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Volume 11 • Issue 2October 2006
Heart to HeartBound Together Forever
Families With Children From China — oregon and sW Washington
While the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar isn’t until Oct, 6, Portland is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival the week-end of Sept. 30-Oct. 1. There are two main events - FCC’s annual picnic, and a weekend-long festival in Portland’s Chinatown. They’ll both be great parties.
On Oct. 6, when China celebrates the Moon Festi-val, take a moment to view the moon. Traditionally, Chinese people look at the moon and think of loved ones far away, knowing they, too, are viewing the same moon.
Willamette Park in West Linn is the scene for FCC’s traditional Mid-Autumn Festival and Picnic, Sat., Sept. 30, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The day includes face-painting, hair braiding, wading in the park’s round pool, playing on the playground, making play-doh mooncakes and paper lanterns and coloring. FCC’s Heart to Heart dance team will perform.
This party is always good fun. We have the park’s large covered picnic shelters as usual. The event is free to FCC members and those who join on the spot, $10 per family for non-members who wish to remain so.
Supper is a potluck; the Moon Festival celebrates the harvest, so something from your garden might be appropriate. Check the flyer sent to all members for your A-Z assignment. Real mooncakes will be provided.
For details, see the flyer on the FCC web site. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact: Caterina Anderson at 971-221-9187 or [email protected], Beth Schaller at 503-240-2547 or [email protected], or Ron Voss at 503-590-4434 or [email protected]
FCC throws its fabulous Moon Festival bash
Happy Moon Festival!
InsideMoon Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �
Mid-Autumn Festival news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
President’s message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Thank you, donors! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Secrets of the Pandas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Dance Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Fun family activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Evening in the garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Life book workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chengde orphanage thank you letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
FCC news from China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �0
Call for volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ��
Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . �2
Moon Festival fun for everyone!
photographs by Day Tooley
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The Old Town-Chinatown Neighborhood Association is throwing a weekend-long bash Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, with lion dances, dozens of booths, performances by many local school Chinese dance teams and other young performers. Northwest Davis and Flanders between Third and Fourth streets will be designated “festival streets,” and most of the events will take place there.
Portland celebrates “Under the Autumn Moon”By Karen Art and Kim Komo
It all will be kicked off by a parade at 10 a.m., Satur-day, Sept. 30. The parade starts at the Classical Chinese Garden, heads south on Fourth across Burnside to Alder, up Alder to Broadway, north on Broadway at Davis, and concludes at the north Park Blocks.
After the parade, you can catch the award-winning Dragon Art Puppet Theatre Chinese rod puppets at 11:15 on the
main stage on N.W. Davis St.
While the Mid-Autumn Festival is decidedly Chinese, the weekend festival will be intercul-tural. In addition to Shaolin monks performing Kung Fu and demonstrations of southern Chi-nese cooking, there will be Scandinavian danc-ers, Hungarian folk dancers and belly dancers. A full schedule of performances, cooking dem-onstrations and more can be found at www.oldtownchinatown.biz
The festival celebrates the culmination of many years of community planning and neighbor-hood renovation. New Asian street trees have been planted, and new streetlights and bronze sidewalk pavers depicting the area’s history are being installed.
Photo courtesy of Old Town-Chinatown Neighborhood Association
By Karen Art and Betsy Haindl A world-renowned Shaolin Kung Fu Performance Troupe from the Songshan Shaolin Monastery is visiting Portland for Mid-Autumn Festival and offers two performances:
* Sat., Sept. 30, at 3:15 p.m. on the main stage on N.W. Davis at the “Under the Autumn Moon Festival” in China-town. This event is free.
* Sun., Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. at Benson High School in Portland. Tickets are $18 to $48 at www.ticketmaster.com. For information and a great 30-second video of the troupe in action, go to www.shaolinkungfuspectacular.com. Or call 503-771-9560.
Both performances have been organized by the Portland Art & Cultural Center, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Port-land Chinese Times. The Benson High performance will benefit the center’s mission of promoting Chinese art and culture in the Portland-Vancouver area.
Photo courtesy of Portland Art & Cultural Center
Everybody will be Kung Fu fighting
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I have sometimes been accused of having ‘Broadway Tourette’s Syndrome” because everything reminds me of a song and I, much of the time, just start singing it. I’ve been thinking of the song from Fiddler on the Roof, “Sunrise, Sunset,” and the line, “I don’t remember growing older, when did they?” referring to Tevya’s children.
