Sunday, October 1, 2017

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At the end of August, when the THSH team was immersed in preparations for this year’s fundraising dinner, Hurricane Harvey hit. The THSH team immediately dropped everything on hand and assembled a storm recovery team, created a Facebook page to provide and translate information regarding insurance, law, recovery and assistance, etc., as well as scheduled recovery teams to go to storm victims’ homes to assist in cleanup and recovery. We saw the recovery team made up primarily by the Taiwanese School, under the leadership of the principal, tirelessly help to clean up the flooded homes of Taiwanese American community members every weekend after the flood. Other volunteers proactively called members of THSH to inquire after their well-being, fearing we may miss any members who suffered damage in the storm. These experiences allowed us to understand that the TCC is not just our home, it is a shelter where everyone helps each other in the face of hardship. This let us even more deeply feel a sense of responsibility knowing the importance of the TCC ...Continue Reading


 

~Join us for storm recovery and rebuild a stronger Taiwanese-American community~

After Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast on August 25th, it damaged many areas in the Greater Houston area, causing flooding, power outages, traffic gridlock, and cancellation of classes, forcing families to evacuate and lose their possessions, or even causing some to lose their homes. As with natural disasters in the past, we witnessed the humanity in our community in the face of struggle. Our community members shared warm greetings, shared useful information, volunteered to transport victims of the storm, opened their homes to victims, helped people to move possessions, and donated and demonstrated care in the aftermath of the storm. Even Taiwanese Americans from other regions sent their regards and prayers for the victims. THSH teamed up with the Taiwanese School and the TAA to create an aftermath recovery team. The volunteers started getting to work on September 1st, taking advantage of the long Labor Day weekend, to split up and help clean up homes damaged by floodwaters. Some volunteers even had severe damage to their own homes, but still showed up to help others clean up! We would like to express our thanks to all the volunteers for their selfless and loving dedication and help.

After the hurricane’s landfall, many people inquired for news about other community members via the internet (especially via Line). Many needed help and did not where to seek help, so THSH created the Facebook page TCC Disaster Recovery on August 27th to coordinate community resources, provide assistance efficiently to people in need, and also provide useful information on filing insurance claims and requesting reimbursement. Our goal is to provide a platform for everyone to report they are safe, share information, communicate need for assistance, and contact media.

The storm has passed now, and THSH will continue to help storm victims apply for FEMA temporary housing reimbursement, home repair reimbursement, and SBA loans to help them receive their bailout for housing and home repairs as soon as possible. The THSH board held an emergency meeting on September 3rd to discuss how else THSH can provide assistance to storm victims in our community. After some discussion, the board decided that since the damage varied in severity from person to person, we would not open a special donation project, and instead would take out a portion of savings from THSH’s funds to use as consolation funds. Any Taiwanese American community members who were forced to move to temporary housing due to flooding can apply for consolation funds, and each family will receive $500. These funds represent THSH’s care toward the victims of the storm, and we will bond together to get past these difficult times.

Eligibility to apply for consolation funds:

  1. Applicant must have valid membership in either THSH or TAA prior to 9/1/2017
  2. Applicant needs temporary housing due to flooding in home
  3. Must apply before October 31st, 2017

Application for funds will be open to any THSH or TAA members that meet above requirements. Anyone that would like to apply can contact us via email at tcc@houston-taiwanese.org or come to the Taiwanese Community Center to apply. We will confirm eligibility of the applicants and applicant identities will be kept confidential. We believe that after this storm, we can rebuild an even stronger Taiwanese American community. Thank you to everyone!

