A Brief Introduction to the Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL)
Edited by the TACL Preparatory Committee
Mission:
(1) Actively participate in American politics, advocating for rights and benefits for Taiwanese American citizens.
(2) Establish contact with various other ethnic groups to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
(3) Host and co-host various events and activities, encourage members to fulfill their duties as American citizens, and fight for the rights that they deserve.
(4) Promote the culture and contributions of Taiwanese Americans within America’s diverse society.
Characteristics:
(1) Non-profit
(2) Apolitical
(3) Currently applying for tax-exemption status with the IRS
Organization:
(1) General Assembly: has the highest level of authority; meets once a year
(2) Board of Directors:
- Number of Directors: at least 7
- Term: three years, with the possibility of reelection (one-third of the seats on the board are up for election each year)
Membership:
(1) Members:
- Eligibility: American Citizens or Permanent Residents, or those intending to become American Citizens.
- Obligations: Pay membership dues
- Membership rights and benefits:
- Right to Vote (to elect directors)
- Right to Candidacy (to be elected as a director)
- Right to make suggestions
- Enjoy the benefits and services provided by TACL
(2) Sponsoring Members:
- Eligibility: American residents with the intention of supporting our organization’s mission.
- Obligations: Pay membership dues.
- Rights and Benefits: Enjoy the benefits and services provided by TACL
(3) Company Members
- Eligibility: Join through a company or group
- Make an annual donation
Dear Fellow Taiwanese:
Taiwanese people have been immigrating to the United States, a land filled with freedom and hope, for over thirty years. Starting with the overseas students who came in the 1950s and continuing with the wave of new immigrants in the 1970s, the current population of Taiwanese in America today is approximately 250,000. Especially since the U.S. Congress raised the immigration quota to 20,000 individuals per year, the number of immigrants has rapidly increased. In the future, the population of Taiwanese people living in America will surpass 1,000,000. But even at one million, we will be a minority.
The Taiwanese who come to the United States are all highly qualified and experts in their fields. In the past few years, Taiwanese people’s success in various fields and industries within American society, as well as Taiwanese people’s achievements in the academic field, have proven this to be true. With so many different talents, it is only because our resources are scattered that we have been unable to use our collective strengths to compete with other groups to fight for our due benefits, civil liberties, and societal status.
Jews are also a minority in the U.S., but via the operations of Jewish organizations, individuals scattered around the U.S. have been able to combine their power for political, economic, cultural, journalistic, and other purposes, so that other ethnic groups do not dare to underestimate them. This successful example is worthy to be taken as a model for ourselves. The Japanese American Citizens League is another example of success. It has been active for sixty-five years, currently counting 131 branches across the United States. Through their Citizens Leagues, the Jewish and Japanese American communities have been able to influence American society, politics, and economics. By actively participating in elections, the Jewish and Japanese have been able to get their elected officials to pay attention to their communities’ needs and interests. Additionally, they’ve even been able to elect many of their fellow citizens as local government officials, governors, congress members, and local council positions.
In order for Taiwanese Americans to gain a foothold in our society, we must cooperate with one another to fight for the equal rights of all people, as stated in the U.S. Constitution. We also need to have a “Taiwanese American Citizens League,” and the time is ripe to establish one now. This organization will be a permanent one, with the goal of fighting for and supporting the welfare of our fellow Taiwanese, as well as encouraging ourselves and our future generations to enter mainstream American society.
At noon on April 6th, the preparatory committee held a consulting meeting in Cerritos, which brought in about 70 attendees. Under the leadership of Li Pei Wu, the meeting attendees discussed the organization’s mission, the focus of future work, and how to fight for member’s rights and benefits. In particular, in regard to the second-generation, they should not only be encouraged to enter into American politics and business, but we should also help them continue to maintain Taiwanese traditions and culture. Meeting participants spoke enthusiastically, recognizing the importance of establishing a Taiwanese American Citizens League.
The Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL), a non-profit, apolitical organization, is scheduled to be formally established at the end of June. We sincerely ask that you join our organization, helping us work together to benefit the Taiwanese community. If you have any questions, please write to the preparatory meeting or call: 818-308-3765 Taiwanese American Citizens League Preparatory Committee.
Convener: Li Pei Wu
Committee Members: Chin-tsung Li, Chuang-I Lin, Shih Chou, Hsi-yuan Wu, Ho-chuan Hsu, San John Huang, Wen-chi Chang, Tzu-ching Yang, Mao-sheng Yang, Chung-yuan Liao, Jeffrey Tsai, C. B. Chien, Mu-I Lo.
Taiwanese American Citizens League Preparatory Committee Consultants: Charles Ting, Kenjohn Wang, Ching-tsang Wang, Charles Chiang, Yung-hsu Li, Ju-Shey Ho, Isaiah Lee, Ying-nan Li, Ying-chung Shen, Chao-chun Wang, Ching-mu Li, Mu-tsun Wu, Yuan-ching Lin, Symeon Woo, Ko-Ming Lin, Jer-Shung Lin, Sheng-yan Lin, Huey Lin, Raymond Wu, Daniel Lin, Lin Chou, Wen-hsiung Hung, Chien-ti Hung, I-min Hung, Chao-kuei Hung, Shih-mei Chen, Tzu-ching Chang, Ahhee Hsu, Chu Chen, Chang-ping Chen, James Liang, Y. C. Hsu, Chong-Maw Chen, Jeff Chen, Chi-wen Liang, Dennis Chen, Dew Chin-Ghi Chang, Rui-chih Kao, R. C. Chen, Rui-sui Chang, I-I Chen, J. M. Hsu, Shih-chung Huang, Lin-tung Huang, Shun-tien Huang, S. Y. Huang, Kuo-chang Huang, Chia-hsien Yang, Hsiu-ran Yang, David Yang, Thomas Liu, Tung-chi Chao, Shih-lu Tsai, Wu-mo Chen, Wei-hsiung Tsai, Michael M. C. Lai, Huang-kun Ou, Ming-fu Tsai, Minlu Chai, Fen-tou Tsai, Teh-ho Cheng, Ching-chih Hsieh, Y. T. Yan, Shu-yang Yen, Tyzen Hsiao, Peter Su, Mei-chih Lin Chien, and Hui-mei Yang Lo.
Sourced from Taiwan Tribune, Issue 269, 12850415, No. 9
Translated from 186. 台美公民協會簡介 / 台美公民協會籌備委員會 /2015/11