It has been almost a year since I took on the office of president of FCC and in that time my daughter, Anna, has gone from being a preschooler to entering Kindergarten. The change happened so slowly but so quickly at the same time. She no longer has the look, actions or language of a preschooler but now has all the attributes of a little girl on her way to becoming a young woman. I sometimes want to yell for time to stop, or at least slow down, so that I don’t miss any of this miracle called childhood. I want to savor every delicious morsel of her growing up. But, change will happen whether I want it to or not, and, if I’m fortunate, I might even help guide her toward her goals.
Being president and a board member of FCC for the past four years is similar. FCC is, and has been, changing slowly and steadily, especially reflected by our increase in membership (about 315 families). We have active groups (younger and older children’s playgroups, dance team, Waiting Families), activities (cooking classes, make-up and skin care classes for our teens, skating and swimming, Mid-Autumn Festival, Evening in the Garden) and the continu-ous expansion of Chun Jie, Chinese New Year. Our next Chinese New Year celebration will be held at the Oregon Convention Center (with a connected event at the Port-land Classical Chinese Garden) where there will be room for everyone wishing to attend.
A few weeks after you read this, there will be a new person at the helm of this ship, Betsy Haindl, who, along with her board and all the volunteers, will guide FCC into new ter-ritory where it can continue to grow and change with the needs of the membership. She will need all of your sup-port and assistance. Volunteer for as much as you can find time for. Think about taking on one small piece of an event, teaching a class, giving a lecture, becoming or assisting our Webmaster, assisting our newsletter editor, raising funds for
FCC events, finding sponsors for FCC and endless possibili-ties. There is so much to be done and we need all of us to help do it. I plan to fade into the background and work on only a couple of projects, like helping to get the directory out, being a tie between the board and the Portland Classi-cal Chinese Garden and, of course, Chinese New Year.
At this time, I suppose I should name all of the people who made this year possible, but it would probably be where you would stop reading. You all know who you are and should take great pride in all that you have done this past year (or years). I am very pleased and thankful for all the help and guidance you have given FCC and me, and I hope that your work will continue. Which leads me to the words of another song:
Where are you going my little one, little one?Where are you going my baby my own?Turn around and you’re two.Turn around and you’re four.Turn around and you’re a young girl (man) going out of the door.
Click! (Sound of door closing. But, I’ll leave the lights on.)
Time for renewalBy Cheryl Vojak
The Oregon/S.W. Washington FCC Membership renewal drive for 2006-2007 is now under way! 2005-2006 was a great year for our chapter with membership of 313 families/organizations - an 8 percent increase from the previous membership year.
Have you renewed your membership? Your membership dues are used to help FCC defray the costs of producing and mailing newsletters, bulletins, membership directories, events and activities for members. FCC also uses funds to contribute to various charitable projects.
Members who renew their membership before Nov. 1, 2006, will have priority registration for the Chinese New Year event. Additionally, your membership must be received by Nov. 1, 2006 for your family information to be included in the FCC Directory.
You can mail your renewal form and dues ($25 for Family/Individual membership, $50 for Organizations) to:
Oregon/S.W. WA FCC Membership2210 W. Main St. Ste. 107 #163Battle Ground, WA 98604
Or, you can renew your membership via the internet using a charge card or PayPal® by going to www.fcc-oregon.org and clicking on “Join FCC”.
If you have misplaced your renewal notice you can renew using the membership application at the website: www.fcc-oregon.org or you can send an e-mail request to me at [email protected] and I will send you a copy.
By Ron VossPresident’s message
Save Oct. 15 for our Annual Meeting
By Betsy Haindl and Ron VossThe formal Annual Meeting of the FCC Oregon-S.W. Washington chapter is tentatively set for 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Lucky Lab Pub in Multnomah Village. This location has worked well for the last year or two. We get the upstairs to ourselves, plenty of pizza, beer for the grownups and pop for the kids. Watch the web site for more details.
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FCC — Oregon and SW Washington • PO Box 5642 • Portland, OR 97208
The ideas and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the other FCC members.
Purpose of FCC-Oregon and SW WashingtonFamilies with Children from China is a nonprofit organization serving mem-bers in Oregon and SW Washington by providing information, support, and activities for individuals interested in adoption from China. FCC is dedicated to promoting awareness of Chinese culture, and fostering ties between our children and their heritage. FCC also advocates for orphans in China. Mem-bership includes a newsletter published three times annually, and the support and friendship of others in the community and Chinese communities.
Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and ContactsFCC Oregon/Southwest Washington • 2005-2006
Web site: http://www.fcc-oregon.org/
Mailing address:FCC-Oregon/SW WashingtonP.O. Box 5642Portland, OR 97208e-mail: [email protected]
Board MeMBers:President Ron Voss [email protected] Betsy Haindl [email protected] Secretary Kim Felder [email protected] Treasurer Bob Hillier [email protected] at large
Jay Bacigalupi [email protected] Judy Anderson [email protected] Paul Bollinger [email protected] Nancy Vuckovic [email protected]
coMMittee chairpersons:Membership Cheryl Vojak [email protected] Day Tooley [email protected]
Editor Lynn Baker [email protected] Charitable
Giving Sarah Pons [email protected]
Coordinator Amy Bradley [email protected]
New Year vacant Culture and
Outreach Ron Voss [email protected] Families Kelly Sedory [email protected]
other contacts:Single Parents Heidi Smith [email protected]/
Woodstock Carolyn Becker [email protected]/
Vancouver Mary Murray [email protected]/
Beaverton Jill Donnelly [email protected] Club/ East Side Jodi Wilf [email protected]
WANT E-DELIVERY?If you’d like electronic delivery of Heart-to-Heart, please send an e-mail requesting this service to Cheryl Vojak, ,our membership coordinator, at bcvojak!yahoo.com.
Thank you, donors!FCC Oregon-S.W. Washington donations purchased the following equipment for children at the Chengde S.W.I.
Description Quantity Cribs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tables & chairs to serve food to 8 children . . . 3 Bookcases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Desks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Washing machines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Gas water heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Slide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Merry-go-round . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Seesaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Swing for two children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Measuring and weighing equipment . . . . . . . . . 1
Equipment donations came from:Anonymous, in honor of Aunt Colleen and Uncle FrankAnonymous, in honor of Aunt Nancy and Uncle TimKaren Art, in honor of Emily ArtTodd and Anne BlickenstaffAlisa Blum and Marc Staimer,
in appreciation of the 2005 FCC Board of DirectorsKathy Brock and Steve McMasterPatti BowieChrist Church Episcopal ParishTim and Kathryn CollinsJohn and Barbara DaphneDonald and June FarriesAndrea FelthamMary FrazelKaren Howe, in honor of Claire FitzgeraldConi Lloyd and Ray StangelandJody Luth and Becky Smith, in honor of RubySeam and Ann MurphyJoanne and Frank Pinelli,
in honor of Hope and Lucas PinelliWill and Sarah Pons, in honor of Leah PonsCathy RowlandJohn and Joanne RudoffH. Rick and Linda K. Sant’AngeloKari StanleyCindy StechmeyerCheryl and William VojakChinese New Year Wheel of Fortune Project
Education scholarship donations came from:Christ Church Parish - Ding Fuchang, Gao HongxinDennis, Lynn and Katy Baker - Li YanhuiSarah, Will and Leah Pons - Zhang Lei
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Around a year ago, I had the honor of attending a FCC board meeting. The purpose of my presence, it was ex-plained, was to help the board understand the “secrets” of the Vancouver Panda group. Being the intensely secre-tive group that we are, I was uncertain as to what I could divulge. Nonetheless, I consulted with my staff (Jing, then eight, and Meili, then five) and made my way toward the big city armed with classified documents. Well, o.k., a blank notepad.
I sat through the usual reading of the minutes, listened intently to the input of a few hard-working board mem-bers, and learned that the FCC organization was finan-cially sound.
Then it was my turn. The president asked me how we “do it” over there in Vancouver. I pre-sumed that she was referring to the manner in which we, as a group, con-tinue to grow and thrive despite hav-ing many families whose children are long past the play-group stage. I looked around, sens-ing the pressure of eight pairs of eyes staring, waiting for the secret. What I said, essentially, was this: the Panda group keeps itself going.
What began as a small playgroup in the mid 90s with about 15 mem-bers has grown to a very active group of over 80 families who do a lot of playing, eating and generally having fun.
“How in the world do you organize 80 families?” they asked. “The inter-net,” I answered. Way back when our group boasted 15 members, we used the telephone to organize our events. As the group grew, we moved on to newsletters announcing the group’s activities, which involved lots of pre-planning, lots of time and lots of stamps. Then came the internet. With the advent of e-mail, the group could communicate with the push of a few buttons. Today, we have a Yahoo group called Panda families to keep us connected.