Articles


To I Dream of Nan-Ya - Vicki Huang
Lamar My Dog - Jiin Lin
To Be Taiwanese - Victor Hung


Event Previews (Event Calendar)


2017 Taiwanese American Heritage Scholarship

Founded in 1989, the Taiwanese Heritage Society of Houston (THSH) is committed to promoting Taiwanese American culture and serving the general public in the greater Houston area. The establishment of the Scholarship Program further affirms our ongoing effort to advocate for higher education and community service for young adults. Please visit our scholarship webpage for more information.  This year's application started on August 1, 2017.  All required documents must be received by October 6, 2017.  If you have any question,please email to THSH@houston-taiwanese.org. (Online Application)

October Events

3 National Marine Sanctuaries
Time: Saturday, October 7th, 12:30PM-1:30PM

Did you know? In the Gulf of Mexico outside of Galveston, there are three national marine sanctuaries. There are coral reefs, black coral, tropical fish, sharks, whales, creole fish, manta rays, coral spawn, etc. It’s a precious place for diving, exploring, studying ocean life and protecting deep sea animals. Ms. Kelly L. Drinnen used to work at Moody Gardens explaining the aquarium fish there to visitors. Now she works at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. She will be coming to talk to us about these three national marine sanctuaries and let everyone discover the world of ocean life. We hope everyone will demonstrate their interest and protect these areas.
Cost: free for both members and non-members (Online Registration)

Wills & Probate
Time: Saturday October 14th, 12:30PM-1:30PM

In July, Harris County Assistant County Attorney Ms. Susan Fillion came to explain living wills, which was very popular. Many people suggested inviting someone to explain how to create a trust fund. After contacting Harris County, we were informed that there is no such talk available. However, they will be sending Assistant County Attorney Mr. Brian A. Quintero to explain why you need to have a will, how to use a will, what to do if you don’t have a will, how to notarize and execute a will, etc. These are practical issues. Mr. Brian A. Quintero has been working at the Harris County Attorney’s Office since 1999 and has a wealth of experience and knowledge on these subjects. Hope that everyone will take advantage of this opportunity to attend.
Cost: free for both members and non-members. (Online Registration)
Reference: http://www.harriscountycao.org/

Know Your Post-Hurricane Rights as a Renter
Time: Saturday October 21st, 12:30PM-1:30PM
The flooding from August 27th caused many people to be occupied with cleaning and repairing homes. Many also needed to move out and rent a home to take care of these problems. Whether renting an apartment or house, as a renter, you may encounter some problems. The Harris County Attorney’s Office will invite Ms. Rosemarie Donnelly coming to teach us about your rights as a renter post-hurricane, so you can avoid difficulties from your landlord. Hope everyone will take advantage of this opportunity.  Cost: free for both members and non-members. (Online Registration)
Reference: http://www.harriscountycao.org/

One Day Field Trip- Waco, TX
Time: Tuesday, October 31st, 8AM-6:30PM

Waco is located along I-35 between Dallas and Austin. The Huaco Indians built this city in 1849 at what is now the city center. This is the birthplace of soft drink Dr. Pepper, the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. It’s also home to Baylor University, Texas State Technical College, and McLennan Community College. The scenery is beautiful and worth taking in. We will be visiting the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum, Indian Spring Park, Waco Suspension Bridge, and Waco Tourist Information Center. It’s a long trip you probably won’t take again for a while, so don’t miss this great opportunity!
Cost: Members $20, non-members $30. Includes all tickets and lunch. (Online Registration)

Reference: http://www.waco-texas.com/about.asp

November Events

Monarch Butterfly Migration
Time: Saturday, November 4th 12:30PM-1:30PM

Did you know? No insect migrates 2500 miles with the seasons. The monarch butterfly is the only exception. Because the winter is too cold in the U.S., most monarch butterflies cannot survive. Therefore, around October every year, they will migrate to Mexico or southern California, returning in March or April the following year, to the same tree they left behind. Why? Come to hear Dr. Nancy Grieg, director of the butterfly exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, explain. Not only is it fun, you’ll gain lots of insight!
Cost: free for both members and non-members. (Online Registration)
Reference: http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/monarch-migration.html

Highlight Texas Animals
Time: Saturday, November 18th, 12:30PM-1:30PM

Houston Zoo expert, Ms. DeAndra M. Ramsey came last year on October 22nd to talk about bats. The kids loved her fascinating lecture, so we’ve invited her to come tell us about some special an-imals in Texas. It will be unique and vivid! She’s taking time off to come speak to us for free, and we are very thankful. Please do not miss this chance!
Cost: free for both members and non-members. (Online Registration)

