GOVERNOR PATRICK ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY COUNCIL; CELEBRATES MASSACHUSETTS’ CLEAN ENERGY LEADERSHIP

GOVERNOR PATRICK ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY COUNCIL; CELEBRATES MASSACHUSETTS’ CLEAN ENERGY LEADERSHIP

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today joined Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia, Mass Clean Energy Center Chief Executive Officer Alicia Barton and others to promote Massachusetts’ nation-leading efforts in renewable energy and climate change policy during the second day of the International Renewable Agency (IRENA) Council’s meeting. 

 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick addresses IRENA’s 7th Council, highlighting the Commonwealth’s experience
advancing renewables and creating clean energy jobs in the U.S. (Photo: Timothy Hurst / IRENA)

 

“I am proud of the work we have done to make Massachusetts a leader in the clean energy revolution,” said Governor Patrick. “We understand that now more than ever we cannot leave our future to chance.”

 

Over 260 government leaders representing more than 100 countries attended today’s IRENA Council’s meeting. IRENA is an intergovernmental organization supporting countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the main platform for international cooperation, a center of excellence and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

 

In his remarks, Governor Patrick highlighted the Commonwealth’s nation-leading policies that are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change, while spurring economic growth across the Commonwealth. The Patrick Administration has supported a variety of strategies, including programs for GHG emission reductions, energy efficiency and renewable energy, which chart a path to a cleaner energy future and provide models for other states to follow. These strategies have yielded economic benefits as well, with 11.8 percent cleantech job growth in the last year; nearly 80,000 people are employed in the industry in Massachusetts.

 

"Because of the policies and actions of the Patrick Administration over the last seven years in renewable energy, energy efficiency and GHG reductions we are a national leader in clean energy, climate preparedness and job creation,” said DOER Commissioner Sylvia. “The Governor's address to IRENA today is recognition of that leadership and an opportunity for us all to work together to create a cleaner energy future across the globe."

 

"IRENA's Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review for 2014 puts a global focus on what we have seen at home in Massachusetts – that renewable energy adoption and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive," said CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Alicia Barton. "Massachusetts' clean energy policies have fueled double-digit job growth in each of the last two years and MassCEC applauds IRENA's efforts to drive renewable energy job growth all over the world."

 

Since 2007, solar capacity in Massachusetts has grown from three megawatts (MW) to over 500 MW, and will more than triple that by 2020. Over that same period, wind capacity in Massachusetts has grown from three MW to more than 103 MW; and Massachusetts is poised to be home to the Nation’s first offshore wind farm. The Patrick Administration has invested in infrastructure, like the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, to make Massachusetts a hub for this emerging industry.

 

Governor Patrick highlighted that, while Massachusetts leads the nation in several areas of clean energy and energy efficiency, there is still more work to do to protect our environment for this generation and the next. Last month, the Obama administration released a report, co-authored by over 300 independent scientists, which catalogued the evidence of climate change and its impact. The assessment demonstrates that climate change is an issue right now, not just for future generations, and those weather changes have implications for our economy, transportation, energy, water, agriculture, ecosystems and oceans. Yesterday, Governor Patrick announced his support for the Obama Administration’s and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft rules that will reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants by 30 percent by 2030 and greatly improve air quality across the nation.

 

Yesterday, Governor Patrick and members of the Massachusetts-UAE Innovation Partnership Mission 2014 visited the installation of a Massachusetts company’s solar-powered streetlights on a road in Masdar City to promote the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector. SolarOne provided 306 solar-powered streetlights for parking lot and roadway lighting following a field test with competitors from all over the world. In May, SolarOne was awarded an $89,000 grant with a $58,000 match under the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s InnovateMass program, for a partnership with the City of Somerville and CIMSON Software to demonstrate the company’s networked, off-the-grid solar-powered lighting for pedestrian and bicycle paths in Somerville.

 

In January, Governor Patrick directed Energy and Environmental Affairs to pursue strategies that would help Massachusetts adapt and be more resilient against these impacts. Working with a diverse group of stakeholders, the Patrick Administration is working to ensure emergency services can protect residents from inevitable impacts; assess risks and vulnerabilities to minimize impacts through careful planning; and protect and strengthen both our natural habitats and the Commonwealth’s infrastructure. Follow this link to see the sites of all clean energy projects in Massachusetts.

