MEMBERSHIP

Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans - Milwaukee

Greetings!

The Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans-Milwaukee (WOAA) is reorganizing to better represent Asian interests in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.  There are many issues facing Asians in Milwaukee that WOAA hopes to address by providing advocacy and a forum for discussion.  We wish to provide opportunities for all members of the Milwaukee community to learn about Asian culture.  For 12 years we presented Asian Moon Festival, the largest Pan Asian event of its type in the U.S.  We hope to bring back this wonderful event, as well as address the concerns of our communities

Another issue is to provide the opportunity for Asian Americans to have their voices heard in the political process.  One person’s vote won’t change an election, but a bloc of votes certainly can.  Asians are rapidly becoming an economic force in American demographics.  Politicians by their very nature are dependant on public opinion.  Politicians will listen to what powerful voting blocs say and believe. Asians are a growing minority and, even more importantly, are a growing economic segment, contributing a significantly to Wisconsin’s economy.

Asian Americans are educated, have spending power and in many cases, have clear memories of why they or their parents and grandparents came to America.  They came for economic opportunity and a chance to live the “American Dream”.  However, the “American Dream” is not achieved by silence or by letting things happen at the whim of others.

We are proposing that WOAA finally finds its footing as a strong voice for Milwaukee’s diverse Asian communities.  There are many grassroots groups that speak for the various ethnicities but we propose to unite these groups with representation in the WOAA Board and committees.  We would like to see committees form around the following list, which is by no means complete or final.

Ø           Advocacy & Community Issues

Ø      Cultural Events (as a group or individual groups that invite public participation)

Ø           Informational Political Events

We encourage you to join WOAA to stay abreast of issues and opportunities relevant to the Asian Community.  We don’t propose to replace the organizations to which you already belong, but rather to bring them together from time to time on issues of importance to all of us.  We need the energy, support and ideas from our members.  We are planning a fundraiser event for February or early March and hope to invite speakers on issues of interest to the community and Asian American’s in particular.  You will also be able to help in the return of Asian Moon Festival!

Please complete the enclosed membership form and mail it today.  Thank you!