April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009 - Sterling Hills Golf Club, Camarillo
On April 27, 2009, the Ventura County Asian American Bar Association hosted its Fourth Annual Installation and Awards Banquet at the Sterling Hills Golf Club in Camarillo. The event was well attended by a near-record crowd of distinguished members of the bench and bar. We were honored to have several bar leaders and judicial officers from Ventura and Los Angeles County.
Kata Kim from the Ventura College of Law, and Kristen Hirashima from Loyola Law School were each awarded $1,500 scholarships.
The highlight of the evening was State Bar President Holly Fujie's heartfelt speech, encouraging Asian Americans to overcome cultural obstacles and barriers and to seek out active roles in leadership positions within the bar and on the bench.
The evening culminated with the installation of VCAABA's 2009 board members and officers.
VCAABA would like to thank all of those who attended and made this a successful event. The money raised from this event will go toward next year's scholarship fund.
Ventura College of Law Dean Heather Georgakis; East County Bar Ass'n President Bret Anderson; Panda Kroll
Board Member Carmen Ramirez; Ventura County Bar Ass'n Exec. Dir. Steve Henderson; State Bar President Holly Fujie; VCBA President Tony Strauss; Rennee Dehesa
Andy Viets; Ventura County Paralegal Ass'n President Laura Orlando; Hon. David Long & wife Shirley Critchfield
Attendees enjoying cocktail reception
Scholarship Chair Bill Short presenting award to recipient Kristen Hirashima
State Bar President Fujie giving keynote speech
VCAABA President Leeton Lee introducing Board Member Tina Rasnow to present speaker's gift to Holly
Josh Fischer; Presiding ALJ Jasmine Mukai; Dennis Mukai
Panda Kroll & friends
Local watercolor artist Christine Leong exhibiting/selling artwork to attendees
Newly sworn in 2009 VCAABA Officers & Board of Directors with Tony Strauss & Holly Fujie
VCOL Dean Georgakis accepting scholarship award on behalf of Kata Kim
Contingent from Los Angeles with their leader Hon. Cynthia Loo (L.A. County Superior Court)
VCAABA Board & Officers being sworn in by Tony Strauss
VCBA admin. staff Celene Valenzuela & Nadia Avila; Rebeca Mendoza
Carol Woo; Leeton Lee; VCBA Immediate Past President Matt Guasco
VCAABA Vice President John Fukasawa; Board Member Dino Inumerable; Jennifer Lee
Carmen Ramirez introducing keynote speaker Holly Fujie
Over 70 attendees enjoying dinner & conversation
Tina Rasnow getting a warm hug after presenting gift to Holly
Holly showing off her gift (wall covering hand-made by the ethnic minorities from the Sapa region in Northern Viet Nam) from VCAABA (brought back by Tina)
Holly addressing the crowd with her inspiring words!
More attendees enjoying the evening
L.A. contingent with Tina & Holly
Board Members Leah Gasendo, Stephanie Takeuchi & Julie Lin helping out at the check-in/registration table
Secretary/Treasurer Mark Fang; Hon. Mark Borrell; Dien Le; new ALJ Leah Gasendo
Dien Le, Holly Fujie; Carmen Ramirez; Angela Sousa; Tony Strauss
More attendees enjoying the event
Amy Suehiro; Dien Le; Hon. Cynthia Loo