Board Member Stories: When Have You Been Most Proud of the Work of Tucson Chinese Association?
from Allen Lew
I have been a board member a long time and remember the old Center location and the new Center. Memories bring us together. When we all grew up in our Chinese families, it was our parents who kept the culture going, like Chinese New Year and having dinner together on Saturday night.
As we have become more Americanized the next generation hasn't taught the younger generations what our parents taught us. It became different and they lost a lot of that.
I remember being at the old Center and the new Center. I went to a majority of the events. I participated, I got there to help set up and stayed later to help clean up. The key thing is that I don't see this as work, I enjoyed every moment, meeting people, seeing the reaction of people. They really liked what we were doing because we were promoting our culture that we all learned when we were young. It was great to see the community, meeting new friends and old friends and so on. I didn't feel burdened at all. My point is that being a member of the board, able to promote the culture that I learned when I was young. This never felt a burden, and as a member of the board we need to be more participatory in order to see what people want.
The memories that I have...we ran dances, barbecue's, etc. The church was there too at the same time as the Community Center. We did plays and had performances for fundraisers. This was key as a member to keep fundraising. As board members, we need to remember that we need fundraisers to keep things going. It is a dream that never ends. I always remember Dr. Martin Luther King who had a dream that one day we would be free from all these encumbrances and that we'll be free to do what we want to do for ourselves and for our culture.
I am an American first but I love our culture and I want to promote it and keep it going as long as I live. I've met so many people who have missed the culture because they do not participate. I say, "Just come on down, come and help. Volunteer!" Sometimes people have a lot of regrets in life, but just get out there and do it. If you love your culture, be part of it.
So the memories I have and what I share with other people, are just bountiful. I have nothing to hide. There's no pride it in. It's just a matter of being part of a community and making it a better
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