Dec 31, 2006

 

Greetings,

Another year passed by bringing optimism and new hopes for AAAA in the coming year.

 

The year 2006 was as usual a busy year with many new energetic faces in the AAAA. 

 

The Festival in April was a success for the Children wonderland that had Intel's participation for the first time. Presence of Honorable Congressman Ed Pastor and Honorable Sheriff Arpaio brought more significance to the occasion. The 60+ vendors and over 20,000+ attendees enjoyed the food, songs, music and dances of various Asian ethnic groups in the three-day Festival held at the Heritage Park in Phoenix.

 

The year 2006 also happened to be the mid-term election year for USA. AAAA arranged its second bi-annual Political Forum at the Airport Marriott Hotel and invited statewide candidates from Attorney General/Secretary of State/State Treasurer to House Reps and AZ.Corporate Commission. The event was sponsored by several Asian and local organization and was attended by AAAA members and guests. Political awareness proved to be very useful for the audience.  

 

The 18th annual AAAA banquet at the Hilton in Scottsdale was another houseful event celebrated with the key note speaker Honorable Mary Manross, Mayor of the City of Scottsdale.  The colorful fashion show was a hit with the audience and carried an everlasting impression of the Asian fashions. 

 

This year the AAAA members believed that 'Immigration" is one of the issue that the  Asians have to deal with most of the time and therefore the Association joined hands with their Latino friends (We are America) and took part in the Immigration rallies held in down town Phoenix.

 

AAAA members attended Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and other ethnic functions and are  currently preparing for the Asian Festival 2007 to be held at the Heritage park in Phoenix  (April 20-21-22, 2007).

 

This year's success would not have been possible without the help of an outstanding

Board. I’d like to thank each one of the officers who supported AAAA throughout the year, Vice President Somsangouane, Secretary Chhaya, Treasurer Yousuf, chairs of different committees, executive and at large directors, advisors and mainly the membership of the AAAA. 

 

The AAAA Board members are constantly working to bring exciting information and programs to you via emails and  the web site.  If you have any thoughts or comments,

please drop me a line at  kazmiarif@yahoo.com

 

We look forward to your involvement in the AAAA activities, and wish you all  the best of the new year. Thanks.