last e-newsletter). If 80-20 shows a big jump in community support, our chance of solidifying the support from our President and EEOC will be great. YOU want to be EQUAL citizens, don't you?

Demonstrate YOUR support. Don't be a free loader. Do YOUR share to win our equal citizenship. More Asian Ams are understanding how they and 80-20 must support each other.

JOIN 80-20 for a 1-yr or 3-yr or a Life Membership. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on the "JOIN 80-20" button.
Or send your check to
80-20 PAC
PO Box 22509
Philadelphia, PA 19110

(B) Gratefully Acknowledging Generous Donors:

Mark & Elizabeth Chen - $1,500 

Ved Chaudhary - $1,000
James Cheung - $1,000 

John J. Sie - $1,000
Mimi C Yu - $1,000
Henry J. Lee - $500
Linden Nishinaga - $500 

Danny and Karen Liu - $450 

Sam Wong - $405

The following each gave $250
Wai-Yim Ching; T. C. Steve and Rosalind Hsia;
Mark Le; Alex Weiming New;
Brian Ng; Tzu Fann Shao;
Michael Ting; Lawrence Tom & Mary Schaffer-Tom;
Kung-Lee Wang; Yin Fang and Lily Wang;
Larry Yu-Chi Ho; S. B. Woo and
Maxwell Wong.

JOIN! 80-20 helps you. YOU help 80-20!

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Executive Director, a volunteer

Great News for AsAm. Federal/State Employees

Great News for Asian Am. Federal/State Employees

The days of having a glass ceiling over Asian Am. federal/state employees seems numbered, provided that all of us, including those employees, not only remain vigilant but also double our effort.

(A) THE EEOC REPORT ( http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/report/aapi.html )

Among other it recommends that the President promulgates

"an Executive Order that addresses issues of discrimination against AAPI employees in the federal sector, and that supports programs to encourage professional advancement; "

(B) A GOOD SUMMARY By Alyssa Rosenberg, click on
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41828&dcn=todaysnews
The article ends with:

"The report noted that stereotypes of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders as being passive & nonconfrontational, without a strong presence, may mean that managers are unable to see their leadership potential.

"What is presence? Like 'leadership,' it is prone to perceptions," said the report. "If there is not a willingness to perceive 'presence' in a person, it will not be found, regardless of competence and merit.""

(C) ASIAN AM. STATE EMPLOYEES WILL ALSO BENEFIT

Although the EEOC report addresses federal employees only, past experience showed that Asian Am. state employees will also benefit. If and when the Presidential Executive Order is issued, most governors will issue similar executive orders.

(D) ARE OTHER ASIAN AM. WORKERS IGNORED?

NO! All other Asian Am. workers are covered under the existing Exec. Order 11246 which President Obama has committed in writing to enforce.

(E) 80-20'S UNIQUE ROLE IN THIS BREAKTHROUGH

1/9/06 S. B. Woo together with the Special Assistant Jing-Li Yu and 80-20 Life member Henry Lee visited then EEOC Chairwomen Cari Dominguez & 6 of her staff. They presented evidence of a very low glass ceiling over Asian Am. workers, and urged EEOC to verify or deny its accuracy. They urged EEOC to consider issuing a report similar to the one that EEOC published years ago entitled "The Glass Ceiling on Women," if the statistics 80-20 has presented were accurate. The Chairwoman responded very positively.

4/5/06 80-20 PAC President S. B. Woo visited Sen. D. Akaka of Hawaii, ranking member of the Senate Subcomm. on Federal Employees, and 3 of his staff. Woo showed the statistical evidence of a very low glass ceiling over federal employees and urged the senator to investigate. The good senator agreed.

4/12/06 EEOC Chief statistician Ronald Edwards verified in writing for S. B. Woo that the statistics gathered by 80-20 were accurate.

9/6/06 YOU donated big $$$ to allow 80-20 to publicize its findings in a full page ad in The Washington Post calling Am's attention to "Asian Ams have the least opportunity to enter management & the slowest rate of progress towards equal employment opportunity despite having the highest educational attainment."

