Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

With a heavy heart, we inform you of the passing of our friend and colleague Gregg Rodgers on August 31st, 2021. Gregg was a long-time board and Executive Committee member, and a devoted supporter of the Council. He was a fighter until the very end. Even after receiving the diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer, Gregg continued to maintain strength of spirit and a positive attitude, trademarks of his personality for many of us who were fortunate to know him.

Gregg was a partner at Garvey Shubert Barer (now Foster Garvey) before retiring in 2017. From 1997 to 2017, Gregg served as Chair of the firm’s Immigration practice. His active involvement in immigration matters allowed him to regularly interface with a number of Chinese clients, including China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), and other China-based entities. Additionally, Gregg previously served as Assistant Attorney General in the Washington State Office of the Attorney General from 1983 to 1986.

Gregg served on the WSCRC Board of Directors between 2005 and 2020, and as Chairman from 2010 to 2013. During our gala held virtually on February 2, 2021, Gregg was awarded the Sidney Rittenberg Lifetime Achievement Award for his countless contributions to the Council and its mission of strengthening U.S.-China relations. Upon receiving the award, Gregg said “Having an organization such as WSCRC is fundamental in coalescing the interests of our governments, our educational systems and the arts so we see each other as individuals.”

Gregg will be sorely missed.

Our hearts and thoughts are with Gregg’s family and loved ones. Gregg’s memorable life and accomplishments are described in this obituary.

We’ll close with the words that Gregg has used in concluding his emails from the past year: “Stay safe. Stay healthy. And Laugh lots!”

On September 15, Clyde Prestowitz, an economist, former U.S. trade negotiator and author of several best-selling books on globalization and Asia discussed his recent book, “The World Turned Upside Down” at a WSCRC webinar. Mr. Prestowitz outlined the economic growth history and explained that China has used a similar playbook, one that America abandoned at the end of World War II, to build its economy. He argues that China’s current state capitalist system is being used to overwhelm industries around the world, setting up China to dominate key technologies into the future. Mr. Prestowitz proposed concrete steps that the U.S. should take to maintain global technological leadership and increase manufacturing’s share of the U.S. economy.

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

It is with great sadness that the Washington State China Relations Council marks the passing of Robert Carl Anderson (Bob), one of the founders and the first president of the Council. Bob died peacefully on July 8th, just a few days before his 92nd birthday.

Bob was a veteran with six years of service, including active duty with the Naval Air Service during the Korea War. In 1968 he was elected Mayor of Everett, where he played a key role in having Boeing establish their 747 plant at Paine Field. Bob served as the Mayor of Everett through 1977.

In 1978, Governor Dixy Lee Ray appointed Bob as the Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Development. In this capacity he traveled to China with the Governor and met Deng Xiaoping. Following that trip Bob, together with four other foresighted individuals, established the Washington State China Relations Council to build ties between the state and China.  As stated in his obituary “Bob was particularly proud of being a founding President and Director of the Washington State China Relations Council.”

Dr. Robert Kapp, who was appointed by Bob as the Executive Director of the Council, provided us with his recollections of Bob:

“How to speak of Bob Anderson in a few words?  Let’s put it this way: without Bob Anderson, there would be no Washington State China Relations Council. Without Bob Anderson, the rapid progress that Washington State made in its multi-sided China engagements in the decade of greatest optimism and activism would not have been made. And without Bob Anderson with his particular combination of friendliness, open-mindedness, personal energy, clarity of expression, and deep political savvy, both Washingtons would not benefitted from the fledgling organization whose founding he led.  Bob was a man for all seasons, and all occupations:  he was a public servant of the best kind, decent, ethical, and practical.  His working life spanned the private sector, the public sector, and the NGO sector.  His personal life brought us to know the talented and wise Dona Anderson as well.  Whether members of today’s WSCRC knew Bob Anderson personally or not, they are the beneficiaries of his vision and his leadership, as are the Council’s long list of friends and colleagues in the PRC.

On a personal note, I will forever be grateful to Bob for the gamble he and the Council’s founders took on me, a youngish academic with an imploding campus career and almost no experience in either the business sector or in politics.  Bob, who was then heading Washington State’s Department of Commerce, found a bit of state funding for the inauguration of the Council, and told me, “This has to last until you can pay yourself a salary.”  It was a wonderful challenge and a wonderful opportunity.

Thanks again, Bob, for tolerating me as I made the transition from my old world to my new one, and for leading our Council along the paths to expanded Washington State engagement with China.    I will always feel honored to have been your disciple and your friend.”

Jim Dwyer, one of the original founders and former president of the Council, also sent us his memories of Bob: “Bob was an instrumental founder of the Council. He brought the perfect temperament to help bridge the mission of the council with the public sector, private sector and other non profits, some of whom considered the council a potential competitor. The beautiful thing he always carried himself with a smile on his face.”

The Council is honored to have been graced by Bob’s wisdom, guidance, and service over the years. We send our sincere condolences to his family.

Bob’s memorable life and accomplishments are described in this obituary written by his family.

The Washington State China Relations Council’s charity arm, the Washington State China Relations Fund recently produced a two-part webinar series addressing the rise of Asian Hate crimes and violence in our community.

The first webinar, held on June 24^th,  featured leaders of the AAPI community who shared their concerns and insightful comments on the rise of crimes against Asians, particularly since the outbreak of Covid 19. The panel included Connie So, UW Professor, Sam Cho, Commissioner for the Port of Seattle, Helen Wong, the director of the Chinese Information and Cultural Center and Lori Matsukawa former King 5 anchor. The speakers emphasized the need for greater educational efforts to highlight the contributions of Asian Americans in the history of the U.S. They also praised the work of Asian American journalists who are presenting an Asian viewpoint in the mainstream media.

The second part of the series on July 8^th focused upon government responses to the rise of Anti-Asian hate crimes. The interim Chief of Seattle Police, Adrian Diaz related that there was an almost doubling of reported hate crimes between 2019 and 2020 and noted that the department is  increasingly focusing upon community outreach to address the issue. The FBI’s Supervisory Special Agent Ryan Bruett explained how the FBI becomes involved in hate crime cases. Prosecutors from the King County Prosecutor’s Office Yessenia Manzo and David Bannick provided how hate crimes are under-reported and as stand-alone crimes difficult to prosecute. Ye-Ting Woo, who recently left her post as a Federal Prosecutor in the region to become the Resident Legal Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, spoke of federal grants that are available to local police forces to address hate crimes. The speakers also provided useful information on by-stander intervention and crime reporting.

The Council would like to thank all panelists for their availability to participate in the discussions and providing their candid opinions. We’d also like to extend the appreciation to Nelson Dong, a partner in the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney and a long-time engaged board member of the Council, for moderating both sessions.

The first session (community voices) can be viewed here.

The second session (government perspectives) can be viewed here.