The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ (APAICS) 15th Annual Gala
The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ (APAICS) 15th Annual Gala Dinner was held on May 19, 2009, at the JW Marriott in Washington. The event featured Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke as a guest speaker and was emceed by George Takei, better known for his role as “Mr. Sulu” in the television and the movie film, “Star Trek.” Also that evening, APAICS paid tribute to two Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs), who have distinguished themselves for many years in giving back to their communities. President and CEO of APAICS William H. (Mo) Marumoto received (posthumously) the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and Chief Administrative Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Martha Choe received the APAICS Community Service Award. (Top Row: (L-R) Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, Congressman Mike Honda, Senator Daniel Inouye, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, Norman Y. Mineta
Lower Row: (L-R) Jim Cho, David T. Lin, Fred Underwood, David L. Kim, June Jee, Sou Wong-Lee, Susan Jin Davis, Kim Delevette, Art Ruiz, Jim J. Park)
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke was formerly Governor of the State of Washington . He was nominated to the Commerce post by President Barack Obama in February and confirmed by the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on March 24, 2009. Locke is the first Chinese American Secretary of Commerce and the third Asian American in Obama’s cabinet, joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the most of any administration in United States history.
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), who is chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said in his press release, “Gary is used to trailblazing for the Asian American community, and we are proud of his contributions.”
George Takei
Although George Takei is best known for his portrayal of “Mr. Sulu,” his recent guest star appearance has been on NBC’s hit ensemble drama series “Heroes” as Kaito Nakamura, a wealthy industrialist with ties to the secret organization tracking people with abilities as Hiro Nakamura’s (Golden Globe nominee Masi Oka) father.
Takei’s acting career has spanned more than five decades. He received his BA and MA in Theater from the University of California at Los Angeles and later studied his craft in England, Japan, and Hollywood. He sits on numerous boards including the Japanese American National Museum’s Board of Trustees where he is Chairman Emeritus. Takei was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2004.
William H. (Mo) Marumoto
Before his untimely passing, William H. (Mo) Marumoto was President and CEO of APAICS. He will be honored for his 50 years of service in giving back to his community, his country, and his friends. He served in the Nixon Administration as Special Assistant to the President and recruited individuals to Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions. In June 2008, Marumoto was given the Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award. It had been calculated that he had contributed more than 40,000 volunteer hours to 35 local, regional and national non-profit organizations over his lifetime.
Former Secretary of Transportation and APAICS Vice Chair Norman Y. Mineta said that he had known “Mo over 35 years…[he] always remembered from whence he came and set high standards for himself and everybody around him.” The William H. (Mo) Marumoto Memorial Fund has been set up “to honor his demonstrated lifetime commitment to public service to the Asian Pacific American community,” said David L. Kim, Chair of APAICS.
Martha Choe
Martha Choe is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She oversees the Foundation’s Information Technology, Security, and Site Operations teams. Before joining the Foundation in 2004, Choe served as the director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development under former Governor Locke.