2008 Chinese New Year Gala
Seattle Sheraton Hotel Grand Ballroom
February 2, 2008

  When you drink the water, remember its source.
--Traditional Chinese saying

A longtime legislator from the Olympic Peninsula whom I knew and served with for many years in Olympia died this past week at the respectable age of 82. In the obituary in the Port Angeles Daily News, it was noted that Paul Conner was an orphan who was raised by several families. It was the caring by many adults in his life that had “given him the strong desire to return the community’s generosity through public service.”

Senator Conner made it his life’s passion to remember where he came from, to make people feel good about themselves, and most importantly, to give back.

In that sense Senator Conner had something very much in common with someone many of you might know, Ark Chin.

Ark came to Washington as a 10-year-old in the 1930s with his father, who started a restaurant in Aberdeen while waiting for his mother and sister to be approved for entry into the U.S.  Because the 1882 Chinese Immigration Exclusion Act essentially banned Chinese woman from entering the U.S., it was a very long wait - the approval did not happen until 1951.   

Meanwhile, Ark fought in the Army infantry in World War II, completed his masters’ degree at the University of Washington and, as an adult, grew to prominence as a principal in a highly respected consulting engineering firm in Seattle. I first met Ark in that capacity back in the 1970s when his firm was helping us with a new sewage treatment facility in Shelton. 

Now in his 80s, Ark is known as much for years of civic contributions within the Chinese community as for his many distinguished accomplishments in the field of engineering.

Those who know Ark also know he often quotes – and lives by - a traditional Chinese saying: “When you drink the water, remember its source.”  

Ark and his wife Winnie were the organizing force behind the Kin On Health Care Center, raising $4.5 million toward a new $11.5 million 100-bed nursing home for the Chinese elderly completed in 1996.  Then, in what Ark calls his “bookend” project, he and Winnie donated the funds necessary to build a 100-bed orphanage in his native province of Guangdong, which was completed about six years ago.  In his spare time Ark also served admirably on the board of regents for both Western Washington University and the University of Washington.  

I especially like Ark’s favorite expression – “remember the source” - because it speaks to the heart of what many of us try to do with our lives, especially as we progress in our financial health and reach the point where we are able to contribute far beyond our own needs.

Generosity is all around us and I can cite numerous examples, especially within the Asian community.  My friend Benjamin Lee, president of the Hong Kong Association of Washington, has given much time, energy and financial assistance to Seattle’s Yat Shin primary school for Chinese students. Just last year the school was able to complete a major remodeling project with the help of Benjamin and so many others. 

Gary Locke, our former two-term governor and the first Chinese American to hold that office in the nation, continues to bring people together and serve the citizens of the state as a sort of an elder statesman and informal ambassador.

State Representative Bob Hasegawa of Seattle, who is of Japanese descent, has spent his career as an activist, fighting for labor rights and social justice. Senator Paull Shin is a highly respected member of our Korean community. Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara devotes countless hours to many community based organizations in addition to his port duties.

And let me tell you about Nora Chan. Nora is very active in serving the Chinese community, especially its senior citizens. She and her husband, Austin, twice each year offer free service at their chiropractic clinics to people all over Washington State through their four offices.

Nora prepares free dinners for senior citizens once a year and takes part in voter registration drives.  Nora and Austin Chan have donated thousands of dollars toward the construction of the new Chinese Gate in the International District that will be dedicated next week. Nora is low key about all of this, never seeking recognition for her work, just accepting the reward of contributing toward civic pride. 

These are just a few of the people – and I know this room is filled with them – who donate time, talents and resources to make our communities a better and healthier place.  No matter what their nationality or background, these people are Americans first. We as Americans are richer for our diversity and stronger for those who step up and give back. I am proud to live in such a diverse state where giving is so much a part of living. 

Remembering the source of our livelihood and giving back so that others may benefit too is what tonight’s gala event celebrating the Year of the Rat is all about. It is my privilege to be here to raise awareness as well as funds for cancer research for the three institutions that make up the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.

These important institutions have combined forces to create an innovative partnership in hopes of finding better new cancer cures and treatments.  In this room are many people who have fought cancer and most of us here know people who have died from one form of cancer or another. It is time for us to give back so the Cancer Care Alliance can continue to fight back. 

People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be industrious, adaptable and ambitious. I have told the stories of a few people tonight who are industrious, adaptable and ambitious and how they give back to their communities. We all can honor and respect our differences in backgrounds and cultures and in the end remember that it is what we can do together to solve our common problems, like cancer, that will make the biggest impact on their resolution.  Certainly our state’s Asian community is helping us to get there.   

 Won’t you all celebrate this year and remember the cause and please be generous with your support this evening?

Please drink in good health from the waters, but remember the source in all that you do.

Thank you.