• Potluck Dinner (Each family needs to bring a main dish to pass. Deserts are optional).
• Moon Festival Story.
• Arts & Crafts.
• Fireworks.
• Glow Stick Hunt

The cost of this event is $5.00 per family which will help to pay for supplies and facility rental costs. To sign up for this event, please click on the following link: http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/moon-festival-signup/

On Saturday October 18, 2008 (From 10 AM - ??) we will be going to Klackle Orchards: http://www.klackleorchards.com/. For those of you who have never been to Klackle, you’re in for a very memorable time. There are over a dozen activities to do for the kids including:

• Wagon Ride with 1/4 peck of apples to pick
• Enchanted Pumpkin Ride (Starts Sept. 29th)
• Inflatables
• Animal Crackers Petting Zoo
• Face Painting
• Barrel Train Ride
• Pedal Carts, Tractors & Trikes
• Field of Fun (Maze, BMX Track, Apple Shoot, Putt Putt Pumpkin)
• Coaster Slide Area
• Picnic Areas
• Bonfires

• BMX Track
• Putt Putt Pumpkin
• Straw Tower
• Corn Maze

The cost of this event is $10.00 per person (to be paid on the date of the event). This cost includes all aforementioned activities as well as donuts and cider for all attendees, a private tractor ride to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch, and a private meeting/gathering place. A rain date is scheduled for 10-25-08 in case Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate with us on the 18th.

On Saturday November 8, 2008 (From 10:30 AM - 2 PM), we have an event planned for Craig’s Cruisers in Grand Rapids: http://www.craigscruisers.com/ For $11.99 kids get to choose from 2 activities that includes laser tag, bumper cars, co-carts, frog hopper, and ropes course. The $11.99 cost includes an all-you-can eat buffet. Additional activities can be added for $4.00 more. Adult chaperons do not have to pay for activities and can pay a separate cost for the buffet if they just want to eat. Children 36 inches and smaller eat free at the buffet (the buffet last for up to 3 hours and contains 50 items). There are really no activities for kids under 36 inches other than video games.

On Saturday December 6, 2008, we will be having our annual Holiday Party from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM at Golden Gate Restaurant located at 4023 S Division Ave/Grand Rapids, MI 49548. The telephone number for the restaurant is 616-534-7087. Back in 2004 we had a group meal/cooking demonstration at this restaurant. Aside from good food, the hospitality of the owners was incredible! They are very excited to have us back and are opening the restaurant especially for our group (they are typically closed on Saturday afternoon). Presently, there are options for a buffet style dinner. If you are interested in attending and ordering a buffet, please click on the following link: http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/christmas-signup/ If there is minimal/limited interested in a buffet, families can order from their menu. The deadline for signing up is November 24, 2008. Here’s to a great fall! Peace - Dan Richter, Chairperson

]]> http://ccgggr.org/content/2008/08/15/fall-2008-schedule/feed/ http://ccgggr.org/content/2008/08/07/great-resource-for-coverage-on-beijing-olympics/ http://ccgggr.org/content/2008/08/07/great-resource-for-coverage-on-beijing-olympics/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:06:09 +0000 Mark http://ccgggr.org/content/?p=87 Check out http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/category/sports/2008-olympics/ for coverage and facts pertaining to the Beijing Olympics.

You can check out other China related news feeds at http://ccgggr.org/content/china-news-feeds-rss/

Let the games begin!

Mark

This information will help with the planning process.  Thanks - Dan Richter

With Summer approaching there are several cultural opportunities for you and your family. In June, FFIC will be holding its annual Heritage Camp from June 17-June 20, 2008. For more information go to: http://www.fficgr.org/id3.html

On July 26, 2008 the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Dragon Boat Race For Literacy at Ping Tom Park in Chicago, Illinois (for more information go to: http://www.chicagochinatown.org/). To celebrate this event, there are several families from our local FCC group who will be traveling to Chicago for the weekend.

We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Mayan Adventure Indoor Water Park in Elmhurst, Illinois http://mayanindoorwaterpark.reachlocal.com/coupon/?scid=180826&cid=177176&tc=08051015115926832&dynamic_proxy=1&primary_serv=mayanindoorwaterpark.reachlocal.net&se_refer=http%253A%252F%252Fsearch.yahoo.com%252Fsearch%253Fp%253Dmayan%252Badventure%252Belmhurst%2526ei%253DUTF-8%2526fr%253Dmoz2. This hotel offers reasonable rates and includes an indoor water park that should be fun for all ages.

Additionally, there is a commuter train station 5 minutes from the hotel, offering hourly commutes into Chinatown. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the train station, depending on interest level. For more information about fares and schedules, please visit: http://metrarail.com/. The Elmhurst station is on the pink line and is a 35-40 minute ride into Chicago.

An agenda for activities has been developed as follows:

Friday:

· Check-in time is 2 PM

· Dinner will be on your own

· Meet at the pool (open until 10 PM)

Saturday:

· Dragon Boat Festival is from 9 AM to 4 PM (come and go as you please)

· Pizza Party at the Pool at 5 PM

· Swimming until 10 PM

Sunday:

· Breakfast on your own

· 11 AM check out

· You may enjoy the pool until 3 PM

From July 28th through August 1st, Chinese Village & Young Champions will be holding a Wushu Summer Camp for ages 6 on up.  For more information please visit their website at: http://chinesevillage.org

From August 8th through August 10th Families Through Adoption (Char Lanning’s organization) is planning a weekend gathering to celebrate the Olympics in Beijing. For more information, go to their website: http://familiesthroughadoption.org/celebrate.htm

I hope everyone enjoys a memorable summer. Peace – Dan Richter, CCGGGR chairperson.

