Dear Fellow LA Lodge Member,

Happy New Year, good wishes, and good health in 2009 to everyone! So much was accomplished in 2008 and I just want to mention a few of the highlights as we look back in the year. Immediate Past President Philip Young started out with a bang being quoted in L.A. Times on the Olympics in China. We saluted one of our community’s Grand Couples 70th wedding anniversaries; Bro. Wilbur and Beth Woo. In March, the lodge was honored by the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) with the Community Pioneer Award. For our annual high school scholarships, the gracious sponsors awarded $14,000 to 34 deserving high school scholars.

We celebrated the milestone 96th anniversary and honored six API staffers local elected officials who are the “unsung heroes” to our community. At the anniversary, everyone saluted Bro. Wilbur and Beth Woo’s surprised generous donation of $10,000! 2008’s Chinatown Moon Festival was the forum initiating L.A.’s old and new Chinatown into the federal “Preserve America” program. At the event, Brothers Irvin Lai was honored for Lifetime Achievement and James Hong for Art. The San Gabriel Post Office was renamed and dedicated to the late Past President Bro. Chi Mui. The WSGV Youth Council of L.A. Lodge commemorated the 65th Anniversary of the Repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act with an event held at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library. As for L.A. local elections, lodge members sent congratulations to Sisters Carol Liu for winning the race to the State Senate, and Carol Kwan to the W. Basin Muni Water District for a 3rd term. Congrats went out to re-elected Brothers Assemblymen Mike Eng, Ted Lieu, Kevin De León, and Warren Furutani.  So as you can see, we had a lot going on in 2008.

I am honored to be elected as your President for 2009. Please join us for a great new year by giving your loyal support. All activities depend on your dues and generous donations. I look forward to working with everyone and to hear your comments, suggestions, and advice!

Fraternally yours,
Daisy Ma, President