President:
Nancy Wang
576-0533

Vice President:
Mary Lowe
528-8712 x18

Treasurer:
Hsiu-Chuan Armstrong

Recording
Secretary:
Judy Cheung
528-0912

Corresponding
Secretary:
Mark Heydon
538-1938

Newsletter,
Scholarship:
Mirin Lew
545-6173

Social Director:
Mary Lowe
528-8712 x18

Membership:
Judy Cheung

Ways and Means:
We need someone!
535-0985

Building Committee:
Joe Wang
576-0533

Youth Group:
Mark & Azy Heydon
575-9541

Board Members:
Kevin Ablett
Sandy Bartholome
Shirley Brummell
Irene Fong
Jean Gee
Norman Lai
Winston Lee
Frances Lok
Shubert Yee
Kay Yee

February 2005

Contents
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
RECA SCHOOL BEGINS SPRING SEMESTER
WIN AN AFRICAN SAFARI
JACL/RECA JOINT POTLUCK MAR. 19
RECA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFERS FREE CITIZENSHIP HELP
TAX HELP AVAILABLE
GUITAR LESSONS
TENNIS ENTHUSIASTS INVITED
JANUARY, ACTIVE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR
BONE MARROW DONOR DRIVE
JOB OPENINGS AT KFTY TV 50
RECA DECEMBER POTLUCK
REFLECTIONS FROM A LIFETIME MEMBER OF RECA
RECA YOUTH GROUP
BOOK SIGNING BY BELLE YANG
MEMBER ADVERTISEMENTS



PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Nancy Wang

A new year is beginning and another old year has ended. RECA has been so active there is almost no time to look back and evaluate as we look forward with new plans. Even a brief glimpse backwards into 2004 makes us proud of our accomplishments. Thank you to all of the groups and people of RECA for making 2004 such a successful year.

Looking forward into 2005, our calendar is already filled with exciting events and activities. Of course, our Chinese New Year’s Celebration is being planned with rehearsals, new costumes, new groups and contracted performers never seen before at our festivities. For those of you who have been asking for different entertainment, this year we have it. Usually, our focus is on cultural programs of traditional, eastern Chinese culture. This year, we focus on Western China while keeping acts from various regions of China. We will still have our Lion, Dragon, Ribbon Dancers, Flower Drum Dancers, and Aborigine Dancers, but also, a Xin Jiang tambourine dance by our teens. Our new adult chorus will sing a flirtatious Xin Jiang folk song and a nostalgic Taiwanese folk song. 

Our special Chinese New Year’s treat this year will be a performance by the Dancers of the Pharaohs and Ana Banat from the San Francisco East Bay Area. Dancers of the Pharaohs is led by Shukriya, known around the world as the producer of Rakkasah, the largest Middle Eastern Dance Festival and Bazaar in the world. Ana Banat is comprised of the daughters and nieces of the Dancers of the Pharaohs. Western China, as part of the Silk Road, is considered Middle Eastern in culture, so this performance will be completely different from any other we have ever offered. 

In addition to our Chinese New Year’s Celebration, we have our small, quiet, traditional New Year’s blessing of our RECA Center. Performances for the community include the San Rafael Community Center, Santa Rosa’s St. Luke School, G&G Markets in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, West Lake Senior Living in Rohnert Park, and many, many more.

Throughout 2005, don’t forget our regular events including the RECA/JACL potluck, annual picnic, Multi-Cultural Poetry Reading and Potluck, participation in the SRJC Day Under the Oaks, International Village Parade, and Rose Parade. And, of course, don’t forget our Language School and Cultural Dance program. 

How can we look forward with enjoyment to such a busy schedule, knowing more events will be added? By knowing that all of you, each in your own way, contribute to RECA. As president, I am grateful to all of you for helping to make RECA such a worthwhile, prominent organization. Thank you all! See you at Chinese New Year Celebration.