Wait a minute, they said, we don’t have 80 families in our membership from Clark County. Well, I explained, this group employs a few “illegal” tactics when recruiting mem-bers. We boldly approach people we meet at the park, or Target or Fred Meyer, and tell them about our group. Many of these people then join FCC or just come to a play date or two to test the waters.
None of this however, explains the means by which we keep families of our nine to 12 year-olds interested in participating.
Several months ago, we formed a few smaller groups seg-regated by age. We would still keep our infant and toddler
playgroups going, and with the help of Tracy Woods, that has been a smooth transition.
We then brought our seven to 12 year-old members back into the fold by inviting them to a pizza and movie night just for them. No little sisters or brothers to tag along. Just them, giggling and having fun with their new friends. It was
a roaring success, and we saw fami-lies who hadn’t come around in several years.
We then gave our five to seven year olds a chance to raise the roof with a craft and dinner night of their own. Add to this the forma-tion of a regular Mom’s Night Out, a monthly scrap booking group, and now a read-ing group and you
have a well-connected organization. All of this thanks to Yahoo.
So there it is. It’s really that simple. No secrets. The Pandas are a self-generated group of families committed to keep-ing their children connected. It truly doesn’t get any less complicated, or more fun, than that. If you’d like to join us, just drop us a line at [email protected]
Secrets of the Pandas revealedBy Mary Murray, co-coordinator for Vancouver Pandas
Pandas love making potstickers. (Photo courtesy of Mary Murray)
Pandas visit the firehouse. (Photos courtesy of Cheryl Vojak)
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By Sarah PonsMembers of the FCC Heart to Heart Dance Team cele-brated the end of their first year together with an awards banquet held at Shanghai Noble House. All team members and their families attended. Laoshi Sharon Cen presented each dancer with a Certificate of Accomplishment and an Angel Award. The Angel Award recognized unique posi-tive character traits in each dancer as noticed by Laoshi Sharon. Dancers Mei Mei Rappaport and Catherine Chris-tensen presented Sharon with a framed group picture and beautiful roses, stating, “We want to give you these because you are a very good teacher.”
The first of two semesters this school year starts Oct. 1. Heart to Heart is for children 10 and older. If you did not receive the recent mailer and you are interested in joining the dance team, contact Sarah Pons first at [email protected] or Jodi Wilf at [email protected] to re-ceive your enrollment form.
Our Heart to Heart dance team performed at the 2006 Rose Festival.
Heart to Heart Dance Team celebrates first year; invites new additions
By Sarah Pons and Jodi WilfStarting Sept. 16 and continuing through the school year, five to nine year old FCC members are invited to join Kiara Mueller and the Consolidated Chinese Benevolent Associa-tion’s Dance Group. It will be taught by Laoshi Sharon Cen
Kiara Mueller, (second from left) dances with the Consolidated Chinese Benevolent Association’s dance troupe at Portland Rose Festival World Rhythms Stage in June 2006. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Pons)
West Side Playgroup invites you!
By Kate JacksonThe West Side Playgroup serves kids zero to five years old and meets in various locations. Our next meeting is a play date on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to whenever at Rood Bridge Park in Hillsboro. The park has a play structure, an acces-sible creek (hope for hot weather!) and bathroom facilities. It’s located at 4000 NE Rood Bridge Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97123. Here’s a link to the website: http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/ Come join us!
Chinese dance for 5 to 9 year-oldsand Laoshi Winnie Wong. Both are graduates of the Beijing Dance Academy. The cost is $96 per term or $288 for the year. The group will perform at the Chinese New Year celebrations of both FCC and the benevolent association. Classes are on Saturdays from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
For more information and enrollment forms, contact Jodi Wilf at [email protected] or Sarah Pons at [email protected]. Kids can join any time, not just before Sept. 16. The be-nevolent association is located at 315 N.W. Davis St. in Portland. It can be reached at 503-223-9070.
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Join the Kids Club Fun!
By Jodi Wilf Kids Club is a new social group for FCC kids ages six through nine, though, of course, older and younger siblings are welcome, too. Fun and friendship is the plan.
Our next event will be Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island, from 10 a.m. until whenever. Meet us in front of the big red animal barn for a hayride, pick-your-own-pumpkin, corn maize, picnic and to check out the animals in the barn. You can bring your own food or buy it there.