11/7/06 80-20 endorsed all Democrats except 2 for the Congressional election. Dems won both the House and the Senate. Sen. Akaka became Chairman of the Senate Subcomm. on Federal Employee.

10/11/07 New EEOC Chair Naomi C Earp announced a work group to address issues of concern to Asian Am & Pacific Islander community. 80-20 wrote to offer assistance.

1/31/08 Sen. Obama answered 80-20's questionnaire with all yeses.

11/4/08 Sen. Obama won the election with the all out help from 80-20 in the battleground states.

1/9/09 EEOC released the said report. It was based on a 2 year study calling in many witnesses including a powerful presentation by Dr. Kuan-The Jeang, an 80-20 Life Member.

JOIN 80-20. If not now, when? Make your contribution to push us equal citizenship. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net or Send you check to
80-20 PAC
PO Box 22509
Philadelphia, PA 19110
Please put your email and postal addresses in the back of your check. Pass
this e-newsletter to your friends in federal/state governments.

Respectfully,
S. B. Woo, Acting Exec. Director

What Obama & 80-20 have in common

80-20 was founded by Chang-Lin Tien, Larry Ho, Henry Tan, S. B. Woo . . . Generations of Board members & supporters contributed to 80-20's success.

Although our achievement is minuscule when compared with that of President-elect Obama, our intention & vision are almost identical to what was expressed so eloquently below by him to his daughters.
# # # # # # # #

What I want for you - and every child in America
By President-elect Barack Obama

Dear Malia and Sasha:

. . . . When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me -- about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, s, that's why I ran for president because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

. . . . that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believe those word put to paper two centuries ago should
mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be improved -- and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us.
. . . .

I hope both of you will take up that work, right the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country . . . But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you
hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential. . . .

Love,
Dad
# # # # # # # #

Will you consider joining 80-20 for the first time in your life? Click on http://www.80-20initiative.net or send your check to
80-20 PAC
PO Box 22509
Philadelphia, PA 19110

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo
Acting Executive Director

How Asian Ams Voted & How 80-20 works!‏

With your support, a bloc vote led by 80-20 PAC was delivered for Obama. Here's the proof. Two reliable exit-poll results are cited.

(1) The AALDEF Poll: http://www.aaldef.org/article.php?article_id=388

AALDEF polled 16,665 Asian Am voters in 11 states, where the Asian Am population is high. It provided language assistance to those being polled. The eleven were all blue states, except for Virginia which is a battleground state.

In those locations, Asian Americans favored Obama over McCain by 76% to 22%, with 2% voting for other candidates. That is we favored Obama by a 3.4 to 1 ratio. Two details revealed by that poll are noteworthy.

(a) Those with English proficiency, which 80-20's e-newsletters can reach, voted 82 to 17. That is already better that 80-20, our name sake. Wow!

(b) Every Asian Am. ethnicity followed 80-20's lead, except for the Vietnamese Am.

The CNN Poll:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1

CNN polled nationally. Its sample size for Asian Americans was so small that there was an estimated 5 pt. uncertainty. CNN didn't provide language assistance. It reported that Asian Ams voted 62% to 35% to 3% for others. 62 to 35 is only 1.7 to 1. We conjecture 62% to be on the low side.

However, the GREAT NEWS is that even the CNN number is good enough to convince the Republican Party to begin sharing the rightful concerns of Asian Ams. See below how Asian Americans, under 80-20's leadership, have shifted against the GOP in 12 years.

The following data come from CNN/(NY Times) exit polls.

In 1996, there was no 80-20, we basically voted 50/50 or favored GOP slightly. The race was Clinton(D)/Dole(R)/others. AsAms voted 43/48/8.
The GOP has a (5 pt) advantage.

In 2000, 80-20 was 2 yrs old & endorsed Gore enthusiastically because Gore sent us a strong letter of commitment while Bush didn't. AsAms voted 54/41/4 for Gore/Bush/Nader.
The GOP has a (13 pt) dis-advantage.