RECA SCHOOL BEGINS SPRING SEMESTER
By Judy Cheung

Our spring 2005 semester is beginning and as always, classes are going well. Our Children’s Beginning Mandarin Class on Saturday morning is full and has a waiting list. Our Continuing and Advanced Mandarin Classes on Saturdays are full, but might squeeze one or two more people in. Saturday Cantonese class also has room for students at every level, but is geared more towards older kids and teens. Wednesday Mandarin class is still looking for students. Due to small enrollment, we have combined our Beginning and Continuing Mandarin classes into one on Wednesdays, and we still have room for a few more. Our Wednesday Beginning Vietnamese class is full, but might squeeze in one or two more. Our once-a-month pre-school classes in Vietnamese and Mandarin both still have openings. If you haven’t enrolled, now is the time to do so. For more information, call Nancy Wang, 576-0533 in English or Mandarin; Judy Cheung, 528-0912, in English; or Azy Heydon, 575-9541, in English, Mandarin or Cantonese.



WIN AN AFRICAN SAFARI

You can go on a safari without traveling out of the country!

RECA’s Grand Prize at our Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 26 is a safari adventure for four persons (2 adults and 2 children) at Safari West in Santa Rosa. It also includes dinner and overnight lodging in their tent cabin complete with luxurious beds, hardwood floors and bathroom with shower. (You won’t be roughing it too much.) Second prize is two nights at the Atlantis Casino-Resort in Reno. Third prize is a $100 gift certificate to Kyoto Restaurant in Rohnert Park. 

Raffle tickets are $5 each. However, you’ll get a special deal of 3 tickets for $10 if you buy them before our New Year event. We will spin for the winning ticket then. You need not be present to win.

Contact Mary Lowe at 528-8712 x18 or any other board officer for tickets.

JACL/RECA JOINT POTLUCK MAR. 19

  Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 19. That’s the date set for our annual potluck/social with JACL (Japanese-American Citizens League). They’ll host the event starting at 6 p.m. at the Enmanji Buddhist Temple, 1200 Gravenstein Highway South in Sebastopol. Bring a main dish entrée to share for 8-10 persons. This popular event always packs in people because of the variety of food and entertainment after dinner!

RECA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

High school seniors are encouraged to apply for RECA’s 2005 scholarship. This $500 scholarship is provided as a service to our community. The scholarship is open to residents of Sonoma County who are of Asian ancestry, or whose families are members of RECA. Applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities, and financial need.

Applications are available from most local high school advising offices, and they can also be downloaded from RECA’s Web site at www.recacenter.org. The deadline for submitting applications is March 31. For more information, please call Mirin Lew at 545-6173.

Nancy and RECA in the News!

Tune your TV to KFTY (channel 50) on Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 8:20 AM. RECA President Nancy Wang will be there to talk about RECA and our upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFERS FREE CITIZENSHIP HELP

Thanks to a state grant, Catholic Charities Immigration Services is providing free citizenship services for a limited time to help individuals apply for U.S. citizenship. The office is located at 2325 Montgomery Drive in Santa Rosa. A scheduled appointment is needed to give applicants the necessary paperwork in advance. A $10 fee will be charged for photos. The application fee is $390. Volunteers are needed (and will be trained in this process). 

A free citizenship class will be held from February 2 to June 8 at Sheppard Elementary School, 1777 West Avenue in Santa Rosa. The class meets Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. and is designed for people who have applied or are planning to apply for U.S. citizenship. Class content will include lessons on U.S. history & civics, preparation for the interview with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS), and helping students improve their English skills. 

For more information, call Mary Lowe at 528-8712 x18.

TAX HELP AVAILABLE
By Shubert Yee

Tax Aide is the nation's largest free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service available to taxpayers with low and middle income, with special attention to those age 60 or older. There are approximately 14 Tax Aide sites located in various cities throughout Sonoma County during the tax season. In addition to providing e-file (electronic filing), most sites will also do paper returns. If you are interested in their services, contact Shubert Yee at 763-5292 for hours of operation and the site nearest to you.

