The Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento (ABAS). The objectives of this Association are to foster the exchange of ideas and promote the professional growth of the members of the Association; to provide an opportunity for fellowship among the Association's members; to provide service to the general and local community; to develop and encourage cooperation with other organizations of minority attorneys; and to provide a vehicle and forum for the unified expression of opinions and positions by the Association upon current social, political, economic, legal or other matters or events of concern to the members of the Association.

Twenty-five years ago, a small group of young attorneys gave birth to the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento ("ABAS"). They were a group of friends frustrated by the absence or lack of many things. There were few role models, little mentorship and major barriers to law firms. There was no voice in the legal community for either themselves or for the larger Asian Pacific Islander community. Battles were waged on an individual basis only.

This group of visionaries felt that with numbers there is strength. With numbers, many could speak louder than one. In the beginning, ABAS was small. However, its members were young and energetic and active in all facets of the community. Today, the few have given inspiration to many.

Today we continue that vision started by the founders. Members have risen to levels of great importance in the legal community. We count law firm partners, judges, justices, law school professors and associate deans amongst our ranks.

But that is not enough. To add service and value to our members we unroll ABAS's new web site. Please visit us at "www.sacasianpacbar.com" and provide us input as we continue to grow the website. Through this site ABAS hopes to provide information and service to our members and the community we serve.

To up and coming lawyers, we provide mentorship and networking to prepare students for life as a lawyer. To assist students, we have embarked on efforts to tutor and lecture substantive areas of law so that they will succeed in law school. And through the ABAS Law Foundation we work towards allaying some of the heavy financial burden with scholarships.

Today we celebrate all of your past successes as we move forward into the future. ABAS will continue to be a voice in the greater Asian Pacific Islander community as we move onward and upward.