 

Current members of the IRENA Council:

 

Cameroon, Cyprus, France, Greece, Grenada, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Romania, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Fiji, Germany. New Zealand and Poland act as alternates.

玉山科協再談大數據 魏宇峰、張宗堯分論醫療、金融

紐英崙玉山科技協會（MJNE）五月三十一日晚，在劍橋市微軟研發中心探討“大數據-大未來“。張宗堯，魏宇峰分別從金融，醫療健保角度闡述，分析，應用海量數據，將是未來社會常態，要從這一領域尋找機會，應先從專精個別行業隻是起步。

            當天的會議由Vertex 製藥公司生物統計測定部門主任凌美秀博士主持，兩名講者都是麻省理工學院博士，分別為飛莓資本（譯音，Flyberry Capital）創始人兼首席執行官張宗堯，名稱暫時還無法公佈的一家初創公司創始人兼執行合夥人魏宇峰。

            根據一篇今年四月一日在Blue Dun上刊出的文章，大波士頓地區在2013年內，冒出不下十七家初創金融科技公司，使得這一領域的金融服務公司初創公司總數達到約50家之多。

            2011年在劍橋市創辦的飛莓資本，就是其中一家。最初是由天使投資人的五十萬美元起家，今年三月陸續和第一春公司（First Spring Corp.），以及澳洲的全球偵察基金（Scout Global Funds）達成融資協議。

            張宗堯當天在會中表示，飛莓公司做的就是從數以千計的不同來源收集資訊，利用該公司建造的獨有分析平台，來做出更正確的經濟模式，進而幫助客戶管理資產。他們也為想要建立數據分析方案，或解決數據相關問題的公司，提供咨詢服務，包括預測地震，都是他們做的服務之一。

            他透露，經過這二，三年的不斷修訂，飛莓的資訊來源與分析平台都越來越紮實，也能更快速地提出答案。至於金融市場的股票投資，他指出，一般人容易受市場上的負面新聞報導影響，一時衝動地做出決定，但負面新聞有時反而能帶來正面結果，一般來說，長期持有的最終結果，是會有盈利的。

            魏宇峰當天從醫療護理行業的應用海量數據說起。他指出，美國的醫療護理開銷將在2019年時達到4.5兆元，約等於2013年GDP的29%。自從聯邦政府實施可負擔醫療保險法（ACA），拋出許多依照醫療品質付費的規定後，聯邦醫療護理（Medicare），聯邦醫療補助（Medicaid），以及保險公司付款給醫院的做法，都出現許多改變，紛紛要求醫院採取措施，減少病人的再度住院率，加強使用率，減少申報費用詐欺，改善效率等。這些要求使得醫療護理機構面對如何管理爆炸性成長的數據，如何整合零散瑣碎數據，如何把數據變成有用的資訊，如何很快地獲取關鍵績效指數，並做出決定等挑戰。

            魏宇峰認為，這現象至少在四個領域形成許多機會，包括整合數據，儲存及運用數據，分析數據，提供視覺畫的決策支援等。

            魏宇峰指出，醫療界目前面對的一大問題是如何減少病人的再度住院率。一般來說，當病人出院後，出人意料之外的，在三十天之內又住院了，就形成一宗再度住院案（readmission）。一般來說，有200到300張病床的醫院，每年約有380萬元，或9.6％的總預算是浪費在不必要的再度住院上。根據可負擔醫療保險法，聯邦醫療護理（Medicare）及聯邦醫療補助（Medicaid）服務中心（CMS）從2012年開始就開始向再度住院率過高的醫院徵收罰款。這種做法逼使醫療界紛紛轉向海量數據業求救，希望找出方法預測，並從而減少病人的再度住院率。其中的一項實驗性做法，獲得改善50%的成績。

            魏宇峰認為，海量數據的未來將是有許多數據會來自可穿載設備，數據不成結構，無監督的學習等。

            紐英崙玉山科技協會的這場講座，原本有三名講者。預定講談海量數據與地方政府的劍橋市議員張禮能，因故未能出席。

            查詢玉山科協概況，可上網www.mj-ne.org。

圖片說明：

            紐英倫玉山科董事與講者合影。左起，陳翠玲，黃瑞琪，魏宇峰，張劭聿，張宗堯，貝克寧，康麗雪，凌秀美等人。（菊子攝）

            兩名講者魏宇峰（左），張宗堯（右）都是麻省理工學院博士。（菊子攝）

王宏隆率團巡訪大波士頓 示範"台灣巧藝讚“

中國龍獅藝陣協會訪問團昨（二）日應麻州摩頓市市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）之邀，前往摩頓市府拜會，還順道給無二烤肉店的開張剪綵擺攤助陣。

