Welcome to the 1996 AAJA Seattle news archive.
1996 National Convention Goes to Minnesota
Holiday Party with SPJ Draws Capacity Crowd
Congratulations to Ng, Gillenwater
Welcome Kamb; Sung, Tran, Apostal, Quemuel on the Move
December Won Ton Tuesday Tradition Lives On
Kim Arrives, Chang Departs Seattle
Cline Receives NAA Fellowship
Reang, Eng At Times; Lam Wins Honor
Republican Gubernatorial Candidates at NJC Forum
Summer in Seattle: AAJA's 4th Annual Picnic
NJC Honors Students at Scholarship Reception
AAJA Participates in Diversity Reporting Panel
DeLeon, Land Named to Start Unity Planning
Seattle Welcomes Hahn
Kiyomura Moves North
Carlos Makes Move to KIRO
June's Won Ton Tuesday
AAJA Seattle Joins NJC in Governor's Forum
Author's Reception
AAJA Seattle Participates in Leadership Conference
Imperial Tombs of China Field Trip to Portland
AAJA Anniversary Video
Future AAJA Member?
Lee Trades Journalism for Politics
AAJA Seattle Hosts Dith Pran
March Won Ton Tuesday
Year of the Rat AAJA Celebration
First Won Ton Tuesday
AAJA Announces New Officers
1996 National Convention Goes to Minnesota
August 1996--"Tracks to Success" was the theme of this year's AAJA national convention.
One-day and two-day tracks offered members a chance to spend more time learning
about subjects of interest, and less time listening to short, talking-head
panels that in the past, have made-up the majority of workshops. Attendance
was higher than expected at about 600 people, but down slightly from the
Hawaii convention. Seattle sent a delegation of 16 members, and the chapter
salutes the Minnesota volunteers who made it all possible.
Wednesday: Pre-Convention Business
Before most members arrived in Minnesota, chapter co-president Susan Han
(KCTS-TV) and board representative Robert Mak (KING-TV) attended an all-day
national board meeting. Issues discussed included future plans for the
financial stability of the organization, and possible board reorganization to
accomodate a growing membership.
The opening reception at the Minnesota History Center was a hit with Seattle
members, who tried the hands-on exhibits. Susan Han (KCTS-TV) stuffed chicken
feet and joined Lori Matsukawa (KING-TV) in pretending she was corn in a silo.
Others enjoyed the good food and dancing.
Following the reception, a large group including many AAJA Seattle members,
went to dinner at the Saint Paul Grill, a famous downtown restaurant. Several
Seattle members expressed their interest in seeing Rita Wong (Journal American)
run for chapter treasurer, a position being vacated by Mark Watanabe (Seattle
Times). Wong graciously accepted the nomination and vowed to be trustworthy.
A special election will be held in September.
The first day concluded with a memorable event, as co-president Susan Han
(KCTS-TV) led a small Seattle delegation on a walk along the Mississippi
waterfront. The short walk also included a tour of the downtown Kellogg Blvd.
neighborhood and the Ramsey County Detention Center which borders the river.
Thursday: On Track and On The Town
Some of the Northwest delegation skipped Thursday's continental breakfast, in
favor of a breakfast buffet at the top of the Radisson Hotel. Vanessa Ho
(Post-Intelligencer) enjoyed Minnesota oatmeal, while Lori Matsukawa (KING-TV)
confessed she had stayed up late reading Stan Chen's (Portland Oregonian) book,
"Counting on Each Other," a book about the history of AAJA. Members who did
not receive the book at the convention, will be receiving a copy in the mail.
The conference began with a plenary session on 24-hour global news. National
Treasurer Candidate Mark Watanabe (Seattle Times) made a brief speech about his
financial vision for AAJA, then internet experts talked about the future of the
newest medium. The rest of the day was spent on various "tracks" with each
member picking topics of interest, ranging from "Building Your Own Website," to
"New Media, New Thinking, New Editors," to "Storytelling Strategies."
