2017 OCAW’s 40th Anniversary Celebration: National Conference and Reunion was held in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area from March 31 to April 2, 2017. Participants included OCAW members from all six chapters (Maryland, Virginia, New Orleans, Silicon Valley, Hawaii, and Kohala Hawaii). Friday morning began with a tour of the U.S. Capitol, courtesy of U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA). This was followed by a tour of Twin Oaks, the lovely estate of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. A third event was a tour of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, a relatively new, large, beautiful building designed by I.M. Pei. The day was capped off by the Welcome Reception at the new Tysons Silverline Center in McLean, VA.
Saturday featured the all-day national conference at the Silverline Center. All participants took turns introducing themselves to the group, and presentations by each chapter followed. Then speakers gave talks on such subjects as elder care, health, and Asian American history. The day culminated in a celebratory reunion dinner. The convivial event included remarks by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and entertainment by OCAW members, featuring a taiji demonstration and individual and group dance and vocal performances.
Sunday was occupied by a comprehensive sightseeing tour of Washington, D.C., with the first stop at the Iwo Jima Memorial. En route, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, monuments, and museums were pointed out. The group toured the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, followed by visits to the Jefferson, FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, and World War II Memorials. The perfect weather and excellent camaraderie were a wonderful way to end the three-day anniversary celebration.
2004 OCAW National Conference: “Empowering Women of the 21st Century” was hosted by the
OCAW Silicon Valley Chapter on August 7-8, 2004 in Milpitas, CA. The conference aimed at
getting the participants excited by the possibilities of empowerment and to be better equipped to
accept leadership challenges in his/her daily life. The morning programs were leadership workshops
and panel discussions. In the evening, besides the award ceremonies, there was a gala performance
of entertainment and talent shows presented by the youth groups of the Silicon Valley Chapter. The
event was a huge success thanks to the work and enthusiasm of the Silicon Valley Chapter.
2002 OCAW’s 25th Anniversary National Conference: “Smart Women: Path to Success” and
Silver Jubilee. The Conference was held in the historic Reid Foundation Mansion in Washington,
D.C. Speakers and panelists included Hon. Chiling Tong, Dr. Faith Lee Breen, Dr. Jane E. Smith,
Tina Sung, Linda K. Bolliger, Hon. Edmund C. Moy, Hon. Joel Szabat, Hon. Benjamin H. Wu, Dr.
Dianne Yan, Lucie Chen, Dr. Fu-lin Lee, Marianne Brackney, Muriel Hom, Dora Fugh Lee, and
Teresa Buczaki.
1999 OCAW National Conference in Hawaii, coinciding with the OCAW Hawaii Chapter’s Tenth
Anniversary celebration. OCAW National also celebrated its 1999 Biennial National Conference
honoring U.S. Senator and Mrs. Hiram Leong Fong, Sau Ung Loo Chan, and Ah Quon McElrath in
Oahu, Hawaii.
Dr. Rosie Wong, 1990 Hawaii Chapter President, with Jeannie Jew, U.S. Senator and Mrs. Hiram Fong, and Pauline Tsui
Senator and Mrs. Fong treated OCAW members to a tour of their plantation and
gardens in Kaneohe, and an authentic Hawaiian lunch. Mrs. Vicky Cayaetano and Governor
Benjamin Cayaetano hosted the anniversary event in their home, Washington Place. OCAW
National President, Jeanie F. Jew, moderated “Politics, Prose, and the Press” with three distinguished panelists: Sondra Seba, White House Office for Women’s Initiative and Outreach; The Honorable Ruby Moy, Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; and Sandra Oshiro, New Media Director, Honolulu Advertiser.
1997 OCAW’s 20th Anniversary National Conference and Gala Banquet and Salute to Mothers. The three-day event began with a White House tour. The Conference was held at the Rayburn House Office Building. Speakers and workshops addressed the topics of Financial Independence through Entrepreneurship, Managing Career Success, Business and Government, Legal Rights of Women/Domestic Violence, and Women’s Health.