過去這五年來，由於中國龍獅藝陣協會行政總監王宏隆的人脈，以及中國民俗藝術的廣受歡迎，該會每年都應邀來訪美國。

今年該會由擅舞獅，寫書法，1994年曾獲台灣薪傳獎的王宏隆擔任團長，和捏麵人師傅王清榮，畫糖師傅呂國佃三人組成訪問團，以“台灣巧藝讚“為主題，分別為在華府的雙橡園國宴，台美人媽媽教室，在波士頓的美東中文學校，以及紐約的私人會所展演台灣民俗藝術。

在新英格蘭中文學校協會會長陳式儀協助下，他們在波士頓逗留期間，還去了麻州，新罕布夏州等地的八所主流學校，二所中文學校，做民俗教學展示。

摩頓市市長葛帝生在美東中文學校年會中遇見王宏隆等人，對他們展演的台灣技藝大感興趣，事後發電郵給王宏隆等人，邀請他們有空時到摩頓市拜訪，九月參加摩頓市將舉辦的首屆龍舟節。

正好陳式儀準備拜訪摩頓市長，感謝他出席美東中文學校年會做嘉賓，他們就順應時機的昨日往訪，送上一幅鑲框的“雲如福”書法，以及一個模型獅頭做紀念。沒想到摩頓市長正好昨日要為“無二烤肉”店在摩頓市開張剪綵，還被市長拉了去湊熱鬧，在那也擺起攤來，展示捏麵人，畫糖。

在“台灣巧藝讚”拜會各主流學校期間，協助翻譯的路永宜透露，他們甚至遠到新罕布夏州去展示。每所學校師生對王清榮在一兩分鐘內就能捏出唐三藏，孫悟空，豬八戒等栩栩如生，色彩豔麗的捏麵人，呂國佃在幾秒鐘內就畫成各種圖案的畫糖，興趣濃厚極了。每次展示，她都聽到不絕於耳的讚嘆聲。

王宏隆表示，有機會多次到美國展演台灣民俗藝術，宣揚中華文化，是他們的榮幸。六月三日之後，他們將轉赴紐約。

圖片說明：

            陳式儀夫婦（右起），陸永宜，大波士頓中華文化協會會長冼鳳明（左一）邀“台灣巧藝讚”的王宏隆（左起），呂國佃，王清榮等人到文協家庭夜做示範。路永宜還在現場擺出“孩子暑假有去處了嗎？”的告示牌，提醒家長們，今年暑假波士頓有“瘋一夏”馬戲體驗營。（菊子攝）

            文協的小朋友們圍觀“台灣巧藝讚”的捏麵人，畫糖。（菊子攝）

            王宏隆（右）拜會摩頓市長葛帝生（左）時，送上書法，獅頭等紀念品。（王宏隆提供）

            王宏隆在主流學校展示他獨特的書法。（王宏隆提供）

昆市亞協表揚麥珍妮、黃伍翠霞 籌款服務青少年

昆市亞協服務中心（QARI）五月三十日晚在昆市龍鳳大酒樓，舉辦第七屆社區宴，表揚麥珍妮，黃伍翠霞，感謝昆市公校，並由麻州眾議員陳德基主持拍賣，為該中心青少年項目籌款。

            當晚的節目由潘鑑成，陳海恩主持，華林工夫學院舞獅，會長張永鏗，鑽石贊助機構代表，華人醫務中心執行長衛優俊先後致辭，獎學金委員會主席Abby Heiu Nguyen-Burke和Tim Wismar頒發獎學金給七名青少年。

            QARI在會中感謝了龍鳳大酒樓，東方銀行，昆士醫療中心等鑽石贊助機構，以及康卡斯（Comcast），金門食品，道富集團，塔芙茨醫療中心等翠玉贊助機構，頒發遠見獎給曾任該會董事，創辦有音樂社，太極會的麥珍妮，頒發無名英雄獎給在道富集團工作，為許多活動默默擔任義工的黃伍翠霞，還頒發社區夥伴獎給與該中心合作，鼓勵青少年參與社區服務，學習課外知識的昆市公校。