That night, the AAJA chapter boarded a bus for Minneapolis, and the Music Box
Theater. The Star Tribune sponsored an Asian American Caboret, featuring
performances by Theater Mu, Asian American Renaissance and the Pom Siab Hmoob
Theater. Organizers wanted to show the diversity of the Asian communities in
the Twin Cities, putting together Hmong and Korean theater groups and
individuals who represent other Asian regions, including Cambodia, Laos and
India. There are nearly 35,000 Hmong in the Twin Cities, one of the largest
Hmong populations in the country.
After the show, about 30 people from AAJA Seattle and other chapters met for
dinner. Joining us was former Seattle member David de la Fuente (Sun Times),
who now works in Chicago. The award for the person who had traveled the
farthest, went to Will Tran, a Tacoma native who now works for Guam Cable News.
Friday: On Track and Bidding High
Many AAJA Seattle members spent Friday in various tracks, or at the pool-side
job fair, where dozens of employers from across the country, including
Seattle's Millie Quan (Seattle Times), came to recruit journalists.
Meanwhile, many students were busy in the Radisson basement, working on the
"Voices" project, which once again this year, included an on-line version. You
can view the students' internet project by going back to the AAJA National Home
Page.
The day ended with a the gala reception and banquet. Kudos to Seattle's Mark
Watanabe (Seattle Times) who was formally elected as national treasurer.
Among those joining the Seattle table were Alex McLoed (Seattle Times), Barry
Wong (Seattle Times), and Larry Blackstock (Northwest Cable News). William
Woo, a Lokey visiting professor at Stanford University and former editor of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch gave a passionate speech, urging members to worry
less about the corporate ladder and to remember more about serving the
community. Woo said in the end, all journalists must judge themselves by whatkind of human beings they have been in performing their craft.
Seattle AAJA's contributions to the silent auction were very popular. A
baseball with autographs from Mariners Dan Wilson and Sterling Hitchcock
brought in more than $200, and a lithograph by Han Mei Lin donated by the
Andrew Chinn Gallery brought in $150. Congratulations to AAJA supporter Alex
Blackstock who successfully bid for an autographed Sonics poster and NBC
leather case.
Saturday: The Board, Bowl and Bloomington
Report from the national board meeting submitted by Robert Mak (KING-TV):
* Seattle's AAJA will be responsible for the national awards project for 1997.
We are charged with getting entries, publicizing the project, judging the
entries and making a presentation at the Boston convention in 1997. Seattle
conducted this project successfully in 1995 with the help of Himanee Gupta
(formerly Seattle Times) and Josephine Cheng (KOMO-TV).
* We welcome a new chapter, the Arizona AAJA chapter on a provisional basis, to
be reviewed in one year.
Seattle AAJA members closed out the convention by attending the trivia
bowl/picnic at a park in downtown Saint Paul. Seattle's chapter did not
participate in the contest, leaving early instead for an excursion to the Mall
of America near Bloomington, followed by a visit to Minneapolis night clubs
that evening.
From the skills workshops to the job fair and opportunities to network with
fellow journalists, this year's convention had it all. Next year, the
convention heads east to Boston. If you missed the excitement in Minnesota, be
sure to set aside August 13-17, 1997 for the "Road to Revolution," AAJA's
national convention hosted by the New England chapter. In 1998, it's off to
Chicago, before Seattle's turn to host UNITY in 1999.
Holiday Party with SPJ Draws Capacity Crowd
December 6, 1996--The AAJA/SPJ Holiday Party capped a busy year for the Seattle Chapter. Held on December 6th at the China Harbor Restaurant, the 80-odd guests enjoyed a 10-course meal, a holiday mixer courtesy of Susan Han and a special song from Bill Radke about our guest speaker Mona Lee Locke.