In 2004, 80-20 endorsed Kerry with reservation because he answered our questionnaire with all yeses (3) but failed to keep a promise. Bush didn't answer. AsAms voted 58/41/0 for Kerry/Bush/others.
The GOP has a (17 pt) dis-advantage.

In 2008, 80-20 endorsed Obama enthusiastically because he answered our questionnaire with all yeses (6), while McCain didn't. AsAms voted 62/35/3 for Obama/McCain/others.
The GOP has a (27 pt) dis-advantage!

Unless the Republican party is suicidal, which we doubt, 80-20 will soon deliver another benefit to you -- having the GOP share our rightful concerns as well.

That is how the political process works. We reward those who share our rightful concerns, and punish those who don't. Soon, both political parties will COMPETE to share our rightful concerns. Have you noticed how the Democrats and the Republicans compete to share the concerns of Jewish Americans?

Do recognize that 80-20 seeks only equal citizenship for Asian Americans, while prodding America to become "a more perfect Union."

Join 80-20. It delivers! Click on http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Respectfully,

S.B. Woo
Acting Executive Director

A Personal Plea

Fellow Asian Americans,

I have less than 2 weeks left to serve you as 80-20's President. Please hear my last request.

First, let us recount what YOU have achieved with 80-20 this year:

Asian American elected officials uniting in urging Presidential candidates (first urging Sen. Clinton & then Sen. Obama) to address our community's concerns.

Iron-clad commitments from President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden to help Asian Americans achieve equal opportunity and equal justice.

Asian Americans voters, especially in the battleground states, uniting in helping to elect Obama and Biden, who share our community's concerns.

The appointment of 2 Asian American cabinet secretaries who share our community's concerns.

More Asian Americans who share our community's concerns volunteering to serve our community and our country. e.g. 80-20's judicial talent bank.

All of the above are unprecedented changes made possible because people like you responded to our calls to action. Congratulations to YOU for advancing our community's concerns.

But what was hard to gain can be easy to lose. How can we ensure our community's advancements are built on rock and not on sand?

When YOU buttress 80-20's grassroots foundations by joining as members.

Will you PLEASE spare $35, $50 or more, whatever you can afford, to help us reach our membership goal of 1600 by the end of 2008? Your membership will last through the end of 2009. We only need 30 more NEW members to reach our goal. To Join, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays.

With less than 2 weeks left to serve YOU,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC

Why so few AsAm College Presidents?

The following is from 80-20's newest Board Member, Roy Saigo, who has just retired as the President of St. Cloud Univ., the largest of the Minnesota state colleges. On 9/28/08, he published an article in "The Chronicle Of Higher Education" entitled:

Why There Still Aren't Enough Asian-American College Presidents

Roy's first paragraphs was:
"At age 5, my grandson understood fair play. If he didn't get his turn, he'd cry, "No fair!" As caring s, we intercede when we see children ignore or gang up on another child -- we tell them, "No fair!"

In between Roy's gave us these facts:

In 2005, the proportion of Asian Pacific Islander professors in the United States who held full-time positions was 7.6 percent. In comparison, a 2006 survey by the American Council on Education showed that only 0.9% of the president's job is held by Asian Americans.

In the fall of 2007, 18.3 percent of California State's undergraduate students identified themselves as being of Asian/Filipino/Pacific Island ethnicity. In the California State University system in the fall of 2006, 13.8 percent of the faculty was identified as Asians. So where are the
provosts and academic vice presidents?

Roy's last paragraphs was:
"The issue I have raised needs more than task forces, surveys, and recommendations -- there have been plenty of those over the years. There must be actions that can be monitored for quantifiable results. I hope someone won't have to write this commentary again in 10 years. Fair?"

Now, 80-20 asks, "Who or which organization do you think will be taking action on this matter?" As usual, 80-20 will be there!

Aren't you glad that some one like Roy Saigo is on 80-20's Board? The good news is that other NEW Board members are just as good & exiciting!

On a related front, if YOU want to see results in the real world, then search your heart and answer this question:

Did 80-20 do a good job in using the 2008 election to advance the interest of our community? If you are NOT a dues-paying member yet, please help back.

