nwasianweekly.com
Feb. 10, 2007

Photo by Carina A. del Rosario/ACRS

Participants of the 2005 APA Legislative
Day get ready to rally at the Capitol.

Why attend APA Legislative Day?

While most of us will be at home or work, thousands of our fellow Asian Pacific Americans will make their annual trek to Olympia on Feb. 18 to advocate on behalf of the community. That’s the easy route — to watch from the sidelines as others do our bidding for us. But we think there are many good reasons why you should attend Tuesday’s APA Legislative Day at the state Capitol.

• It’s very empowering to see upwards of 2,500 APAs on the Capitol grounds. You’ll feel immense pride to be part of such an influential constituency in the state. It’s not just Seattle folks who will be there; APAs from many parts of the state, including Yakima, Vancouver and Spokane, plan to make their voices heard in Olympia that day. It will send chills up your spine to see and hear so many APAs united for a common cause.

• Showing up makes a difference. The more people who attend, the more likely legislators will give their support to the community when issues that concern us come across their desks. It’s as simple as that: More people at Legislative Day means more votes that benefit our community.

• Get to know your legislators. Most people never get to talk face to face with their elected officials. Legislative Day offers that opportunity. Even if you have an accent, go up and introduce yourself. You’re not only making yourself known, but you’re showing lawmakers that immigrants and refugees in the state are paying attention to what happens in Olympia. It’s important to remind decision-makers that their work impacts immigrants, refugees and people of color.

A number of Olympia’s top officials will address the crowd, including Gov. Christine Gregoire and House Speaker Frank Chopp. The event also offers folks a chance to meet the state’s newest Asian American senators, Steve Hobbs and Chris Marr, in addition to the veterans, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Sen. Paull Shin and Rep. Bob Hasegawa. Show them your support for the community’s issues and they will, in turn, take it to their colleagues.

• If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Lawmakers won’t know what issues are important to you if you don’t tell them. If you don’t go to Legislative Day, don’t complain about not getting this service or that in coming years. Actually, the state coffers are in better shape now than they have in recent years, so this is a great time to ask for state money.

• It’s a free lunch, free bus ride and free visit to the state Capitol. How much easier could it be to take a trip to Olympia? (To reserve a ride, call 206-695-7582.)

• It’s a great opportunity to meet new people in the APA community. Whether for social or professional purposes or both, you can meet people from a diversity of backgrounds and interests at Legislative Day. Young and old, blue collar and white collar, Eastern Washington and Western Washington — all kinds of people will be there. But they all share a common enthusiasm for making the APA community a healthier and more vibrant place in which to raise children, work, play and grow old.

• It’s special for a community to have its own Legislative Day at the Capitol. Some groups, including the Refugee Women’s Alliance, have asked to hold their own and been refused for reasons of security and timing. Don’t take for granted this chance to gather in the Capitol; not everyone has the opportunity.

There are so many good reasons to attend APA Legislative Day. How could you possibly stay home when so much good can come out of your attendance in Olympia?

Do it for yourself as well as for your community.

Send correspondence to:
Northwest Asian Weekly • P.O. Box 3468 • Seattle • WA  98114
Tel: 206.223.5559 •  Fax: 206.223.0626 • Email: info@nwasianweekly.com
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