Congratulations to Ng, Gillenwater
December 1996--Congratulations to Assunta Ng, publisher of the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post, for a successful tribute to Asian American Elected Officials. The celebration/roast drew 300 people to China Harbor. Congratulations also to Kelso Gillenwater, publisher of the News Tribune, who has been promoted to Vice President at McClatchy in charge of West Coast newspapers.
Welcome Kamb; Sung, Tran, Apostal, Quemuel on the Move
December 1996--Susan Kamb sends greetings from ESPN-NET, a division of Starwave in Bellevue. Susan recently moved here from Bristol, Conn. though her father's from Mt. Vernon. Internet sports fans already know about the "Real time" sports news you can get on ESPN-NET.Look for Karen Sung on television in St. Joseph, Missouri. Karen graduated from the UW in June, interned in Yakima this summer and is now a reporter at KQTV.
Will Korndorfer Tran is now reporting at KGMB-TV in Honolulu. Will graduated from Washington State and reported in Yakima and for CNN in Guam before landing the job at the CBS affiliate in Hawaii. He says he's so happy to be closer to the mainland United States!
Melanie Apostal has moved on from Natori in New York where she worked in marketing. After a breather at home in Seattle, she reports she'll be looking for opportunities on the east coast.
Western Washington grad and former scholarship winner Ruby Quemuel will be a reporter for the Aberdeen Daily News. Ruby says she's excited about her first "real job" in journalism.
December Won Ton Tuesday
December 3, 1996--Tuesday marked the ninth Won Ton Tuesday at Saigon Gourmet in the International District. "Regulars" Robert Mak and Susan Han were joined by several newer faces, including Putsata Reang (The Seattle TImes), Christine Lam (KING-TV), Ruby Quemuel, Jeff Lin and Gorman Wong.
Kim Arrives, Chang Departs Seattle
AAJA Seattle welcomes new member, Doug Kim. Kim is the new arts and entertainment reporter at The Seattle Times. Kim was Entertainment Editor at the Contra Costa Times, and Sunday
Magazine Editor at Tulsa World. He received his education at the
University of Oklahoma and his hometown is Larchmont, NY.
Congratulations to Farland Chang (KOMO-TV), who is leaving Seattle for MSNBC in Chicago. Farland will be working for MSNBC's cable channel, as well as filing reports for the NBC network.
Cline Receives NAA Fellowship
November 25, 1996--Bo Hok Cline, online art director at the Seattle Times, was one of 20 U.S.
journalists who received a minority fellowship from the Newspaper Association
of America. Bo will be using her award to attend an online designing session at the
Poynter Institute for Media Studies in February. Most AAJA members are familiar with Bo's work since her graphic designs
and illustrations have graced the cover of the 15th Anniversary book,
"Counting on Each Other," and countless banquet programs and convention
booklets.
Reang, Eng at Times; Lam Wins Honor
November 1996--Putsata Reang is joining the Seattle Times. She worked most recently at the Spokane Spokesman Review. Lily Eng is back at the Seattle Times after a stint at the Philadelphia Inquirer. She won a national AAJA award for her investigative reporting. And congratulations to Christine Lam, the reigning Miss. Chinatown. Christine works in the news library at KING-TV and plans to apply to graduate school.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidates at NJC Forum
September 7, 1996--Gubernatorial hopeful Norm Maleng spoke about the death of his 12-year-old daughter in a sledding accident.Bob Tharp was brought to tears telling how he lost his grandson to an accident.
Nona Brazier told how her first love came back from Vietnam and committed suicide.
And State Sen. Pam Roach described the greatest time of fear in her life as her family was innertubing in Idaho.
The four Republican gubernatorial candidates shared those personal moments at a Northwest Journalists of Color forum September 7th. AAJA panelist Farland Chang (KOMO-TV), had asked the them about their most extreme moment of crisis in their lives.