            QARI表示，該中心為籌款辦理青少年服務項目舉辦社區宴七年以來，迄今已發出不下二萬六千元獎學金，每年有不下250名青少年參與社區服務，時間總計逾7000小時。該中心的理想是“培養未來的領袖”

2013年八月正式把機構中文名稱改為“亞協服務中心”的QARI（Quincy Asian Resource, Inc.），五月三十一日還追隨大波士頓社區機構腳步，也開始以拍賣方式籌款。身為該中心創辦人之一的麻州眾議員陳德基，這晚當拍賣主持者，表示兩名拍賣籌款共同主席，龍鳳集團少東梅沛傑，QARI青年項目主任譚偉翔將比賽誰的拍賣成績好，為現場活動增添不少樂趣。

拍賣時，一名西人女士，亞協服務中心會長張永鏗各捐一千元，贊助十六名青少年學習。 刻正參選麻州州長的麻州財政廳廳長葛羅斯曼（Steve Grossman）也在現場允諾捐款五百元。

當晚出席的政要，除了昆市市長柯奇（Tom Koch），多名昆市議員外，刻正參選麻州副州長的劍橋市議員張禮能，也列席座中。

圖片說明：

            麥珍妮（立者）獲頒遠見獎，開保險公司的老友司徒福柱（左）開懷祝賀。（菊子攝）

            麻州眾議員陳德基（後）主持拍賣，龍鳳集團少東梅沛傑（右起），QARI青年項目主任譚偉翔準備為拍賣成績衝刺。（菊子攝）

            張禮能（左起）為競選麻州副州長進昆市參加亞協服務中心活動，受到Fuji 餐廳集團老闆梁戰士等人歡迎。（菊子攝）

            麻州眾議員陳德基首次在亞裔社區內主持拍賣。（菊子攝）

Patrick Administration Highlights Massachusetts Clean Energy Company in the United Arab Emirates

Gov. Patrick (center) and (from left to right) Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Innovation and Industry Support Senior Director Jeremy McDiarmid, SolarOne’s Founder and CEO Moneer Azzam, Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton, and visit a SolarOne solar-powered streetlight installation on a road in Masdar City.

MASDAR CITY, United Arab Emirates – Tuesday, June 3, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia yesterday visited the installation of a Massachusetts company’s solar-powered streetlights on a road in Masdar City to promote the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by Governor Patrick.

“Massachusetts companies are seeing their products succeed in the global marketplace, while creating jobs and economic opportunity here at home,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “It’s exciting to see the signs of Massachusetts innovation halfway around the world.”

In 2009, SolarOne provided 306 solar-powered streetlights for parking lot and roadway lighting at Masdar City following a field test with competitors from all over the world.  SolarOne’s streetlights were able to withstand a severe sandstorm and multiple cloudy days, setting them apart from the competition.

“We’re proud that the Massachusetts clean energy marketplace is vibrant and serves as a test bed for innovators who are bringing their technologies abroad,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia.

In May, SolarOne was awarded an $89,000 grant, with a $58,000 match, under MassCEC’s InnovateMass program, for a partnership with the City of Somerville and CIMCON Software to demonstrate the company’s networked, off-the-grid solar-powered lighting for pedestrian and bicycle paths in Somerville.

“Massachusetts and the UAE are leading hubs of sustainable technology innovation,” said Moneer Azzam, founder and CEO of SolarOne. “This experience and idea exchange will deliver payback with new economic engines, regional job growth and exciting new tools to address the planet’s energy and climate-change challenges. SolarOne is proud to exemplify this and thrilled to participate in this cooperation.” 

The visit came as the group traveled to Masdar City, an urban development, 35 minutes southeast of Abu Dhabi that is heralded as a blueprint for the future of sustainable communities. In 2008, Masdar City broke ground and embarked on a journey to develop the world’s most sustainable eco-city, focusing on use of clean energy, electric vehicles and energy efficiency to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The city is hub of innovation, and includes the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level established with the ongoing support and cooperation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Massachusetts – UAE Innovation Partnership Mission is a mission to strengthen the state’s partnership with the UAE and expand business opportunities between the two countries in the clean-tech innovation, life sciences and academic sectors.

