RECA Newsletter

President:
Nancy Wang
576-0533

Vice President:
Mary Lowe
528-8712 x132

Treasurer:
Hsiu-Chuan Armstrong

Recording
Secretary:
Judy Cheung
528-0912

Corresponding
Secretary:
Mark Heydon
575-9541

Newsletter,
Scholarship:
Mirin Lew
545-6173

Social Director:
Mary Lowe

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

November 2006

Contents
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
SCHOOL REPORT
AUGUST MOON FESTIVAL WITH FCA
RECA CHORUS
OUR DRAGON LOSES ITS LAIR
SANTA ROSA’S PEACE POLE
TASHI DELE
FUN AND GAMES AT RECA PICNIC
SEE SANTA AT OUR HOLIDAY POTLUCK! (DEC. 2, 2006)
2nd WORLD TRADITIONAL WUSHU CHAMPIONSHIPS
RENEW YOUR 2007 RECA MEMBERSHIP TODAY

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Nancy Wang

Another grand year is coming to a close. I want to thank all of you who have participated this past year in all of our RECA activities. As we grow, we think we have reached our limits. Then, we grow more and find that each new horizon is an achievable goal. As this year draws to a close and a new year is ready to begin, goals have been accomplished and new horizons are appearing, ready to be explored.

I want to congratulate the RECA Chorus in their successful first outreach appearance which was not an RECA event. I missed the performance because I was in Hawaii. Even so, after it was over, I received phone calls telling me of their grand success. Congratulations on a wonderful performance.

Our RECA language classes have started. This year enrollment is down, possibly due to competition with soccer and other weekend programs. If you or anyone you know wants to learn Mandarin, come join us on Saturday mornings, 9-11 AM. We have classes for all ages and all levels of Mandarin fluency. If we have students, we will also offer Cantonese. We are looking for a Vietnamese teacher for children ages 5-10 and a pre-school teacher for our once-a-month Mandarin Play/Learning program. If you are interested, or know of someone, please call me.

Don’t forget to come to our Holiday Potluck Social on December 2nd. Santa will be there for the kids. Entertainment and a chance to meet other members and friends always make this a delightful event.

Our new horizon which is dawning for the new year shows us a year filled with cultural performances, language and dance classes, social events, parades, community service, monthly meetings for youth, monthly mahjong for seniors, classes, special speakers, and so many more opportunities that they cannot be listed here. Be sure you keep in touch and find the events and opportunities that suit your interests. Your participation is what makes RECA strong. Thank you.

If you want to check out Petaluma Chinese School, please click at www.pcccs.org. For BayzView, you can click at www.bayzview.com.

SCHOOL REPORT
By Judy Cheung

We are off to a galloping start, or at least we are trotting along. This year, our RECA Language School has openings in all of its classes. Many kids are attending soccer and other school and community events each Saturday. Some say they will attend later, when soccer is over. In the meantime, we have many available spaces in our classes.

Don’t forget that we have classes for all ages. Families are welcome and have a substantial discount on tuition when attending as a family. We have one family of four attending--father and daughter are attending Intermediate Mandarin class. Young son and his mother, who assists with the class, are attending the Beginning Mandarin class. Intermediate and Advanced Mandarin classes take students of all ages according to the student’s fluency. Beginning Mandarin is for children, and geared to the enjoyment and learning of 5-9 year olds. Parents are welcome as assistants in the beginning class. We also have one parent assistant in the intermediate class.

So far this year, we have not been able to begin our pre-school play/learning sessions or our beginning Vietnamese classes. For both, we need teachers. If you know anyone who is interested in either class, please let Nancy Wang or Judy Cheung know. In the past, we have also offered Adult Functional English as a Second Language. We have not had any students requesting to enroll this year. Also, we had only one student come to our Wednesday Mandarin class, so we had to discontinue that class.

Despite our slow beginnings this year, we are not feeling sad. Our students are enthusiastic. Our teachers are prepared with enjoyable, beneficial curriculum. We are looking forward to another wonderful year.

Side benefits of coming to language classes are more than usual this year. Dr. Robert Yee is “recess monitor” and offers music lessons for those who want to come, but don’t want to be in language school. He teaches guitar and organ. (Kids must have their parent’s permission to have music instead of language during class time.) During recess and after class, Judy has been teaching beginning Chinese drum. Sometimes we get a little Lion Drum band going with drum, cymbals and gong. Bryce Heydon is often seen teaching our upcoming lion team the tricks of the lion dance.

Our biggest after school event is our Cultural Dance Program. Our choreographer, Meiji Chou, is still recovering from cancer treatments. Meesha Heydon, assisted by Jasmine Elliott, is leading the beginning children in learning our dances for upcoming performances. They are also leading the older girls in practicing the repertoire dances and learning new routines. All this is from 11:30-12:00 noon. You do not have to be enrolled in language classes to participate in our music and dance programs.