We need 40 more NEW members to make the goal of 1,600 members in 2008. If you join today, your membership counts toward 2008 AND 2009. To join, visit www.80-20initiative.net. Fair?

Respectfully yours,

S.B. Woo
Acting (volunteer) Exec. Director for 80-20 PAC, Inc.

2 Asian Am Cabinet Secretaries

Under 80-20's leadership, our community's effort in the 2008 election has resulted in

a) 2 Asian Am. Cabinet Secretaries:
General Shinseki as the Veteran Affairs Secretary,
Noble Laureate Steve Chu as the Energy Secretary.

b) 2 top leaders in the Transition Team & 2 key staff in the White House:
Pete Rouse (Japanese Am. mother) as the Co-Chair of the Transition Team (TT) and Senior Advisor to the President, and
Chris Lu as the Executive Director of the TT and Cabinet Secretary for the President.

Do you believe in giving credit when credit is due? We know you do.

So please help us achieve our goal of 1600 members in 2008? We need 60 more NEW members to achieve the goal. If you join today, your membership counts toward 2008 AND 2009.

Join 80-20 by clicking on http://www.80-20initiative.net. 80-20 doesn't claim all the credit. However, have we earned your support as a dues-paying member? It's only $35 per year. Thank you.

With 19 more days to serve you,

Kathleen T

A Personal Appeal

Dear Friends:

This is my swan song as 80-20's President. I beg for your indulgence.

I am honored to have had the privilege to serve you as a volunteer for these past six years, four as Secretary of 80-20, and the past two as the President. When I felt discouraged or overwhelmed, your support sustained me. Regretfully, pressing personal affairs will keep me from serving as President after this year. Since becoming involved with 80-20, I have devoted several hours each day and donated almost $5,000 to the organization. But this is not enough. Only, TOGETHER, can we build a better tomorrow. No one can do it alone.

Would you please accept my last request? Please join 80-20. We have come such a long way together, but to guarantee that our gains will last, we need YOUR support. Please go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net to join TODAY.

If you join now, your membership lasts till the end of 2009. We aim for 1600 members by the end of this year. Won't you be one of the 80 pioneers who will help us reach that goal? THANK YOU.

I became involved with the Asian American community when I realized that if I wanted equal rights as an Asian American, I needed to personally fight for them. After about 15 years of involvement in the Texas Asian American community*, I became increasingly aware of the need for a national Asian American organization that can fight for ALL Asian Americans, because local or state organizations cannot carry the fight alone. That's when I became involved with 80-20.

As 80-20's President, I have aimed to help build a better tomorrow together. Under my tenure, more Board members have become involved in 80-20's day-to-day operations, and we have worked more closely with other national Asian American organizations and with Asian American elected officials. Asian American officials, especially, came together splendidly during the election season by urging Senators Clinton and Obama to make iron-clad commitments to our community by responding to our questionnaire. We secured both Senators' commitments by early 2008.

Thanks to these collaborative efforts, and thanks especially to the hard work and leadership of Immediate Past President, S.B. Woo, we are now a GIANT step closer to equal opportunity and justice. We fought for Senator Obama's election, especially in the battleground states. With his election, 80-20 has input at the highest stages in appointing federal judges and officials who care for our community.

However, much remains to be done. My major disappointment as President has been the drop in membership, especially during my first year. Since then, Amy Wong Mok, our vice president, has increased recruitment of life members through her 1000 x 1000 initiative, and we are recovering from 2007's drop in annual members. However, we are not doing well enough. Without a large base of members, 80-20 cannot ensure that the gains we have all fought for - that YOU have fought for - will last. More members - both Life and annual - ensure a deeper base of grassroots support.

Just imagine. Would our community be this close to attaining equal rights without an 80-20? Can we afford to lose this golden opportunity?

Please then consider my last request as President. Can you spare $35, $50, or more? Help yourself and your children solidify our community's gains by helping 80-20 achieve a membership of 1600 by the end of this year. We only need 80 more members to achieve this goal.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net to join TODAY.

PLEASE, PLEASE pitch in.

TOGETHER, we build a better tomorrow.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Kathleen To,
President
80-20 PAC, Inc.