GUITAR LESSONS

What can we do during RECA language classes on Saturday if you are not in class? The list is long, and growing. Recently, Dr. Robert Yee, grandfather of 2 young students, started bringing his guitar to school. While his girls are in class, teens might come early for other events. Sometimes other parents or grandparents are also there, chatting, reading, whatever. Now, they can open the garage door to let the winter sun warm them, and informally learn to play basic chords and simple melodies. During recess and after school while different dance groups rehearse, more people of all ages can join in, either as active participants with hands-on learning, or as passive participants: everyone loves an audience. This activity is impromptu; there are no sign-ups, no fees, no guarantees. It is just a fun activity, another way to learn, another example of an RECA member offering a service that is fun and beneficial for everyone to join in. Thank you, Dr. Yee.

Dr. Robert Yee with aspiring guitarists of all ages during recess at Saturday Language School.

TENNIS ENTHUSIASTS INVITED
Dr. Hoang Nguyen

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Santa Rosa Asian Tennis Association. We were formed in 2003. Last year we held two tournaments, our first on June 2004 with 16 participants and another last October with 36 participants. After each event, members enjoyed a barbeque to get to know each other better. 

We are a diverse group composed of Vietnamese, Laotian, & Chinese ethnicities with age range from 30 to 70 years old, and USTA ranking from 3.0 to 5.0. Everyone speaks their own language as well as English. 

Most of our current members are local business owners who come out to play after working hours and during the weekends and holidays. We play at the main tennis courts located at Finley Park, at the corner of Stony Point Rd. and West College Ave.

We invite you to join us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 539-6600.

JANUARY, ACTIVE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR
By Judy Cheung

After a slight lull in activities January opened with a bang. No, not with firecrackers, which are illegal (we have had requests), but with enough community and RECA events to keep everybody busy.

We opened the western New Year with a potluck and karaoke on New Year’s Eve. With most of the adults gone, the teens and some chaperones stayed until long after midnight, watching movies and playing video games. January 5th and 8th marked the dates when our language classes resumed after Winter Break. On the second Wednesday, our board met in the evening. Being January, the board meeting came after the Chinese New Year planning meeting and a dinner because of the long hours that two back-to-back meetings involve. On Thursday January 27, RECA gave the annual thank-you dinner to the faculty of the RECA Chinese School. On the 28th, invited members joined the South & West Area Business Association at Los Robles for a dress-up dinner and awards ceremony. Our lion dancers and a Mexican band playing traditional music (not mariachi) delighted the audience. RECA member Dr. Carl Wong, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools, received a Vasco Award from our state Senate and Legislature. Nancy Wang gave a certificate of appreciation to outgoing mayor Sharon Wright (RECA member) for her work in promoting diversity awareness and acceptance in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. The 29th found our teens and chaperones at Piner High School, performing at their Diversity Day with the Ribbon Dance, Flower Drum dance and the Lion Dance.

Before dinner, RECA members were able to mix and match with other people attending the SWABA Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Contacts, resources and new friends with services and organizational benefits to exchange are some of the main benefits of networking at such events. 11 members attended and our Lion Team performed.

February continues this busy schedule with the Chinese New Year planning and board meeting being moved to the first Wednesday, due to our regular date of Feb. 9th being Chinese New Year. Cultural performances for February include dancers and our new chorus singing for the San Rafael Community Center, lion team performing for St. Luke School in Santa Rosa, the New Year ceremony for G&G Markets in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and of course, our fabulous Chinese New Year Celebration on February 26th.

This list does not include the weekly language classes, monthly meetings and various dates for our teen group’s activities, the meetings of our Mah Jong Club, meetings and activities of the Families With Children From Asia, and many other dates and appointments involving active members of RECA. 

If you want to become more involved, (yes, you may pick your events; no one attends everything) please call Nancy Wang at 576-0533 (Mandarin or English), Judy Cheung at 528-0912 (English), or Azy Heydon at 575-9541 (English, Mandarin or Cantonese). Your active participation is appreciated in many aspects of our organization. If participation is through giving an extra donation, your money will be well spent on cultural costumes, instruments, music and dance equipment, our building fund or general maintenance just to keep our Center a clean, healthy environment for our members of all ages and backgrounds to come and enjoy.

See you at Chinese New Year Celebration!

RECA Lion Dancers at Clos du Bois Winery in late 2004.