吳錦城：未來社會資訊服務載體悠游移動雲端

紐英崙中華資訊網路協會（NECINA）日前以“什麼都移動（Everything Mobile）”為主題，舉辦全球交流創業會議，並預告網協訂六月七日舉行年會。

            網協的“什麼都移動”會議，更改日期，更改地點舉行，但該會榮譽主席，系列創業家吳錦城主講的“在移動及雲端海嘯中生存（Surviving the Mobile and Cloud Tsunami）“，仍然吸引了許多人出席。      

            吳錦城從1995年左右起陸續創辦的公司，棱網路(Arris Networks)，箭點通訊（Arrowpoint Communications)，Acopia網路，Azuki系統等公司，不是被買，就是被併購。
其中的 Azuki，是2007年時，他和人合夥創辦的公司，今年二月底被愛立信（Ericsson）這在全世界180個國家聘有十萬名以上員工的公司收購。他也因此成為愛立信的科技組副總裁。

            吳錦城在會中很誠懇的和出席者分享他對科技世界未來將走向雲端，移動的看法。他從通訊科技的過去，歷史演變說起，分析網路的衍進，包括網頁，網站，影片，電視，移動設備等資訊內容與載體科技之間關係，甚至觸及大數據，使用者經驗，個人隱私，有管理的伺服器層次分析等，並指人們需駕馭這海嘯般的未來走勢。

            在總結中他指出，谷歌（Google），臉書（Facebook）其實是移動（Mobil）公司。雲端(Cloud)其實是服務模式的革新，不是科技創新，重要的是容許操作發生的平台。移動及雲端是來自上天的完美結合，移動創新的頻譜（spectrum）是寬頻，來自感應器，顯示器，展現在硬體安全，中介設備，以及移動服務上。雲端也是重新建立的傳送服務基礎架構。

        在“什麼都移動（Everything Mobile）”這場會議中，網協還請來Adelphic移動公司執行長王長峰（Charles Wang）闡述該公司創辦故事，以及他對移動廣告未來的看法。網協麾下的新創企業孵化器（NEW），有Destroyers執行長Taowei Wang，喳錶(Zap Watch)執行長鍾德華，iOvulation技術長Joe Wang，Tap and Learn執行長John Zhuang等人座談他們的公司創立過程及產品。

            網協將於六月七日（週六）早上八點半，在波士頓市畢馬威會計師樓（KPMG）大樓（60 South Street, 2^ndFloor, Boston MA 02111）舉辦年會，主題為“2014科技創新與全球經濟發展“。查詢詳情可上網www.necina.org，或洽info@necina.org。

圖片說明：

            吳錦城在網協會議中闡述移動及雲端未來。（菊子攝）

文協家庭夜秀才藝 二百人歡聚

大波士頓區中華文化協會(GBCCA)5月31日晚在牛頓市F. A. Day中學舉辦「文協家庭夜」，表揚4名義工，搬演14項節目，展現該會各小團體的技藝，成績。近二百人會後聚餐，歡渡一晚。

           今年的文協家庭夜，在陳弘指導的華心中文學校功夫班舞獅後，由會長冼鳳明致詞，宋鑫、Miles Leong主持。

文協青少年國樂團在指揮陳志新率隊演出“燈節”，“微山湖”後，會長冼鳳明頒發義工服務獎，表揚陳又瑄、吳大辰、陳均豪、張立揚等人。其中的前三人，去年均曾獲得表揚，今年因熱心依然，貢獻良多，又再得獎。還是青少年的張立揚，是得獎義工中的新人，不只他母親伍麗英為此深感開心，文協資深會員們也喜見傳承有人。

            當晚的14項表演節目，照例全由文協旗下組織擔綱，包括青少年國樂團、華心中文學校、華心藝術學校、佳韻舞集，知音舞韻，水底魚打擊樂團，波士頓健身腰鼓隊、文協合唱團等，一一獻藝。

           華心中文學校有三個節目，包括舞蹈班的“喜洋洋“，功夫班的功夫示範，還有陳勵指導的話劇“花木蘭”。

            華心藝術學校有常英，秦儉，顧香虹等人指導的擊劍班，朱友珍指導的扯鈴班，張鎮田指導的揚琴班，陳弘指導的功夫班等分別獻藝。陳志新的水底魚打擊樂團也和華心藝術學校合作演出“歡慶鑼鼓”。