"You cannot believe the hurt and pain and suffering when you lose a child," Maleng said about his daughter's death in 1989. Maleng said it gave him a better perspective and understanding of other parents' lives.
"I don't think you ever get over the pain of that," said Tharp, in relating his grandson's death. "Right now, it's even hard to talk about."
Asked how she handled her crisis, Brazier said, "I looked at my four children and did what I had to do."
For 90 minutes, the candidates spoke to a small crowd at Seattle University's Pigott Auditorium, talking about issues from bilingual education to Initiative 601.
AAJA thanks Enrique Cirna (KCTS) for moderating this second gubernatorial forum of the primary season. Ellen Craswell and Dale Foreman were unable to attend. Jim Waldo cancelled his appearance at the forum.
AAJA Seattle's 4th Summer Picnic
July 28, 1996--The summer picnic is getting better every year. Thanks to chapter co-president Paula Bock and her husband Tao for hosting a large crowd at their house. We saw plenty of new members, some from east of the Cascades, and one participant only a few months old--Mimi and Everett's baby girl, Grace was the picnic's star attraction. Also featured was championship ping-pong, Tao's barbeque, Paula's collection of pies and Susan Han's pictures from her overseas trip.
NJC Honors Students at Reception
June 28, 1996--Five students received scholarships from the Northwest Journalists of Color
(NJC) at a reception June 28th at the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle.
Heartfelt thanks to AAJA's Janet Tu for chairing this year's scholarship
program. Also serving on the committee: Debby Abe, Paula Bock, Florangela
Davila, Micki Flowers, Susan Han and Darryl Strickland.
The winners were; Erika Hayasaki, of Lynnwood high School she plans to attend
the Univ. of Illinois in the Fall. Naomi Ishisaka, Evergree State College and
this summer, a Dow Jones Copy Editing Intern at the Seattle P-I. Kelly Jackson,
Western Washington University, a graphic artist. Oscar Johnson, Evergreen State
College, Features Editor and Maryam Patwa, University of Washington.
Thanks to our donors: KCTS-9, KING -TV, the Seattle Times and the Tacoma News Tribune who donated $4,000 this year!
Erika Hayasaki has worked as a reporter and columnist for The Mirror, a newspaper distributed to teenagers in Washington state. At The Mirror, she interviewed celebrities such as Seattle SuperSonic Gary Payton and wrote a monthly column touching on subjects such as prejudice against gays and lesbians and living as a biracial child. She worked for four years on the Lynnwood High School Royal Gazette, one year as Editor-in-Chief. She plans to study journalism at the University of Illinois in the fall.
Naomi Ishisaka began her journalism career as Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper published by the Urban Newspaper Workshop, a two-week journalism workshop for students of color, and as Editor-in-Chief of her Garfield High School newspaper. In college, she worked as Layout Editor of the Cooper Point Journal, the Evergreen State College student newspaper, and became Editor-in-Chief in her sophomore year. Ishisaka has also worked as a staff reporter for Voices, the Asian American Journalists Association convention newspaper, and as a staff writer and photographer for the Hermiston Herald. This summer, she's working as a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Copy Editing Intern at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She will graduate next year.
Kelly Jackson is Head Illustrator of both her campus newspaper and magazine at Western Washington University. She was also illustrator for the book "Learning Japanese in America" by Toshiki Kumakura. She designed the logo for "Arts Express," a one-week visual and performing arts fair at Sea Tac Mall, and a logo for "Lemonade," Safe Streets' youth intervention program and festival. She will graduate in 1998.
Oscar Johnson worked as a reporter and Features/Arts & Entertainment Editor at The City Collegian at Seattle Central Community College. At Evergreen State College, Johnson has worked as a reporter, News Editor and Features Editor at the Cooper Point Journal. As Features Editor, he began a weekly literary forum called "Insights from Talking About Race...," featuring weekly submissions from students who participate in an open dialogue about race and racism on campus. He will graduate in 1998.
