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NEWSLETTER
November 2011
Contents
President's Message
RECA Language School
Winter Social Christmas Pot Luck
RECA New Year's Eve Pot Luck Dinner and Party
Don't Miss Our Upcoming Events
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Additional Cultural Programs for the RECA
Cultural Performers
An Early Thanksgiving
RECA Youth Group
Welcome Home Mindy Yu
RECA Youth Group Adults
Spotlight on RECA Member Cheryl Brown
Multi-Cultural Poetry Reading and Pot Luck Lunch
Heritage Day - China Camp State Park
DONATION
Multi-Asian Pot Luck Dinner
Dancing Poetry Festival
Quarry Hill Botanical Gardens
NAMI and RECA
Betty Gong
RECA Rugs
THANK YOU TO OUR 2010 SPONSORS
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Nancy Wang Greetings to all at the end of a wonderful year. As winter comes, we are refreshed by the rain after basking in the glorious springtime that lasted all summer. The year was a difficult on for fruit and vegetable growers, but a magnificent one for RECA outreach. Our lion dancers, in particular, were worn out from continual performances. Finally, at the end of the summer, they had a little time to rest before school began.
Our RECA school has been a big surprise this year. After many years of minimum enrollment, at least partially due to our success in Chinese becoming a part of some Sonoma County school curricula, we are now overflowing. Our beginning and advanced beginning Mandarin classes are full and have a waiting list. Our adult class is a nice size, but can accept a few more students if any teens or adults are interested in learning the basics or improving their Mandarin. I would also like to give a special thank you to the wonderful group of parents of our school children. Many are taking an active role in supervising during recess plus bringing, preparing and giving out snacks and having the kids clean up their own trash when recess is over.
Dr. Robert Yee is at school every Saturday during school time for informal groups. Last year it was teens learning music and study habits. This year there are mostly adults just
"hanging out" and sometimes singing. It was truly an experience when he brought his new er hu, a Chinese classical instrument with two strings, and heard him play for almost the first time. He has also been discussing and promoting the book, Chinatowns, donated by Judy Cheung for borrowing. This book discusses the development and life in five US Chinatowns from a young
adult's point of view. There are many more books that are in our RECA lending library for borrowing and discussing.
Finally, I would like to mention a few upcoming events. I hope you all come to our Winter Social on December 10 at the Rohnert Park 4H Building. RECA will be having a New
Year's Eve party at our Center on December 31, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Our Traditional Chinese New Year Celebration and pot luck lunch will be at our Center on January 28, after Language Classes. And, of coarse, our big Chinese New Year Celebration and Fund Raiser at the Santa Rosa Vets Memorial Building is our spectacular evening of food, fun and entertainment, and is also our major source of income to keep us going throughout the coming year. See you all there!
Thank you, everyone, all for all you do. Without your assistance we can not do what we do.
RECA LANGUAGE SCHOOL
By Judy Hardin Cheung
RECA Language Classes started off with a bang this year! For the past few years, we have barely enough students to pay our teachers. This year, we had only three pre-enrollment forms turned in, most of our teachers and substitutes were out of town for that day, so we had only one teacher for the first day. 25 students showed up! Cathy Ringstadt had a class of 18 4-9 year-olds. Jerry Ding came to help out. He had never taught any class in his life, but ended up teaching the adult class with 5 students. Lily Li (Li LanLan), newly arrived from China was going to help with the pre-school class. She taught it instead, assisted by Judy Cheung. Even Nancy Wang was out of the country that day! That was truly a day to remember, but not to repeat! For all of you who stayed, thank you for being so understanding of the dilemma.
The second Saturday, we split the 4-9 year old class in two. Our advanced beginners were anxious to move on and were thrilled to be
"the big kids." Two pre-school students, 2 and 3 years old and both understanding Chinese, joined the Beginning class. The third week, Lily Chang re-joined our teaching staff for the adults. Lily Li returned to being a general assistant, a role she prefers for now. The two pre-school children’s parents decided not to return. Since its beginning, this is the first year our pre-school class has not been our largest
class. This year, we have no pre-school children. Our 4 year olds, soon to be five, are doing well in the beginning class. They learned a lot last year and wanted more than the pre-school curriculum offered.
