PERSONAL STATEMENT OF
PAUL O. HIROSE
FOR NAPABA PRESIDENT-ELECT

From the unique vantage point of serving as NAPABA Treasurer the last four years and Assistant Treasurer the three years prior, I have worked with the NAPABA Board of Directors as NAPABA has transitioned from its rapid growth to sustained maturity. I have been a member of the Finance Committee since its establishment as well as a member of NAPABA’s Leadership Advisory Committee since its inception. I now seek your support in my bid for President-Elect for the 2009-2010 year.

I am Of Counsel with Perkins Coie LLP, Marketing Counsel for Isuzu Motors America, LLC and Corporate Counsel for Kia Motors America, Inc. I am a member of the Japanese American Bar Association of Greater Los Angeles and a member of the Philipino American Bar Association of Los Angeles.

I look forward to increasing NAPABA's relevance to our members and sponsors as well as continuing to raise NAPABA’s stature in our communities and in the legal profession. To benefit our members and sponsors, NAPABA must stress professional development – providing networking and business development opportunities, promoting APA judges and political appointees, and offering quality service and programs for our members. To serve our communities, we must continue to work with our affiliates in addressing issues facing Asian Americans. To increase NAPABA’s influence and effectiveness, we must strengthen our relationships with other bar associations of color and other organizations who share NAPABA’s mission to “promote justice, equity and opportunity for Asian Pacific Americans.”

Of course, we face the challenge of raising revenue during a time where potential sponsors are reducing their monetary support for many organizations. At the same time, NAPABA's expenses are greater than ever -- due to our increased activities. Therefore, we must ensure that our sponsors tangibly benefit and continue their support for NAPABA. We must also develop relationships with new affiliates and new sponsors.

Fortunately, we are building upon the foundation built by past NAPABA leaders. Over the last twenty-plus years, NAPABA has developed a family-like atmosphere. I have seen NAPABA members go out of their way to help fellow members in their career paths. Through formal and informal mentoring, through networking and through straight-out endorsing, NAPABA members often contribute to other members' success stories. We must work to preserve this collegiality and to facilitate future such relationships.

Moreover, our NAPABA staff members are outstanding and we must give them the resources necessary to fulfill our mission. NAPABA's day-to-day activity has increased tremendously with our full-time staff members, interns and volunteers. With the changes in our country and in our communities, our staff will undoubtedly need increased support.

It is my desire that NAPABA continues to be the national voice for the Asian Pacific American legal profession; that NAPABA be an advocate for our communities; and that NAPABA be a place where Asian American attorneys may all participate and excel. Thank you for your consideration.