AR NewOfficers (Paul Koto, John Yee, Manu Raval, and Gloria Williams)

Asian Roundtable Elects New Officers and Sets 2000 Agenda

By John Chin
Dec 21, 1999

New Asian Roundtable officers have been elected for the year 2000. R.C. (Manu) Raval (manuchanda@aol.com) was unanimously elected President. Raval is a highly accomplished civil servant, international business leader and community activist. Having moved to Denver in the mid-70s, Raval has been an active volunteer for the India Association, the Aurora Asian-Pacific Partnership, the Asian Roundtable, and other community advisory commissions. When asked about his goals for the upcoming year, Raval spoke about the importance for Asian Pacific Americans to work together to realize new breakthroughs as Americans. He mentioned the important message that Dr. S.B. Woo shared with the Asian Pacific American communities in a recent trip to Denver. Woo put forward the proposition that Asian Pacific Americans needed to set aside their other differences and focused on the key issue that faced all Asian Pacific Americans-- first class citizenship. Raval believes that the Asian Roundtable is the Denver metro area forum to advance first class citizenship for Asians through education, advocacy, programs, and communications.

Patty Coutts, Stella Yu, Linda Pilapil, and George Kuwamura

John Yee, Paul Koto and Gloria Williams completed the new slate of officers. Yee is well-known in Denver, particularly for his Denver-Kumming Sister Cities work. Paul Koto was reconfirmed as treasurer. He is part of the Pacific Asian American Network of U.S. West. Gloria Williams is just completing her term as president of the Filipino American Community of Colorado and will serve as secretary.

George Kuwamura was confirmed by the Asian Roundtable Steering Committee as Chair of the Program Planning and Communications Committee. Stella Yu, City of Denver Cultural Commission, and John Chin, Organization of Chinese Americans, Denver Chapter, offered their assistance.

AR Participants (Some of the participants at recent Asian Roundtable meeting)

The first Asian Roundtable activity for 2000 is the January General Assembly. Asian Roundtable General Assemblies are designed to be opportunities for members of the different Asian Pacific American communities and groups to gather, share ideas and promote collaboration. The January General Assembly will focus on "Achieving the Goal: First Class Citizenship for Asian Americans." It is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2000 at the Filipino American Community of Colorado Cultural Center, 1900 Harlan Street, Edgewater, from 10 AM to Noon. For more information on the January General Assembly, you can contact George Kuwamura at gkuwamura@uswest.net.

John Chin, OCA Denver President

John Chin is President of the Denver Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans. OCA Denver's next major event is the Millennium Chinese New Years Festival at the Paramount Theater on January 29, 2000. Tickets for adults are $12 including parking. Children and seniors are $8. For more information on OCA, its programs, or the directory, contact John at johnchin@worldnet.att.net.