The third Saturday, we were more settled. Hsiu Chuan Armstrong returned from Taiwan to teach the Advanced Beginners. The two classes of children are filled with 10 students each. All teens and adults are in the adult class. We have one family of Mom, Dad and Daughter attending different classes, and another family with Dad and Son in different classes. Our adult class can accept more students if anyone wants to learn or improve their Mandarin.
In late October, we received our new text books. Everyone is thrilled to have a text book, work book, flash cards and 2
CD's to help them study between classes.
In early November, the kids were excited about beginning dance practice. We are teaching the school kids the Taiwan Aboriginal Dance. They will perform at our Winter Pot Luck Christmas Party and for Chinese New Year Celebration and Fundraiser. Even the boys are participating in the dance, in their own separate but integrated routine between the two lines of girls. Be sure to come to the Christmas Party to see them. They are sure to be the highlight of the evening.
Cathy Ringstadt teaches the Beginning Mandarin
Children's Class. (Zunabek, leaning back in the back, advanced to the advanced beginners when his little sister was comfortable in class without him.).
Lily Chang taught the Advanced Beginners the second week. Hsiu Chuan Armstrong took over when she returned from Taiwan on the third
week.
Lily Li taught the adults for two weeks, then Lily Chang took over. Lily Li is one of our newest RECA members. In China, she was a college teacher, poet and artist.
Dr. Yee is available for free, informal sessions of music, discussion, etc., for teens and adults wanting RECA participation but not wanting language
classes.
RECAWINTER SOCIAL CHRISTMAS POT LUCK
Saturday, December 10
6-9 p.m. Set up at 5:00 pm
Rohnert Park 4H
6445 Commerce
Blvd
Rohnert Park
(Turn west at a Hunter Go to the parking lot behind the big store)
Click on the picture below to see details.
RECA NEW YEARS EVE POT LUCK DINNER and PARTY
RECA Center
December 31, 6:00 p.m. until—
Bring a dish of food to share
Bring your dancing shoes
We want to try out our new laminate floors
We can eat, chat, sing, dance and have fun
Until the new year is firmly in place
 When everyone brings food, we all eat very well!
 Bring your parents and grandparents. Bring your kids if they can stay up late. We have no specific kid oriented activities, but everyone is welcome at our
party.
DON'T MISS OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
RECA is dynamically active, especially during the holidays which, for RECA, last from Thanksgiving through March. Please watch for email announcements from Mark Heydon, for additional parties, events, programs, activities, community performances. If you are not receiving RECA announcements via email, please contact Mark Heydon at
mheydo@sonic.net.
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
Art Exhibit and Performance
Theme: Chinese New Year of the Dragon
RECA is assisting Naomi Lasley, a retired teacher from Elsie Allen High School, to put on an art exhibit with programs for the Sebastopol Art Center. Art will be installed in December. The show will run until February 3. Opening night, January 12, Nancy Wang will give a calligraphy demonstration. On January 27, 7:30-9:00, RECA will put on a public performance with our Adult Chorus, Little Dragon, Lion Team and both of our spectacular Cultural Dance Troupes. The public is invited to both events. There is an entry fee for non-performers, with proceeds going to help Sebastopol Center for the Arts with the costs of putting on the program.
Additional Cultural Programs for the RECA Cultural Performers
Some of the listed events are open to the public, some are not. Many more events will be added as schools, businesses and organizations make requests.
November 30: SCOE Offices, Judy Cheung and David Yong on a panel for principals and councilors about suicide and depression intervention. RECA discusses the Asian point of view.
December 4: Spring Lake Village Upscale Senior Home performance. Chorus arrives at 2:30 to perform at 3:00.
December 10: RECA Winter Social/Christmas Party at the Rohnert Park 4H Center. Please clicke here to see the flyer.
December 31: New Years Eve Party at our Center, 6:00 p.m. to –
January 12: Nancy and Judy for the opening night celebration at the Sebastopol Center of the Arts for their show on Chinese New Year of the Dragon.
January 21: Jacuzzi Winery, Cline Cellars, both dance troupes and small dragon, 2-4 p.m.
