==================== DCEA_ONLINE =====================
( No. 14)
Monday, June 28, 1999
Online Newsletter of the Detroit Chinese Engineers Association (DCEA)
DCEA Web Site: http://www.wwnet.net/~dcea
Mail Address: P.O. Box 1595, Warren, MI 48090
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Table of Contents
[Community News]
1. OCAPA'99 Conference Report
[ Information & Feedback]
1. An article circulated by OCA - the national
organization of Chinese Americans.
[Advertisement]
1. APAICS Seeks Executive Director
[DCEA Corporate Sponsors]
[Sign On/Off Instructions]
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Community News
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1. OCAPA Conference Report:
On June 12, 1999, Drs. Tai Chan and Jie
Cheng attended the OCAPA '99 Annual Coference (Ohio Chinese
American Professional Association) in Columbus, Ohio.
On behalf of DCEA, Jie congratulated the
Conference organizers for the successful event.
Both of them participated in the Engineering
and Science session amd made presentations.
Tai spoke on "What is NORA?",
an overview of US national research initiatives
on Occupational Safety, and Jie gave his research views on
"Vehicle Sequencing Based on Evolutionary Computation."
OCAPA is a non-profit organization founded in 1984.
Its objectives are two fold: (1) to promote Chinese-
American academic, technological, cultural, and
economic exchanges, and (2) to improve the social
status of overseas Chinese through the cooperation
among its members.
This conference was an ambitious yet very successful
endeavor. It had a very broad scope, with presentations
ranging from traditional engineering and science to information
technology, business, finance, education, sociology and culture. In
addition, there were several roundtable discussions on Immigration,
Job Search, Cultural Adjustment, Healthcare, Parenting, Family
Relationship, and Financial Planning. Over two hundred Chinese
American researchers, engineers, students, business people,
and spouses attened the conference with interest.
One of the keynote speakers was Mr. I-Chun Chen, a freelance
consultant who is a frequent interpreter for the US State
Department. He delivered an insightful speech on Chinese and Western
culture, linking personal belief, and characters, as they evolved
under the influence of "Five Great Revolutions" in natural and human
societies.
Dr. Chan and Dr. Cheng were impressed by the
scope and the success of the conference. As they put it,
"we can learn from the OCAPA conference and transform
DCEA into a more broadly represented organization
for all Chinese American professionals in the Greater Metropolitan
Detroit area." (Reported By Dr. Jie Cheng)
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Information & Feedback
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1. Declaration Concerning the 2000 Presidential Election
(This article is circulated by OCA - the national Organization of
Chinese Americans. It is intended for information only and should
not be taken as the official opinions of DCEA)
" Declaration Concerning The 2000 Presidential Election
by The 80-20 Initiative"
"With liberty and justice for all." Thus ends our pledge of
allegiance to the flag with a ringing commitment to all citizens.
Unfortunately, liberty and justice remain an unrealized dream for
Asian Americans. A low glass-ceiling hangs instead over our heads,
denying us the opportunity to rise to the top of our professions,
just as it hung over women and blacks until recently.
Statistical evidence, mostly gathered by government sponsored
studies, shows a dismal picture: Asian Americans have only one-
third the opportunity of all other Americans to "rise to the top,"
in the academic world, in corporations, or even in federal
government.
To illustrate, Asian Americans represent 3.5% of the population of
this nation. However, of the 875 active federal judges, only 7 are
Asian Americans; of the 250 plus cabinet and sub-cabinet positions
in President Clinton's Administration in 1998, only two were held by
Asian Americans.
The situation is no better in universities, the so-called bastion of
idealism in our society. University administrators are recruited
almost exclusively from the ranks of faculty and professionals
already employed in universities. Hence the ratio of
[administrators / (faculty + professionals)], broken down to races,
is a measure of the opportunity enjoyed by American citizens of
different races. Nationwide, that ratio for blacks (non-Hispanic)
is 0.21. That is, for every 100 black faculty and professionals
there are 21 black administrators. The ratio for Native American is
0.20; for white (non-Hispanic) is 0.16; and for Hispanic is 0.15.
