Membership Drive
by Russell L. Hom

The ABAS kicked off its annual membership drive on March 15th with a mixer at the Royal Hong King Lum Restaurant. The mixer provided a great opportunity for members and prospective members to mingle and network with fellow attorneys and judges, including Judge Kamimura visiting from Japan. Attendees dined on a sumptuous assortment of Chinese food. A number of exchange students from China, Taiwan and Japan shared their experiences both as McGeorge law students and as practitioners in their own countries.

In 2000, ABAS experienced tremendous growth. Our membership roll increased by more than 25%. These increased numbers represent a greater diversity of interests, skills and legal expertise amongst our membership. The practice areas of ABAS members cover virtually every endeavor of legal expertise. Many languages are represented amongst our colleagues. Hindu, Tagalog, Visayan, Korean and of course, Japanese and several dialects of Chinese are spoken. Under the leadership of the 2001 Membership Committee Chair Richard K. Sueyoshi, we plan on continuing this rate of growth. We have increased member benefits, broadened the scope of both our political and social influence in the community and have visibly promoted our own individual members. The ABAS website at www.sacramentoasianbar.com and our annual membership directory not only provide a referral source for clients amongst our membership but it also serves as the gateway for the dissemination of information important to ABAS. You can join ABAS on-line through the website.