January 27: everyone is invited to Sebastopol Center for the Arts (look for info from email). All RECA performers arrive 6:30 to begin at 7:00.
January 28: Traditional Chinese New Year at our Center, Noon-3, after Chinese School. Everyone invited.
January 29: Dragon and God of Good Fortune at River Rock Casino. Meet at RECA Center 3:00.
February 4: Dragon and God of Good Fortune at River Rock Casino, meet at RECA Center 3:00.
February 11: (date to be confirmed) Lions at G&G Markets in Santa Rosa and Petaluma.
February 21: (to be confirmed) Little Dragon at Santa Rosa City Hall.
February 25: Chinese New Year Celebration and Fund Raiser, all performers. Everyone invited.
March 24: Sonoma State University Asian Night. All performers. Time TBA, look for your
email.
An Early Thanksgiving
 Photo
by Joe Wang
The RECA Adult Chorus celebrated an early
Thanksgiving at our Center. The Chorus meets every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. for fun,
friendship and singing. They perform at many events throughout the year. Some have sung in Vienna,
Austria, at an annual world-wide invitational singing event. One year they sang at the Dancing Poetry Festival at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. They have been a requested part of the Annual Heritage Day Celebration at China Camp State Park. Join the chorus and spread your wings as you sing songs in many languages. For more information about joining the chorus, please call Phi Phi Dang, 707-526-9925, preferably in Mandarin or Cantonese,
or email David Chung at dvchung2@yahoo.com, in English or Mandarin.
RECA Youth Group
Photo provided
by Heydon Family
Our RECA Youth Group is large, active and always doing lots of fun things. In this photo, they are playing bocci ball in the back yard of the Heydon Home with exchange students from China. Azy and Mark Heydon are the invaluable adult leaders of the RECA Youth Group. Their kids, Meesha, Bryce and Savannah are all active members.
Welcome Home Mindy Yu
It is with pride and a warm heart that we welcome home Captain
Mindy Yu, daughter of Bonita and Johnny Yu, long time members of RECA.
Captain Mindy Yu was deployed for 10 years in Iraq as a Combat Camera Officer in charge of her 60-person Air Force unit.
Mindy is a graduate of Piner High and UC Berkeley, she enlisted in 2001 and served two tours of duty in Iraq.
The Press Democrat periodically published her insightful photos and personal observations of her war experiences.
Upon her return to Sonoma County in September, the newspaper interviewed her (now 30 years old) in an article
that included these comments:
"I have rappelled out of helicopters, lived in Asia and Europe, traveled a lot and worked with some of
the most amazing and dedicated
people." Also, "I've been shot at, and I've shot back with a
camera."
Mindy, we are glad that you are safely back home and applaud you for your service to our country.
Look forward to seeing you at our December holiday social/potluck and other upcoming events!
Captain Mindy Yu, daughter of Bonita and Johnny Yu,
in combat gear during her 10 year tour of duty as an United States Air Force combat photographer.
Photo provided by Johnny Yu
RECA Youth Group Adults
Photo provided
by Heydon Family
There are always plenty of adults around to help out with the teens and provide guidance. For more information about when and where the next youth group meeting will be, please email
the Heydon Family at mheydo@sonic.net.
Spotlight on RECA Member Cheryl Brown
By Ann Schleeter
Cheryl Brown ( R) reads with Phi Phi Dang (L) at RECA's Multi-Cultural Poetry Reading and Pot Luck Lunch in August.
Many of you have met or know of our long-time RECA member, Cheryl Brown. Here is a brief journey of her life before RECA.
Cheryl always had a burning passion to study Mandarin. While attending the University of Kansas, she fulfilled that. She came to California briefly after college. To further her Mandarin skills, she went to Taiwan, where she planned to stay for two years. Instead, she was there for five years. Cheryl studied first at Shih
Da's Mandarin Center, then attended the National Chengchih University in the East Asian Studies program and took MBA classes as well. During her last year she studied at the Stanford Center for intensive Chinese study. After that, she lived in Hong Kong for about two years and taught Mandarin and worked for an Australian banking group in the China Trade department.
