ABAS is proud to serve the API communities and the Sacramento legal community in its 24th year. This year ABAS has a very talented and dedicated board of directors, officers, chairs and representatives, including Lara Dunbar, Darrel Woo, Rebecca Westmore, Amilia Sanders, Kathryn Doi, Grace Arupo, Dee Brown, Jeannie Lee, Paul Bernardino, Yoshinori Himel, Curt Namba, Donna Tamanaha, Rick Sueyoshi and Jerry Chong.

ABAS began 2005 with its 24th Annual Installation dinner and Lunar New Year's Celebration at the Senator Hotel. The dinner was a tremendous success through the hard work of members of the board and many volunteers, particularly volunteers from the local law schools. Our former president, City Councilmember Robert King Fong, served as our Master of Ceremonies and led the dinner in a moment of silence honoring an ABAS founding member, the late Congressman Robert Matsui. Congresswoman Doris Matsui provided very wellreceived opening remarks, and John Chiang, who as chair of the State Board of Equalization is the state's highest-ranking API constitutional officer, provided an excellent keynote speech.

Immediate Past President Lara Dunbar presented the ABAS Community Services Award to Carole Chong for her dedicated service to the community, and the President's Award to Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye for her outstanding community service and professional achievements. The ABAS Law Foundation, led by Yoshinori Himel and Jeri Paik, continuing its efforts to nurture community service-oriented future lawyers and leaders of the profession, awarded almost $15,000 in scholarships to eleven very deserving UC Davis and McGeorge law students.

On March 8th ABAS held its first membership mixer of the year, at the Plum Blossom Restaurant on J Street. San Francisco County Public Defender Jeff Adachi was our special guest at the very well attended mixer. ABAS also held its first law student mixer at the Plum Blossom on April 6th, and will hold its next membership mixer very soon.

The ABAS Law Foundation will hold its Third Annual Wine Tasting at Pavilions on May 19, 2005. The funds raised at the winetasting benefit local law students and advance API community services including language access. All are urged to attend, partake of the hors d'oeuvres, taste the wines, meet congenial people, shop the silent auction, and have fun.

Our standing committees and representatives continue their hard work. Darrel Woo provides strong leadership on the Membership committee. Curt Namba continues to lead our Appointments committee. Donna Tamanaha has continued to represent ABAS with the Protect and Defend Program and work diligently on Nota Bene, the ABAS newsletter. Jerry Chong continues his leadership as Advocacy chair. Yoshinori Himel continues his work as President of the ABAS Law Foundation and chair of the Community Services committee. Jeannie Lee represents ABAS on the Sacramento County Bar Council and serves as our Barristers representative. Paul Bernardino is our dedicated representative to the Asian/Pacific Bar of California. Mike Mireles continues to work on the Racial Profiling Commission with the City of Sacramento.

I am very excited about the strong start to our year and look forward to continuing to lead and serve ABAS and its members. Thank you for your continued support of the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento.