March 18, 2003

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MISSION STATEMENT:

Promote full utilization of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.

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ed. by Douglas Ikemi

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The internet site is at:

Our own domain name, apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/ gives you a menu of AP organization websites.

Back issues of the newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, and 2002 are available on the website if you want to look up some past event.

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APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2003:

Evening meetings will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) 310/726-0100. Noon time meetings will be on Raytheon premises

April 16 6PM

May 14 noon R1/6E10

June 11 6PM

July 16 noon R1/6E10

Aug 13 6PM

Sept 10 noon R1/6E10

October 13 6PM

Nov 12 noon

Detailed calendar is available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats [will get around to updating sometime]. Events go into the calendar that I don't mention here. Please send in information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.

Long range calendar items:

March 22 Sadao Watanabe performs with the Asian Symphony at the Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts, 501 Indian Peak Rd., Rolling Hills, $35-75, 310-544-0403.

March 22 Words, Weavings, & Songs film screening and discussion at the JANM at 1:30PM. Documentary about 3 Nisei women who were confined in American concentration camps during World War II. www.janm.org.

March 23 APEX Cultural Affairs - Yellow Grrrls USA. Please join our first planning meeting to help raise funds for the film, "Yellow Grrrls USA." We're looking for happy enthusiastic people for the April event. Come and meet new people and have fun for a worthwhile film! If you can't make it and are still interested in participating, please send an email to Bonnie at bonnie@apex.org. 3pm-4pm. Where: TBD Costs: Free, just your time and enthusiasm. Contact: Bonnie Lu

March 30  Mazanar, A reading of the musical.at the Aratani/ Japan America Theatre. 2PM. For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

March 29-30 Ikebana International 's Katen , LA Arboretum

March 30 Shanghai Ghetto. The story German and Austrian Jewish refugees in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A critically acclaimed documentary of the story of German and Austrian Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution who found refuge in the only place that would take them: Japanese-occupied Shanghai, the great Chinese port.  Narrated by Academy Award winner Martin Landau.  (2002, 95 min.) Part of the "Special Focus on China" event series at the Skirball Cultural Center . 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. (Located off the 405 Freeway; exit Skirball Center Drive) $6 General, $5 Members, $4 for Students. Advance tickets and reservations recommended. For all programs, call: (323) 655-8587. For more information please contact Skirball Cultural Center Tel: (310) 440-4500, www.skirball.org

April 3 APEX Cultural Affairs - Pages and Plates (April). APEX is proud to host Pages & Plates, a Cultural Affairs series to celebrate Asian America. Pages & Plates is a combination of a book club and a restaurant club. APEX members are invited to dine at a restaurant and to discuss the book of the month. At the conclusion of the meal, members will be able to review the restaurant and the book. Reviews will then be posted on the APEX website. By tying together the love for literature with the love for food, APEX hopes that Pages & Plates enables its members to discover a new dimension of Asian America. Pages and Plates are held every first Thursday of the month. The book for April is "A Single Square Picture: A Korean Adoptee's Search for Her Roots" by Katy Robinson. We encourage members to finish the book and contribute to the discussion. However, folks who want to participate without having read the book are welcomed. 7pm-9pm, Woo Lae Oak of Seoul, 623 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, 90005, 213-384-2244. Free, RSVP required as seating is limited. APEX members get priority seating. Contact Charles Ferrari at jcharlesferrari@mac.com

April 5,6 Bunka Sai Japanese Cultural Festival at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. 310-328-1238

April 5 Spirit of Nature, 5^th Annual Celebration of Asian Pacific Culture, Music Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Mt. San Antonio College, 8PM, 909-468-4050.

April Astroboy Birthday Celebration, JACCC, Little Tokyo.

April 6-Jun1 Japanese Postwar Anime/Manga Exhibit at the Doizaki Gallery, JACCC, Little Tokyo. www.jaccc.org

APRIL 12 & 13 Cherry Blossom Festival. Monterey Park's Sixth Annual Cherry Blossom Festival will be held at Barnes Park (350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park).  Plans are currently underway to bring in another dazzling array of  entertainment, as well as food & craft vendors, displays, and activities that celebrate the beauty of the Japanese culture.  Complete entertainment schedules, along with hours of operation, will be posted on this website as plans are finalized.  For information on becoming a vendor, please call the city's Special Events Manager at (626) 307-2541.