The Pumpkin Patch is located at 16511 N.W. Gillihan Rd. on Sauvie Island, 10 miles northwest of Portland. Take Route 30 to the Sauvie Island Bridge. Go left and loop under the bridge. Go two miles and you’ll see the farm on your left. Or check out the map at www.thepumpkinpatch.com
We can get a group discount if we have a large group, so please let me know if you’re coming and I’ll get one for us. Contact Jodi Wilf at [email protected] or call 503-236-8684.
In November or December, we’ll have a pizza and movie night. Date and location are yet to be determined.
If you’d like to be on our e-mail list to receive notice of upcoming meetings, please contact me at [email protected]. Hope to see you there!
Make-up party a hitBy Judy Anderson
On Saturday, July 22, 2006, we had a fun makeup party for older FCC girls. My friend Kaari Tattar, who is a Mary Kay consultant of Asian heritage, shared makeup application and skin care tips. Kaari taught the girls how to properly care for their skin and talked about the importance of a good skin care regi-men at all ages.
The girls all received samples of skin care products, which we tried out during the party. The moms did it too! The girls also received sample makeup in colors to flatter their skin tone and received a lesson in ap-plying eye makeup on Asian eyes.
Learn about growing up in Chinatown
By Kim Komo From Sept. 6 through Oct. 31, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden features a unique exhibition highlighting the dynamic history of the Old Town/Chinatown neigh-borhood. This area was the residence of many Chinese immigrants as early as 1868. Stroll through the garden’s buildings, Reflections in Clear Ripples and Painted Boat in Misty Rain Pavilions, to view a comprehensive exploration of life in China Town in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Dis-cover the fascinating past of our ever-changing China Town and the residents whose vision first shaped our commu-nity. The Old Town Chinatown History Project produced this exhibit.
FCC Waiting Families Group gets set for fall
By Kelly SedoryThe FCC Waiting Families Group has a great lineup of speakers and topics net for this fall. As families see lon-ger wait times, the group is introducing some brand new meeting topics. Meetings are open to all waiting families and to families who are no longer waiting but find the top-ics interesting.
Oct. �: “Overview of common medical issues as seen in China’s Waiting Child Program.” This meeting will focus on educating families regard-ing some of the commonly seen special needs in the waiting child program. Speakers include Dr. Meg Hayes, OHSU Family Medicine Adoption Health Clinic, as well as a panel discussion with families who have adopted special needs children from China’s adoption program.
Nov. 5: “The Year After.” The Waiting Families Group will welcome back some of our past waiting families to check up with them to see how their lives have changed since adopting their children from China. We’ll find out what changes they expected and didn’t expect to make, how their children are doing and how the new parents are doing as well.
Dec. 3: “Bringing Baby Home.” Join speaker Molly Padulo, MA, as she talks about how to emotionally navi-gate bringing baby home and preparing for everything from lifestyle adjustment to post-adoptive depression.
Meetings are held in the 11th floor conference room at Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore., from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For details and directions, go to http://www.fcc-oregon.org/ and click on “waiting.”
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By Kim KomoThe Portland Classical Chinese Garden and our Families with Children from China Oregon/S.W. Washington chapter invite you to the annual Evening in the Garden, Sunday, Oct. 7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This event is held each year in honor of parents, grandparents and friends of children adopted from China, and is not open to the general public. It’s an evening for adults. This year’s event will include acupuncture and brush painting as well as information, dinner and dessert. It will also include dedication of the Hillside Square Pavilion. This year’s event will cost $20. The garden requests reservations by Oct. 4, so it can order food and supplies. Please RSVP to 503-228-8131 x2004.
(Photo courtesy of Portland Classical Chinese Garden)
ASIA offers life book workshop and benefit auction
By Megan Baird and Toni Flitcraft ASIA, a local adoption agency and non-profit corporation, is hosting two events Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 that are open to the public and of interest to the FCC community.
On Nov. 4, nationally known author and lecturer Cindy Probst (Adoption Lifebook: A Bridge to Your Child’s Beginnings) will facilitate a life book workshop for adoptive parents and parents in waiting from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8470 S.W. Oleson Rd. in Portland. Probst’s focus will be assisting any adoptive family in creating their child’s life book - a baby book for adopted chil-dren, containing documents, pictures and stories about their adoption journey.
