OCA Annual Meeting
By John Chin
Nov. 24, 1999
The Denver Chapter has been in existence for almost 25 years as one of the earliest OCA chapters formed. The Denver chapter has always emphasized cultural awareness and local affairs.

John Chin, OCA Denver President

John Chin, 1999 OCA Denver President, welcomed members and guests in an overflowing private meeting room at the Palace Chinese Restaurant. The first order of business on the full agenda was the election of board members and executive officers. Catherine Fogg, Clyde Johnson and Paul Wei, all long-time OCA members, were elected to three-year terms. The elected 2000 executive officers were:

President: John Chin, Vice President: Bert Chang, Treasurer: Katherine Pillow, Secretary: Tom Ging

Additionally, a series of action items were approved that defined the program of work for the upcoming year.

George Kuwamura, Asian Roundtable

Three speakers followed. George Kuwamura spoke on the Asian Roundtable, an umbrella organization that unites the collective power of Denver's Asian groups on mutual issues. Over 50 Asian groups have joined in the forums created by the Asian Roundtable. The Asian Roundtable Steering Committee includes representatives from the Filipino American Community of Colorado, the Thai Association, the Japanese American Citizen's League, the Denver Buddhist Temple, the Asian Pacific Women's Network, the Colorado Chinese Club, the Aurora Asian Pacific Community Partnership, and the Asian American Bar Association, among others.

Hong Wilkins, Millennium Chinese New Years Festival

Hong Wilkins described the joint venture of the Bohua Chinese School, the Chinese American Post, Wilkins Realty, and the Organization of Chinese Americans, Denver Chapter to sponsor a Millennium Chinese New Years Festival at the Paramount Theater on January 29, 2000. Ticket prices have been set to be affordable so the entire family can attend.

Karie and Wes, UNC APASS

Karie Yoshioka, director, Asian Pacific American Student Services, and Wes Uehara, student volunteer, called upon OCA Denver for financial assistance. Karie and Wes explained that APASS is underfunded and cannot provide services, maintain the UNC Asian Pacific Cultural Center and sponsor special events. They brought a needs list of items such as furniture, window covers, shelving, computers, and library materials that would make the center more comfortable and useful. Wes also talked about the importance of cultural events and how APASS was currently unable to support such events on campus due to financial constraints.

Dr. S. B. Woo

Dr. S. B. Woo, the 1991 National President of the Organization of Chinese Americans, was the special guest speaker. Dr. Woo talked about his fond memories of Boulder Colorado where he spent two years doing post-doctoral work. He also spoke about the effectiveness of OCA as a national organization and the importance of local chapters. Dr. Woo also described how, approximately three years ago, the lack of coordinated political efforts denied Asian Pacific Americans their opportunities to attain first class citizenship. This led him with five other prominent Asian Americans to form the 80/20 Initiative. Following his remarks, John Chin, on behalf of the OCA Denver Board of Directors, presented Dr. Woo with a plaque commemorating his leadership in promoting the hopes and aspirations of Chinese and Asian Pacific Americans.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM, but most of the group stayed to continue the conversation with Dr. Woo.

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. The OCA national office recently published a free national directory of Asian Pacific American Organizations. For more information on OCA, its programs, or the directory, contact John at johnchin@worldnet.att.net.