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President: |
Our language classes have begun their second semester. For anyone who is interested in joining us, there is still room in our Saturday morning Beginning Mandarin, Advanced Mandarin and Cantonese classes. Our Intermediate Mandarin class is full, as it is every year. Our regular teacher for Beginning Mandarin and Wednesday Intermediate Mandarin, Cathy Ringstadt, has returned from China. Our substitute teacher, Ying Grebe, will still be with us on a substitute basis. She plans a visit to China in February.
Our Pre-School class started Saturday, January 21. Teacher Nancy Loui will lead this play/study group for pre-schoolers and their parents once a month. This is a lively, outgoing group this year. When asked what happens on Chinese New Year? An enthusiastic tot exclaimed, "The dragons come out!".
At break time or if you do not take language lessons, Dr. Robert Yee is available on Saturday mornings to teach music. Guitar, piano, organ, violin, almost anything you want to play, you can begin with Dr. Yee. Catholic Charities is offering a free citizenship course beginning February 16. The 14-week class meets Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Catholic Charities’ new offices at 987 Airway Court in Santa Rosa. The course 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, practice for the interview with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and helping students improve their English. A volunteer class assistant and tutors are also needed. If you would like to assist a student outside of class for an hour a week, call Mary Lowe at 528-8712 x132. To reserve a class space, call Catholic Charities Immigration Services at 578-6000.
Besides our popular raffle tickets (where you choose the prize that you want to win), we’re adding more silent auction items this year at our Chinese New Year celebration/fundraiser on Feb. 25 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa. They include an electric scooter by ZAP, two 49er football game tickets and two Warriors’ basketball tickets donated by member David Poulsen, a private limo ride and dinner for 10 at River Rock Casino, dinner for 6 at Kyoto Restaurant, hotel accommodations at Dry Creek Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Quality Inn paired with restaurants, wine by Clos Du Bois, an area rug by Empire Floors. Besides bidding on something nice for yourself, you’ll also be supporting your favorite charity! 2006 RECA Scholarship Applications Available
Mark your calendar for our joint potluck/social Saturday, April 29, with JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) and FAARP (Filipino American Association of Rohnert Park) at the 4-H Center, 6445 Commerce Blvd. (behind Albertson’s) in Rohnert Park. Bring an entrée to share for 8-10 people, and RECA will provide the dessert and drinks. This popular event always packs in people because of the variety of food and entertainment from each organization. If you would like to donate a raffle prize, please contact Mary Lowe at 528-8712 x132. Celebrating the New Year is important to both eastern and western cultures. For RECA, we do it better than anywhere else in the world.
Yet the New Year is not only a time for partying, but also a time for tradition, for families join together to learn and practice cultural values, a time to cleanse and renew our spirit and outlook, to solemnly request unseen forces to give good luck for the coming year. RECA’s Traditional Chinese New Year’s Celebration was held after school on January 28 on Traditional New Year’s Eve, to welcome in the Year of the Dog. Our Center was filled to overflowing. Over 60 people were present. Phi Phi Dang who usually leads our ceremony was out of town. We were very pleased to have new member Mei Rong lead our services with prayers to bless the Center, prayers to bring good spirits into the lions at our door, blessings and cleansing for individuals, and charms for protection of children.
With incense and prayers, our lions were blessed to bring a good spirit into each one so they can better guard our doors. Each person who desired was assisted in the traditional style of praying by lighting incense, bowing during prayers, and placing the incense in an incense holder.
Later, special paper money (not currency) was burned to bring good fortune. The ashes of all were gathered and placed in a position of honor on the bookcase to keep good luck coming throughout the year. We also ate potluck and visited with friends. Happy 4704!
For those who wanted, a personal blessing was offered individually.
Red Envelopes containing a piece of candy were given out to children. Four our lion dancers, who performed later, each envelope also contained a dollar bill. Traditional New Year’s Eve was not left out this year. RECA members and friends at our traditional ceremonies were invited to Wonderful Buffet, on the corner of Montgomery Drive and Summerfield Road, owned by Mei Rong and her family, to continue celebrations. At 2:00 p.m., we met and our lion team danced to chase away the spirits and bring good luck. Customers were delighted at the free show.
