Once again the Arcadia Chinese Association impressed local officials and residents with a pleasant and enjoyable “Get To Know You” party and annual ceremony for the installation of 2009-10 officers and board of directors, led by incoming President Pearl Chen and Chairperson of the Board Polly Ho.
l-r: Sho Tay, Pearl Chen, Polly Ho
This is a volunteer group that has been exemplary in finding ways to support and become a part of the community by providing scholarships, funding and other resources for Arcadia education and, as outgoing President Sho Tay noted in his comments, dozens of social, cultural, and business events each year. There were about 150 attendees and not a single one we spoke with had anything but high praise for the relaxing and entertaining evening last Thursday, July 23, at the Sunset Room of the Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia.
Pearl Chen with Arcadia Police Department Sergeant Brian Ortiz
Josephine Louie was Master of Ceremonies and Mayor Pro Tem Peter Amundson handled the installation of officers and directors and presented a certificate of appreciation to Sho. Among the others presenting certificates were Arcadia Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Zimmerman, Arcadia Police Department Sergeant Brian Ortiz, and Brian Mejia, representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Certificates were also provided from Assemblyman Anthony Adams and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino.
l-r: Polly Ho, Josephine Louie, Pearl Chen, Peter Poon, John Tsai, Hee Horn Shuai
In her gracious speech, Pearl, a 20-year realtor now with RE/MAX, said this year’s theme is “volunteering in our community” and that the ACA goal is to “raise more money at our October 3rd fundraising dinner event so that we can give more back to the community we all love.” ACA will continue to “promote communication, understanding, respect and appreciation among all ethnic groups in Arcadia,” she said.
Polly read a quote from poet Rabindranath Tagore reflecting what she feels is the “symbiotic relationship between joy and service that Arcadia Chinese Association recognizes: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was duty. I acted and behold-Duty was joy.”
l-r: Pearl Chen, Kevin Zimmerman; Beth Costanza, Mary Rovarino (Exec. Dir. Arcadia Assoc. of Realtors), Polly Ho
ACA thanked Southern California Edison, Paul Yeh, program sponsor, and Aaron/Shirley Lam for the donation of the gift basket.
Other new ACA officers: Peter Poon, Vice President; Josephine Louie, Vice President; Joanna Liang, Secretary; and Susan Chang, Treasurer.
ACA committee chairpersons: Alice Wang, Senior Citizen Club; David Lee, Program; Jack Chiu, Photography; Josephine Louie, Asian Business; Julie Yu, Hospitality; Sherry Liang, School District; Sho Tay, Community; and Sunday Xu, Website.
Other ACA board directors: Alice Wu, Amanda Chang, Angeline Chen, Arnold Chien, Edward Wong, Jane Wuo, Joann Yu, Drew Wang, Lily Mak, Lynn Chang, Mary Chiu, May Tu, Paul Yeh, Philip Tsang, Shelley Liu, Tao Kuo, Tina Hwang, Ting Wang, and Yvonne Lee.
l-r: Peter Poon, Barbara Kovacic, Gary Kovacic, Sylvia Yu, Pearl Chen, Polly Ho, Joann Yu, Nancy Chen
Other officials, dignitaries and community leaders in attendance: Arcadia City Councilmen Bob Harbicht and Gary Kovacic; Arcadia City Manager Don Penman; Arcadia School Board members Joann Steinmeier and Janet Chew; Arcadia Fire Chief Tony Trabbie; Arcadia Chamber of Commerce executive director Beth Costanza and staff member Jan Shimmin; Donna Wang, President of the Arcadia Chinese Lions Club; Steve Gutierrez, President of Arcadia Lions Club; Imy Dulake, President of Arcadia Rotary Club; James Helms, Master of Masonic Temple of Arcadia; Drew Pryor, 2nd Vice President of the Arcadia Firefighters Association; community leaders Carol Libby, David Leong, and Mary Dougherty, and many others.