F A P A - Y P G FAPA-YPG -- Jan 20121 Formosan Association for Public Af fairs Young Professionals Group Coor dinator ’s Corner by Eileen Lin It has been a dramatic winter, and I am not referring to the weather . I witnessed the dichotomy of a zealous presidential campaign and the disappointing sentiment that followed Taiwan’s election results. A group of YPG members initiated a “Vote Taiwan Project” and created a youtube video to encourage Taiwanese young voters to get out and vote. The social media campaign had the following three goals: (1) T o engage an d build political po werfor young people in Taiwan (2) T o influence young vot er turnout in Taiwan’s 2012 Presidential Election (3) To engage T aiwanese Americans in Taiwan’s election and to contribute their skills and creativity in the Election Although the video received 7000+ views -- with most of the viewers from Tai wan -- we realized that we are well-connected in the Taiwanese American community, but not enough in T aiwan. In addition, social media can measure demography and frequency of viewers, but cannot tell you how effective it is in terms ofmeasuring behavioral change or voting trends. It was our first attempt to create a video project with limited resources and we will continue to explore potential opportunities through so cial media. The video can be found here: <http://tinyurl.com/votetaiwan> Many YPG members went back to Taiwan to help with the campaign. Those who were unable to make the trip, stayed up and watched the vote count. The disappointing result saddened many of us as we celebrated this Lunar New Year. However, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen’s eloquent concession speech reminded us that we need to pick ourselves up and continue to fight for Taiwan. I recently hosted a 2-28 commemoration event in DC with the aim to educate those who do not know much about Taiwan's history. Many gave me positive feedbackand told me that they were thankful forthe opportunity to learn about Taiwan. I believe that we, as FAPA members, carry the responsibility to advance the interest of the Taiwanese American community, as well as to inform and reinforce to the international community that 23 million people in Taiwan deserve the right to self- determi nation. We cannot stop fighting - I know from the bottom of my heart that my fellow YPG members and I will continue to advocate for Taiwan’s international recognition. Chapter Report: DC In early February, we held a brunch to celebrate Lunar New Year and to discuss upcoming events... Page 2 Chapter Report: Boston In January 2012, a few YPG members flew to Taiwan to observe andparticipate in the election... Page 2 Chapter Report: San Francisco In the Bay we’ve been focused on strengthening our membership... Page 3 Chapter Report: Gainesville, FL We had two meetings/ parties at Dr. Steve Lin'shouse... Page 3 Chapter Report: Seattle Some members of the Seattle group are involved in American Citizens for Taiwan... Page 3 Chapter Report: NY/NJ Our monthly networking mixers have immensely enlarged the participation andvisibility of YPG... Page 4 A Quarterly NewsletterVolume 2, Issue 1 -- Jan 2012
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Formosan Association for Public AffairYoung Professionals Group
Coordinator’s Cornerby Eileen Lin
t has been a dramatic winter, and I amnot referring to the weather. I witnessedhe dichotomy of a zealous presidential
campaign and the disappointing sentimenthat followed Taiwan’s election results.
A group of YPG members initiated a“Vote Taiwan Project” and created ayoutube video to encourage Taiwaneseyoung voters to get out and vote. Theocial media campaign had the followinghree goals:
1) To engage and build political power
for young people in Taiwan2) To influence young voter turnout inTaiwan’s 2012 Presidential Election
3) To engage Taiwanese Americans inTaiwan’s election and to contributetheir skills and creativity in theElection
Although the video received 7000+ views- with most of the viewers from Taiwan- we realized that we are well-connectedn the Taiwanese American community,
but not enough in Taiwan. In addition,
social media can measure demographyand frequency of viewers, but cannot tellyou how effective it is in terms of measuring behavioral change or votingtrends. It was our first attempt to create avideo project with limited resources andwe will continue to explore potentialopportunities through social media. Thevideo can be found here:<http://tinyurl.com/votetaiwan>
Many YPG memberswent back to Taiwan tohelp with the campaign. Thosewho were unable to make the trip, staup and watched the vote count. The
disappointing result saddened many oas we celebrated this Lunar New YearHowever, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen’s eloquentconcession speech reminded us that wneed to pick ourselves up and continufight for Taiwan.
I recently hosted a 2-28 commemoratevent in DC with the aim to educate thwho do not know much about Taiwanhistory. Many gave me positive feedband told me that they were thankful fothe opportunity to learn about Taiwan believe that we, as FAPA members, cathe responsibility to advance the interof the Taiwanese American communitas well as to inform and reinforce to thinternational community that 23 milli people in Taiwan deserve the right to determination. We cannot stop fightinI know from the bottom of my heart thmy fellow YPG members and I willcontinue to advocate for Taiwan’sinternational recognition.
Chapter Report: DC
n early February, weheld a brunch tocelebrate Lunar NewYear and to discussupcoming events...
Page 2 Chapter Report: Boston
In January 2012, a few
YPG members flew to
Taiwan to observe and
participate in the
election... Page 2
Chapter Report:
San Francisco
In the Bay we’ve been
focused on
strengthening our
membership...
Page 3Chapter Report:
Gainesville, FL
We had two meetings/
parties at Dr. Steve
Lin's house...
Page 3
Chapter Report: Seattle
Some members of the
Seattle group are
involved in American
Citizens for Taiwan...
Page 3Chapter Report: NY
Our monthlynetworking mixers
immensely enlarge
participation and
visibility of YPG...
Page 4
A Quarterly Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1 -- Jan 20
In late October, the DC chapter hosted a brunch to examine thesignificance of ROC Centennial to Taiwan’s history with agoal to provide a forum where people with diverse points of view can feel safe sharing their thoughts on an important and
imely topic. We want participants to think more carefullyabout how best to present the Taiwan and ROC dichotomy inour advocacy efforts internationally. Participants sharedpersonal stories on how they perceive the dichotomy - somek new the difference, some did not know the difference, andsome believed they are the same. It was interesting to hear fr om various viewpoints, but everyone agrees that Taiwan is acountry with an urgent need to gain more internationalparticipation and support.
On January 14, 2012 those who were unable to go back toTaiwan to vote gathered to watch the vote count for the
pr esidential and legislative elections. We discussed issues thathave been brought up during the campaign season whilewaiting for the voting result. Unfortunately the result wasdisap pointing, but we felt lucky to have each other there for emotional support.
In early February, we held another brunch to celebrate Lunar New Year and to discuss ideas for upcoming events such as theValentine’s Day protest against Chinese VP Xi Jinping and2-28 commemoration. DC Chapter was first formed spring of ast year, and we hope to grow in size and continue to provide
quality educational information on Taiwan to youngntellectuals in the DC community.
Chapter Report: Bostonby Chia-Chun Chung
On December 14, 2011, a team of Boston based young
professionals visited Rep. Olver’s office. The team informed
the aide about Taiwan’s history and the challenges it faces o
the international stage. We are glad to have many first-time
advocates, and will definitely continue the YPG’s participat
in local advocacy efforts this year.
In January 2012, a few YPG members, along with many
FAPA members, flew to Taiwan to observe and participate i
the election. Thanks to efforts by our local members, we g
in touch with a journalist from Massachusetts who flew toTaiwan to cover the election. We were able help in bringing
exposure to Taiwan and its aspirations the local MA readers
through the media coverage.
On February 14, 2012, YPG and FAPA members gathered in
Harvard Square in the evening to protest Vice President Xi
Jinping’s Washington , D.C. visit. Although our group wasnot as large as the one in D.C., with the help of our signs,
flyers, and megaphone, our voices were definitely heard by
pedestrians passing by. This gathering on Valentine’s Day w