            文協合唱團在最近才演出西洋歌劇“金門”，本身是女高音的指揮王麗文揮棒帶領下，一連演唱三首歌，包括“茉莉花”，“思念故鄉”，“拼宵夜”等。

            “文協家庭夜”最後在楊曉蓓統籌的波士頓健身腰鼓隊表演“越來越好”中落幕。

            表演結束後的聚餐，才更是熱鬧，已高齡八十有餘的趙鍾英，明年將接會長的周映秋等許多人，都穿梭會場，與人打招呼。已預定是明年幹部團的劉瑋珊還做了兩百多個北京出名的驢打滾到場，惹得北京出生的趙鍾英樂呵呵地說，這可是她當年最愛的小吃。

圖片說明：

            文協成員在才藝表演後聚餐。（菊子攝）

            李希清，姜鍾等文協幹部，當義工，打菜。（菊子攝）

            劉瑋珊做的驢打滾，一下子就一掃而空。（菊子攝）

            舞蹈節目。（黃思賢攝/提供）

            文協合唱團演唱。（胡文驥攝/提供）

            冼鳳明（右）頒獎表揚張立揚（左）。（黃思賢攝/提供）

華人前進會Bike-a-thon慶十週年 籌款逾萬元

華人前進會Bike-a-thon的參加者在波士頓廣場合影。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 一百六、七十名年輕人， 五月三十一日在撫媚陽光中騎上鐵馬，繞行查理士河畔，欣賞美麗風光，慶祝華人前進會Bike-a-thon十週年，華青計劃廿週年，籌款逾萬元。

雷展鵬（前右起，拿話筒者），經司徒慕儀，林龍生介紹，出來說歷史。（周菊子攝

Bike-a-thon是華人前進會為償還華人前進會自置物業貸款，辦理“華青計劃（Chinese Youth Initiative (CYI)）”等項目，由華人前進會創辦人之一的雷展鵬與該會熱心人士發起舉辦的活動，既鼓勵青少年做健康運動，接近大自然，也教會青少年心懷社區，懂得回饋。

退休前在查理士高中教美國歷史，如今在華人前進會教新移民英文的雷展鵬表示，Bike-a-thon這活動，起初只有十幾人參加，選在紅線終點站的Alewife出發，一直騎到貝德福鎮去。後來因為地點不夠方便，才把路線改成現在的沿著查理士河畔繞行，如今每年都有六，七十人參加，籌款額也年年見新高，很是令人高興。

北昆士高中生黃友蜂（Perry）（左），陳紹仁（Wilson）（右），

一起騎到終點。騎到腿痛，卻都很高興。（周菊子攝）

當天參加騎自行車籌款活動的青少年們，來自四面八方，有不少人是北昆士高中生，也有人才剛從布魯克蘭高中畢業。包括波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC）青年領導項目即青年顧問團成員蔡樂兒等人在內，有十三到十五名路線輔導員。這些參加者，每人都需至少籌得廿五元才能參加活動，領T恤，騎自行車16哩，再回到麻州州政府金頂大樓前的波士頓廣場草地，享受青菜，肉絲，炒粉麵飯等中餐，冰淇淋等甜點。

 騎自行車回到終點站的青少年們排隊領午餐。（周菊子攝）

華人前進會的青年協調員（Youth Coordinator）司徒慕儀和林龍生在所有騎士用餐後，請出雷展鵬，介紹Bike-a-thon，簡報華人前進會是個為工薪階層謀權益的組織，六月份將有一系列的活動，包括六月十日與城市生命一起遊行，促使社會關注許多人面對“房屋買不起，公屋等不到”的窘境；六月十二日下午將發起“低薪工人行動日”，在柯普利廣場等地示威遊行，並重點要求提高居家醫護助理（Home Health Care Aid）的最低時薪，以及享有有薪假期的權利。

他們也報告了當天籌款成績最佳者為在東波士頓經營車行的伍永權父子，籌得1000元。以團隊名義參加的，包括行動聯繫，布魯克蘭騎士，GK趣等，各籌得667，436，325元。雷展鵬事後透露，伍永權當年是他在查理士高中教書時的學生。

華人前進會的組織主任陳秀珍透露，波士頓市府最近做的一份調查報告顯示，波士頓市的“生存工資（living wage）“為時薪13.76元，但麻州目前的法定最低時薪才八元出頭，待彌平的差距不小。在居屋上，目前華埠一帶，約有十棟樓宇的七十名住戶，面對逼遷危機，缺乏可負擔住宅已是越來越嚴重的社會問題。