* I founded the first Asian American organizations in the Dallas area in 1985: OCA's Dallas chapter and the Asian American Women Business Owners' Association in 1985. I subsequently established and chaired the Asian American Advisory Council to the Governor from 1990-1994, which helped to secure a significant number of Asian American appointments to key state government positions.

A Distinguished New Board for 80-20‏

A distinguished new Board will lead 80-20 in 2009. Six of the 18 Board members are new, adding new and diversity. Three of the 6 are from outside the Chinese Am community. They all have splendid career achievements. See their achievements for yourself.

Beverly Hong-Fincher is a language professor who grew up in Vietnam;

Chenming Calvin Hu is a Distinguished Chair professor of electrical engineering at UC, Berkeley & a member of the US Academy of Engineering;

Alice S. Huang is on the Board of The Rockefeller Foundation, a member of the Committee of 100 and of the Academia Sinica;

Yuko Nakanishi is the Principal of Nakanishi Research & Consulting, NY

Roy Saigo has just retired from the Presidency of St. Cloud Univ. of MN;

Lena Tam is Vice Mayor of the City of Alameda, CA; and

Charles C. Zhang is the Managing Partner of Zhang Financial, Michigan. He is the only advisor in the nation who was selected as a top advisor by both Worth Magazine and Barron's each year from 2004 -2007.

S. B. Woo was appointed by the outgoing Board to be the Acting Executive Director, without pay, effective immediately. His term lasts until such time as the new 2009 Board will elect a President and V. P. in a special election or appoint a new Executive Director.

Details of the election result are shown below:

1) Secretary: Yuko Nakanishi (New York) 55.56% of the total vote; 

2) Treasurer: Jing-Li Yu (Chicago) 52.78 %; 

3) Nominations Chair: Laura Hsu (Texas) 52.98 %;

Other elected Board Directors are:

4) Fel Anthony Amistad (N. California) 69.44 %;
5) Beverly Hong-Fincher (D.C.) 81.55 %;
6) Chenming Calvin Hu (N. California) 77.98 %;
7) Alice S. Huang (S. California) 85.32 %;
8) Linden Nishinaga (S. California) 79.56 %; 

9) Roy Saigo (Minnesota) 80.75 %;
10) Kim Song (Missouri) 83.53 %; 

11) Lena Tam (N. California) 77.98 %; 

12) Joel Wong (N. California) 74.40 %; 

13) S. B. Woo (Delaware) 95.63 %; 

14) David Yang (D.C.) 86.11 %;
15) Charles C. Zhang (Michigan) 81.55 %;

The above is joined on the Board by
16) Kathleen To who is the Immediate Past President, and
17) Frank Lee (California)

18) Edward Lin (Florida)

All of us look forward to serving you. We hope that you deem 80-20 to be deserving of your help as well.

Respectfully yours,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

Will You Join 80-20's Journey for Equal Opportunity?

Will you consider joining 80-20? If you join now, you will be a member for 2008 AND for all of 2009.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net .

Thanks to your support, we are a HUGE step closer to achieving equal opportunity and equal justice. But the journey has just begun.

Let's take a brief look at the milestones of our journey so far:

1/30/2008: Senator Barack Obama signs his iron clad commitment to help win equal opportunity and equal justice for Asian Americans. See:
http://www.80-20initiative.net/news/preselect2008_obama.asp

8/2/2008: 80-20 endorses Senator Obama for President, and begins working on delivering bloc votes of Asian Americans for Senator Obama, especially in battleground states.

11/4/2008: Senator Obama wins his historic victory. Senator Obama wins in almost every battleground state 80-20 focused in, including: Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Colorado. The only state he didn't win that 80-20 focused on wasMissouri.

Recall how razor-thin his margin of victory in some of these states were. Obama won NC by 0.4%, and Indiana by 0.9%. Our bloc votes there made the difference!

With President-elect Obama's victory, we are a giant step closer to achieving equal opportunity and equal justice. His first step in fulfilling his commitment: appointing three Asian Americans to his Transition Team, two of them in leadership positions, to help address our community's concerns.

