Dear APALA Members,
It’s been 60 years since the last New Year of the Fire Horse – and what a powerful symbol to carry into this moment. In Asian communities, the horse represents strength, freedom, loyalty, grace, determination, and endurance. According to my Chinese elders, this year’s alignment between the horse and the element of fire may bring burden, instability, and transformation – yet it also offers us a time to endure challenges, embrace change, and find balance and growth. As I reflect on everything our community has been through, this feels especially resonant.
This season has also brought some sad news. Our community suffered the loss of two trailblazers and dear friends: Alice Wong and Florante Ibanez, both champions of justice, inclusion, and solidarity among AANHPI communities. Their absence leaves a real void. Yet it has been beautiful – and deeply moving – to see the outpouring of love from APALA members, both longtime and new, as they celebrated Alice’s and Florante’s legacy and shared personal stories on the listserv. That love is a testament to the lives they lived and the lives they impacted.
On a personal note, I am very happy to be back in the saddle after a two-month medical leave. I am feeling renewed and more grateful than ever. While my leave was sudden, the time to recover was a true gift, and the support I received meant the world to me. I want to extend a heartfelt and massive thank you to all the members of the APALA Executive Board (EB), and especially to Tina, Alanna, and Jaena, who stepped up with such grace and dedication to ensure our organization didn’t miss a beat.
Despite some real challenges, the APALA EB showed up with an incredible commitment – meeting regularly, coordinating to fill the duties of two open positions (Treasurer and Secretary), and carefully managing our finances to keep APALA strong and healthy. We have also been collaborating with committee co-chairs on exciting ALA events, including the President’s Program, the APALA Tour, and the Literature Awards Banquet. It is going to be fantastic, and I can’t wait! Watching our members embrace change, find our footing, and tackle each task one by one and with such care has been truly inspiring. The strength of our leadership and the commitment of our committees fill me with so much pride – let’s keep this momentum going!
I am thrilled to share just some of the incredible work our APALA committees, task forces, and members have been accomplishing and/or are still working on:
- Literature Awards – launched a new category for Poetry and created 5 new subcategories highlighting Pasifika and cultures!
- Constitution and Bylaws – revised the online form to solicit C&B amendment proposals, and are currently streamlining a few processes to make it easier for all.
- Finance and Fundraising – facilitated the Close Friends campaign, raising an incredible $3,297 – thank you to everyone who gave!
- Media and Publicity – published Fall 2025 Newsletter and an impressive range of community content: 1 book review, 1 author interview, 3 mentoring reflections, 1 library event recap, 2 member highlights, 2 statements. So much wonderful storytelling from our community.
- Mentoring – held a wonderful welcome orientation in October with 41 participants (35 program participants, 6 committee members) – what a vibrant and growing cohort!
- Statement and Advocacy – published two powerful public statements, making our voices heard when it matters.
- Scholarship and Awards – updated all Scholarship and Awards pages and charts, and submitted applications for all. These opportunities exist because of the generosity of our community – check them out and spread the word.
- Membership – monthly renewal reminders paid off in a big way, resulting in a fantastic 78% renewal rate! Thank you for staying connected and committed to APALA!
- Nominations – the 2026/27 APALA elections are here! Your voice matters – please cast your votes by March 30, 2026. Every vote shapes the future of our organization.
- Chapters – a warm welcome to the Rocky Mountain Chapter! We are now thriving with 8 chapters – it’s great to see our community keeps growing!
On January 15, I had the honor of participating as APALA President (via a pre-recorded video) and reading a selection as part of the ALA broadcast of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Celebration. It was a meaningful and humbling experience. Then on January 26, our wonderful immediate past President, Jaena Cabrera, attended the Youth and Media Awards in Chicago, where she had the joy of announcing many of the 2026 APALA Literature Awards Winners.
What a way to start the year! Wishing you all the best!
Eileen K. Bosch