Reference: https://www.houstonzoo.org/

One Day Field Trip to Nacogdoches, TX
Time: Tuesday, November 21st, 8AM-6PM
Earlier this year (March 28th), we went to this city to admire the rhododendron flowers. At the time, half of the rhododendrons had already wilted, but everyone thought that the scenery in this small town was beautiful and we should come back again. The local tourism bureau advised that we come back in the autumn to see the maple leaves and other leaves changing colors, so we have decided to return to admire different scenery. At the same time, we’d like to enjoy the famous barbeque here. If time allows, we will also go hiking on Lanana Creek Trail since we regrettably did not have a chance to go last time.
Cost: Members $20, non-members $30. Includes all tickets and lunch. (Online Registration)

Reference: http://www.visitnacogdoches.org/

How to Hire a Repairman
Time: Saturday, December 9th, 12:30PM-1:30PM

People often ask: “I want to fix my house, but I wonder which home repairman is better? We are inviting Ms. Cindy Twyman from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to advise us: where to find more information about this, how to find a reliable repairman, how to create a repair contract, where to file a complaint if unsatisfied with the work, how to come to a resolution, et. Surely lots of people have faced similar issues before. We hope her talk will help us to prevent potential conflicts.
Cost: free for both members and non-members. (Online Registration)
Reference: https://www.bbb.org/houston

Event Highlights



On September 11th and 18th, an expert from Gateway to Care, Mrs. Doris Muinde, came to lead two classes about depression. Eight people participated. In the first class, she introduced the definition of depression. She said that every person will feel sad sometimes, but if you feel sad continuously for two weeks and lose motivation to do things, and develop other symptoms, that is depression. When depression becomes severe, people may commit suicide or harm others. What causes depression? Currently there is no clear answer. If you feel depressed on a seasonal basis, it is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and it is related to the geographical region where one lives. In the second class, she explained how to prevent depression, how to use medication and food to treat depression, how to exercise to reduce the severity of symptoms, and how family members can help those with depression. There was a good response from our participants, and some have suggested that if someone could translate, even more people would attend.


On September 16th, astronomer Ms. Debbie Moran came to talk about our location in the universe. Earth is only one planet among tens of millions of planets. The star nearest to earth is called “Sol”. It is part of the solar system. The sun is also an astronomical body, 93 million miles away from Earth. The moon is the astronomical body closest to the Earth, at a distance of 238,000 miles. The solar system has eight primary planetary bodies: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. If anyone is interested, she would be happy to give us more detailed explanations.


On September 23rd, Harry County Master Gardener Dr. Jean A. Fefer came to teach us about begonias. She said that begonias were introduced a French gardener, Charles Plumier, in 1690. The name comes from another gardener named Michel Begon. There are eight types of begonias: canes, shrubs, rhizomatous, semperflorens tuberous, rex culturom, trailing/scandent, and thick-stemmed. Her demonstration of raising and propagation of the flowers made it look easy. She also has donated five plants to us. Thanks to her for her enthusiasm!




9/30 Houston Taiwanese School of Language and Culture held open house to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.  In the past, Mid-Autumn Festival activities were mainly a series of traditional cultural activities. This year the school focused on reunion and food selection. Volunteers came to TCC in the morning to help prepare authentic Taiwanese foods.  Thanks to all the participants and volunteers, we had a wonderful Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.

Other Community News


Taiwanese Movie Appreciation Night - Super Citizen Ko
Date/Time: October 3, 2017 @ 7:00PM
Location: AMC Studio 30: 2949 Dunvale Rd.Houston, TX 77063
Directed by Wan Jen, the movie talked about a man who spent 30 years in prison and institutions during the “White Terror “period and who tried to search the truth and a part of himself.
Free Admission but do need to email to tw.academy.houston@moc.gov.tw to make the reservation
Reservation Deadline: October 1, 2017

TACL Toastmasters Monthly Activities
Have you ever been afraid to speak in public?  Want to improve on your speaking, critical thinking, leadership or English?  We invite you to visit us, to see what Toastmaster is about!   We meet at the Taiwanese Community Center, room 203, Monday nights 7:30 - 9:00pm. Highlights from the past month:
8/21, Great meeting this week with awesome speeches by Peggy on slowing down and Phil on striving for a better club climate!  Patrick led a super fun topic on single life.  From the attached photo, you can see how members enjoy the meeting!  It is educational and yet entertaining.

