2011 December 16 ACA Christmas Lunch
Almost 100 people attended this festive event at Fuji Japanese Buffet in Madison Heights to enjoy the good food and wonderful companionship to start the holiday celebrations.
2011 December 15 Chinese Cuisine Cooking Contest
ACA and the Confucius Institute at Wayne State University co-sponsored this fun event. Five four-person teams competed for prizes with a panel of judges and the audience casting votes for their favorite dishes. Each team created one rice dish and a dish of their choice.
2011 December 4 ACA High School Achievement Awards Banquet
This is the 28th year of this annual high school achievement awards program. We were pleased to be working with our co-sponsors the Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) and the Detroit Chinese Engineers Association (DCEA) again this year.
We were proud to recognize 31 local high school students for their achievements:
Ujwal Bharath (Troy HS), Jessica Chen (Andover HS), Rachna Chhaya (Novi HS), Momeesha Dasgupta (Troy HS), Gabrielle Gaitan (Mott HS), Connie Gao (Utica HS), Nisha Gopal (Plymouth HS), Evan Yifan Hsueh (Troy HS), Angela Huang (Novi HS), Alice Jiang (Novi HS), Jennifer Kim (Troy), Janani Kumar (Troy), David Li (Troy), Irene Li (Salem), Linda Liang (International Academy East), Jennifer Liu (Troy), Pa Kou Lor (Pontiac), Harsh Patel (International Academy Macomb), Maria C.L. Robles (Clarenceville HS), Alice Ying Shang (Troy), Peter Su (Salem HS), Catherine To (Mott HS), Edgar Wang (Troy), Melissa Wang (Plymouth HS), Annie Xiao (Troy HS), Shuyuan Wang (Utica), Jessica Wenjia Xu (Troy HS), Amee Yang (Everett HS), Jiahua Yu (Mott HS), Leslie Yu (Fraser HS), and Justin Yuan (Troy HS).
Dr. Kelvin Chou, the Keynote speaker and an ACA scholarship program alumnus, gave an entertaining and inspiring speech. Dr. Chou is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan’s School of Medicine.
After enjoying a nine-course Chinese banquet, the honorees were individually recognized and several scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 were awarded.
The ACA scholarship recipients were:
Peter Su (ACA Best All Around Scholarship)
Linda Liang (Mabel Peng Scholarship)
Jennifer Liu and Annie Xiao (ACA Scholarships)
Justin Yuan (N. Fang Scholarship)
The DCEA scholarships will be presented in April 2012 during the SAE World Congress event. The CAPA scholarship winners will be announced in May 2012 in conjunction with their Splendor of the East event.
Congratulations to all the honorees and the scholarship recipients.
2011 December 4 ACA General Membership Meeting
A presentation on the accomplishments, programs and services for the past year and the goals for the next year was presented by ACA Executive Director, Shenlin Chen. ACA Treasurer, Glen Dong, summarized the financial status of the organization. Members in attendance elected Kenneth Chan to a second term on ACA’s Board of Directors and voted to accept the revised bylaws.
2011 November 19 ACA Thanksgiving Event
Almost 100 people gathered for our Thanksgiving event to thank the many volunteers who have helped us throughout the year. Along with recognizing 77 volunteers, guests enjoyed a variety of performances and a Chinese dinner.
2011 November 11 Veterans Day Dedication Ceremony & Luncheon
About 75 veterans, family members, and community leaders attended as an interactive video display featuring the photo and military biography of individual veterans was dedicated at the Chinese Community Center. This display is a gift from members of AMVETS Chinese American Post 85 and the Detroit Flying Tigers Association and their friends.
This is the second phase of the permanent public display installed at the Center commemorating veterans from the Chinese American community in Michigan & the Greater Toledo area. The first phase (a commemorative plaque list the veterans’ names) was dedicated at the Center on Veterans Day 2009.
Click on the link to read the C&G News Article in English or a Chinese translation of the article.
2011 October 22 Clean Up Our Community Event
Over 60 volunteers from the community and supporting organizations came together on October 22nd to clean up & prepare the exterior of our Chinese Community Center for the coming winter. Go to our Photo Gallery to see photos of this event.
2011 October 14 Comcast Internet Essentials Class
Comcast sponsored this free class on the basics of the Internet, why the Internet is important, how the Internet can be helpful and how to protect yourself while on the Internet. The class was presented in English and Mandarin.
2011 October 12 Seminar on the Medicare Parts C & D Open Enrollment Period
This workshop was held at our Detroit Service Center to inform seniors on their options and how to make changes to their Medicare plans during the open enrollment period ending Dec. 15th.
2011 September 28 Workshop on Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D
This educational workshop to teach seniors about these Medicare plans was held at our Detroit Service Center.
2011 September 24-25 Weekend Trip to Pictured Rocks and Soo Locks
On Sept. 24-25, about 100 seniors and some of their grandkids enjoyed this two-day, one-night stay along the southern shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Participants took in the natural beauty of the area as they went on boat tours of the Pictured Rocks in Munising, Michigan and the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie.
2011 September 16 ACA 39th Anniversary Celebration Banquet
We held our 39th Anniversary Celebration Banquet on September 16th at the beautiful Glen Oaks Country Club in Farmington Hills.