華人前進會的工作人員，包括行政主任駱理德，項目及營運主任劉衛恒，組織主任陳秀珍，社區組織員鄺寶蓮，工人中心協調源余翠鳳，以及元老，董事，義工等的鄧秋華，梁愛薇，余淑勤，麥小瓊，梁德生，黃願明，高紹榮等人，當天紛紛到會，與年輕人們同樂。
(華人前進會事後補充說明，籌款粗估為一萬七千元左右，在扣減相關開之後，實收僅約一萬餘元。）

SBA workshop - “Strategies & Assistance for Asian Importing & Exporting” 6/10

SBA, SCORE & Asian American Civic Association to Host Workshop:

“Strategies & Assistance for Asian Importing & Exporting”

BOSTON – SBA, SCORE, and the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) will host a workshop on importing and exporting with Asia on June 10th from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at  AACA, 87 Tyler Street in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. In celebration of “World Trade Month” being May, this workshop will be conducted by six experts with expertise in importing and exporting to/from Asian manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics, finance and legal issues. 

Panelists:

·   Paula Murphy- Founding Director of the Massachusetts Export Center with over 20 years of international business experience.
·   Jerry Blakeley - Owner of Extech Instruments Corp in Waltham and sold it to a public company after 37 years. Extech sold overseas and both designed and manufactured handheld test and measurements instruments in Taiwan, China and Korea.
·   Maurice Mitchell - Maurice is the International Account Manager with UPS. Primarily works with Massachusetts based companies on developing their international supply chains.
·   Peter Dobbs – Peter is a SCORE Counselor whose career as an international commercial banker included assignments in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.  His specializations included using trade finance, structured finance and supply chain finance to support global commodity flows from producers to consumers.
·   Michael Laffan - Michael is a SCORE Counselor who worked in England and Australia prior to spending 40 years as an International Trade Banker in Boston, where he worked to facilitate international trade and market the bank services to importers and exporters.   
·   Paula Connelly - Paula is a principal in the Law Offices of Paula M. Connelly, a law firm specializing in Customs and international trade matters, and the Legal Counsel for the Boston Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association - with over 20 years of experience in customs and international trade matters and works with numerous importers and exporters in addressing and resolving import and export compliance issues.


Small businesses looking to increase sales and profit are taking their businesses global.  SBA provides counseling, training and financing to support small business export opportunities.  To learn more about the SBA, visit www.sba.gov.

WHAT:          SBA, SCORE & Asian American Civic Association Workshop: “Strategies & Assistance for Asian Importing & Exporting”
                      
WHEN:          Tuesday, June 10th, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:           AACA, 87 Tyler Street, Boston MA 02111

HOW:             Registration: Norman.Eng@sba.gov

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION MAKES APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ROUND OF MASSWORKS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AVAILABLE

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION MAKES APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ROUND OF MASSWORKS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AVAILABLE

BOSTON – Monday, June 2, 2014 –Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki today announced that the fourth round of the annual MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant program will be open to new applications online between June 1 and August 29, 2014.

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking funding to support housing, economic development and job creation. In addition, the Program also supports municipalities with a population of 7,000 or less that may seek grants for road improvements to enhance safety.

The 2014 grant round will support housing or commercial growth opportunities that contribute to the long-term strength and sustainability of Massachusetts with a particular emphasis on projects that support the production of multi-family housing in appropriately located mixed-use districts or that support economic development in weak or distressed areas. The MassWorks Program encourages communities to apply for projects where they have planned ahead for such growth by implementing prompt and predictable permitting and zoning that supports the desired growth.

The materials for the fourth round of grants and the electronic application system were put online June 1, 2014, giving public entities a 10-week head start on gathering information they need to apply for these grants in August. A copy of the 2014 application, guidelines, FAQs and other relevant materials are available at http://mass.gov/hed/massworks. All data submitted during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 grant rounds will be available to previous applicants for updating, making reapplying easier. All decisions will be rendered within approximately eight weeks.

In total, the past three grant rounds of the MassWorks Infrastructure Program have assisted over 100 projects with over $180 million in infrastructure improvement projects in all areas of the Commonwealth.

The first competitive MassWorks grant round was held in September 2011. In the latest round, the Administration approved 33 projects worth over $79 million.