Maryam Patwa's commitment to journalism, and her talents as a writer have been put to use at her high school newspaper, where she was a reporter and News Editor; and at her high school literary magazine, where she was Editor-in-Chief. She has also worked as a communications intern at the Yakima School District Communications Office. She will graduate from the UW with a communications degree in 1997.
AAJA Participates in Diversity Panel
June 20, 1996--AAJA's Deni Luna, editor of Northwest Asian Weekly, joined Wendy Ellis (KING
TV) of the Black Journalists of Seattle and Aly Colon (Times) of the Latino
Media Association at a forum sponsored by the University of Washington
Communications Department June 20th. The forum was part of a discussion on
what journalists are doing right (and missing, too) in diversity reporting. It
was sponsored by a Ford Foundation grant to integrate diversity reporting into
the school's curriculum.
Deleon, Land named to Start UNITY Planning
April 1996--AAJA Seattle has named two representatives to the Unity Seattle Planning Committee. UNITY, a convention including the four ethnic journalism groups, will take place in the Emerald City in 1999. Ferdinand DeLeon (The Seattle Times) and Cynthia Land (KOMO Radio) will serve as AAJA Seattle's representatives to the committee as it begins paving the way for this event.
Seattle Welcomes Hahn
June 1996--Welcome to Elisa Hahn, reporter at KING TV, formerly of KTNV, the ABC affiliate
in Las Vegas. Elisa has family in Seattle who are tickled they can see her on
the tube!
Kiyomura Moves North
June 1996--Congratulations to Cathy Kiyomura, KING TV reporter who is getting married July
20th to KING TV Environmental Specialist Scott Miller. They met when both were
working in Portland.
Carlos Makes Move to KIRO
June 1996--Congratulations to Ed Carlos, who is leaving his writer/producer job at KOMO to
take on new responsibilities at KIRO TV on the assignment desk.
June Won Ton Tuesday
June 4, 1996--The chapter welcomed back co-president Paula Bock, who spent the past few months overseas. She and her husband Tao brought along pictures and tremendous stories about their experiences. Members also set dates for the July picnic and discussed a Republican gubernatorial forum by NJC. Also discussed were various methods to exterminate moles in northwest lawns (raised by co-president Susan Han). And AAJA wannabe Randy Eng said he would consider hosting a chapter garage sale to benefit AAJA.
Event Report submitted by Paula Bock--I am proud to report our chapter took over the Saigon Gourmet
restaurant at Tuesday's Won Ton Night. The AAJA crowd included
co-prez Susan Han of KCTS, Post-Intelligencer webmaster Brian Chin,
KING-TV photographer Randy Eng, KING-TV reporter Robert Mak, me (Paula
Bock of the Seattle Times) and hubbie Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett. We were joined
by guest Midori Sasaki, a former news producer for NHK, Japan's national
broadcasting company. Midori took a break from television to pursue a
master's degree in public health in Australia. This year she took a break
from the master's degree to study women's health on a Fulbright
Scholarship at the University of Hawaii, where she made friends with our
own Himanee Gupta, who is now in India doing the research part of her
fellowship.
The next First Tuesday Wonton Night is July 2, 6-8 p.m., Saigon
Gourmet, 502 S. King Street (across from Uwajimaya). Great company.
Delicious Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian and Chinese dishes. Almost
everything under $5.
AAJA Seattle Joins NJC In Governor's Forum
May 25, 1996--Event Report submitted by Lori Matsukawa--Four Democrats who want to be the next governor of the state of
Washington sparred at a forum May 25, 1996 at Seattle University. The event was
sponsored by the Northwest Journalists of Color...representing the Asian
American Journalists Association (AAJA), the Black Journalists Association of
Seattle (BJAS), the Latino Media Association (LAMA) and the Native American
Journalists Association (NAJA).
