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  South Pasadena Chinese-American Club

Newsletter

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December 2013

In This Issue
A Few Words From Our President
2014 Board of Directors
Kiwanis Honors SPCC Secretary Sally Kilby
SPUSD Update
Annual Moon Festival offered a full day of Chinese culture
SPCC Donates Moon Festival Proceeds to SPEF
SPCC Co-Sponsors School Board Candidate Forum

      Calendar

2014

January

5   Adopt a Meal
9   Board Meeting,
 7:30 p.m.

February
2   Adopt a Meal
13  Board Meeting,
7:30 p.m.

March
2   Adopt a Meal
13  Board Meeting,
7:30 p.m.

April
6   Adopt a Meal
10  Board Meeting,
7:30 p.m.

May
4   Adopt a Meal
8  Board Meeting,
7:30 p.m.


 
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A Few Words From Our President

Hello All,

I hope you are all having a great year. December is upon us and 2013 will soon become history. The South Pasadena Chinese-American Club (SPCC) recently hosted the annual Moon Festival with a full line up of food, music, and activities for the entire family.  The free event included lion dancing, an acrobat, Chinese folk dancing, and demonstrations of Dragon-beard candy making.  The entire proceeds were donated to the South Pasadena Educational Foundation to support local school programs.  SPCC also co-sponsored a School Board Candidates' Forum with the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area.  

During 2013, SPCC approved more than $12,000 in grants for our local schools and the public library. Funds were awarded for lunch tables for Marengo Elementary School and the Middle School; digital recorders for the High School Chinese-language class; Family Math Day at the Middle School; Math Field Day for the elementary schools; a portion of the transportation cost for the High School entrepreneur class to attend a nationwide competition in New York; an Aquaponic Garden and Outdoor Classroom for the High School; a summer Academic Decathlon preparation program; the Public Library's Youth Summer Reading Program; portable listening centers for Monterey Hills Elementary School; and minerals for an Earth Science class at Monterey Hills.

We are pleased to continue serving monthly dinners at the Pasadena Union Station Homeless Shelter.  With the enthusiasm and support of our membership, SPCC is able to support our schools and libraries, to present cultural events, and to serve the less fortunate.

As you can see, we had an extremely successful year, and I look forward to another activity-packed, fun year working with everyone.  It is my pleasure and honor to be elected again as President of SPCC for 2014.

I'd like to give a warm welcome to new Board member Tappan Zee, a second-generation Board member who will continue SPCC's legacy. 

If you would like information about our club or have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

Warmest Regards,
JC Signature
Jeannie Chiu

President
2014 Board of Directors
The following have been elected to the 2014 Board of Directors, with Jeannie Chiu as President, Peter Leung as First Vice President, Joan Aguado as Second Vice President, Jan-Jan Wu as Treasurer, and Sally Kilby as Secretary:

Joan Aguado; Shireen Chang; Estela Cheng; May Chiang; Jeannie Chiu; Alice Hwang; Ella Kao; Sally Kilby; Suzette Lee-Shults; Peter Leung; Shareen Lo; Joseph Loo; Melinda Louie; Rosa Tzeng; Betty Wang; Pauline Wong; Jan-Jan Wu; Jessica Yee; Tappan Zee; and Yuet Zee.   

Margaret Lee and Sally Kilby will continue as Co-Editors of the Quarterly Newsletter.
Kiwanis Honors SPCC Secretary Sally Kilby & Review Editor
Bill Glazier, South Pasadena Review Editor, and Sally Kilby, City Clerk for the City of South Pasadena and SPCC Secretary, were recently honored by the Kiwanis Club of South Pasadena as "Community Champions."




Sally Kilby, a five-term officer of the SPCC Board  and co-editor of this SPCC Newsletter, was recently honored by the Kiwanis Club of South Pasadena.  Sally has served as the City Clerk of South Pasadena since 2000, but she is also well known for the myriad of volunteer organizations she participates in.  She earned a "Community Champion" Award during the Kiwanis Club's 90 Years of Memories and Entertainment dinner at the Woman's Club of South Pasadena.

While accepting the award, Sally spoke of the highlights of being the City Clerk for the past 13 years. She said, "The greatest personal reward is that you have given me the honor of serving you since 2000. When you've called, come by the office, or emailed me or talked to me in the grocery store about a question or concern, I have tried to respond to you as soon as I could.  Our office has tried to treat all citizens fairly, no matter what their point of view on an issue. We do not give any one person special treatment. We give everyone special treatment." As is characteristic of Sally and one of the reasons she is so deserving of this award, she summed up her public service tenure by saying, "I've enjoyed the privilege of serving you. I've tried my best because this is what you deserve."

Congratulations, Sally!
SPUSD Update
 
The South Pspcc President Joe Looasadena Unified School District (District) is close to finalizing a deal with a developer for building out the District parking lot. It will have underground parking, retail shops and apartment/condo units. There will be a ninety-nine year lease and a stream of revenue to the District. This will help the city's Mission Street Specific Plan.

Superintendent Joel Shapiro is retiring March 1, 2014. The Cosca Group has been contracted to perform the search for a new chief executive for the District. Up to this point, input from various interested groups has been solicited. The groups include the School Board, the Teachers Association of South Pasadena (TASP), PTAs, SPCC, and community members. The Cosca Group will compile and consolidate the information to develop a "job description" that will be posted and used to attract qualified candidates.

