QUINCY: Month long celebrations of the Asian American Heritage Month, for the month of May were topped off by the reading and presentation of President Bush's proclamation declaring May to be Asia Pacific American Heritage Month at the State House, by Kumu Gupta, who is on the Advisory Board of the Asian American Commission of the Commonwealth to Tackey Chan, Vice- Chair of the Asian American Commission of Commonwealth filling in for Neelam Wali, Chair AAC.

Earlier in the month, a panel discussion co -sponsored by the Asian American Commission, kicked off the Asian American Heritage Month celebrations at the State House on Beacon Hill. The event started of with Lt Governor Tim Murray's reading of Governor Patrick's proclamation declaring May as Asian American Heritage month in Massachusetts. State Treasurer, Timothy Cahill was also a guest speaker and talked about the continuous support and importance of Asian Community in the State. This was followed by a panel discussion on issues important to the Asian American Community with the back drop of 2008 being a presidential election year.

The panelists were Sam Yoon, Boston City Councilor-at-large ,Tackey Chan, Vice Chair, AAC, Glenn Magpantay, Attorney, Asian American Legal Defence and Education Fund and Kumu Gupta Vice Chair, Quincy Republican Committee (&Vice Chair Mayor's Human Rights Commission-Quincy) and Advisory Board, AAC. The event ended with sampling of Asian Cuisine which was provided by various Asian restaurants in Boston.

Also in May, the Asian American Commission held its 2nd Unity Dinner gala at Sheraton in Boston, celebrating contributions of the Asian American community in the Commonwealth. Among guest speakers, at the dinner were, Senator Morrissey, who helped found AAC. Senator Kennedy sends his best wishes to the Commission via a Congratulatory Letter for the program book, since he could not be present.

This year being an election year, a point of note is that Kumu Gupta was unanimously elected to be Vice Chair of the Quincy Republican party during Super Tuesday and is the only Indian American to hold office in the Republican Party across the state of Massachussetts in past few years. Kumu previously worked on Bush Cheney 04 re election campaign and Governor Romney and Lt Governor Kerry Healey's campaign when they ran for Governor of Massachusetts. Kumu was also a guest speaker on "Voice of Today's Republican", a cable TV show.