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From left to right: Rose Veneklasen, Carol Korhonen, Kevin Wong, Patsy Lee
(Thomas Veneklasen Photography)
6月25日图桑华人文化中心正式接受”图桑红线家庭”为该中心最新的一个部门。图桑华人协会主席Patsy Lee，继任主席Kevin Wong以及红线家庭的代表Carol Korhonen, Rose Veneklasen共同剪彩，标志这个组织进入一个新篇章。红线家庭的前身是南亚利桑那收养中国孩子家庭协会。新的名称取意于一条红丝线联接众多家庭。
至此图桑华人文化中心拥有五个部门，即图桑中文学校、图桑耆老会、图桑舞狮队、图桑华人历史协会、图桑红线家庭。
Tucson Chinese Cultural Center Welcomes the Tucson Red Thread Families
It was a warm day on Saturday, June 25th, outside the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. In contrast, the temperature was cool inside, but the warmth outside was reflected in the hearts of the TCA Board in providing a welcome luncheon event for its newest program – the Tucson Red Thread Families – comprising members of the former Southern Arizona Families with Children From China (SAFCC).
The festivities began in grand ceremonious style. The TCA Board and the RT families joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a sampling of what the TCCC offers the Tucson community – the best of Chinese culture; fellowship; entertainment; excellent food, and just plain fun! Current TCA President, Patsy Lee, and President-Elect, Kevin Wong, together with RT Committee members, Carol Korhonen and Rose Veneklasen, cut the red ‘ribbon’, symbolic of the legend of the red thread that links the lives of those destined to be together, and often used by the Chinese adoption community to indicate the connection between adoptive families and their Chinese children.
The ceremonies continued in the TCCC’s Multi-Purpose Room with heartful speeches. Outgoing TCA President Patsy Lee welcomed the families with humorous anecdotes, before retiring to the kitchen to help prepare the afternoon’s feast with other veteran TCA volunteers, such as John Kai and James Tong, working behind the scenes to make sure delicious Chinese food contributed to the wonderful event. Representing the Red Thread Families (RTF) Committee, Rose Veneklasen shared a little about the history of SAFCC, reflecting on some of the combined events and common goals/interests of the two groups, in addition to a rapid decline of Chinese adoptions over the past 5 years, that ultimately led to the creation of this new program.
During lunch, the TCCC members and RTF guests enjoyed a slide show of images from both groups’ past events. Adults and kids lined up for a yummy buffet of marinated chicken, fried rice, sauteed summer veggies, crabmeat rangoons, egg rolls, and watermelon. While families mingled and enjoyed their lunches, several TCCC volunteers were available to provide information regarding some of the Center’s other programs.
Following lunch, the adults continued their social interactions while kids of all ages had fun playing Wii games, ping pong, and singing karaoke. The fun lasted well beyond the closing time, with TCCC staff generously providing support so that a great time was had by all.
(report by Mark Sorensen, markstucson@yahoo.com)
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