September meeting summary:

We had a great meeting Sunday, but missed a number of members.  Three guests attended: Tom and Lin Griffiths and Tom’s daughter Jennifer.  

Get well cards were signed to be sent to George and Lucienne Arvay and Alfonz Lengyel.

After a very brief business meeting, Carolyn Bloomer gave a summary of the Washington DC China Seminar.  She covered numerous interesting speakers and activities including a PowerPoint presentation.  Archie then gave a summary of the activities of the national board.

With the program out of the way, a discussion of how to increase local membership and interesting activities was held.  The tentative schedule for this year’s meeting programs was given.

Next meeting will be in conjunction with the China Town Hall scheduled at the State College of Florida at Lakewood Ranch on October 16.  Looking forward to seeing everyone then.

September 2014

So much to talk about.  But for starters, how about our September meeting?  Sunday, September 21, 3 PM at Ringling College, Dr. Bloomer's classroom.  Directions will follow about a week prior to the event.

The September program will center about all that was learned and covered at the Washington, D.C. Seminar that four of us attended earlier this year.  The purpose of the Washington Seminar is to put USCPFA members in contact with experts and policy makers in the US-China relationship.  We listened and talked to some great people with tremendous insight and knowledge.  Archie will also talk of activities and business conducted at the National Board meeting.

In October, we are to have our monthly event at the China Town Hall Meeting instead of a monthly chapter meeting.  That event you have gotten an email on already, and another will be sent in early October.  It will be held at the State College of Florida facility at Lakewood Ranch on Thursday, October 16, in the evening.  Save that date!  That event kicks off at 5 PM and the main speaker is former President Jimmy Carter via webcast.   

Also in October, there is to be a very large Dragon Boat celebration at Benderson Park with 102 dragon boats and as many as 3,000 participants.  The event's focus is on breast cancer, and participants are breast cancer survivors.  USCPFA has been invited to share a tent with the GCAA  and to serve as ambassadors.  It is to be a huge event and we are excited to participate.  More to follow this week.

That only covers September and October.  But the rest of the year has great programs and events starting to line up.  Speakers and presentations that are sure to entertain, educate, and stimulate.

More to come.  Hope to see everyone soon.  And remember, bring a friend.

And remember to go to the Sarasota blog to get updates, pictures, and event information:  http://uschinasarasota.blogspot.com/

Please email me with your RSVP. archie.mckee@hotmail.com.

May Chapter Meeting

The Sarasota Chapter of USCPFA met on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at 3 pm in the home of Duane Finger and Jill Dye.

Members present:

Lolly Baerveldt

Carolyn Bloomer

Pam Capone

Jill Dye

Duane Finger

Colette Penn

Carol All Williamson

Guest:

Elizabeth Phillipson (friend of Jill)

Meeting began at 3:15 pm with Lolly Baerveldt conducting a brief business meeting.  The following items were discussed:

1)  Dues need to be paid at this point.   The next meeting will be in Sept. or October, to be advised as a result of the planning session.  Also a more structured business meeting was discussed for the future.  

2)  A planning session for 2014-2015 will be held this summer, to be attended by Archie, Lolly, Carolyn, and Pam in particular to discuss the events and programs of the Washington DC conference they recently attended.  All members will be advised of the planning session and are welcome.  A date and place is being determined.

3)  Lolly, Carolyn and Pam each made brief comments about their experience at the conference.  All were very impressed with the speakers and programs presented and are hoping to bring some of those programs to our Sarasota chapter this fall/winter.

4)  The movie, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, a documentary about how Hollywood portrayed the Chinese from the silent film era to the 21st century, was shown.

Meeting adjourned at 5:40.

Submitted by Lolly Baerveldt 

Arcadia Rodeo, March 9

The Arcadia Rodeo is the ultimate American experience. We are hosting visiting Chinese scholars today. 

The Dyes are hosting Shizhong Zhang, a Fullbright scholar teaching at Sarasota New College.

