APAP DEM SUM Wrap Up   Thanks to everyone who joined us for our first official APAP Dem Sum in Philadelphia. It was a lot of fun, with about thirty attendees who shared a little bit about themselves and their progressive vision. Twenty of our guests signed up for memberships-yay!

Scheduled APAP Event: Formation of Organization committee for the APAP Film event - the screening of "Vincent Who" on February 26, 2009. Please send me an e-mail at willsresearch@yahoo.com to indicate if you are interested in being on the committee. We need to firm up plans by early January. We are looking for a venue and means to underwrite a budget of $1500-2000 (does not include any refreshment budget etc.). We would also like to convene a Civil Rights Panel Discussion after the screening. We have one member of the panel - our very own Tsiwen Law, Esq. who was just awarded the Philadelphia Bar's Wachovia Fidelity Award of 2008. The Wachovia Fidelity Award is presented annually by the Association to individuals who have helped improve the administration of justice and exhibited faithfulness to the profession. (Thanks to Glenn Hing for bringing this info to our attention). Other possible panelists- David Kairys, Fernando Chang-Muy - need suggestions Our freewheeling discussion came up with the following areas of interest to the Philly APAP Chapter-: 1. Law Enforcement: How interaction of the various APA communities with the Police force can be improved. 2. Upcoming Philadelphia District Attorney's Race: Forum for candidates to introduce themselves. Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) is having one and perhaps APAP can join up as per Andy Toy (Immediate Past Board Chair of PCDC) 3. Immigration reform 4. Siting of Casino in the Gallery, Philadelphia. Informational session to update all about the contentious issues at hand and where things stand. Will send out date for next meeting soon! FYI: Asian Americans for Progress is incorporated as a 501(c)(4). 501(c)4s can engage in political campaign activity, so long as this is consistent with the organization's purpose and is not the organization's primary activity. Meaning APAP mission is engaging APAs in progressive action and can support political campaigns engaged in such activity. Can be overtly an organization of Democrats or Republicans etc. Can engage in lobbying. Also contributions to 501c4 are not tax deductible.