KAPS News, May 27th

Welcome to the May 27th, 2009 edition of the KAPS Newsletter.

In this issue:
*June Kappy Hour
*BAKAs: Call for Volunteers
*Asian Art Museum Matcha: Kampai!
*Sung Woo book signing
*KOTRA: Tapping Opportunities in Korean ICT
*KAPS Membership Reminder

----------------------------------------------------------
JUNE KAPPY HOUR

Come join us for the June installment of our monthly Kappy Hour! Each of our Kappy Hours offer a great opportunity to network with fellow Korean-American professionals, meet up with old friends, and learn about what's going on in KAPS.

Where: Yoshi's Jazz Club (1330 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115)
When: Thursday, June 4th, 2009, 7:30PM (first Thursday of every month)

There will be an Early Bird Drink Special between 7:30 and 8:30, so make sure to come out early and enjoy some drink discounts.

Interested in seeing pictures from past Kappy Hours? Click here!

Want to become a member and pick up your t-shirt at Kappy Hour? Join or renew online at www.kaps.org/membership09

We have some very exciting upcoming events, so make sure you don't miss out!

BAKAS 2009 - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

BAKAs (Bay Area Korean Americans) is proud to present the 6th annual wine tasting event hosted by KAPS, KABA, KACC-SF, KIN, and KASE!

BAKAs is a virtual community of 1st and 2nd generation Korean American (KA) organizations committed to bringing visibility and awareness to the diverse number of KA organizations in the Bay Area.

When: Friday, September 18th at 6:30 pm
Where: Golden Gate Room at Fort Mason (same venue as last year) in San Francisco

We are looking for several volunteers to assist us over the next few months as we put together everything required to make this the best BAKAs yet. We need help in the areas of:

- Securing wine donations
- Securing corporate sponsorships and raffle items
- Organizing logistics and venue-related items
- Overseeing event marketing
- Handling food reservations
- Other pre-event and day-of event duties

If you are interested in helping out in any way, please contact KAPS president Andrew Ko at andrew@kaps.org

Thanks and make sure you mark down your calendars now for BAKAs 2009!

MATCHA: KAMPAI! SAKE + TEA

Thursday, June 18, 5-9pm
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street, San Francisco

The Asian Art Museum is proud to present their annual mixer series, Matcha: Kampai! Sake + Tea. With live performances, gallery tours, and art activities, this event will present a great opportunity to mingle with friends over cocktails.

In addition to the special exhibition, Lords of the Samurai, showing throughout the summer, the June Matcha event will also have a special tasting of refreshing sakes and teas. Sommelier Miwa Wong, manager of True Sake, will be available to answer all of your sake related questions. Observe the meticulous "Way of Tea" ritual, talk to historians and curators, and get a full blast of Asian culture this night!

This opportunity is free for members of KAPS. Non-members need to pay $10. Membership can be signed up at www.kaps.org/membership09 !!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your friendly neighborhood social chair, JinUk. He can be reached by cell at 408.396.0321 or e-mail at jinuk@kaps.org

EVERYTHING ASIAN BOOK READING

May 30, 7pm
FREE -- Open to the Public

Debut Lit hosts a release party for Sung J. Woo's debut novel, Everything Asian, from Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press.

The evening will also feature Andy Raskin, author of the debut memoir, The Ramen King and I, from Gotham Books, a Penguin imprint, at The Hive, San Francisco.

Author readings, signings, and book sales will be available.
Featuring exhibits by local artists and friends of the Hive
Light refreshments, wine, and snacks.

THE HIVE:
Look for the "H" sign
The corner of Pacific Ave @ Hyde, Russian Hill 94109
(between Hyde and Leavenworth)
Parking available at Pacific @ Polk at Dulux Paints

KOTRA: TAPPING OPPORTUNITIES IN KOREAN ICT

Korea, with its long history of innovation and early adoption in Internet, Communications, and Technology (ICT ) is a leading supplier of ideas in ICT. And the US is no slouch, with the Silicon Valley representing a massive portion of ICT innovation worldwide. Given the strength of these two regions, and the natural incentive for cross-pollination, deal making, and trade, KOTRA, the Korea Trade office in Silicon Valley is sponsoring a session about the Korean ICT market. The meeting will cover how US companies can do business with Korean companies and what US companies are looking for Korean companies to innovate in the near future.

This meeting is sponsored by KOTRA and free to attend, but limited to 100 participants.

We expect to address the following topics:
- a briefing on the Korean ICT market
- an introduction to four Korean telecom start-ups
- a view of US companies who look abroad for innovation and collaboration
- a view of Korean companies who look to the US for innovation and collaboration
- and a discussion on how agents in the two countries can collaborate

WHEN
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM

WHERE
Hyatt Regency Santa Clara
5101 Great American Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054

Agenda, Details & Registration
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S,P1,0E1DD26D-2B20-4868-8FC4-7B64EBD567B6

KAPS MEMBERSHIP REMINDER

For those who missed it, we recently finished updated our Membership section at www.kaps.org! We are now accepting applications online directly into our website database. Furthermore, we are accepting membership dues online as well via credit card and Paypal.

Becoming a member is a great way to support KAPS and you get a free 2009 KAPS t-shirt! Sign up online at www.kaps.org/membership09!

Questions on your membership status? Contact KAPS VP Jean Park at jean@kaps.org

INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN KAPS?

KAPS is always on the lookout for people interested in getting the most out of their KAPS experience. We are looking for volunteers to plan social events, coordinate community service events, serve as guest speakers, monitor the website, and improve the overall KAPS member experience. We are also looking for contributors to our newsletters and website, in the form of job postings, professional advice, and relevant news.

If you are interested in becoming an officer, contributing to newsletters, or assisting with an event, please contact andrew@kaps.org.

----------------------------------------------------------

The Korean American Professional Society (KAPS) is a nonprofit organization that is devoted to the professional and social development of Korean Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area. We provide a forum for networking, community service, and political involvement.

To learn more about KAPS, our members, and our events, or to join the KAPS community, please visit our website at www.kaps.org