However, it is only 0.06 for Asian American.
The picture that emerges from the supposedly "enlightened"
academic world and federal government is one of inequality and
injustice for Asian Americans. The situation in the corporate world
is worse, much worse. All Asian American CEOs of Fortune 500
companies, with one recent exception, started the companies
themselves.
Therefore, we, the Asian American citizens, declare that the time
has come for all presidential candidates to commit themselves to the
following to realize the ideal of equal opportunity for all
Americans:
1. If elected, will direct his/her cabinet officers to work with
Congress in holding public hearings regarding the validity of the
huge amount of statistical data strongly suggesting discriminatory
practices against Asian Americans in workplaces today,
2. If the data were shown valid, will issue a public statement to
reaffirm your Administration's intention to vigorously prosecute all
cases of racial discrimination against Asian Americans in the
workplace,
3. If the data were shown valid, will work to induce the lifting of
the glass-ceilings so that Asian Americans will be well on our way
to equal opportunity to "rise to the top" within the first term, and
4. If elected, will give due recognition to the services and talents
of Asian Americans by appointing qualified persons to policy-making
positions in the Judicial and Executive branches of the federal
government, possibly including a historic first cabinet position.
The number of appointments will represent a significant improvement
upon the current drastic under-utilization of Asian Americans.
Asian Americans have contributed with distinction to the well
being of the nation. We work hard at our jobs, we help to run
business, we serve in governments, and we are well educated, with
bachelor degrees per thousand persons twice that of the nation. It
is time we are finally given equal opportunity for professional
advancement, and to serve in the federal government in positions we
deserve.
We ask fellow Asian Americans to join us in our declaration to
WITHHOLD financial and other forms of support to any
presidential PRIMARY candidates who fail to pledge his/her
commitment to our request for equal justice in the workplace.
During the GENERAL presidential election, a different approach is
taken. To be effective, we shall form a block-vote in favor of the
presidential candidate of that political party that will have helped
Asian Americans the most in achieving equal opportunity, between now
and August 2000.
Our cause is just. Our requests are fair. As individuals our
voices may be weak; TOGETHER WE SHALL OVERCOME.
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Advertisement:
=========================================================
1. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES
SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Washington, D.C. -- Applications are currently being accepted for
the position of Executive Director for the Asian Pacific American
Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). The position is
located in Washington, D.C. and is available immediately.
APAICS is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization
dedicated to training and empowering Asian Pacific Americans (APA)
to become an integral part of American civic and political affairs.
APAICS has established a close working relationship with Congress
and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
As we enter the new millennium, APAICS will focus on:
* training community leaders about civic and political
participation
* increasing APAs on local boards and commissions
* developing APA elected officials
* increasing grassroots APA voter education/registration
participation
* convening focus groups to assess political issues critical
to the APA community
* clearinghouse of information on the APA electorate and
other policy issues
* providing Washington, D.C. fellowships and internships for
the next
generation of APA leaders.
The APA community has been concerned for years about filling the
pipeline at all levels with APAs who are knowledgeable on issues
impacting the APA community, the political process, and who have
demonstrated effective leadership.
APAICS seeks a visionary executive director who can energize,
mobilize and set forward the APA political pipeline.
Qualifications for the Executive Director:
- Actual experience or demonstrated understanding of the political
process
- Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the APA community
- Demonstrated working relationships with the diverse APA community
and
diverse populations
- Experience and creativity in developing and coordinating
leadership
training programs
- A clear vision of what the APA community needs to attain to be
politically effective
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Experience in management and finances
- Experience in fundraising from an array of sources
- Media experience and public speaking ability
- Strong interpersonal skills
Salary is commensurate with experience. Health care, sick leave,
paid vacation days are provided.
Please send a resume to:
APAICS
209 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003
Deadline is July 1, 1999.
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The 1999 DCEA Corporate Sponsors:
On behalf of all DCEA members, We recognize and appreciate the
1999 corporate sponsors for their sustained surports to DCEA:
Altair Engineering, Inc.
CGN and Associates
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
Giddings & Lewis, Inc.
Optimal CAE, Inc.
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