"I thought it went very well and we were all able to learn more about who
these candidates are," added current chapter co-president and forum organizer,
Susan Han. The event was broadcast on the evening news at four local stations,
a local cable station and covered by the mainstream and community press.
About a hundred community members attended the forum. One of the most
revealing questions, posed by Essex Porter of BJAS, asked the candidates to
talk about how religion affects their lives. Former Congressman Jay Inslee said
it helped him through a "tough" time-- he lost his job after he voted his
conscience and supported the ban on assault weapon. King County Executive Gary
Locke said the Judeo-Christian ethic is deep within American society and
"clearly within me." Seattle Mayor Norm Rice said his religious convictions
were "tested" after rumors about him were broadcast on a radio talkshow. He
said Democrats need not "cede our religious faith to the Republican right" but
celebrate it. State Senator Nita Rinehart once considered working within the
Methodist church and said no matter what one's religion, we all want some basic
things for children, "We want them to learn how to work had, how to tell the
truth and how to respect their neighbors."
A forum for Republican candidates for governor is planned for later this
summer. Congratulations to Susan Han (KCTS) and Wendy Ellis (KING-TV/Black Journalists Association of Seattle) for organizing a successful event.
Author's Reception
May 17, 1996--Event Report submitted by Susan Han--Thirty people attended a Friday evening reception for authors Judy Yung and
Ruthanne Lum McCunn at the Andrew Chinn Gallery on May 17. Yung is an assistant
professor of American Studies at UC Santa Cruz and recently published "A Social
History of Chinese American Women in San Francisco." Lum McCunn recently
published "Wooden Fish Songs." a historical novel about Chinese American
pioneer Lue Gim Gong. It was interesting to hear they both took 10 years to
research and write their latest books and exciting to hear about their next
projects. Many thanks to the family of Andrew Chinn for letting us use their
gallery, and to Collin Tong and Mimi Gan for helping arrange the event. Fans
came from many distant cities. Bettie Luke and her nephew Mark Kan drove 6
hours from Eugene Oregon to meet the authors!
AAJA Seattle Participates in Leadership Conference
May 11, 1996--AAJA sponsored a panel at the first Washington State Asian Pacific Leadership Conference. It was held on May 11, 1996 at the South Seattle Community College. The panel was called, "Becoming a Successful Journalists." The how-to panel featured Deni Luna (editor of the Northwest Asian Weekly), Lori Matsukawa (KING-TV anchor), Brian Chin (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), Janet Tu (Seattle Times) and moderator Susan Han (KCTS). Kudos to Rita Wong (Journal American) who organized the event. Other panels on that day dealt with Asian Pacific leaders in the arts, business, academia, civil rights and government.
Event Report submitted by Lori Matsukawa--About 300 people from the Asian Pacific Islander community flocked to South
Seattle Community College for a day of learning and networking on Saturday May
11. It was the first annual Asian Pacific Leadership Conference. A key focus
was developing and identifying leadership roles in different occupations AAJA
sponsored a panel on how to become a successful journalist. Expertly moderated
by Susan Han, the panelists included Lori Matsukawa, KING TV; Janet Tu, Seattle
Times; Deni Yamauchi Luna, NW Asian Weekly; and Brian Chin, Seattle PI. Thanks
to Rita Wong who helped coordinate the panel. Some personal notes revealed by
the participants: Susan Han's parents still have a hard time understanding why
she prefers to be a television producer in Seattle instead of a star
anchorwoman in Singapore. Lori Matsukawa got inspired at the Dumbo ride in
Disneyland when she read his motto: Believe and Soar. Janet Tu worked for the
State Department at one time and basically came to journalism in a roundabout
way. Brian Chin, who is setting up the PI on the world wide web, knew almost
nothing about the Internet two years ago...and basically picked up all he
needed to know in a week.