While adults work on life books, their children can explore Chinese culture through food, crafts and activities in a parallel kids’ event. The workshop is hosted by ASIA with the gener-ous sponsorship of Knowledge Learning Corporation. The fee for adults will be $35.00 and $40.00 respectively for ASIA clients and non-ASIA clients. The cost for children from ages two - 14 will be $20.00 for one child, $30.00 for two. Lunch is included in the price.
The next day, Sunday, Nov. 5, ASIA will hold its second annual Eastern Children, Western Lives Dim Sum Brunch and Art Auc-tion from noon to 3 p.m. at the Paramount Hotel, 909 S.W. Park in Portland. This fundraiser will benefit ASIA’s Special Needs Adoption Fund - devoted to helping Chinese orphans who face special challenges - and ASIA’s future educational programming. The fundraiser is being partially sponsored by Bank of the Cas-cades. Tickets are $40 per adult, $75 per couple.
For more information on either or both events, go to www.asiadopt.org, call 503-244-1860 or contact me at [email protected]
Summer fun!
Madison Bradley (left) and Kaeli Towne, best of friends, had a great time together this summer. Both came home from the Kunming Social Welfare Institute, Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Amy Bradley)
Come to an Evening in the Garden
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In 2005, FCC Oregon-S.W. Washington launched a campaign to aid the Chengde Social Welfare Institute in Hubei Province. The chapter raised a total of $5,012 for furniture for the orphanage, playground equipment and two scholarships to allow two residents to continue their education. For details, see the September 2005 and January 2006 editions of Heart to Heart.
On Aug. 10, 2006, Ma Fuzhen, director of the institute, sent her thanks on behalf of the children. Here is her letter in English and Chinese, followed by a rundown of the equipment FCC Oregon-S.W. Washington provided, and a list of contributing donors.
The orphanage is now interested in obtaining a computer with internet capability so the children can do school research and write to American friends. If you are interested in this project, please contact me at [email protected]
Chengde orphanage director thanks FCC By Sarah Pons
Dear Friends,
My name is Ma Fuzhen. I am the director of Chengde City Social Welfare Institute. I have received your donation of $5,012.00. I have worked in the social welfare field for 35 years. This is the first time that I have received charitable donation from across the Pacific. I sincerely thank you for your loving support. You have adopted orphaned children from China and given them true parental love. From the bottom of my heart, I feel so happy for these children. I believe that your love will once again cross the country borders and bring warmth and happiness to the children in our institute.
In October 2005, we began to build a children’s dormitory building in our institute. The size of the building is 500 square meters. The construction has finished this year. The children have moved into their new home. The improved living condition will be ben-eficial to their growth. With the money you donated, we purchased playground equipment, beds, dressers, bath stuff, etc. (Photos will be sent to you later.) I think you will be happy to see the joy your charitable donation has brought to the children.
I will ask our children to forever remember your noble characters and will plant the seed of love in their hearts. Your noble actions will also motivate me to serve the children whole-heartedly. I believe that together we can build a Great Wall of love and con-struct a loving environment in which these children without parents can grow up healthily.
Ma FuzhenDirector, Chengde City Social Welfare InstituteAugust 10, 2006
Jiande Social Welfare Institute, Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of Lynn Baker)
Keep in touch with your orphanage
By Becky, Jim, and Lizzie Jinping Orwoll-Harris
We just got back from China where we went to the orphanage. They keep all the letters and photos sent by the adopting families. Please write and send pictures to your orphanages. They do care!
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By Sarah PonsIn the Chengde fund raising campaign, FCC has a com-munity partner in Christ Church Episcopal Parish, Lake Oswego. The parish’s Outreach Committee donated $1,247 to FCC’s Chengde Orphanage 2005 Campaign. These funds were used for requested playground equipment and an educational sponsorship for resident Ding Fuchang.
In July 2006, the parish asked FCC’s Charitable Giv-ing Committee how they could continue their sup-port of the Chengde Welfare Institute. Director Ma of the Chengde institute was contacted. In response she requested $4,000 for a boiler to heat the recently ex-panded orphanage building. The parish agreed to fund the boiler and also offered to continue Ding’s educa-tional support and that of another child. Madame Ma was again contacted, and she identified kindergartener Gao Hongxin.
On Sunday, Aug. 27, the parish presented Madame Zhang and her interpreter Michael Han of Always and Forever Adoptions with an oversized check for $5,247 to cover costs of the boiler and Ding and Gao’s educa-tional sponsorships.