If you would like to be added to RECA’s email list for announcements and reminders of upcoming events, please send a request to Mark Heydon at mheydon@sonic.net.

BONE MARROW DONOR DRIVE
By Judy Cheung

Always looking for ways to assist the Asian community of Sonoma County and beyond, RECA recently participated in a bone marrow donor drive. 

The concerned grandmother of Sarah, an adopted Asian six-year-old girl, called the RECA Center and was able to reach Nancy Wang and Judy Cheung. Little Sarah has leukemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Nancy and Judy talked to the grandmother, Verna Curtis of Santa Rosa, and then to the RECA board who agreed that RECA should sponsor a bone marrow donor drive. Mark Heydon, our corresponding secretary, sent out the e-mail notice of the upcoming drive. Then, as many people as possible telephoned all the Asian people we know in an effort to have a large turnout.

On Saturday, December 18, 2004, our Vietnamese classroom, used for classes on Wednesdays, was converted into a donor center. A local phlebotomist plus a representative from the Asian American Donor Program of Oakland joined us for this humanitarian event. Apparently, the local blood bank in Santa Rosa does not provide bone marrow services.

AADP made a large banner and posters advertising the drive. On the poster, we were able to see a picture of little Sarah Ruehling plus Josia, a 10-month-old boy with the rare Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome who is also in need of a bone marrow transplant.

This bone marrow drive is the second one RECA has sponsored. The first drive, about six years ago, resulted in less than 10 people registering. This time, about 20 signed up to be matched. 

It is very important that Asians register for matching. A proportionately small number of Asians are registered in relation to the number of Asians in need. To be a donor, a variety of blood factors must match. Many of the factors are genetically determined by a person’s ancestry, so Asians often have the best chance of matching another Asian.

The process of registration was as simple as 1-2-3. 1) Fill out the form that describes a few specifics about your health and how to contact you. 2) Have the form reviewed by the AADP representative in case there are any health or contact issues. 3) Give a small sample of your blood for matching tests. This was done in the room, behind a screen, by a registered phlebotomist (medical specialist in drawing blood). The rest is easy; just wait for a call. The blood characteristic information is computerized for use anywhere in the U.S. If a match is found, the medical team of the patient contacts AADP who contacts the donor. The donor then agrees or disagrees to donate at that time. All information for identity of the donor remains anonymous unless express permission is given by the donor. The process is simple, safe and secure. It might be the easiest opportunity to save lives that you will ever have. 

Non-Asians are also in need of bone marrow transplants. Latinos, American Indians and African-Americans are also under-represented in relation to need. Caucasians, although high in percentage in the donor registries, are also in continual need. Contact AADP or the local blood bank to receive information on how and where non-Asians can register.

We want to thank all the people who helped in this drive to put it on and those who registered. It is only when we work together, each giving what we can, that we can all be successful. For those who were unable to register during the four hours of our RECA drive, please contact the Asian American Donor Program at 1-800-59-DONOR, www.aadp.org or send email to asamdonors@aadp.org.

JOB OPENINGS AT KFTY TV 50

KFTY TV Channel 10 in Santa Rosa frequently sends job listings to RECA. The board reviews them, but it is difficult to share the information with the general membership in a timely manner. If you are interested in working for our local TV station, please check out their website at www.kfty.com

RECA Teacher's Appreciation Dinner, with all our faculty attending a feast at Kyoto Restaurant in Rohnert Park on January 27th. The school staff includes Judy Cheung, Nancy Wang, Hsiu-Chuan Armstrong, Azy Heydon, Lily Chang, Thien Tran, Patti Sullivan, Nancy Loui, WenChao Grebe, Kathy Ringstad, and Kim Thanh.

 


RECA DECEMBER POTLUCK

RECA held its holiday potluck on December 4th at the 4-H Center in Rohnert Park. Santa came to have his photo taken with the children, and even came back for an encore for the children who arrived late. Entertainment included Jerry Yeung playing the dulcimer, a performance of the “Monkey King” story by the Youth Group, as well as the debut of RECA’s Singing Group. The Singing Group’s hard work paid off; they sang beautifully (and without looking at music!). Thanks to all who attended, and especially the volunteers who helped with setting up and cleaning up afterwards.