Imperial Tombs of China Field Trip to Portland
May 4, 1996--Seattle and Portland AAJA planned a joint visit on May 4, 1996, to the Portland Art Museum to see the "Imperial Tombs of China." The Portland Art Museum was the only west-coast city to feature this exhibit of more than 250 objects reflecting 25 centuries of Chinese history and culture. Highlights included life-sized terra cotta figures, a jade burial suit made of 2000 pieces of jade sewn with gold thread, and fine porcelain from the Tang dynasty. Seattle's AAJA rented a van, had lunch in Portland, then joined Portland's chapter for the tour. Both chapters joined for dinner and drinks, providing an excellent opportunity for members to meet and exchange ideas. Seattle's AAJA also presented Portland with a gift: half a bag of fortune cookies made in the emerald city.
AAJA Anniversary Video
April 1996--Thanks to all the members who sent their standups and by-lines for the AAJA 15th anniversary video. AAJA Seattle's contribution was assembled by Randy Eng, and will be edited into a final product by Dianne Fukami of the Bay Area Chapter. It will be shown at the AAJA national convention August 14-16 in St. Paul.
Future AAJA Member?
April 18, 1996--Congratulations to Mimi Gan and her husband Everett Billingslea on the birth of their daughter Grace on April 18th. Grace was eight pounds, one ounce. Mother Mimi will return to Evening Magazine (KING-TV) in August.
Lee Trades Journalism for Politics
March 1996--KING-TV reporter Mona Lee has bid adieu for now to journalism and will be actively campaigning for her husband, King County Executive Gary Locke, who is running for governor. Lee is also resigning as AAJA chapter representative to the national board. Robert Mak will be the new national board representative.
AAJA Seattle Hosts Dith Pran
March 26, 1996--The Seattle Chapter welcomed New York Chapter member Dith Pran at a reception at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. Dith Pran's life was depicted in the film, "The Killing Fields." He is now a photographer at the New York Times and an active member of AAJA.
March Won Ton Tuesday
March 5, 1996--Won Ton Tuesday drew a nice crowd. Rita Wong, Hugo Kugiya, Barry Wong and his daughter, Cynthia land, Deni Luna and her daughter, Gorman Wong and Susah Han talked about the latest in AAJA, news organizations and of course, Locke's announcement for governor. These casual get togethers happen on the first Tuesday of the month, 6 to 8 p.m. at Saigon Gourmet, 502 South King Street in Seattle.
Year of the Rat AAJA Celebration
Feb 24, 1996--Chau's Restaurant was the place, Lunar New Year was the event! The New Year brought many AAJAers and their guests out for an exquisite nine-course meal. Thanks to Amy Chiu and Susan Han for their masterful selections. Randy Eng also shot video for the AAJA anniversary video. Watch for the orange juggling at the national convention screening of the videotape.
First Won Ton Tuesday
Feb 6, 1996--Our first "Won Ton Night" took place at the Saigon Gourmet. Co-President Paula Bock, her husband Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan Gett, AAJA members Emelyn Cruz Lat, Robert Mak, Hugo Kugiya and guest Bill Radke took over half the restaurant and over a meal of steaming beef noodles and spring rolls, talked politics, journalism and romance. These casual get togethers happen on the first Tuesday of every month, 6 to 8 p.m. at Saigon Gourmet, 502 South King Street in Seattle.
AAJA Announces New Officers
January 1, 1996--Seattle AAJA co-presidents Debby Abe and Robert Mak have turned over their duties to the newly-elected presidents, Paula Bock and Susan Han. Lori Matsukawa will remain as secretary, Mark Watanabe will remain as treasurer and Mona Lee will be national board representative. At a January 10th meeting, all officers past and present discussed ongoing projects. Among the goals for the year: Participating in the Asian Pacific Leadership project on May 4; Putting AAJA Seattle On-line with a web page; Designating a Media Watch person; Lunar New Year dinner; Minnesota convention project; More regular social functions.
AAJA Seattle
Serving the Pacific Northwest since 1985.
