台美公民協會通訊1990
President’s Message:
Li-Pei Wu
The Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL) was formed in Los Angeles in 1985 with the intention to meet the large population of Taiwanese immigrants’ needs. It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 Taiwanese immigrants living in the United States. Individually, a number of our people are doing very well, but collectively, we have not been doing anything. We are very proud of our contribution to this great country, however, without an organization such as TACL, we have not been able to voice effectively to the main stream of this county to get recognition and respect. In addition, to many Americans, these immigrants are seen different; the language barriers are great; and suspicions and attitudes of mistrust have developed. With these things in mind, TACL was established with the goal / objective to promote the rights and welfare of Taiwanese Americans and to teach the newcomers to step into mainstream America.
Five years after the formation of TACL in Los Angeles, it is strongly felt that chapters across the States need to be established and a nationwide organization needs to be formed. The creation of the National TACL in September 1989 marks a new era for Taiwanese Americans in the United States. Presently, there are eight chapters under the National TACL namely, Los Angeles Chapter, Houston Chapter, New York Chapter, St. Louis Chapter, Kansas Chapter, San Diego Chapter, Seattle Chapter, and San Francisco Chapter. In addition, chapters in Hawaii, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas are in the preparation stage.
During the first year of National TACL, the goal is to lay the necessary foundation for TACL to become a sound, efficient, worthy and growing organization. In order to achieve that, the following programs were specifically designed and assigned:
1) Bylaws
The bylaw of the organization has been drafted and reviewed in the mid-term board meeting and will be finalized for adoption during September’s convention.
2) 1990 Census
A video-based program introducing the importance of the 1990 census for Taiwanese Americans was designed and produced mainly by TACL5s 1990 Census Committee. The video tapes, in Taiwanese, Mandarin, English and Hakka’s versions, were distributed across the country through local TACL chapters as well as other Taiwanese organizations.
3) Committee of Future Leadership (CFL)
The committee is established with assignments to encourage the participation by the youth and to propose a transitional method for the leadership of this organization to eventually be gradually passed over to the younger generation. The “Summer 1990 Conference Workshop Series” was organized across the country by CFL to discuss “Taiwanese American Success in the 1990’s.” Final committee report will be submitted by September.
4) Government and private foundation project
It is very critical to our organization’s survival and growth that we become extremely familiar with grants and subsidies that federal government, private foundations or state governments grant to organizations such as this. We are eligible to apply for grants offered by the California Community Foundation using the project presented by our Committee for Future Leadership.
5) Fund Raising Committee
In order for the organization to effectively function for the first year, and to assure a long-term success, we need to raise enough funds and through utilizing such to establish a solid foundation. The first fund raising dinner party was successfully held in November 1989 in Los Angeles. More than eighty people attended the party and a total amount close to $100,000 was raised.
6) TACL Bulletin
We shall establish a quarterly bulletin informing the members of the organization’s activities and soliciting their feedback.
To reiterate, we see this organization as the vehicle to promote the welfare of Taiwanese Americans and to encourage and foster out active participation in American society. The Jewish Association and the Japanese Americans Citizens League are good examples, through which they have successfully integrated themselves into the main stream of this country and have earned respect and recognition of America. The spirit of the kind of self-esteem, participation and recognition is what TACL is seeking. We should not only continue our effort on this pursuit but should also work side by side with other minority groups in order to communicate effectively with the main stream of this country.
In order to achieve our goal and objectives, we need your support and involvement. I am calling upon all of you to join us so that a better environment for all Taiwanese American and their children can be anticipated.
Posted in 2015/06