Barbara Davis, Madame Zhang, Rector Shannon Leach and Sarah Pons display a donation from Christ Church Parish to the Chengde project. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Pons)
Reading’s big in China ... but who has time to read?
Condensed from Xinhua reports Xinhua, the official Chinese news service, reports declining reading among literate Chinese in 2005; 48.7 percent of those surveyed said they read regularly, the lowest positive response since the annual survey began in 1999. Around 43.7 percent of respondents said they rarely read a book in 2005, explaining that they had “no time” to read. Litera-ture on Kung Fu was most popular, followed by books on culture, science, education, sports and military affairs.
Meanwhile, Xinhua also reports plans to fund 200,000 li-braries in Chinese villages. The State Press and Publication Administration, the project sponsor, says books on agricul-ture are in high demand. Xinhua interviewed Huo Chengxi, a farmer in Zhuzuiling, a village in Gansu Province with a prototype village library with 5,000 books and periodicals and more than 300 compact discs. Huo said that farmers with only a basic high-school education are coming to the library to learn about growing cash crops such as flowers and vegetables.
Rural adoptions within China are rising - formal and otherwise
Condensed from the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute newsletter and study abstract
Registered adoptions within China have increased dra-matically, from 2,900 in 1992 to over 55,000 in 2001, ac-cording to a new study, “Child Adoption in Contemporary Rural China,” by Zhang Weiguo, published in the March issue of Journal of Family Issues. Zhang said most Chinese families adopt because they are childless (50 percent) or because they have been sterilized and want more children (47 percent).
While unregistered adoptions are illegal, families in rural China use informal more often than legally registered adoption, Zhang found. He said that fewer than 1 percent of adoptions studied were from state-run orphanages; intermediaries arranged about half; 23 percent were of abandoned children, and 26 percent were by kin. “Overall, it appears that individual adoptions of children in rural China follow increasingly individual desires rather than State directives,” the author concluded.
Parish donates to FCC’s Chengde Orphanage campaign
Following the service, the congregation enjoyed Chinese cake and met Madame Zhang. Formerly Director of the China Center of Adoption Affairs, Madame Zhang was re-sponsible for matching dossiers and pictures for many years. If your child is in the fourth grade or older, she most likely matched you and your child.
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New use for spare bears (and koalas and...)
By Sarah PonsDo you and your child have too many stuffed animals? Are they clean and in like-new condition? Do you want to give them to a good cause? How about donating them to FCC to help raise money for the Chengde Welfare Institute? They will be used for the Chinese New Year Wheel of Fortune. Contact Sarah Pons at [email protected] for pick up and drop off information.
Support a bill to make adoption easier
By Betsy HaindlAs the wait for children to come home gets longer, some parents are being caught in expiration of their adoption approval from the U.S. government before they get clear-ance to go to China and bring their child home. A bill now before Congress, H.R. 5888, would help solve this problem by extending the validity of approval to two years rather than the current 18 months. Please contact your repre-sentative to support this bill!
The bill was introduced on July 25 by Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico and has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. As of Sept. 9, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) is the only Northwest member of Congress among the bill’s 25 co-sponsors. Let your representative know how important this is to parents and the well-being of their children. The more support, the better. For full text of this bill and information on its status, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type in H.R. 5888. (“Thomas,” as in Thomas Jeffer-son, is the official site for information on current federal legislation.)
Volunteers needed to grow FCC
By Amy Bradley, FCC Volunteer Coordinator
Hi! My name is Amy Bradley. I’m the FCC volunteer coordinator. I hope that this finds you all well and look-ing forward to our upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, just around the corner.
As those of you who know me likely expect, this message is a plea for your assistance. Our chapter of Families with Children from China is one of the strongest in the coun-try. We’ve made some fantastic strides lately, and we’re looking to make more. It’s important that as our children grow and their needs change, we change, too.
We need people interested in helping out in these areas:
Ô Board member(s)
Ô Accountant
Ô Website guru
Ô Event coordinators (Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, new programs)
Ô Waiting families
Ô Older children activities and classes
Ô Cultural education
Ô Post-adoption gathering and support
Ô Volunteer co-coordinator (to help cover me while I return to China with my family for our newest addition)
Please remember that our organization is 100 percent volunteer run and the time put in is for the benefit of all of our children. Not only does it take a village to raise a child, it takes dedicated parents willing to make a differ-ence. Your FCC is what you put into it.