However, the journey has just begun! Don't let this golden opportunity slip!

To ensure that Asian Americans win equal opportunity and justice, we need YOUR support. Please join us in our journey for equal opportunity. Become a member. It could be the best $15, $35, $50 or $1000 that you have ever spent. Go to http://www.80-20initiative.net .

If you are already a member, THANK YOU. Do you like the feeling of YOUR achievement? Please renew or upgrade. We especially appreciate your continued sacrifice in these tough economic times.

Please go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net.

Please accept our invitation to walk with us. Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. Do it for your country. Do it so that all our efforts, all your efforts, up till now, don't go to waste.

Go to: http://www.80-20initiative.net.

If you can afford it, please also consider supporting 80-20's 1000 X 1000 initiative, where we aim to have 1,000 life members. With a fund equal to the dues of 1,000 life members, we can do more work at the grass-roots because we'll have increased staff support and financial stability. Will you consider becoming a Life Member?

Respectfully yours,

Kathleen To, President and
Jing-Li Yu, Treasurer, 80-20PAC, Inc.

Inaugural Tickets & Input to Transition Team

Inaugural Events

Here are some tips on how to get tickets in official inaugural events and to look out for fraud. We want to thank you for your support to 80-20 throughout the 2008 election.

(1) All official inaugural events (swearing-in/parade/balls) in which the president shall make an appearance will be held on Jan. 20 (Tuesday) in Washington D.C.

a) Swearing-in and Parade Tickets: Tickets are free for the swearing-in. Part of the National Mall will be open to the public to attend without tickets and large screen televisions will be on the Mall. Request such tickets from the Senator's/Representative's office. Do it early.

b) Inaugural Ball tickets: Although the details of the inaugural balls are to be decided by the Presidential Inaugural Comm. which has not yet been appointed, we are fairly certain that it'll be by invitation only. Photo I.D. is required to enter the balls, and tickets are NOT transferable. The cost is about $150.

(2) Look out for fraud. There are many other "Presidential Inaugural Balls or Galas," which are NOT official. They could be organized by a state, a university, or by individuals. Some are very upright in letting you know that they are not official. Others are not.

Want input to the Transition Team (TT)?

Want to nominate other &/or yourself for an appointment? Want to tell the incoming administration your vision of America? If you do, visit
http://www.80-20initiative.net and click on

"Send your view to the Transition Team."

You'll get direct input to President-elect Obama's Transition Team. Don't forget to let the TT know that Asian Americans yearn for equal opportunity in workplaces and justice.

Agreeing with a Supporter's Critique

Lin Fei of Cincinnati, Ohio, a great supporter, said that my last e-newsletter stating "When that law is enforced, . . . , we become equal citizens. ..." was too optimistic. He preferred: "When that law is enforced, . . . , we are one (big) step closer to becoming equal citizens, . . . " I heartily agree and thank him. :-)

Respectfully yours,

S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.

3 Asian Ams in Obama's transition team

After reading the Press Release below, if you think 80-20 has served YOU well, please consider joining as a member. Go http://www.80-20initiative.net/membership/payment.asp Please consider taking the 3 year discount option. Thank you. :-)

Warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
Member, Exec. Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.
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For Immediate Release (Nov. 6th, 2008)
Contact Person: S. B. Woo. President, 80-20 Educational Foundation
(302) 366-0259

Subject: Asian Ams are top leaders in Obama's transition team

80-20 announced that its two goals for the 2008 presidential election have both been achieved.

Its first goal is to help elect a President who shares Asian Americans' rightful concerns in equal opportunity and justice. That was achieved with the election of Sen. Obama who replied to 80-20's questionnaire with all yeses.

The second goal is to have the historic first Asian American appointed to the Presidential Transition Team (TT). The aim is to have qualified Asian Americans serving in cabinet and sub-cabinet positions who are sensitive to the rightful concerns of our community. 80-20 has worked on that goal quietly for months.

Two Asian Americans were appointed to the 16-member transition team. Indeed, they are both in top leadership positions in the TT. In addition, there is another Asian Am. in the 12-member advisory board to the TT.