The McKees are hosting Dr. Fan (Jeremy) Zhang and his adorable wife XiaoXiao.  Dr. Zhang is the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Curator of Asian Art at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.

Enjoy some of the excitement with us:

Below our seats:

Bulls below us, too. 

Chutes right in front of us. 

Program:

March Chapter Meeting

Since there was no available meeting place, there be no monthly chapter meeting in March. 

However, the Dyes and the McKees are taking visiting Chinese scholars to the ultimate American experience--the Arcadia Rodeo. 

Post with photos to follow. 

February 9 Chapter Meeting

Sunday, February 9, was our Valentine party at the home of Archie and Grace McKee in Apollo Beach. We had a great time with lots of interesting conversations, cupcakes, punch, snacks,  and roses. 

Attending: Dr. Zhang, Ringling Asian Art Curator. Shizhong Zhang  and Dr  Xia Shang of New College, Joe Janus, Lolly Baerveldt, Pam Capone, Colette Penn, Jill Dye and Duane Finger and their lovely French friends Colette and Jean Paul, Pat Amsel, and hosts Archie and Grace. 

We missed those who could not attend, especially Alphonz; we all signed a get well card for him.

Chinese New Year Lion Dance

Thank you, Shawn Lucci, for sharing your video of the Lion Dance performed at your Atlanta USCPFA Chapter's Chinese New Year celebration:

http://youtu.be/GUmwWteN4I8

Chinese New Year at New College - Part Two

The festivities took place in the Green Area. There was Chinese dancing, calligraphy practice, embroidery, and more. Archie McKee displayed a presentation of Chinese Philately.

Students continued sharing jiaozi with attendees. Lots of photos and a video of the Flame Dance follow:

Chinese New Year at New College - Part One

USCPFA members were invited by Chinese scholar Shizhong Zhang to come early to the New College Chinese New Year Festival to join the students in eating the traditional jiaozi (dumplings). President Archie McKee, his wife Grace, Pat Amsel, and Alfonz Lengal arrived early for this enjoyable time. We were presently surprised to find our old friends Jean and Joe Shih there along with Richard Prager. 

January Chapter Meeting

Our Sarasota Chapter of USCPFA met at the fire house.

President Archie McKee opened the meeting giving information about recent and future events. He then introduced our own Dr. Lengyl who gave an introduction about art history, archeology, and museology. He then introduced our special guest:

Dr. Zhang Fan (Jeremy), the new curator of the Helga Wall-Apelt Collection at the Ringling Museum. He told us about the past, present and future plans for the new Asian Art Center. 

Four Chinese Scholars Honored

Four Chinese scholars visiting and working in Sarasota, Florida, were honored with a reception and dinner at Libby's Restaurant on Thursday, January 9. 

These scholars were as follows:

Dr. Ma Qian, Mote Marine visiting scholar

Dr. Shi Xia, Assistant Professor of History, New College of Florida

Dr. Jeremy Zhang, Curator of Asian Art , Ringling Museum of Art

Zhang Shizhong, Mandarin teacher at New College of Florida under the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program

They were honored by Sarasota Sister Cities, Gulfcoast  Chinese American Association, and US China People's Friendship Association. Presentations were made by Beth Rule, President of SSCA;  Dr.Carolyn Bloomer, SSCA Xiamen Ciy Director; Irene Leung,  President of GCAA; and Archie McKee, USCPFA Sarasota Chapter President and National and Southern Region Board Member. 

Photo USCPFA Board Member Miriam Cassel with Dr. Jeremy Zhang. 

December Holiday Party

We had a fun gathering at Jill and Duane's meeting room. 

President Archie McKee, USCPFA National and Southern Region Board Member, presented to Dr. Alphonz Lengyl a Southern Region Award for Outstanding Service to US-China Relations. 

We watched a DVD about Chinese minority peoples provided by Alphonz. 

Door prize "gifts" were presented.