Ced's Community Work

Lewis Rothchild: People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.

President Andrew Shepard: Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because THEY DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

from the movie "The American President"

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask
what you can do for your country"- John F. Kennedy

As everyone knows, a lot of my work goes back as a volunteer for a number of non-profit groups. If you start pinpointing where my committment to the community or a time where leadership came into the picture, some folks may say when I was accepted into the leadership class at Pine Hollow Intermediate. It's a class where you're nominated by a teacher and it acts as the programs coordinator at the school as well as the U.S. history course. I enjoyed it but it was limited to coordinating events. It didn't include discourse and activism for causes like education. Of course when you're only 12, it's not high on the priority list.

In high school, I had been active in a number of organizations ranging from the religious to the environment. I also help found two organizations. One involved discourse of political issues at lunch. Call it a roundtable of discussion. The other is the environmental organization which exists today and runs the recycling program. I also served as a delegate to the student council (got picked, not elected!) In any case, my time at Clayton Valley High School was a catalyst but it was the beginning. In my senior year, I applied for a seat on the Concord Youth Council, the advisory board for the City of Concord (my home) but lost because of advocated more multicultural programs. It was a radical stance but guess what, that was exactly where Concord went in the early nineties with a multicultural fall festival. In addition, I was very active at church (continued to this day) in the capacity of the youth group, choir, teaching Vacation Bible School and even led the service as the "pastor" in a youth group led worship.

But I think it was San Francisco State University that cemented my belief in giving back. SFSU was my first choice from my back up plan for school. Education was on the block and in high school, my class got cut. It was a UC elective requirement and now it was eliminated. That means that my chances to go to UC was pretty much gone. It was a somewhat disturbing incident but I had a back up plan. I think if I was in high school today, my feelings wouldn't be so laid back. After going through my five years at SFSU, I wouldn't change a thing. Below is the list of "official" roles I played at SFSU. Oh yes, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Asian American Studies.

Vice President
1994-1995

Associated Students, Inc
(AS)

Second Asian American to become student body vice president. First vice president elected from the fraternity and sorority (Greek) system, aside from predominantly African American fraternities, since the 1960's. Highest vote-getter in the election

Committees:
Member, AS Board of Directors
Chair, AS Personnel Committee
Member, AS Rules Committee (ex-officio)
Member, Jenny Low Chang Scholarship Committee
Member, AS Elections Committee (ex-officio)
Member, SFSU Budget Review Board
Member, SFSU Board of Appeals and Review
Member, SCGB Rules Committee
Member, SCGB Vendor's Services Committee
Member, Academic Senate Student Affairs Cmte

Assistant Speaker
AS Legislature and Representive at Large
1993-1994

Associated Students, Inc
(AS)

First elected official from the fraternity and sorority (Greek) system, aside from predominantly African American fraternities, since the 1960's.

Committees:
Member, AS Board of Directors
Chair, AS Finance Committee
Member, AS Activities and Rights Committee
Member, Residents Community Liaison Committee
Member, AS Personnel Committee
Member, SFSU Budget Review Board
Member, Academic Senate Student Affairs Cmte

Nominated to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges by the Vice President of Student Affairs

President
F92,S95

Editor
S92-F92

Student Advisor
S93-S94

Alumni Advisor
F94

Asian Business Association
(ABA)

Elected in controversial circumstances and rebuilt the organization. Elected to a second term non-consecutive in Spring 1995 but term wasn't as successful as first.

Chair
F94-S95

Asian Pacific Residents Association
(APRA)

Appointed Co-Chair and then full chair

Founding Father
Pin#011
Alpha Class
S93-S95

Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity

Joined and rushed one of the most diverse fraternities (and today, the largest) on campus. Highest Pin# not to have served on Executive Board.

Served as University Representative at Chartering banquet when representative was late. My position at this time was AS Vice President.

Delegate
F94-S95

Residence Hall Association
(RHA)

Served as representative from APRA and served on the President's Council.

Nominated to the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) by the Natl. Assoc. of College and Univ. Residence Halls (NACURH)

Member

Asian Student Union
(ASU)

Joined one of the largest APA groups on campus and through here started the road to campus and community politics. Ironically, didn't serve in any formal role but as an active member.

Volunteer

Asian American
Donor Program
(AADP)

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America

Found time to donate to these good causes

Other Honors	SFSU	Recognition for Student Leadership 1992-1993, 1993-1995, 1994-1995
	ABA	Certificate of Appreciation S94, F94 Outstanding Achievement and Dedicated Service Plaque F93 Recognition of Service as Student Advisor S93
	AS	Award for Excellence serving in the capacity as AS Vice President 1994-1995 Award for Excellence serving in the capacity as AS Assistant Speaker 1993-1994
	APRA	Recognition Award presented by the NRHH
	RHA	Award for Outstanding Member of the Year
	Latin American Residents Association (LARA)	Award for Dedicated Support
	Pi Kappa Phi	Awarded national charter. Chapter is now called the Eta Omicron chapter of Pi Kappa Phi

Today, I serve in the following capacities in serving my community. Because it is the belief that in order to build a better tomorrow, you have to actively participate in building that. Whether, politically, culturally, socially, or professionally, everyone has an opportunity.

Diablo Valley Chinese Cultural Association (DVCCA)
-President of the Board
-Communications Chair

East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium (EBAVEC)
- President of the Board
- Past Secretary

CAPA Community Education Fund (CAPACEF)
- Member of the Board

Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity
- Board of Alumni Advisors
Chapter Financial Advisor

Chinese American Political Association (CAPA)
- Past Member of the Board
- Chair, Gala 2005 Steering Committee

Chinese American Citizen's Alliance, Oakland Lodge (CACA)
- Member

Vallejo Napa Chinese Club (VNCC)
- Member

Christ Community Church of the Nazarene
- Member

Asian Business Association, SFSU
- Alumni Adviser

Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group
- Member

"Great leaders are made...not born." William A. Cohen