健美耆年

September 23, 2007

Dear friends and members:

We are a group of special and fortunate people. Most of the members were unscathed by Communism or the Cultural Revolution, but pampered by cuisines from a sub-tropical fertile island and enriched by diverse regional customs. We then found ourselves in a peninsula with long industrial traditions across the oceans. As modern women in the 21st century, we continue the tradition of caring for others, but we also need to look after our own physical and psychological well-being by exercising our bodies and minds. As we grow older together, we find that “we are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” (a quote from the poet Gwendolyn Brooks’ “Paul Robeson.”)

How we grow old together is the theme of my presidency. I call the theme “Aging Gracefully.” This means:

To pay attention to our diet;
To think about housing and hospitalization;
To surround ourselves with beauty;
To celebrate holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother’s Day with friends;
To make new and diverse friends;
To continue to share lunch once a month with senior citizens;
To sponsor activities with other organizations, such as the Taiwanese Chamber of
Commerce of Greater Detroit, American Association of University Women;
To help improve our youngsters’ social life and to write family history and memoirs for
their benefits.

I would like to meet members in four Dutch treat luncheons throughout the year. I hope you let me know how I can contact you, which event for which you would like to serve as a volunteer, and when you can lunch with me.

With the support of the Board members, we are going to institute annual membership dues of $10 this year to support our activities. Of course, if you wish to donate more in addition, we would appreciate your generosity very much and will acknowledge it as a tax-deductible contribution to a non-profit organization. Please fill out the membership form and enclose it with your check payable to MCWA (Michigan Chinese Women Association) in the envelope provided. The Board members will collect it before the end of the evening. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,


Amy D. Seetoo
MCWA President, 2007/2008

親愛的會員與朋友,

我們是一群又特殊又幸運的人. 我們多未經驗過共產主義或文化大革命. 我們是在一亞熱帶的寶島長大, 豐衣足食, 享受各地的美食及習俗. 我們又有緣漂洋過海來到這有長久工業傳統的半島上相聚. 身為二十一世紀的現代女性, 我們繼續著照顧家人的傳統, 但我們也需常常動腦動身以維護我們自己的身心健康. 當我們一起邁向老年, 我們了解 ‘ 我們是你我的收成, 我們是你我的責任, 我們是你我的宏偉與結合’ (Gwendolyn Brooks的詩).

--我們如何一同邁向老年就是我今年的主題, 也就是 ‘健美耆年’. 這包括:
--如何注意我們的飲食;
--如何考慮我們將來的住宿, 長期療養, 住院須知等;
--如何在美的環境中生活;
--與朋友一同慶祝佳節, 包括感恩節. 聖誕節, 母親節;
--結交代表其他種族的新朋友;
--繼續與長青會會員聚餐;
--與其他社團合辦活動, 包括台灣商會, 美國大學婦女協會 等;
--如何改進我們子女的社交生活, 並未他們寫家庭歷史.
我希望能在一年四次的午餐中與各位會員有又更進一步的認識. 這是各自付錢的聚餐. 我希望您能告訴我如何與您聯絡, 您要在哪一項活動做義工, 您何時有空與我共餐.
在董事會的支持下, 我們決定今年開始收會費, 每年每家十元來做為我們辦活動的經費. 當然, 若您希望再多捐錢, 我們更求之不得. 我們會正式感謝您對非營利組織的支持. 請您把會員表填好, 將支票 (抬頭寫MCWA), 放進所提供的信封, 交給林美麗女士(新財務), 或任何一位董事.
謝謝您的支持, 祝您萬事如意, 耆年健美.

2007/2008會長

司徒達森