Beginning Mandarin, taught by Cathy Ringstad, is usually taught inside, but on a beautiful October day with the sun shining too bright to waste, the kids went outside to enjoy the weather while it lasted. Here, they are playing “Duck Duck Goose” in Chinese.

Recess is considered by some young students to be the best part of class. Here, the Beginning class enjoys our castle, donated by a parent many years ago and still receiving rave reviews from those who enjoy its ramparts.

Our Intermediate class, taught by Hsiu Chuan Armstrong, learns traditional writing and how to put words and phrases together into functional conversation and reading. Students from ages 8 through adult are the focus in this class. This class is for beginning teens and adults. It is also for continuing children who have learned the basics in Beginning Mandarin.

Our Advanced Class is taught by Lily Chang mostly in Mandarin and focuses on teens and adults who learn literature, humor, and how to use idioms and common allusions. Students can function in Mandarin, but come to improve their language abilities.

AUGUST MOON FESTIVAL WITH FCA
By Judy Cheung

Families with Children from Asia (FCA) and RECA work together on many projects so that adopted children from Asia may have meaningful cultural experiences to enhance their self-identity and self-worth. Each year, FCA has an August Moon Festival and invites different groups to provide entertainment. This year, in addition to cookie decorating, fan painting and a wonderful potluck, FCA also had the RECA Aborigine Dancers and the RECA Lion Dancers as the formal entertainment.
This event took place on September 9, the evening of the first day of Chinese language classes. After a summer of no rehearsals, our Aborigine Dancers had one rehearsal of about 15 minutes. Under the leadership of Meesha Heydon and Jasmine Elliott, Savanah Heydon, Ellen Hickman and Maya Ibitz reviewed their dance, made sure the costumes still fit, and were off to the performance. They did very well and were well received and applauded.

Our new Lion Dancers had just begun to learn their routine. Our experienced performers are now off to college. We had no drummer so Judy filled in. Bryce Heydon and Benjamin Dang were on cymbals and gong. Jesse Ma and David Quach had their debut dancing in front of a throng of wiggling, giggling children and their parents. There was a misunderstanding about timing and tempo, so our lion looked very old and slow. We blamed it on the cold wind freezing his bones. For a finale, Bryce took over the head of the lion, Judy played in double time and the lion danced to a blazing, jumping, exuberant finale. WOW! What a show!

Young drummers learn the basics from Judy before and after the performance. They were so good, the lions could have danced to their music.

After their performance, Jesse and David helped enthusiastic little ones be part of the lion. Most chose to be the head. Some chose to be the tail. Some would only look in awe.

Our Aborigine Dancers were a hit. Ellen, Savanah and Maya had only about 15 minutes that afternoon to prepare before they went on. I'm glad the costumes still fit!

RECA CHORUS
By Judy Cheung

The RECA Chorus was a grand hit on Saturday, October 28 at Rohnert Park’s Spreckels Theater. The 2006 Senior Variety Show was an afternoon of fun with people associated with the Rohnert Park Senior Center performing. There were solo singers, tap dancers, chorus singers and chorus dancers plus instrumentalists. Who were the best performers of the afternoon? The RECA Chorus, of course.

During the first half, Helen Kopriva and David Chung performed a phenomenal duet of “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera. Every low note was crisp and clear. Every high note was clean and pure. And everything in the middle was superb! The audience was spellbound by the passion of the song.

During the second half, the entire RECA Chorus sang “Pang Hu Bay” (Happy Childhood Memory). Again, the performance was both impeccable and entertaining. Even though most people in the audience did not understand the words, the motions and flow of the song let everyone understand an essence of the meaning.

During the two finale songs, the RECA Chorus joined the rest of the cast on stage for “This Land Is Your Land” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Afterwards, the entire cast was greeted and congratulated by the audience in the lobby as the nearly full house departed, still cheering for the enjoyable, uplifting performance.

Sharing the delightful afternoon were many RECA members in the audience. Thank you all for attending and giving support to our fabulous RECA Chorus.

If you would like to join the RECA Chorus, they meet every Tuesday evening at Phi Phi Dang’s house. For details and directions, call Phi Phi at 526-9925.

OUR DRAGON LOSES ITS LAIR

It was a sad day on Friday November 10, when over one dozen members from pre-teens to adults gathered to move all of our storage stuff from our portable building in the parking lot into our already over-crowded house. We were denied the building permit which we have been working with the city to obtain for about three years. We were told to move the building or pay outrageous penalty fees.