April 13 Hanamatsuri Celebration, JACCC, Little Tokyo. 11AM-12PM lecture on Buddhism in Garden Room. Ceremony 1-4PM JACCC Plaza.

April 15 ABL and LA Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Marriott Los Angeles Downtown, $20 for non-members.

April 27 Hiromi Hashibe & Wakana Kai Koto Group, Aratani/Japan America Theatre, Little Tokyo, 3PM, $20, 213-680-3700

May 4 Anime screening and panel at the JACCC, 2PM. Rare screening of clips from the AstroBoy collection. Also, vendor fair from 11AM-4PM.

May 1-8 VC Film Fest, 213-680-4462x68, www.vconline.org.

The Pacific Asia Museum (46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91101, 626-449-2742) Family Festival schedule for 2003, Saturdays, 1-4:

April 19 Pakistan Festival

May 17 Buddha’s Birthday

June 21 Gods and Goddesses

July 19 Calligraphy

Aug 16 Strings of Asia

Sep 20 Myanmar

Oct 18 Vijaya Dashimi

Nov. 15 Himilayan Festival

Dec 13 Pasko Sa Nayon

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This Weekend (and earlier)

March 21Special Screening-BECOMING AMERICAN: THE CHINESE EXPERIENCE. CAUSE-Vision 21 and KCET would like to extend this invitation to you and your guest for a special sneak preview screening of the upcoming 3-part Bill Moyers PBS series, BECOMING AMERICAN: The Chinese Experience. A panel discussion will follow the screening. 6PM-8:30PM, Omni Los Angeles Hotel, 251 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Complimentary to APEX members and guests of APEX. Contact: Wendy Chien, 626-356-9838, wendy@causevision21.org. BECOMING AMERICAN: The Chinese Experience, will air on KCET on March 25-27 at 9 pm.:

March 22 Sadao Watanabe performs with the Asian Symphony at the Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts, 501 Indian Peak Rd., Rolling Hills, $35-75, 310-544-0403.

March 22 Asian Pacific Tales, free performance for youth by East West Players, 2PM, David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Little Tokyo. RSVP 213-625-7000, mtokuda@eastwestplayers.org.

March 23 APEX Cultural Affairs - Yellow Grrrls USA. Please join our first planning meeting to help raise funds for the film, "Yellow Grrrls USA." We're looking for happy enthusiastic people for the April event. Come and meet new people and have fun for a worthwhile film! If you can't make it and are still interested in participating, please send an email to Bonnie at bonnie@apex.org. 3pm-4pm. Where: TBD Costs: Free, just your time and enthusiasm. Contact: Bonnie Lu

Exhibition -- The Art of the Zodiac Exhibition at the Sun Ten Museum (Irvine, CA) showcases Taiwan's handicrafts. 3/22/2003 - 6/21/2003,1:00 PM - 2:30 PM, Sun Ten Museum, 9200 Jeroninmo Road, Irvine, CA 92618. Free. 949 587-1214, ext. 146. Center for Chinese Studies. Sponsored by Council for Cultural Affairs, and General Bank, USA

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Last Weekend

? 

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LA Times: (The Times are requiring registration again, but you might as well sign up for the free on-line access to their articles. This week they may even be accessible without registration.)

March 15 Pakistanis Fleeing U.S. Seek Refuge in Canada

Many who face arrest in America for overstaying visas have swamped shelters near the border.

By Patrick J. McDonnell, Times Staff Writer

March 18 THEATER REVIEW

With one hand in history and the other in modern technology, Hiroshi Hori brings a classic tale to life.

By Lynne Heffley, Times Staff Writer

March 16 THE REGION

FBI Has a Pledge and a Request for Muslims

The agency promises to investigate hate crimes and asks for help in finding terrorists.

By H.G. Reza, Times Staff Writer

March 14 CALIFORNIA

Once Again, Army Secretary Feels Heat

The nonconformist is said to be 'apoplectic' about a claim that his job is on the line. The Pentagon dismisses talk of a 'pivotal moment.'

By John Hendren, Times Staff Writer

March 12 MOVIE REVIEW

A soccer film with perfect pitch

A phenomenon in Britain, "Bend It Like Beckham" is a feel-good movie that actually makes you feel good.

By Kenneth Turan, Times Staff Writer

March 14 MOVIE REVIEW

Unsentimental journey to Africa

"Nowhere in Africa" tells tale of a German Jewish family in Kenya with clear-eyed complexity.

By Kenneth Turan, Times Staff Writer