Please don’t feel intimidated by lack of experience or knowledge, I promise that you will have fun! It’s a great way to meet and spend time with the parents of children just like yours.
If you’re interested or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or any board member directly. Or go to the FCC web site, http://www.fcc-oregon.org/, click on “volunteer” and contact any of the people listed there for specific activities. You can reach me at: Amy Bradley 503-241-2781 or [email protected]
(Since so many people ask, the answer is: David, my husband, collects beer, and we were married at a lighthouse in Maine.)
Thanks so much, everyone!
Join the FCC Volunteers newsgroup
By Betsy Haindl
Busy people are the ones who get things done. We all appreciate our FCC volunteers who create the activi-ties and soul of FCC. Now you can join the discus-sion with our volunteers on a new FCC-Volunteers newsgroup. To join, drop by the volunteers’ page on the FCC web site, http://www.fcc-oregon.org/ and click on “volunteer.”
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Families With Children From ChinaOregon and SW WashingtonPO Box 5642 • Portland OR 97201
Calendar of EventsGrowing up in Chinatown exhibitSept. 6 - Oct. 3�Portland Classical Chinese Garden – N.W. 3rd & Everett, PortlandContact: www.portlandChinesegarden.org
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assn.Children’s Dance TeamSat. afternoons, starting Sept. �6 • $96/termFor children 5 to 9 years oldContact: [email protected] Or [email protected]
West Side Play GroupThursday, Sept. 28, �0 a.m. • FREERood Bridge Park – 4000 NE Rood Bridge Rd., HillsboroContact: Kate Jackson (see directory)
FCC Mid-Autumn Festival and PicnicSat., Sept. 30, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. FREE to FCC members. $�0/family non-members Willamette Park – West Linn, Ore.Contact: [email protected]
Under the Autumn MoonAll day, Sat., Sept. 30 and Sun., Oct. � • FREEN.W. Davis and Flanders Streets Between N.W. 3rd and 4thFor more info: www.oldtownchinatown.biz
FCC Heart to Heart Dance TeamSaturday afternoons starting Oct. �For children 10 years old and upContact: [email protected] Or [email protected]
Shaolin Kung Fu Performance TroupeSunday, Oct. �, 5 p.m. • $�8 - $48Benson High School, PortlandContact: www.shaolinkungfuspectacular.com
Waiting Families GroupOct. �, 3-5 p.m. • FREEDoernbecher Children’s Hospital - 11th Floor Conference Rm.3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., PortlandAll FCC members and adoption agency clients are welcome. Childcare is not provided.Contact: Kelly Sedory, [email protected]
An Evening in the GardenSunday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. • $20Portland Classical Chinese Garden – N.W. 3rd & Everett, PortlandContact: www.portlandChinesegarden.orgor RSVP to 503-228-8131 x2004
Kids Club at the Pumpkin PatchSunday, Oct. �5, �0 a.m. • FREE (except for pumpkins)The Pumpkin Patch – 16511 N.W. Gillihan Rd., Sauvie IslandContact: [email protected]
FCC Oregon-SWW Annual MeetingSun., Oct. �5, 5 p.m. • FREE (except pizza & beverages)Lucky Lab Public House – 7675 S.W. Capitol Hwy., PortlandContact: [email protected]
ASIA life book workshop & children’s cultural eventSat., Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.$40 adults, $20 children West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship8470 S.W. Oleson Rd., PortlandContact: [email protected]
ASIA benefit brunch and auctionSunday, Nov. 5, noon to 3 p.m. • $40Paramount Hotel – 909 S.W. Park, PortlandContact: [email protected]
Waiting Families GroupSun., Nov. 5, 3-5 p.m. • FREEDoernbecher Children’s Hospital - 11th Floor Conference Rm.3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., PortlandAll FCC members and adoption agency clients are welcome. Childcare is not provided.Contact: Kelly Sedory, [email protected]
Waiting Families GroupSun., Dec. 3, 3-5 p.m. • FREEDoernbecher Children’s Hospital - 11th Floor Conference Rm.3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., PortlandAll FCC members and adoption agency clients are welcome. Childcare is not provided.Contact: Kelly Sedory, [email protected]
FCC Chinese New Year CelebrationSun., Feb. 27, 2007Oregon Convention Center, Portland – Details to follow