This year we celebrate the Year of the Rat. The party will be potluck style so please bring a hot and cold dish to pass. We will provide place settings and something to drink. For more details please email mark@markandmelissa.com

6:30-7:30 - Announcements and dinner (potluck)
7:30 - Traditional Lion dance by members of The Panda Pals
7:45 - New Year Games (rat pinata to celebrate “The Year Of The Rat”)
8:00 - Humorous short video of Frank Jiang explaining how the order of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac came to be.
8:05 - Closing with an outdoors firework display

Thanks,

Mark

Our families are unique, but we share a common thread, which together makes up a mosaic of the Chinese adoption experience.

Let’s share our collective family stories
Come share your story using video, photos, stories, souvenirs, etc.
Each family limited to 10 minutes

We will meet on January 18th from 6:30 - 8:30 at Keystone Community Church located at 655 Spaulding in Ada, MI

Please RSVP to Dan Richter via email if you plan on showing a video or presenting something else for this event.

xie xie,

Mark

There are still some items left from the silent auction that will be available to bid on as well. In addition to the auction items there will be two custom prints by artist Xi Xiang He that we will be raffling off, tickets will be $5 each.

Please plan to bring a hot and a cold dish to pass. The group is providing coffee, juice and place settings.

Agenda

• 6:30 - 6:40 Greetings
• 6:40 - 7:15 Dinner
• 7:15 - 7:30 Chinese Village Dancers
• 7:30 - 8:00 Kids craft

Prints from Xi Xiang He

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

CCGGGR Board

For event details click here. If you’re interested in donating an item or need more information, please contact a board member listed on our Contact Us page.

Current Donations that will be available for bidding on November 13, 2007

The Mud Room has donated a Studio for 4 which is a $75 value. They are located in Ada Village, check out their website at www.themudroom.us or give Rachel a call to setup your own creative day or night out. 616-682-9706

Family to receive a $350 credit towards their application fee when signing up for any of the AAI international programs. A great gift for any family currently looking into international adoption. They have a lot of international programs so please check out their website at www.adoptassoc.com

Cold Stone Creamery has donated one medium Midnight Delight cake. Chocolate lovers are going to be battling it out for this item.

Great Wall China Adoption is donating 2 very nice books that were printed by the CCAA. The books are titled Elder Respecting and contain heart warming stories that teach morals like respect much like William J. Bennett’s - The Book of Virtues. Check out Great Walls website at www.gwca.org

Grand Rapids Area YMCA is donating a 3 month membership which is a $279 value. Visit their website at www.grymca.org

 

Chris Lin, Author of the award winning children’s book Mandy and Pandy Say, Ni Hao Ma? is donating (3) copies. Book comes with a CD.

“Mandy and Pandy say “Ni Hao Ma?” has been such a hit with our Chinese students and their parents. The pictures are so much fun and the story teaches great language, from family and friends to playing in the park. We can’t wait for other ‘Mandy and Pandy’ stories to come out.”  Shelley Whiddon Jabberü, Foreign Language Learning for Kids

RKS

Owner Kim Swanson of RKS Salon has donated a $30 gift certificate. Read on for a great endorsement from a very satisfied customer. (Grand Rapids City Search.com)

“On my search for a stylist that knows how to cut naturally curly hair, I ran across RKS Salon in the yellow pages…..Well let me tell you, I have never had a better hair cut in my entire life! KIM IS JUST AWESOME!!! She gave me a cut that I can actually work with and look GREAT, she also did color correction the first time I went in and she did a great job on that as well.. She never RUSHED through the process. Thanks Kim you’re FANTASTIC!!! I HIGHLY recommend this salon to any woman that wants a great experience!”

D.A. Blodgett

D.A. Blodgett is donating (2) Follow Jade and (2) Mei Mei and Me videos that are great for learning the basics of the Chinese language.

XiXiang He

Local artist XiXiang He is donating 3 art pieces. You may remember XiXiang from when he held a calligraphy class for our group in January.

The event will be a potluck dinner so please bring both a hot and cold dish to pass. This will be our first time meeting at Keystone Community Church which is located at 655 Spaulding Ave. in Ada, MI (Fulton & Spaulding) You can do your own Google Map search or click here for a map

September 14, 2007 from 6:30-8:30 at Keystone Community Church

Tentative Agenda:

Word Scramble Game for older kids
Potluck Dinner
Story time for group
Glow Stick Hunt for kids with paper lanterns

During this event we will be auctioning off the beautiful Chinese scroll pictured below. The scroll
measures 6′ long and 2′ 2″ wide. Happy bidding.

Cost for the event is $5 unless dues for the whole year have already been paid. Hope you can make it. Please register for this event using the sign up form located at
http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/moon-festival-signup/

CCGGGR Board

Who: Any child adopted from China that has not previously participated

Where: Keystone Church, Ada, MI

When: October 8, 2007, 6:30pm

This is a ceremony to celebrate our children’s US Citizenship. Your child became a citizen during the swearing in at the US Consulate in Guangzhou. As you remember this was an exciting and emotional event. Unfortunately, most of our family & friends were unable to attend this exciting event in your child’s life. We know that many of them would have loved to witness that moment. This is our way of giving you the chance to share that moment with them here at home.

Please join Michigan Representative Tom Pearce as he presents each child with a certificate. Family & friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Cost is $5 per family and cake and punch will be served. Bring your cameras.

Please RSVP by September 15^th to be a part of the ceremony.
RSVP at http://ccgggr.org/content/signup/citizenship-celebration-signup/