RECA lions pose with the owners and staff of Wonderful Buffet after our lions danced to chase away evil spirits and bring good luck and good fortune for the coming business. Around 7 p.m., RECA members began to return to Wonderful Buffet for dinner and karaoke provided by Henry Tang. At least forty people were present by 8:30, with more who came later. Linda Tang mentioned that they would like to have a karaoke night at Wonderful Buffet at least once a month. Call to find out which night the next one will be. As one person pointed out, Taiwan years are counted differently from traditional Chinese or Western years. Happy 1995! And finally, coming up on February 25, is our big extravaganza, our Annual Fundraiser New Year Celebration. Don’t miss it. Buy your tickets from RECA board members, Asia Mart, Quality Inn in Petaluma, G&G Markets in Santa Rosa and Petaluma and Holiday Inn Express in Sebastopol. Don’t miss it. Happy 1995, 2006 and 4704! Happy New Year! Click here to see the flyer for this event
During January and February, our lions, cultural dance and singing group perform at many businesses, senior homes and schools to help the community celebrate Chinese New Year. The RECA New Year's events schedule is not slowing down. Between Traditional Chinese New Year and our Annual New Year Celebration Fundraiser Extravaganza, we are booked solid. Below are some of the events. Many RECA members travel to China for pleasure, business, medical treatment, martial arts competition, or just to visit family. After a year of working on the organizing committee, Judy Cheung recently went to Beijing and Tai An to attend the 19th World Congress of Poets, the first ever held in China.
On an afternoon stroll after visiting the Forbidden City, Judy and friends stop in a park for pictures. Locals relaxing in the gazebo joined in the photo which was snapped by Dr. Fan. Included here are poets who write in Japanese, Tagalog, Papangan, Mandarin, Spanish and English. Judy is in the front row, 3rd from the right.
Each year, RECA shows its appreciation for the school staff. This year, the appreciation dinner was held at Wonderful Buffet on the corner of Montgomery Drive and Summerfield Road. L-R around the table: Nancy Wang, co-administrator of our school; Meiji Chou, dance instructor and choreographer; Lily Chang, advanced Mandarin teacher; Hsiu Chuan Armstrong, intermediate Mandarin teacher; Gloria Chung, substitute Mandarin teacher and past school treasurer; Mei Rong, owner of Wonderful Buffet; Azy Heydon, Cantonese teacher and Youth Group Leader; Natalie and Sydney Sullivan, students; Patti Sullivan, school treasurer; Cathy Ringstadt, beginning and Wednesday Mandarin teacher; Judy Cheung, co-administrator of our school. Out of town on the day of our dinner were Ying Grebe, substitute Mandarin teacher and Nancy Loui, pre-school teacher and substitute Mandarin teacher.
Our Executive Board has been re-elected for another term. L-R: Mark Heydon, Corresponding Secretary; Judy Cheung, Recording Secretary; Nancy Wang, President; Mary Lowe, Vice President; Hsiu Chan Armstrong, Treasurer. If you are interested in attending the RECA board meetings, usually we meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Call Nancy Wang to confirm the time and date. All members are welcome to attend.
Santa was at our Christmas party on December 4, 2005 to have his picture taken. Thank you to Joe Wang for telling Santa how and when to find our party. Christmas party photos and captions by Judy Cheung.
Our RECA adult chorus sang well known Chinese songs and some Christmas carols for our entertainment during our Christmas party.
Our Youth Group sang Christmas carols for us. Two youths also gave a hip hop performance of their own song and dance.
The Lion Dance team performed at Montgomery High School’s Asian Culture Night on January 13, 2006. (Photos by Joe Wang).
Nancy and Joe Wang shared Chinese New Year traditions with students at Bellevue Elementary School on January 30th. Photos provided by Joe Wang.
Phi Phi Dang (wearing the apron) taught a cooking class at the RECA Center on January 3rd. The food looks delicious! (Photos by Joe Wang).
Some of the cultural dance team performed at the Avalon senior care home in Sonoma on January 21st. Above they are pictured doing the Aborigine Dance and Ribbon Dance. (Photos provided by Joe Wang).
Redwood Empire Chinese Association
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November 2004
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 © Copyright 2002 Redwood Empire Chinese Association |