January 2009

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL website!
If you are not yet a member of the JACL, you are encouraged to join us. We believe that our chapter is worthy of consideration. Our membership is not limited to those of Japanese ancestry but is open to anyone—US citizens or not—who share a common goal of making “a better America for all.”

At the 75th anniversary celebration of the National JACL in Honolulu, Hawai’i, in 2004, our chapter, one of 112 in the nation, was voted the outstanding “Chapter of the Biennium” for its progressive and active roles in addressing our nation’s concerns.

During our chapter’s 75 years of service (1934-2009), some notable highlights are summarized:

• We supported efforts to secure a formal apology and redress from the US Government for those unjustly interned during WW II.
• We were the first in the nation to provide diplomas with a cap and gown ceremony to the Nisei graduates of Watsonville High School’s Class of 1942 with graduation ceremonies on June 12, 1992.
• We assisted in the building of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, D. C. in 1999.
• On April 27, 2002, we reenacted the evacuation of 1942 with our presentation, Liberty Lost … Lessons in Loyalty.
• We brought the Grateful Crane Ensemble’s Camp Dance: The Music & The Memories for our community’s enjoyment.
• We also brought to our community these outstanding films and documentaries: Beyond Barbed Wire, Return to the Valley, The Bruce Yamashita Story, Visas and Virtue, Day of Independence, Shall We Dance, Big Drum, Letters from Iwo Jima, and others.

Our JACL is a relevant organization in this 21st Century, and we need your help in:

• Rescinding unfair and discriminatory laws and practices against people, especially those of color.
• Working on anti-hate crime projects with other civil rights organizations.
• Educating both public and private Monterey Bay area students and their teachers of the unjust internment of over 120,000 innocent persons of Japanese ancestry 67 years ago.
• Providing the Kee Kitayama Memorial Scholarship(s) for our deserving high school graduates.
• Providing our senior citizens with safe and enjoyable activities at the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL Senior Center.
• Supporting cultural activities such as the JACL Annual Community Picnic,  Pacific Rim Film Festival, Watsonville Taiko, Watsonville Bonsai Club, Kokoro no Gakko summer cultural school for children, and Japanese Cultural Fair in Santa Cruz.
• Providing health and long-term health care insurance information.
• Honoring and recognizing the contributions of our Nisei WW II veterans.
• Assisting our members during times of disasters, such as during floods, fires, and earthquakes.
• Bringing outstanding community events that highlight our Japanese American experience.
• Archiving pioneer family stories through our Oral History Project.
• Sponsoring jointly the Day of Remembrance program held annually in February at the Salinas Assembly Center.

As we continue to move forward regarding our community outreach programs in education, civil rights, and cultural appreciation, we hope you will support our efforts by joining us. For more information about membership, please contact our chairperson Bobbi Jo Palmer at (831) 724-8636 or Mas and Marcia Hashimoto at either (831) 722-6859 or hashi79@sbcglobal.net.

Sincerely,
Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL