Chinese Culture Group of Greater Grand Rapids

The new Board of Directors were voted in at the June 23, 2007 meeting. Many thanks go out to the Board for the commitment and sacrifice they make to ensure our group events run smoothly.

Dan Richter is stepping up to the Chair position with Mark Elenbaas now filling the Vice Chair position. Mike Pikaart will remain the group Treasurer and we have three Member-at-Large positions being filled by: Lori Visser, Gale Lanning and Kevin Weber.

If you’d like to congratulate a board member or if you ever need to get in touch with one of us, please visit the Contact Us page and click one of the email links.

CCGGGR Webmaster

The 3rd annual silent auction is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, 2007 from 6:30-9pm at Ming Ten Restaurant located at 2090 Celebration Dr. NE Suite 215 in Grand Rapids, MI 49525

The event format will be similar to past years in that we will be donating the proceeds to a charitable organization in China. This year we’ve selected Grace and Hope for Children which is a non-profit organization that seeks to place as many kids as possible with foster families in China. For more information on GHC please visit their website at http://www.grace-hope.org

Ming Ten has generously partnered with us this year and is offering our group a reduced rate in addition to waiving the fee for the banquet room. The reduced rate for the buffet will allow us to donate $5 for every adult price to Grace and Hope for Children. The buffet is fabulous, and they even have an all you can eat Sushi bar which is the best deal in town. Cost includes all you can eat buffet, soft drink and tip.

• Children under 10 are just $4
• Ages 11 and above are $15 ($5 of the each adult price will be donated to GHC)

Space is limited to 70 people so we ask that families RSVP via the form below.

3rd Annual Silent Auction/Buffet Sign Up

Click here for a list of items that will be available to bid on.  Note that this list will evolve as new items are added.  Silent Auction Donor List

At the end of March an invitation to serve on the board was extended to all members. To date, the executive committee hasn’t received any responses. Fortunately, several board members have stepped up and plan to run for another two year term, but we need your help to make these next two years our best ever. This year we plan to re-institute sub-committees to ensure meeting are planned and run smoothly. If you can’t commit to a two year or one year post please consider serving on one of the sub-committees (Education, Communication, Facility & other major event committees)

Serving on the board can be very rewarding and is a great way to get connected with the group. Please contact a board member if you are interested in one of these positions. For a list of board member email addresses go to http://ccgggr.org/content/contact-us/

Two Year Term Positions:

Chairperson - Dan Richter has expressed interest in this position
Vice Chairperson - Mark Elenbaas has expressed interest in this position
Secretary
Treasurer

One Year Term Positions:

Member at Large - Gale Lanning has expressed interest in this position
Member at Large

I love to keep up-to-date on what’s going on in China but often don’t have the time to scan the web. So, I implemented RSS feeds on the CCGGGR site to gather daily news feeds from two sources: Radio Free Asia and Peoples Daily Online.

News feeds are available at China News Feeds - RSS to read more of an article click on the article name and it will direct you to the appropriate website to continue reading. If you know of any other websites that offer a XML or RSS feed please email Mark

Enjoy

We’re combining our June and July meetings this year. We’ll be meeting again at the 8th Ave Georgetownn Township Park located on 8th Ave South of Chicago Drive in Jenison. Please try to arrive at 11am as we will be voting in new board members.

By the way, we still have some open board positions, if you’re interested please contact a board member. This year we will be relying on sub-committees to help share the load, especially for some of our larger meetings like Christmas, Chinese New Year and Citizenship Celebration. If you’re interested in serving in a more limited short term capacity like on a sub-committee please email the Secretary Mark Elenbaas

For those that have never been to this park, it has a public beach and covered pavillion with tables. There is an entrance fee for non Georgetown residents. According to their website the fee is $3 per adult and $1 per children under 12

The meeting will be potluck style so we ask that each family bring a salad or fruit to pass. There are charcoal grills available to grill your meat and someone from the board will be bringing some charcoal and lighter fluid to get the fire going for the rest of us Don’t forget to bring place settings and drinks for your family.

Hope to see you there

CCGGGR Board

Coming this June, all current board member positions will be expiring. Spring is upon us and Summer is right around the corner so we wanted to give you plenty of time to consider serving on the board this next term. Serving on the board can be very rewarding and is a great way to get connected with the group. Please contact a board member if you are interested in one of these positions. For a list of board member email addresses go to http://ccgggr.org/content/contact-us/

Two Year Term Positions:

Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer

One Year Term Positions:

Member at Large (2 positions)

Please join us at Cascade Christian Church on Saturday, April 21 from 8:30 - Noon. We will be splitting into three groups for this meeting:

• Waiting to Travel
• Home Land Tours by Lotus Travel
• Panda Pals (Children in grades 3rd - Jr. High)

The Waiting to Travel group is especially helpful for families that will traveling this year. This event is very well attended and is packed with information.  The Waiting to Travel panel includes families that have traveled to China and have lots of tips to share. The home land tour presentation is new this year and is timely as many of our CCGGGR families have older kids and may be considering a home land tour in the not to distant future. Panda Pals has a special event planned to create blankets for some of the orphanages in China.

This year the event cost is $15 which can be paid at the event.

Cascade Christian Church is located at 2829 Thornapple River Dr.

Respectfully,

CCGGGR Board

Due to the slippery roads and extreme cold weather, tonights meeting is cancelled. The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 13th.

Thanks,

CCGGGR Board

Don’t let the cold weather keep you away from our Chinese New Year meeting. We just received word that the Chinese Village dancers will be performing a brand new dance that they will be performing at the Chinese Association event later this month.

Lily An also has a craft planned for the kids that will help decorate your house for the Chinese New Year. I’m sure she can also help us all learn the traditional new year greeting. Lily will also have tickets to the Chinese Association Gala event which will take place on February 24th. For more details you can visit the CAWM website.

Happy New Year
Xīnnián kuàilè

Come celebrate the year of the Pig. Get dressed up in your favorite Chinese outfit and enjoy a family style potluck dinner. Bring a dish to pass and your favorite dessert. Punch and table settings will be provided by the group. We will meet at Our Lady of Consolation located in Rockford, for a MapQuest link click here.

Social time begins from 6-6:30
Dinner from 6:30-7:15

Entertainment: The Panda Pals will be performing the Lion Dance. Of course, it wouldn’t be CNY without firecrackers….at least the sound of firecrackers as our kids jump of bubble wrap. Bring your earplugs and definately bring your camera’s and camcorders.

Happy New Year
Xīnnián kuàilè (pronounced Shin nian kuai la)