The National Council on July 19 approved Resolution 1, which sought to hire new staff to fill the regional director vacancies at the Midwest and Pacific Southwest District offices.
Also approved was Resolution 2, which sought to create a Young Professionals Caucus.
After discussion over wording changes, the National Council also approved Emergency Resolutions 1 and 2.
Emergency Resolution 1 put the JACL on the record in support of due process for undocumented immigrants; and in opposition to indefinite detention of undocumented immigrants and the conversion of military bases as facilities for incarcerating undocumented immigrants. The resolution also opposed the construction of new facilities for that purpose.
Emergency Resolution 2 calls on Congress to pass legislation to curtail discriminatory policies and practices put forth by the White House to restrict travel from certain countries, a policy that in earlier incarnations was known as the “Muslim Travel Ban.”
In addition, during a roll-call vote on July 20, the National Council voted against returning the annual convention to a biennial cycle.
“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s an example of democracy in action,” said outgoing JACL National President Gary Mayeda.
The proposal was seen as a money-saving measure, since not all national conventions break even or turn a profit. Because corporate donations follow an annual cycle, however, the organization changed from the biennial convention pattern to an annual pattern in 2011.
The change required a two-thirds majority in favor of the bylaw change. While 41 of 77 votes were in favor of the change, the bid needed 51.5 votes to pass. Voting no were 29 delegates, with five splits and two abstentions.
— P.C. Staff
