May 2006

AAJA meeting minutes May 21, 2006

In attendance: Tom Lee, Lewis Leung, William Sabalburo, Mary Tan, Nancy Yang

Absent: Annie Hua, Shruti Mathur, Nancy Ngo

Tardy:

NEXT MEETING:

National AAJA:

§ Esther called – they are still disappointed with the endowment donation. They also want us to sponsor two J-Camp students to go to New York this year ($2,000). Would amount to $2,500 endowment donation and $2,000 for the students. Nancy said we should offer to help at our own insistence (for example, if Voices next year needs money or something we can offer to help pay that, Lewis said we could pay for local students to go to J-Camp). Tom said we should localize our decision.

Lisa Ling:

§ Board said the Ling reception went well. About 23 people showed up. Criticism with the room location – would have better in the front with more space. The room in the back was cramped.

§ Brad from the Vikings said he would be able to help us with events in the future (he has worked with the United Way, other low-income groups to put on charity shows). He can get us players to sign items for silent auctions, can get players to come to our events, etc.

§ For future receptions – Tom said it would help if there is an organized way to plan these instead of doing these on-the-fly? Mary said she would monitor whether prominent Asian Americans are coming to the Twin Cities. Mary said we need to focus on journalists, but we’ll make exceptions for very prominent AAs, otherwise costs will pile up.

§ Lewis asked if it is worth buying group tickets in the future if we don’t have enough people who sign up. Should we buy tickets in the future and give members a discount instead?

Taste of AAJA:

§ New developments: Allie has agreed to be co-chair, replacing Laura Yuen. Laura will help Will with entertainment and organize volunteers.

§ With SJMC sponsoring us the space will be $600. Will said if we do this in advance, we just start booking dates one year in advance. Haven’t reserved the space yet for Dec. 5 (Tuesday), we are awaiting to see if the J-school will sponsor us. Date is available as of last week.

§ Allie is targeting eight restaurants (had six last year). Already talked to Sawatdee (likely), Peninsula (interested, on the fence). Trying to make sure everyone is represented, getting Hmong and Japanese.

§ Laura organizing silent auction.

§ Tickets: Should we retain a student rate? It would encourage students to come but the point is to raise money – we need big media folks and players in the Twin Cities to come. Ticket prices: $15 for students ( do not need to be AAJA members but will need to bring student ID), $20 advance, $25 at the door.

§ Corporate sponsor: Mary asked us about corporate sponsors – in Atlanta UPS gave $15,000 for the annual banquet. Their name would be over it (AAJA/UPS Taste of AAJA). We can also target PR firms and advertising firms.

§ Need to come up with guest list, but each member can also sell tickets individually.

§ By next meeting, Tom will come up with guest list. Can hit up major corporations with significant AAs in the workforce.

§ Poster: Design will be the same, advertising and marketing – open up to ideas.

§ Entertainment: Laura had suggestions – Ty Saiko Lee, Ed Bok Lee, Tou Ger Xiong, martial arts performance, trying to pursue taiko drummers, South Asian dance groups, Voices Merging, get a book signing (Tom’s friend said she is thinking about coming). Will is e-mailing student groups on campus. Mary suggested dance girls she saw at the dragon festival. Will have another meeting next month. One of Will’s fraternity brothers opened up his own dojo and is a nationally recognized martial artist.

Web page:

§ Slowly being updated – brochures and applications being added to the site, member profiles are up, all minutes are up. Working on putting up news and will link to news columns. Working on getting photos up on the site.

Karaoke/poker night:

§ Mary has talked to people at stations – they are excited for it. We should get a PIO who could emcee and make fun of the media.

§ Still scheduled for September.

Investment update:

§ Opened checking account at Wells Fargo, need Tom and Mary to go to local branch to get it going.

Other events:

§ Enter milk-carton race in the Minneapolis Aquatennial. In July.

§ Should start planning AAJA picnic for later this summer.

§ UNITY picnic is July 8. Same weekend as the Dragon Festival.

ELP:

§ Basic message: Don’t let people walk all over you, fight back.

§ Annie and Mary will be reimbursed $1,000 each.

NEXT MEETING AGENDA:

§ Taste of AAJA update

§ Discussion on milk-carton race for Aquatennial.

§ Set for 11 a.m. June 11, picnic at Mary’s patio (Mary will bring meat, Tom provide drinks.)