Included in the 200 guests were political dignitaries, local government officials, corporate sponsors, ACA members and supporters. General Motors Company was honored with our Outstanding Corporate Excellence Award for supporting ACA. Osbert Fu, Robert Koivu, Irene Li, Howard Liou, Jenny Liu, Jenny Wang, and Christine Yu each received an Outstanding Youth Counselor Award for their dedicated work during the 2011 Youth Cultural Summer Camp.
Keynote speaker, Mr. Robert A. Ficano (Wayne County Executive), spoke on taking advantage of the many opportunities to leverage locally to compete globally. Stirring musical performances were given by Xiao Dong Wei on the erhu and sisters Aillen and Connie You on the pipa.
Go to our Photo Gallery to see photos from this event.
2011 September 14 Comcast Free Seminar on the Internet
Comcast sponsored this free seminar on Oct. 14th to a limited group of participants. Attendees learned about the Internet, the importance of the Internet and how to keep themselves and their families save when using the Internet.
2011 September 14 Seminar on How to Reduce Caregiver Stress
This workshop held at our Detroit Service Center offered helpful techniques to caregivers to cope with the stress related to caring for the elderly and those dealing with long-term illnesses or disabilities.
2011 August 6 Preparing for Your Future Workshop
Dr. Clyde Wu’s keynote speech inspired the college-bound students and other participants in attendance to follow their passion. Joining Dr. Wu on the panel were Helen Wu, Ellen Chung, Sue Sung, Roland Hwang, and Chris Quiambao. The panelists spoke on their experiences and what led them to their careers in medicine, the arts, public service, engineering, law, and education. Several panelists touched upon how they had started down one path, but then changed direction to follow their heart’s calling.
Click on the link to read an extended recap article in English or in Chinese. Go to our Photo Gallery to see photos of this event.
2011 July 11- August 26 ACA Youth Summer Camp
Our two camps in Canton and Madison Heights hosted 98 campers ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old. Cultural lessons and activities included Chinese calligraphy & bruch painting, Chinese folk dancing with fans, drama & language, beading and papercrafting. Field trips included the Detroit Historical Museum and Underground Railroad Tour at the First Congregational Church in Detroit. Go to our Photo Gallery to see photos from this year’s summer camp.
2011 June 25 ACA Ballroom Dance Fundraising Party
Proceeds from this special fundraising event went towards the floor renovation project at our Chinese Community Center. Over 120 people from Ann Arbor, Canada and metro Detroit attended this event which included two showcase performances, open dancing, door prizes and dance shoes sale. An American Cha-Cha group lesson was given by Pamela Preczewski who is a certified instructor in all of the Ballroom and Latin Dances through the Imperial Society Teachers of Dance (ISTD) of the U.S. and England and the National Dance Council (NDCA) in the U.S.
ACA Board Directors Ken Chan and Shung H. Sue Sung worked with our Executive Director, Shenlin Chen, to help coordinate this event. The event co-sponsors were ACA Ballroom Dance Club, ACA Line Dance Club, Chinese American Society of Ann Arbor (CASAA), Chinese Association of Greater Detroit (CAGD), DanceSport Academy of Michigan, Golden Way Group, Greater Detroit Chinese Ballroom Dance Club, Michigan Chinese Women Association (MCWA), and Mizuno International Dance Club.
2011 June 11 ACA Donor Appreciation Luncheon
About 70 guests came to this special luncheon in which we thank our donors and supporters. Many long-time supporters of ACA came to catch-up with one another, socialize, and enjoy a Chinese food buffet. Event Chairperson, Fred Ferris, opened the event and ACA Board President, Ronald Wong, gave the welcoming remarks. Our Executive Director, Shenlin Chen, gave a brief presentation highlighting the many programs and services we have been able to offer to the community due largely in part to our donors’ support. There were several heart-felt and emotional testimonials given by people whose lives continue to be positively impacted by what ACA offers to the community.
2011 June 10 & 17 Father’s Day Outings
This outing was so popular we had to make two trips to the internationally accalaimed Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Participants woke up early to travel by motorcoach for two hours and enjoyed the guided tours of the indoor botanical gardens and tram tour of the outdoor sculpture park.
2011 May 5 Mother’s Day Luncheon
This event was sold out again this year as about 120 people attended this favorite annual celebration of mothers held at Fuji Japanese Buffet.
2011 April 29 ACA Detroit Service Center Open House
This open house marked the relocation of our Detroit Service Center to new offices in the Hannan House on Woodward Avenue. This facility is near the Wayne State University campus and the cultural center of downtown. Since moving to this new location, the Center has been able to outreach to a more diverse client base and increase its service level by as much as 30%.
2011 February 19 ACA Lantern Festival
This free, public event was attended by over 300 people. Highlights included cultural performances, Chinese food, arts & crafts and beading, and a variety of community related booths.
2011 February 12 ACA Lunar New Year Banquet
Over 200 people gathered to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and enjoy a ten-course gourmet Chinese dinner. Newly elected ACA Board Directors were sworn in. ACA Board Director Robert Rothman did a wonderful job emceeing the festive event. The entertainment included two Tai Chi with fan performances by Ms. Jing Wang and guests were serenaded by Jonathan Swift performing some Frank Sinatra standards.