Pete Rouse, whose mother is a Japanese American, will be one of the 3 co-chairs of the TT. Chris Lu, a Chinese American, will be the Executive Director of the TT. Sonal Shah, an Indian American is a member of the advisory board.

Chris Lu worked with S. B. Woo, former Lieutenant Governor of Delaware and President of the 80-20 Educational Foundation, to firm up the reply to 80-20's questionnaire from presidential candidate Obama. On Oct. 28, in a debate with McCain campaign volunteers in Annandale VA, Chris was quoted as saying that Obama supports 80-20's goal of increasing the number of Asian American federal judges and executives to a level consistent with America's core value of equal opportunity.

Woo said, "I have known Chris since he was a teenager attending the East Coast Chinese Family Camp. We lost touch until last year. I am very proud of him. The pride is not related to his high achievement. It is rather based on his ability to combine the best of the American and Chinese cultures, and his passion to be a good public servant while keeping in touch with his own community." (The End)

History Was Made! What Should We Do Now?

By Amy Wong Mok
Vice President of the Board

My heart was pounding when the votes of the first "Battle Ground States" Virginia came in for President Elect Barack Obama. With the winning of Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Indiana...... I could no longer contain myself. I was jumping up and down, together with two African American friends of mine who were witnessing this historical moment. This was a moment for all Americans who have tirelessly struggled for equal opportunity and justice for all. I could feel tears roll down my cheek with joy, with hope and with great pride in being an American.

America has started a new chapter in history by electing the first African American President. President Elect Barack Obama has also made the following promises to the 80-20 Initiative with his signature (please encourage your friends to visit the 80-20 website for details):

1. Break the glass ceiling for Asian Americans.
2. Nominate more Asian American judges.

Now that we have a golden opportunity to secure opportunities fairly for all Asian Americans, we must follow up by making sure that this new chapter of American history will include the participation of Asian Americans as full and equal partners. We have witnessed the power of grass-root organizations. Together we can raise a strong voice that will not be ignored. I have faith in President Elect Obama, but we must be forever watchful to remind him that faith is a two-way street, and that he and us have waited too long to see promises of justice for all
to become reality.

We have taken a successful step in this campaign season. We must sustain our effort by building a solid and long-lasting foundation for our future campaigns. 80-20 needs a strong financial foundation. You can help us and help yourself and your loved ones by joining or renewing your membership today. Better still, upgrade your level of membership or offer a membership to a family member or a friend. Please consider becoming a life member to support our project, "$1K x 1000" to raise $1M for capital fund and seed money that we need for setting up an office and a professional staff in the DC area. It is essential to make our presence felt in our nation's center of political power. This is our best investment to ensure a brighter future for our children and for ourselves.

Please visit our website http://www.80-20initiative.net/ and ACT NOW.

Last Election Note: Why Obama?‏

Why Obama/Biden?

80-20 has endorsed Obama/Biden basically for only one reason -- their commitments to help us rise from second class citizens to equal citizens, while McCain refused.

All other reasons, while sincere, are just arguing from different angles to enlarge the Asian Am. bloc vote for Obama/Biden. Those arguments don't really bear on 80-20's central decision -- reward Obama for sharing our concerns and punish McCain who didn't.

"To Punish" may seem a harsh concept to those who don't know how the real world of politics operates, and for those who have not surmised from history why Asian Ams have been so badly ignored until 80-20 came into existence.

Just watch. Soon, even the Republican Party will share the rightful concerns of Asian Ams., because it will soon have had enough of YOUR punishment.

Watch the election returns in the battleground states, where 80-20 has focused its great effort. Obama will not have won some of them without OUR strong bloc vote in those states. Wouldn't McCain regret then? Will not the Republican Party re-evaluate? That is how the politics of carrots & sticks works!

Assert yourself ! America expects us to fight for our own interests !

Have you seen how eager both major parties are to share the Jewish American concerns, even when their concerns are not their civil rights but Israel? Think about it. Try to explain why so.

IF YOU NEED REMINDING of our rightful concerns, see the two documents below our signatures.