--Joe Loo
School Board Member
Annual Moon Festival Offered a Full Day of Chinese Culture
SPCC's annual Moon Festival, held on October 5, 2013, offered hundreds of community members the opportunity to enjoy traditional Chinese entertainment, games, dances, displays, demonstrations, and activities.

Crowds flocked to the event, which was held as usual at Library Park, in front of the South Pasadena Library Community Room, from Noon to 4:00 p.m., and was co-sponsored by SPCC, the City of South Pasadena, the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, Peter Kwong, Quon Yick Noodle Co., and Phoenix Bakery.

"SPCC's mission is to promote the growth of Chinese culture and education as well as to serve the community," said Jeannie Chiu, SPCC President. "The Moon Festival packs a lot of Chinese culture into a few hours."

Long-time SPCC supporter Tappan Zee, and Carrie Gan, who is a former Miss Chinatown Princess, served as Masters of Ceremonies. Popular on the program were Lion Dancers from the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association, a live snake exhibit in honor of "Year of the Snake," and an eating contest featuring such Asian delicacies as pigs' ears, chicken feet, and bitter melon. Audience members were treated to an engaging performance by a yoga master, traditional Chinese folk dancing and line dancing, songs from students enrolled in the South Pasadena High School Chinese-language classes, a demonstration of dragon-beard candy making, a performance by highly skilled Acrobat Jason Jiang, a sidewalk chalk-drawing art contest, noodle-eating and chopsticks skills contests, and a visit from Miss Chinatown LA and her court.

Chinese egg rolls and pastries, boba, flavored tofu desserts, noodles, and Moon Cake were popular lunch and snack selections. Fluff Ice and Feeding Frenzy food trucks supplemented the wide assortment of food available at the Moon Festival.

-- Thanks to Colin Sum, Reporter

The following  photos are courtesy of Malchon Kuo and Jeannie Chiu
The San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association dragon dancers entertained the crowd to bring good luck, long life and wisdom.


Acrobat Jason Jiang wowed the crowd and recruited young people
from the audience to learn how to spin plates on sticks and other tricks. 

 

 
Face painting is always a popular activity at the Moon Festival.

 

The Moon Festival is a "must" for elected officials each year. Gathering at the event's opening were (left to right) School Board and SPCC Board Member Joe Loo; South Pasadena Middle School Principal Dave Kubela; SPUSD Superintendent Joel Shapiro; City Clerk and SPCC Board Member Sally Kilby; City Councilmember Bob Joe; SPCC President Jeannie Chiu; City Councilmember Philip C. Putnam; City Councilmember Michael A. Cacciotti; former Assemblymember Anthony Portantino; and Gerald Phillips, representing California State Assemblymember Chris Holden.

Harmony dancers performed the traditional fan dance for an appreciative audience at the Moon Festival.
The School District (District) team won the Fear Factor Contest, consuming a variety of Asian foods faster than teams from the City of South Pasadena, the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF), and Fuhu, Inc. Celebrating afterward were District team members (left to right) Melissa Cheng, High School Chinese-language teacher; Rouzanna Berberian, High School Art teacher; Rosa Tzeng, Middle School employee and SPCC Board Member; Dr. Steve Seaford, District Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services; and Pete Roybal, District custodian. All teams had to eat chicken feet, bitter melon, and pigs' kidneys, ears, feet and knuckles.

SPCC President Jeannie Chiu (right) congratulates Brandon Yung, this year's winner of the Noodle-eating contest. He has experience as he also won in 2011 but lost last year to Seth Wright.

 

SPCC President Jeannie Chiu congratulates the winners of the Chopstick contest. Contestants were challenged to pick-up a "D" cell battery, playing card, paper clip, coin, and marble using their chopsticks.  

   

This year's Chalk-Drawing Contest was, as usual, a popular event with kids of all ages.  The theme was animals of the Chinese Zodiac. High School (SPHS) Art Teacher Rouzanna Berberian organized the event with help from last year's organizer, SPHS Art Teacher Aimee Hultman.  Winners received Menchies' gift cards.  Pictured on the swidewalk near Diamond Avenue is the winning work of SPHS students Yumai Sone, Lenn Kushigemachi, and Midori Kanuma.

 

SPCC Donates Moon Festival Proceeds to SPEF
 SPCC President Jeannie Chiu (center) hands a check for $1,000 to Dean Serwin (second from right), Vice President, Fall Fund Drive, South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF). This check represents the entire proceeds from SPCC's October 5th Moon Festival. Joining them at the Fall Fund Drive telethon held at the Offices of Shaw, Moses, Mendenhall & Associates Insurance are (left to right) Yuki Cutcheon, SPCC Board Member; Kathleen Michel, SPEF Board Member; Joan Aguado, SPCC Board Member; and Jon Primuth, SPEF President.


SPCC Co-Sponsors School Board Candidate Forum
SPCC and the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area co-sponsored a well-attended South Pasadena Unified School District Board Election Candidate Forum in the School Board Room on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, with five candidates, prior to the November 5th School Board Election.

The South Pasadena Chinese-American Club Newsletter is published quarterly in March, June, September and December.
 
Please submit your articles for the next issue by  February 15, 2014.

Sincerely,

Sally Kilby and Margaret Lee, Co-Editors
South Pasadena Chinese-American Club