OCA - Orange County Chapter

Washington, DC  September 21, 2006 will be forever noted as an historic day in the annals of OCA. At 1 p.m., in the law offices of Covington & Burling in Washington, DC , OCA National President Ginny Gong signed the settlement documents for a building located in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Surrounded by members of the OCA National Center Campaign Committee, other officers and members of the organization, and national office staff, Gong’s signature on the purchasing documents culminates more than a decade of fundraising efforts to fulfill the organization’s vision and quest to secure a permanent home.

The acquisition of a permanent home for OCA has been a true grassroots effort and heartfelt testament to the vision of our founders, KL Wang and Alex Mark, 33 years ago, said Gong. It has been an incredible journey - one that has been daunting, exhausting, humbling, and above all, inspiring. The last nine months have been a demonstration of the passion and the commitment of our members and chapters across the country. Â It is our belief in OCA’s destiny to have a presence in Washington, D.C. that this vision is now finally a reality, she added.

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The purchase of the building also fulfills OCA’s vision of establishing the OCA National Center for Asian Pacific American Leadership become reality as well. With permanent headquarters, OCA will be able to focus on expanding and adding programs that will nurture and develop the leadership potential and skills of the APA community’s future leaders.

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This is a significant occasion not only for OCA, but for the entire APA community, said OCA National Center Campaign Chair Claudine Cheng. In 1973, OCA was the first national APA organization to incorporate and establish headquarters in Washington D.C. With this purchase, OCA will be the first national APA organization to establish a permanent presence in our country’s capital. The concept of permanency is very important as OCA has dedicated itself for over 30 years to be an effective national voice for the APA community and advocating for civil rights, and political, social and economic empowerment, she added.

Tuesday September 19, 2006, 7 pm - 9 pm
OCA-OC Sandwich Talk: The Ideal Asian American Significant Other

Lee’s Sandwiches Fullerton
1028 South Harbor Boulevard @ Costco Center
Fullerton, CA 92832
Restaurant Phone: (714) 525-2989
FREE!

Whether you believe in fate or have a list of standards, we all have
an ideal image of Mr./Ms. Right in our mind. Many factors help us
compile this list of criteria, including (not surprisingly) one’s
cultural background. Ask yourself what’s important to you — do
these standards reflect values that are important in your family?
Does being Asian American have a great impact on how you choose your
significant other?

Join us for another interesting discussion as we muse over the image
of the Ideal Asian American Significant Other!

Washington, DC - OCA expresses grave concerns regarding CBS’s proposed format for the upcoming fall season of, Survivor: Cook Island, where the show is planning to divide the competing tribes by race. The tribes will be separated into African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans and Caucasians.

The racial discrimination that has existed in this country has devastated communities of color and divided this nation. While the United States has made great strides in overcoming this racial divide, it is by no means over. Racial slurs, stereotyping of ethnic groups, acts of violence against individuals because of their race, continue to occur, states Ginny Gong, National President.

Dorothy Wong, Executive Director, adds, TV shows have a tremendous influence in shaping how we perceive others and how we conduct ourselves. Fueling viewers’ competitive nature by having them root for one race over the other does little to promote greater understanding among an increasingly diverse citizenry, at a time when greater understanding is needed. To use such a polarizing tactic as pitting one race against another in order to boost ratings is a sad commentary on the judgment of the producers. In light of the racial tension associated with the immigration debate in today’s social climate, it is critical that we not add fuel to the fire. We should join hands in the name of diversity. OCA believes in diversity and inclusiveness; this show will accomplish the opposite.