Her journey eventually led her to Santa Rosa to be closer to friends and for her love of wine country and the Santa Rosa area. She missed being involved with the Chinese community and it was Mrs. Mah from the Asia Mart who introduced her to RECA for Chinese activities. Cheryl initially took some Chinese language classes, and later volunteered to help with Saturday morning classes, which led her to being a teacher for the Intermediate Mandarin class.
She heard Warren Buffet recently advise people who want to be successful in the future to learn Mandarin! Mandarin is an interesting and rewarding language to learn. Compared to European languages, it is relatively easier to learn to speak simple things. This then leads to wanting to read and write, which leads into understanding more about Chinese culture and history. One never knows the whole language, and so there is always something new and exciting to learn!
Chinese people have immigrated everywhere around the world, and one can find good and comforting food wherever one goes. Cheryl was once able to get a fantastic Chinese meal in Mexico City because she could read the Chinese menu.
Cheryl believes in community service. She believes that the community flourishes because of community organizations like RECA. RECA gave her the connection she wanted. She always remembers Nancy Wang saying that RECA is like a nest for all of us. Cheryl has volunteered her time at the Chinese New Year Celebration, taught Mandarin on Saturdays for one and half years, has been a longtime RECA board member, has served on the Scholarship committee, helped at the Multi-cultural poetry event, and assisted Nancy and Judy at various events.
Outside of RECA, Cheryl has taught English as Second language classes. She has volunteered with the Luther Burbank Home and Garden. During her years as an attorney, she served as a judge pro tem for the family court, and handled cases for the Pro Bono Project, all of which were unpaid service. During law school, she helped organize volunteer income tax preparations for low income people. She worked as a volunteer tutor and has worked as a child advocate for CASA. Cheryl also loves to walk, hike, dance (ballroom, salsa, English and Scottish country), and cook!
Thank you, Cheryl, for being the passionate person you are and for your contributions to RECA!
Multi-Cultural Poetry Reading and Pot Luck Lunch
 After gathering, eating pot luck and getting to know each other our group turned the garage/dance studio into an auditorium with the cement outside as our stage.
 Our RECA Teen Cultural Dancers entertained us with a dress rehearsal for their performance at the Dancing Poetry Festival in San Francisco.
 David Chung reads the Chinese translation of a poem written in English by well known Santa Rosa poet, Arlene Mandell. Her poem was translated for the 2nd Annual Multi-Cultural Poetry Reading. This year was our 11th.
 L-R: Lily Li reads an original poem which she wrote. Nancy Wang and Cheryl Brown translate it. After the Pick-A-Partner bilingual readings, participants read solo or with translation, as they
choose.
Heritage Day - China Camp State Park
 Our RECA Intermediate Dancers have become quite a sensation with their Mongolian Handkerchief
Dance.
 The RECA Adult Chorus gave a wonderful selection of songs from different parts of China and southeast Asia.
 Our RECA Teen Cultural Dancers were spectacular with their flashy new Xin Jiang costumes. They also performed their New Fan Dance.
 David
Chung's participation Tai Chi demonstration is an act people look forward to because they get to join in.
DONATION
RECA would like to thank Marilyn Burns for her kind donation of $100 in honor of Ming and Mei Kuo. She attended an event at
Mei's restaurant in Cloverdale and was impressed with RECA's work. Thank you very much. We hope to see Marilyn Burns at some of our future
events.
Multi-Asian Pot Luck Dinner
 After performing at China Camp in Marin County in the late afternoon, the Chorus returned to Santa Rosa, passed straight through to Sebastopol and sang again at the Multi-Asian Pot Luck Dinner, this year hosted by the Japanese-American
Citizen's League at the Enmanji Temple. Mary Lowe purchased extra food so the singers did not have to worry about preparing food between performances.
Dancing Poetry Festival
It has become almost an annual event for our RECA Teen Cultural Dancers to perform at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor Art
Museum's Florence Gould Theater for the Annual Dancing Poetry Festival. This year, they received a grand mid-dance ovation when they moved from the above formation, into a tight circle then opened into their beautiful flower formation made by their
fans.