The MassWorks Program represents six capital budget programs that were consolidated by the Patrick Administration in 2011 and codified by the Jobs Bill signed by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2012. To learn more about the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and how it is supporting job growth and long-term, sustainable economic development, please visit: http://mass.gov/hed/massworks.

BCYF BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY REEBOK NOW REGISTERING

BCYF BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL LEAGUE PRESENTED BY REEBOK NOW REGISTERING

Boston’s favorite summer basketball league, the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL), is back!  Presented by Reebok, BNBL is currently accepting registrations for teams to compete in the 45^th annual summer season.  Individuals who wish to join a “wait list” to be placed on a team and youth interested in the Pee Wee Development Program can also register.  The registration deadline is Friday, June 27^th.  Volunteer coaches are also welcome and needed.  All BNBL coaches must pass a CORI/SORI administered through Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF.) 

The BNBL season officially begins on Monday, July 7^th.  Registration forms for team registration and individual “wait list” registration can be downloaded on-line soon at http://www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf/recreation.asp.  The league will end on Friday, August 22^nd after the conclusion of all playoff games.

BNBL also offers a FREE Pee Wee Developmental program for boys and girls ages 6-11.  Pee Wee BNBL is offered at the BCYF Charlestown Community Center, the BCYF Gallivan Community Center in Mattapan, the BCYF Grove Hall Community Center in Roxbury, the BCYF Leahy-Holloran Community Center in Dorchester, and the BCYF Roslindale Community Center.  This program teaches young players the basics of basketball in a fun and non-competitive setting.  Space is limited and spots can be reserved by calling the community centers directly.  Pee Wee registration forms can be downloaded on-line soon at http://www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf/recreation.asp.       

The Boston Neighborhood Basketball League is the oldest municipal basketball league in the country and serves over 3,000 young men and women in four divisions: Pee Wee, 13 and under, 15 and under, and 18 and under.  BNBL is played at BCYF community centers across the city and at select park locations.  For more information, or to find out about coaching opportunities, please e-mail or call the League Co-Director, Woodley Auguste, at Woodley.Auguste@boston.gov  or 617-635-5206 x103.

亞太裔眾議員在美國國會中比例仍偏少美華裔支持劉云平競選

亞太裔眾議員在美國國會中比例仍偏少美華裔支持劉云平競選
正在競選聯邦眾議員的美國加州華裔參議員劉云平，為爭取在即將到來的民主黨內初選中出線，5​​月31日晚與亞太裔社區領袖見面，宣傳自己的競選理念和個人特質，並誓言當選後將代表亞太裔，在聯邦政府內，維護亞太裔的權益。與會的亞太裔社區領袖表示，劉云平從政以來在處理與亞太裔相關議題實施的表現，是值得信賴的。劉云平當選國會議員有助於達成亞太裔人口比例在國會中的代表。
劉云平介紹自己從小生長在貧窮的第一代移民家庭，從舊貨商​​店購買生活用品。然後全家人從經營一家雜貨店開始發展到擁有6家雜貨店。為了回饋社會，劉云平也曾參加空軍服役。他從事的行業包括金融和法律。
劉云平從政資歷完整，從參選洛杉磯托倫斯市市議員開始、到加州眾議員、參議員，雖然在華裔人口較為稀少的選區內參選，但幾乎每次都順利當選。這次因為和他的參議員選區幾乎重疊的選區的國會眾議員宣布退休，劉云平決定競選這一席位。
當天到場表示支持的國會眾議員趙美心表示，美國政府正面臨退伍老兵醫療、個人隱私以及金融等方面的重大議題，劉云平如果當選國會議員，將會對這些議案的處理有極大的幫助。
根據美國亞太裔人口的總數，美國國會內亞太裔的議員人數應該有26名，但是目前國會內的亞太裔議員人數還遠達不到這個比例。
出席活動的亞太裔社區領袖包括，百人會會員、蒙特利公園市前市長陳李琬若、美國華人公共事務促進會顧問朱易、亞太裔公共事務聯盟南加州分會主席黃福篷、全美中華青年聯合會會長任向東，以及來自南加州越南裔社區的代表。他們表示，劉云平是值得亞太裔社區信賴的代表，是華裔從政的優秀代表。更是今年最有機會進入國會的亞太裔代表。亞太裔社區團結合作，力助劉云平進入國會，必將有助於亞太裔議員在國會內的比例提升。 （AACYF洛杉磯訊）
 http://www.aacyf.org/?p=4319
全美中華青年聯合會