While we were moving our belongings including our lions and our dragon from their comfortable quarters into a corner of the garage, Nancy Wang was on the phone to city council members trying to get a reprieve. Since it was Friday, nothing could be discussed with the powers that be until Monday. Hope is bleak for keeping our storage building.

Due to the overcrowded conditions from storing all of our cultural dance costumes, instruments, art supplies, art work, and all the things we use to make us a positive presence in our community, we need to consider looking for another suitable site that has sufficient rooms for our activities plus our storage. If any of you know of such property being for sale, please contact Nancy Wang at 576-0533.

SANTA ROSA’S PEACE POLE

Santa Rosa has long been a location where peace activists may be heard. This year, the Peace and Justice Center made a campaign of various people around Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, asking for donations for a Peace Pole to be erected in Santa Rosa near the City Hall. RECA gave a donation. Chinese is represented on the Peace Pole which is to symbolize people of all ethnic and national origins together asking the world for peace. Joe and Nancy Wang attended the unveiling ceremony. The text on the pole says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages.

Mayor Jane Bender, right, gives a dedication speech amid rustling flags and a reverent audience. Photo by Joe Wang

TASHI DELE*
By Winston Lee

Our Tibetan trip started with an overnight train ride, on a hard seat, from Xining to Golmud, followed by an overnight bus ride along the Qing-Zang Road. After 40 hours on the road with our backs hurt and our behinds numb, we finally arrived at Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. It was a pretty daunting ride.

But wait, this was not the end of our ride. After another two days in a 4WD driving on bumpy and winding roads more challenging than Highway 1 along the Sonoma coast, we finally reached the top of the world, sort of, on July 31, 2006. We were at the base camp of Mt. Everest at an altitude of 5,200+ meters, the highest point we were allowed to go. It is a place we never imagined we would be going a few years ago and could only dream of.

It was a lucky day for us because the weather was very clear and without any clouds. The snow-capped mountain was just right in front of us; it was so close and yet so far, for there were another 3,600 meters to the summit. It was so majestic and awesome. A young European was so exceedingly excited that he took his pants off and had his friend snapped a picture with the mountain as a background.

Ai-Chu Wu, always a faithful RECA member, had me took a picture of her holding a piece of paper with RECA written on it. At that point, she became the first RECA member to reach Mt. Everest (If you have difficulty in seeing RECA on the accompanying picture, don’t rush to get a new pair of glasses. It is just that my picturing taking skills need some fine-tuning). If we had an association flag, she definitely would have been more than happy to plant it there, and proclaim “Veni, vidi, vici.”

And that is one of the many highlights of our recent trip to China.

While in Lhasa, which means “holy city” in Tibetan, we wanted to say “tashi dele” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which means Ocean of Wisdom, but learned that he moved to India some 50 years ago. As the old saying goes, the monk has left but the temple remains. So we tried to visit his Potola Palace, which has an official admission fee of RMB100 but a prohibitive “service charge” ranging from RMB200 (US$25) to RMB1,000 (US$125), depending on the time of the year.

After mouthing something not suitable for our young readers, we settled for taking a few pictures in front of the palace instead. And for a choice picture taking spot, one has to pay RMB0.50, not a king’s ransom. We grudgingly obliged, but not without some mumblings behind the fee collector. And we mumbled a lot every time there was such a fee requirement. After all, paying a fee to take a picture of some scenic spot is something we aren’t accustomed to in the U.S.

Tibet, for various reasons, has lagged behind other parts of China in terms of economic development and is relatively poor. There are quite a number of people, on the streets and in the many temples, asking for money. This is not unusual. What is so unusual and interesting is that the panhandlers give change back to the generous soul, something you would never have encountered elsewhere.

Tibetans are not the greedy type and they only ask for a humble RMB0.10. Knowing that most people don’t carry such small change, almost all of the panhandlers, when receive a RMB1.00 bill, automatically give the donor back nine 10 cents bills and keep the remaining one. Or 10 of them back and you give them whatever amount as you please. So for a little bit more than one U.S. penny, you receive a thank you or maybe a blessing from a soliciting monk. It is pretty cheap but worth every cent of it. So I doled out quite a number of RMB0.10, hoping that in the next life I would be reincarnated as a human being again with a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s, a mind like Albert Einstein’s, and with a parent as rich as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined.

* “Tashi dele” means “hello” in Tibetan.

(Editor’s Note: There was not enough space in this issue to include part 2 of Winston’s story, but it will be included in a future issue as space permits.)