RECA Singing Group makes its debut.

Jerry Yeung performs on the dulcimer as his father Hubert looks on.

Youth Group members assist Mary Lowe with the door prize drawing.

Phi Phi Dang and Dzung Huynh (to the left of Phi Phi) performed solos.

Members of the audience enjoyed the entertainment.

REFLECTIONS FROM A LIFETIME MEMBER OF RECA
By Toy Nitake

Some time ago, I enjoyed a visit from Joe and Nancy Wang as they came up to Sacramento on RECA business. After these many years, Joe suggested I write an article for the RECA newsletter on what it's been like in my life as a lifetime member.

Receiving the RECA newsletter is the memory generator of my life with RECA. I was indirectly involved when RECA was a concept rather than
an organization. Jan Lew was one of the charter members as well as Jean Gee. There were others whom I did not personally know at the time.

I helped Jan and Jean in writing documents, bylaws and other organizational business. Questions were on their mind as to how far this would go. RECA had been started some time earlier but lacked interest. It could have failed again but I saw how hard Jan worked to get members so I stayed with the effort too. The experience was interesting and fun.

What RECA had to offer in those days included annual picnics and the Chinese New Year Festival, but the major opportunity for people to get to know each other was the potluck socials. The heart of RECA was the board meetings for planning. Then, Nancy started the RECA Chinese Language School, and look where it is today. RECA started a social program with the Sonoma County chapter of the Japanese-American Citizen League that gave me personal satisfaction in seeing that two cultures of Americans can join together socially.

Reading the newsletter today, I am amazed at the progress, and I enjoy a feeling of fulfillment that I had a part in the history of RECA. Although I had no family in RECA, and I did not live in Sonoma County, I wished RECA success, as RECA’s progress is also my satisfaction of community service.

Also, in closing, I trust the RECA leaders of today will remember those who first had the foresight to see the need for a Chinese non-profit community organization in Sonoma County, namely Jan, Jean, Hubert Tsang, and other charter members.

An annual donation to the building fund might see RECA with the new building completed sooner rather than later.

RECA YOUTH GROUP
By Azy Heydon

Our RECA Youth Group is growing! We all enjoy being together, chatting, playing video games, practicing kung fu, even singing and dancing, not to mention just being funny and making everyone have a good laugh. Our senior group members lead the younger ones by setting good examples of teamwork, social skills, and performing community services. We have volunteered for and performed community service around Sonoma and Marin Counties. At this time of year, before and after Lunar New Year, we are very busy but we still find the time to have a good time being together hanging around the RECA center or over at the Heydon House playing pool and computer games. We have members from many different countries, cultures and backgrounds including, Cambodian, Korean, Indonesian, Africans, and of course Americans of all sorts. The good thing is that we all get along very well and have great times together. 
Our regular meetings are still on the 1st Friday of every month at the RECA center. In addition, we sometimes meet to practice singing, for example, at the upcoming potluck social event with the Japanese American association in March. Dr. Yee is our volunteer teacher of music appreciation. We have an upcoming ski trip and a Marine World trip; and we can always use volunteer drivers. Please call if you can help us. 
Again, for those parents who want their teenagers to join our RECA Youth Group, call Azy or Bryce at: (707) 575-9541

BOOK SIGNING BY BELLE YANG

Author and artist Belle Yang will be present at RECA’s Chinese New Year celebration to sign copies of her new children’s book, “Hannah Is My Name.” RECA has purchased a limited number of books for this book signing. If you would like to reserve a copy, please contact Sandy Bartholome at 526-4318.

Click here to read the article.

MEMBER ADVERTISEMENTS

Advertisements in the newsletter are available to all members. The fee is $30 for a one-time advertisement, or $100 for advertisements in all issues for one year. Please send a check for the advertising fee along with your ad to RECA at P.O. Box 7854, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.

If you have not renewed your RECA membership for 2005, please submit the form above with your dues. Thank you!

Redwood Empire Chinese Association
P.O. Box 7854
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

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