Quarry Hill Botanical Gardens
 Nancy Wang and Judy Cheung were honored to go to the fundraiser event of the Quarry Hill Botanical Gardens, a little known, open to the public intriguing garden. This is a 28 acre showcase of Asian plants to the left of Highway 12 just before the Glen Ellen turn off. We chatted with many interesting people including the keeper of the Royal Vineyards of Edinburgh, Scotland, a docent of the Asian Art Museum and a professor of botany from Nanjing University in China..
Included in the evening was a twilight stroll over the hilly grounds. For those of us who do not walk so well, there were golf cart rides with descriptions of the many plants given by a docent/driver. This photo was taken of Judy by Nancy while Nancy was down the hill at a lotus pond. Picnic grounds, well kept paths and a few golf carts are available. Google Quarry Hill Botanical Gardens to see more and to make arrangements for a unique, tranquil outing.
During every time of year, there is something different to see.
RECA was pleased to find this site with a meadow of Tibetan prayer flags, a tree that smells like cotton candy in the autumn, orchids, lilies and nearly any Asian plant you can imagine. All plants are native to Asia. The gardeners pull out any non-Asian volunteer plants that might grow. Even the lofty trees were raised from seed and planted to grow in this spacious garden. The only thing to watch out for are rattle snakes. The fences keep out deer and rabbits, but not the snakes. We
didn't see any, even though we were there at sunset. RECA plans some mutual events with Quarry Hill in
2012.
NAMI and RECA
For the second year, RECA has participated in the NAMI Symposium.
NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) invites RECA to participate to discuss how the
Asian community can be better served by mental health services. It is the Asian way to hide
a problem such as mental or emotional illness. The suicide rate for Asians is one of the highest
for any identified ethnic groups in the United States. Asian youth are the highest age group for
suicide in the Asian-American statistics. To better serve our members and those who come to us
asking for help, RECA is pleased to be part of this program.
 This year, the RECA contingency was (L-R) David Yong, Nancy Wang, Daniel Chan and Judy Cheung. This is our information table where we talked to people and gave away RECA brochures and booklets as hand-outs.
 RECA led two discussion groups. This group asked about issues relating to inter-ethnic adoptions. One person is planning to adopt a child from China. Another is in an agency that discusses adoptions and has material printed in Chinese.
 Judy received an award for Multi-Cultural work from NAMI Sonoma County Executive Director Rosemary Milbrath and President of the Board of Directors Molin Malacay. Nancy Wang received an award last
year.
Betty Gong
Betty Jean Gong, a co-owner of Sonoma County’s G&G Supermarkets and long time member of RECA has died from breast cancer.
Betty was president of G&G Supermarkets in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Her parents and a partner started G&G Market in Santa Rosa in 1963. She grew up working in the store on West College Ave. in Santa Rosa.
After the Petaluma store opened, each year for Chinese New Year, she was there to greet the RECA lion team and feed them a delicious lunch, with warm cookies for desert, between their performances at the Santa Rosa and Petaluma G&G Markets.
Betty will be missed by all of us who knew her either as a friend or as a friendly face when visiting G&G.
RECA Rugs
RECA has just finished replacing all of the old green carpets with new wood laminate flooring. We had a very good price from Chorus member Wan Lun. RECA members, especially the Youth Group pitched in to pull up the rugs and move furniture, then move all of the furniture back when the work was completed. Nancy painted some of the walls while the furniture was out of the way. RECA thanks everyone who gave a hand in this hard maintenance work..
THANK YOU TO OUR 2010 SPONSORS
RECA wants to thank our 2010 Sponsors for their kind donations that keep RECA able to continue our activities, perform for the community and be a public resource for people, businesses, schools and agencies who request our assistance.
St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare
(Annadel Medical Group)
Medtronic
We hope all RECA members and friends will help support these establishments. We are honored that they help support our endeavors.
RECA MEMBERSHIP
RECA Membership dues are $20 per person (adult) or $30 per couple for January to December each year.
Please make your check payable to Redwood Empire Chinese Association and send it with this form to:
Redwood Empire Chinese Association,
P.O. Box 7854,
Santa Rosa, CA 95407.
Redwood Empire Chinese Association
P.O. Box 7854
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
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