Katy’s report in World Journal (世界日報): OCA celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year

(Katy’s dispatch to World Journal, 世界日報, reporting the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration by Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA, 美華協會匹茲堡分會), was published today, January 26.  You may read directly the online version.)

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjnjpanews/17294918/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E7%BE%8E%E8%8F%AF%E5%8D%94%E6%9C%83-%E6%AD%8C%E8%88%9E%E6%85%B6%E9%BE%8D%E5%B9%B4?instance=nj2

 

The “Exit Rabbit, Enter Dragon” festive event took place at Syria Shrine Center (敘利亞廟堂) on January 21, 2012.  More than 300 people, bracing the snow, attended and enjoyed a lovely and lively evening.

On behalf of OCA, the daughter of the dance teacher, Chiapih Shaw (謝家碧) invited the winners of five states pageants (Vermont, Connecticut, Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia—they are to compete for the title of Miss America) to attend the celebration.  The winners of Miss Teen state pageants were also invited.  Their presence added glamour and enhanced the festive mood.  Kiara Lin, the Butler County Young Miss, was also present.  They were busy signing photos.

The masters of ceremony were Timyka Artist (from Channel 11 TV News) and Karen Yee (余月紅).  There were many honor guests that included Congressman Tim Murphy, the president of Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST-P), Zipei Tu (涂子沛), the president of Chinese Restaurant Association, Michael Chen (陳飛) and Dali Lee (李大立) from Tzu-Chi Foundation.

Karen Yee announced the winners of Congress Service Award: Emily Kuo and Myah Olson (歐頌萍).  The entertainment was provided by OCA, Tzu-Chi and Zang TKD.  The program included splendid performance of music and dance that was painstakingly planned by Chiapih Shaw (謝家碧) and her daughter—Feather Fan Dance (羽扇舞), Welcoming the New Year (迎新年), Spring Showers (春舞), Flag Dance (揮旗舞) and Ribbon Dance (彩帶 舞).  The highlight of the program was the fashion show that exhibits the beauty and dignity of the Qing Dynasty Court.

All guests were treated with scrumptious cuisines provided by the Chinese Restaurant Association. The proceeds from the raffle tickets sale and the red envelopes ‘devoured’ by the lions in the Lion Dance will be used as the OCA charitable funds.

OCA President Andy Ai (艾元方) stated that OCA has sponsored many activities, actively participated in Pittsburgh local and national affairs, promote Chinese culture, advocated and ensured Asian Pacific American civil right.  Those who are interested in becoming an OCA member, please get the info online, http://www.ocapghpa.org/. (Katy Tsai, 張瓊月)

(The following is Katy’s dispatch.)

匹茲堡美華協會 歌舞慶龍年

【賓州匹茲堡訊】 世界新聞網 北美華文新聞、華商資訊

January 26, 2012 06:00 AM

  

美華協會匹茲堡分會在除夕夜假敘利亞廟堂（Syria Shrine Center）舉行龍年新春聯歡晚宴，300多位華洋人士冒著風雪出席，場面熱鬧非凡.

民族舞蹈老師謝家碧女兒邀請十位分別獲得佛蒙特州、康乃狄克州、印第安納州、賓州、西維吉尼亞州選美優勝的美國小姐與妙齡小姐，以及賓州巴特勒郡小姐、華裔林文玉一起參加中國年晚宴，她們在會場分贈各界來賓五州佳麗的簽名合照.

當晚節目由11號電視台的阿替斯（Timyka Artist）與余月紅（Karen Yee）主持，與會嘉賓包括賓州國會眾議員墨菲（Tim Murphy）、中國旅美科技協會主席涂子沛、中國餐飲協會理事長陳飛、慈濟負責人李大立等.

余 月紅在會中宣布，今年美華協會的國會社會服務銀、銅獎頒給Emily Kuo和歐頌萍（Myah Olson）兩位學生。當晚表演除有美華協會醒獅團、舞蹈團，還有Zang TKD的跆拳道及耍龍，與會者享用由匹茲堡中餐協會烹製的佳餚，觀賞謝家碧母女精心策畫的歌舞「羽扇舞」、「迎新年」、「春舞」、「揮旗舞」、「彩帶 舞」。清朝宮廷服裝表演是當晚活動高潮之一.

該會會長艾元方（Andy Ai）表示，去年舉辦很多活動，大家除了辦好美華協會活動，還積極參與美國匹茲堡本地和國家的事務，並宣揚中華文化，宣導與確保美國亞太裔公民權益。有意加入匹茲堡美華協會者，可上網 http://www.ocapghpa.org/ 查詢.  (記者 張瓊月)