FUN AND GAMES AT RECA PICNIC
Photos and Captions by Judy Cheung

It was a perfect day for RECA’s annual picnic at Santa Rosa’s Finley Park on September 10 – not too cold, not too hot. BBQ chicken was the order of the day, courtesy of G&G Supermarket. Our cooks added their special touch, and Jean Gee and Azy Heydon completed the lunch menu with salad, rice, noodles, watermelon, and almond cookies. Then the games began: tug of war, water balloon toss, a jump rope contest with Santa Rosa city candidates David Poulsen and Susan Gorin joining in the fun. Our winners were Yan Tao Duan, newcomer from Beijing, China who works at Agilent Technologies and Yut Fong (Jasmine) Yeung (Azy’s sister) from Hong Kong. They both could have jumped their way to China!

The piñata was also a hit, with the little kids getting first dibs, then the energetic teens lining up to give it three whacks apiece. Even 82-year-old Winston Lee was sporty enough to participate. David Chung and Jared Lee gave beautiful synchronized tai chi performances, Anna Kong’s dad played his erhu instrument, and the lion duo of Bryce Heydon and David Quach teased the crowd, winding in and out of the picnic tables with their antics. Emcee Mary Lowe introduced RECA scholarship winners Bryce Heydon and Raymond Liang who talked about their college plans. Our bountiful raffle prizes, assisted by Patti Lok, ended the full program. As usual, the die-hard mahjong ladies stayed to play a few more hands.

Thank you to our cooks Kevin Ablett, Shubert Yee, Leonard Lew, Mark Heydon, Norman Lai; Alvin Lee for providing our sound system; RECA youth group for drinks and games; Anna Kong, Cheryl Brown, Irene Fong, Shirley Brummell, Judy Cheung, Kay Yee, and our many other volunteers we may have missed mentioning (you know who you are!) who helped make this an enjoyable day.

Cooks and servers came early to heat the chicken on the grill and to prepare the salad and rice for serving.

Irene Fong and Shirley Brummell man the ticket table. Raffle tickets were also available for our many raffle prizes that were given away throughout the afternoon.

We had a large attendance of members and friends. Menu included chicken, rice, salad, watermelon, a fortune cookie and your choice of cold drinks.

Teens lead games for youth and younger. Here, all join in for a tug of war. Who won? Everybody!

David Chung, board member and martial arts performer, introduced Bryce Heydon, RECA scholarship recipient who gave a few words on what RECA has done to help him and how he has been active in RECA.

David Chung and Jared Lee perform a duet of tai chi. Later, Jared did a spectacular sword demonstration.

There were fun and games for everyone. Our annual jump rope competitions brought gales of laughter from contestants and audience alike. First, we had children competing, then teens, then adults. Here, some of the adult finalists try to outlast their competitors.

Anna Kong’s father shared his talents playing the erhu.

Our first ever RECA piñata was a smash. At least everyone who wanted to tried to smash it. First the little ones, then teens, then adults. Finally, it fell off its ropes and everyone tore into it for the delicious wrapped candy inside. Here, Azy Heydon, Youth Group Director, gives blindfolded Winston Lee a turn as Judy Cheung mans the rope. A wide circumference was kept clear to be sure no one got hit by mistake.

Our Lion Dancers finished off our program with a bang and much applause.

SEE SANTA AT OUR HOLIDAY POTLUCK! (DEC. 2, 2006)

When:	Saturday, Dec. 2nd. Pose with Santa for a free Polaroid photo from 6:00-6:30 p.m. (Limited to the first 40 to request photo) Potluck dinner will follow.
Where:	4-H Center, 6445 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park (behind Albertsons)

Bring a main dish entree to share for 8-10 people. RECA will provide dessert.

Want to participate in our gift exchange? Bring a present under $10. Label it: "boy," "girl," "adult male," or "adult female."

We will have entertainment including singing performances by Chinese language school students and the RECA Choir, and a sing-along with Dr. Robert Yee. Come and help kick off the holiday season and make our celebration merrier!

For more information, call Mary Lowe at 528-8712 ext. 132

2nd WORLD TRADITIONAL WUSHU CHAMPIONSHIPS

On October 15-19, Daniel Kerry and Jimmy Chhiu went to Zheng Zhou City, Hunan, China, to compete in the 2nd World Traditional Wushu Championships, along with competitors from 66 different countries. Jimmy Chhiu came home with both silver and gold medals. Daniel brought home a gold medal. Their instructor is our own Justin Eggert of Li’s Tai Chi Acadamy. Pictured L-R: Jimmy Chhiu, Justin Eggert, and Daniel Kerry with the 2006 US Traditional Wushu Team jacket each contestant was given. RECA is proud of these young men.

RENEW YOUR 2007 RECA MEMBERSHIP TODAY

A new year is starting soon and it is time to renew your membership dues for 2007. Your support allows us to cover the association’s expenses and continue to run our many activities. Please see the membership form on the back page of the newsletter.