KAPS News, June 9th

Welcome to the June 9th, 2009 edition of the KAPS Newsletter.

In this issue:
*Asian Art Museum Matcha: Kampai! Sake + Tea
*June Kappy Hour Recap
*Engaging North Korea Event
*BAKAs Wine Tasting Event - Call for Volunteers
*1st Annual Asian American MBA Leadership Conference
*KAPS on Facebook

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ASIAN ART MUSEUM MATCHA: KAMPAI! SAKE + TEA

Thursday, June 18, 5-9pm
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street, San Francisco
FREE for KAPS members, $10 for non-members

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!

After enjoying the galleries, join KAPS at the Cafe terrace where you can enjoy great weather and great company!

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

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your friendly neighborhood social chair, JinUk at jinuk@kaps.org

JUNE KAPPY HOUR RECAP

Thank you to everyone who came out to Yoshi's for our June Kappy Hour last week! It was great to see some old faces and many new ones.

Picture are up on the KAPS website, and they can be viewed here: http://kaps.org/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=4487

ENGAGING NORTH KOREA EVENT

The Korea Policy Institute will be hosting an event on June 23, "Engaging North Korea: Human Rights, Nuclear Weapons and a Plan for Peace in the Obama Era, at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Two international experts will address these issues:Dr. Suh Bohyuk, Professor at Ewha University in Seoul Korea and the former Senior Researcher at the ROK National Human Rights Commission; andDr. Hazel Smith, Professor of Resilience and Security at Cranfield University in the UK, author of numerous books and formerly in North Korea with the United Nations.

Given the timeliness and complexity of these issues, Drs. Suh and Smith will help us understand the current international standoff and potential train wreck we are approaching over North Koreas nuclear program, and share possible pragmatic solutions to break the nuclear deadlock and improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

For More information, please contact Christine Ahn at christineahn@mac.com.

BAKAS WINE TASTING EVENT - 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! The event is one Friday, September 18th at 6:30pm at Fort Mason in San Francisco.

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!

1ST ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN MBA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The first ever Asian MBA (AMBA) leadership Conference & Career Expo, which is being held on September 10-12, 2009 at the Jacob Javtis Center in New York City, is a ground breaking event with a mission to connect and empower top Asian American MBAs and professionals.

For years, the corporate sector has recognized the growing talent base of Asian American leaders, but has lacked unity and cohesion in bringing the community together-until now. AMBA is proud to host this inaugural event and bring you a program that addresses critical issues on Asian leadership. Following the enormous successes of The National Black MBA Association and National Society of Hispanic MBAs conferences, we are confident our efforts will galvanize and inspire present and emerging Asian leaders to Rise to New Heights.

Attendee registration for AMBA is now open. There is an early bird discount for registration before July 15th, 2009. Early booking is advised as space is limited and filling up quickly!

Asian MBA Leadership Conference and Career Expo Highlights:

Connect with thousands of present and emerging Asian American leaders, MBAs, top executives, industry experts, recruiters and prominent community figures
Tap into your leadership potential and join the dialogue with other business leaders
Engage in powerful professional leadership seminars, expert panel discussions and networking sessions
Meet with recruiters from top corporations, government agencies and not-for profit organizations
Find international job opportunities at our “Jobs in Asia Pavilion”
Receive critical interview and resume writing tips from our Career Clinic and Coaching Center
Attend the prestigious AMBA Leadership Awards Dinner for Corporate and Executive Excellence

Take part in the AMBA Global Executive Track (invitation only) and experience unparalleled networking opportunities with senior leaders from the USA and Asia
Tee-off in the AMBA Scholarship Golf Outing in partnership with The Barclays PGA Tour

Headquarter Hotel - Marriott Marquis Time Square

Asian MBA Leadership Conference & Career Expo (AMBA) has negotiated some of the lowest rates at the prestigious Marriott Marquis Time Square, New York. Located in the heart of Times Square and the Broadway theater district, this midtown Manhattan hotel is the headquarter hotel for AMBA. The special room rate is per night and based on availability.

Room rates are $259; this is well below rack rate (regular hotel rate is $589)!

AMBA will host its Friday night Gala Awards dinner at the Marriott Marquis Time Square and will provide FREE shuttle buses to and from the Jacob Javits Convention Centre from this hotel.

A block of rooms have been reserved at the Marriott Marquis Time Square, New York from September 10-12, 2009. Early booking is strongly recommended to ensure this rate.

For more information go to www.AsianMBA.org

KAPS ON FACEBOOK

KAPS would like to welcome everyone to join the KAPS Facebook group. In addition to our website, our facebook group allows individuals in the SF Bay Area Korean American community to communicate with one another online, strengthening our relationships offline, while keeping everyone connected in our cutting-edge world of on-demand technologies.

To join, visit our group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4747275838&ref=ts and click the "Join this Group" link at the top right of the page.

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.

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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