  • 8/28, In light of the historic rain & flooding, club contest was cancelled.  Please stay safe, don't go out unless you absolutely have to.
  • 9/4, There was no meeting.  Club contest was postponed to 9/11.    9/11 is a day filled with pain for many memorializing the devastation but let's show our resilience recovering and becoming stronger when life threw challenges on us.
  • 9/11, club contest day finally arrived.  It was great to see all our fellow members again, all safe and dry!  We had a fun contest w/ good food, sharp evaluations and hilarious speeches!  Congrats to Kevin first place evaluations and Shang second.  The most hilarious TACL member is Shang 1st place and Lorrine 2nd!  Thank you to all the contestants, judges and guests for coming and helping out after all the Harvey craziness and traffic!
Check us out online at on Facebook @TACLtoastmasters or www.TACLclub.toastmastersclubs.org

Houston Taiwanese Golden Club
October 2017 activity - Medicare Presentation
Date : October 23 Monday at 6:00 pm
Location: Taiwanese Community Center (5885 Point West , Houston TX 77036)
Speaker:  Wendy Lin
Contact: Ron Huang (713-256-8030)
**  Dinner will be provided (member $5, non-member $10)

2017 FAPA Annual Meeting
Date:  October 28, 2017 (Saturday)
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Taiwanese Community Center
Speaker:  Ms. Jennifer Hu J.D, Deputy Executive Officer of Global Taiwan Institute (GTI)
Program: Ms. Jennifer Hu will share with us the mission of GTI, long term and short term work and goal, what they’ve been doing since the establishment of GTI, and ways that Taiwanese American can participate in the public affairs to help Taiwan.  Other than the speech, we will also have some young FAPA members come to share with us their experiences when attending the FAPA Members meeting in Washington D.C. at the end of September.  Dinner and raffle drawings included.
Fees: Members and donation supporters are free (This is not a fundraising dinner, but donation is welcome and appreciated)
Registration:  Please email ckmkuo@gmail.com before October 21, 2017 to register

October Newsletter of T.A. Archives 2017


TCC Announcements


  1. The Clothing and Food Drive started on September 1st and we have already received donations from many people. This event will end on November 30th. This year, we will be donating everything to Turning Point Center’s new shelter for victims of domestic violence. There are eight families with a total of 28 people, including children aged 3 to 9 and their mothers. At times, the shelter takes in up to 40 people. Their most needed food items are milk powder, canned corn, canned green beans, and canned mixed vegetables. Their most needed clothing items are large towels, twin bedsheets and children’s clothes and shoes. If you have these items in clean and sanitary condition (do not need to be new), they would love to have them, and you are welcome to donate.
  2. Ms. Jane Chen, yoga instructor from Blissfulbody, has been teaching yoga for free every Wednesday since May 10th. There are 4-5 students participating, but due to Ms. Chen’s new job, she will no longer be able to teach the class starting in October. We’re very thankful to Ms. Chen’s help and hope we will be able to continue the yoga class someday.
  3. Nutrition and Body Exercise Workshop by Ms. Emily Chen of the Light and Salt Association (originally schedule on October 21st ) is temporarily cancelled this time due to currently they are busy in helping with the Hurricane Harvey recovering services.  This workshop will be rescheduled for another time in the future.
  4. The B.I.G Love Cancer Care Fun Run originally scheduled for September 24th has been postponed until December 10th due to Hurricane Harvey. Please pay attention to our event announcements and join us to participate in this meaningful event.
  5. On September 26th, we originally planned to visit Port Arthur, TX. Unfortunately, they were hit by Hurricane Harvey at the end of August, and their oil refineries, chemical plants, and other factories were severely damaged. Even their roads, parks, and museums were destroyed and will take several months to repair. The local tourism bureau has suggested we wait to go visit, so we are postponing this trip and will go when they have finished recovering.

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