let me introduce our executive boards, vice president keith onishi. director jonathan honda, who is a firefighter-paramedic at engine 33. the rest of my board includes treasurer rick hui, station nine, secretary kataki at station nine, brandon tom at 9 engine, and mary shea from fire prevention. the a.f.a. is an employee group of the sffd. we're firefighters who want to be positive representatives of and for the asian american community. our mission is to create and maintain equality of opportunity for asians and other minorities within the fire service throughout the city. we strife to be involved in constructive efforts and programs to maintain equitiable hiring and promotional practices. we're dedicated, along with other nonprofit organizations, to improve the quality of life for the minority members of the city. back in the day when i was 24, i would go to the cherry blossom festival here in chinatown. at the street fair, the a.f.a. had a recruiting booth, okay? so during this time, the department was under a federal mandate to diversefy its ranks