Respectfully yours,

Kathleeen To, President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.,
and S. B. Woo, Founding President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

The irrefutable statistics shown on 80-20's full page ad in Washington Post have been verified by EEOC & entered into the Congressional Record by US Sen. Tom Carper on Sept. 21, 2006.

ONLY the Obama Commitment is shown here. Sen. Biden's signed commitment can be found on our website http://www.80-20initiative.net/.

How Obama & McCain's Differ In Economy?

ECONOMY is on everyone's mind. Hence, we decide to circulate a superb article published on "The Economist." It summarizes the essential differences between Obama & McCain in growing the economy and why a change is a must.

How Obama and McCain Differ In Growing the Economy

"The 2 political parties currently represent 2 distinctly different ways of growing the economy:

1. Cut taxes for the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations and they will do what is best for the economy as a whole - the top-down, or trickle-down approach.

2. Invest in bottom-up productivity-based growth by building the private sector on a solid foundation that includes providing every American with world-class education and infrastructure, affordable healthcare, markets that work dependably, incentives for investments in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Frankly I think we've tried #1 for long enough, and exhausted whatever potential it had to grow the economy. In 2005, for example, Fortune 500 companies showed record cash balances on their balance sheets. What does that mean? It means they had far more money than they needed and could NOT find enough profitable projects to invest in. And this is happening at the very same time that our schools are crumbling and jobs are being shipped offshore and our bridges are falling. If you look at the big picture and see the US as one country, Americans as one people, and that we all work together to compete in the global economy, how does this represent "what is best for the economy"? How much more proof do we need that trickle-down doesn't work?

If you understand the role that increasing productivity plays in economic growth and wealth creation and increasing competitiveness then you have to go with #2. The logic is overwhelming. That's obviously not to say that Obama will succeed at everything he proposes - but at least he is tackling the problem from the right end, instead of the wrong end! That in itself is a huge improvement. "

Go Obama! A change is a must. When he wins, we win -- for us & our children and for growing the economy!

Sincerely yours,

Kathleen To
President, 80-20 PAC, Inc.

PS: To AsAms in Ohio: Tune in on ASIAN RADIO HOUR, WERE 1490 AM RADIO, Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 2, Sunday 3 to 4 PM. Anthony Yen, host and producer, will read 80-20's recent e-newsletter "How Works," because he liked it so much. The newsletter also got many other good comments.

How R*cism Works

This was a piece that I found in my inbox. Shocking! However, every fact mentioned below has been independently checked out by 80-20. It helped me see things clearer.

"What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do' to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5 (a past scandal)?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

versus

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire? "

All facts have been independently checked out by 80-20. If you like it please forward it to others.

Respectfully yours,
S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.

80-20's Pro-Obama Op. in BGS & Nationally

Over that past 10 years, 80-20 created the historic Asian Am. bloc vote. The power of the bloc vote was dramatically demonstrated in the Calif. Democratic Primary on Super Tuesday in 2008.

Now, that power is used to help Obama win.

80-20 at first focused on 6 Battleground states, BGS. We have expanded them to 8! Our huge email list in BGS, besides being used to organized bloc votes, is also furnishing volunteers for the Obama campaign.

In the final days, our AIR FORCE (e-newsletters) is augmented by our GROUND FORCE (media ads) in not only BGS but also nationally. See the extent of our ads. That is how YOUR membership dues and donations are being used.

Is Sen. McCain regretting not sharing our concerns earlier? You bet. That is what 80-20 is all about. To let politicians know that there will be repercussions for ignoring our rightful concerns. Carrots and sticks is what the American political estabishment will pay attention to.

The American democracy does NOT normally take an active hand to ensure equity. However, it grants Am. citizens the full power to speak up & organize to reward and punish politicians. 80-20 stepped forth to demonstrate to YOU how American politics works. If YOU appreciate what 80-20 has done, YOU need to support it back.

To join, go http://www.80-20initiative.net/. Click on the red button first, then on the blue "HERE," and then the option to be a member for 3 years on the extreme right. Thank you.

Best and warmest regards,

S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.