National President’s Message

As we approach the celebration of 40 years of InspirASIAN at our National Awards Banquet in Seattle and the upcoming annual ERG Conference in Dallas, it fills me with pride thinking of how far we’ve come in our communities and country, and how much further we can still go. A recent trip to Montana had me reflecting on the past, and lessons we should learn from it for the present.

I was born in Japan, immigrated to the United States as an “Issei” (first generation) when I was two and became a citizen in second grade. My parents are Japanese and Filipino, and while the community I grew up in San Diego was diverse, I always felt different as someone multiethnic. People saw me as Japanese and didn’t know I was Filipino too. I also felt the weight of the past, with stories from relatives and classmates detailing the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and bombing of Pearl Harbor.

What I didn’t know and wasn’t taught at school was how Japanese Americans during WWII were evicted from the West Coast by executive order after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and forced to live in concentration camps. It didn’t matter if you immigrated as a toddler, never even spoke Japanese, was born here in America, or even married to someone of non-Asian descent.

My family arrived in California well after WWII and this piece of American history was one of those things people don’t really talk about. I happened to visit a museum with a special exhibit on the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of second-generation American soldiers of Japanese ancestry. Its motto “Go for Broke” is the name of the non-profit today whose mission is to educate and inspire character and equality through the virtue and valor of our WWII American veterans of Japanese ancestry. I was fascinated by the photos of these brave, young, and loyal Japanese Americans serving their country while their families and loved ones were living in a concentration camp imposed by their country. I couldn’t help but think that could have been me, my mom and siblings all living in one room in a barrack… hoping and praying that dad would survive the war, we would survive the camp, and my country would acknowledge that I was loyal and deserving to call this land my home.

This summer, I visited a childhood friend who lives on the border of Montana and Wyoming. As we drove along stretches of breathtaking scenery and nature, she pointed to a mountain and asked if I knew about Heart Mountain— where one of the ten concentration camps was located (now called a WWII Japanese American Confinement Site). As I stood on the actual grounds where much of the unspoken history happened, with families torn apart and Americans treated as hostiles, there was so much to feel, reflect and learn.

More than 70 years later, could something like this happen again? Could it be another group in modern America targeted with injustice and civil rights taken away? I encourage open dialogue and conversations seeking to understand— about what divides us because it can only bring us closer together. Let us pass our lessons from history to the younger generation. Let us never forget.

Shirley Sanz

Reminder: ERG Conference Registration opens today

General registration for the 2018 ERG Conference opens at Noon CT, today, July 31.
The conference will be held in Dallas on September 14-15, and registration is expected to be in high demand as in previous years, so make sure you register to attend the 2018 ERG Conference (registration link open at noon CT):
• http://ebiz.sbc.com/erg/default.cfm#/

Join the InspirASIAN National Executive Council

Thinking about making a great impact? Submit your nomination for officer positions on the InspirASIAN National Executive Council by Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Call for nominations is now open
It’s time for our annual election of officers to the InspirASIAN National Executive Council. We’re looking for nominees for these positions:
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Marketing & Communication Officer

Elected officers will serve a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2020.

Important guidelines for nominations with effective date of Oct. 3, 2018:
• Nominations are open to all general active members of InspirASIAN in good standing as of Oct. 3.
• InspirASIAN general active members are active AT&T employees who subscribe to InspirASIAN’s purposes and do not work for AT&T’s competitors.
• InspirASIAN general active members as of Oct. 3 can submit a self-nomination or nominate another InspirASIAN member as a candidate. Note that another InspirASIAN member needs to second your nomination.
• Fill out the InspirASIAN National Executive Council Election Nomination Form and send it to Shawn Rajguru, InspirASIAN National Election Chair, no later than 5 p.m. PT on Oct. 3.

2018 national election schedule:
• Deadline for nominations is Oct. 3, 2018 at 5 p.m. PT
• Meet the candidates (AT&T Connect) on Oct. 13 and 16 (more info to come)  
• Ballot available and voting period begins Oct. 13 and closes on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. PT
• Results to be announced in early November

Additional info:
For a description of the InspirASIAN National Executive Council positions, see section 7.9 in the InspirASIAN National Bylaws. More info will be posted at the InspirASIAN National tSpace site.

Questions?
Contact Shawn Rajguru, InspirASIAN National Election Chair

2018 InspirASIAN National Awards Banquet

Join us in Seattle for our 40th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, August 24! We’re at The Skansonia with a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline on Lake Union. Don’t miss out on this special event featuring distinguished keynote speakers and award honorees.
Click here for more information and to register for the banquet

Join the #SockSociety Social Media Contest

The Global Marketing Organization has activated an employee engagement campaign to increase brand love. Creating instant, fun moments leads to real, lasting brand love.
Join the #SockSociety and share images of their AT&T socks on social media, from July 28 – Aug. 31. The ERG with the most social media posts will be featured in an upcoming segment on AT&T’s “Around The Globe” so help support InspirASIAN!

What is this about?
• We’re looking to create brand love by encouraging AT&T ERG employees to post pictures of themselves and the branded AT&T socks to external social media, using the hashtag #SockSociety and #InspirASIAN.  On Twitter, tag @ATT_InspirASIAN, our national account.

Why socks?
• It’s a fun, easy and affordable way for employees to get in on the brand love
  
Are there social media guidelines we should we aware of?
• Yes! Make sure to check out the Social Media Resource Center’s social media standards, policies and guidelines if you are unsure what to say externally, or how to identify yourself as an AT&T employee.

• Make sure to note that you are an AT&T employee in the post with the disclaimer #ATTEmployee

How long does this campaign last for?
• July 30 – August 31, but employees can post pictures all year long
  
Where can employees get these socks?
• Employees might already have the socks from past Employee Resource Group conferences or business unit kickoffs. Otherwise, you can purchase AT&T socks for $10 from our e-Store.

For questions about the #SockSociety social media contest, contact Carolyn Donaldson.

Champions of Diversity & Inclusion

Teddy Chu, our DFW Chapter President, has been recognized as a Champions of Diversity award recipient.  Find out how Teddy inspires employees and gives back to our communities.