星期三, 12月 17, 2014

紐英崙成大校友會交接 柯曼雯卸任黃俊義接棒

紐英崙成功大學校友會上週末在勒星頓鎮的揚子江飯店舉辦年終聚餐,宣佈幹部交接。現任會長柯曼雯交棒,1995屆電機系黃俊義接任。
            六十名出席校友和與會嘉賓,還見證該會推選出1980屆土木系曾宇文做2016年候任會長。
            紐英崙成大校友會是波士頓地區來自台灣校友會中向心力最強的其中一個,歷屆會長即使卸任,都仍積極參與活動。出席校友們在座中此起彼落的插科打,笑鬧成一片。整個會場氣氛之融洽,充分彰顯了成大校友情誼濃厚。
            柯曼雯在交棒前發表卸任感言,從創會的沈邦全開始,把柯乃南,王子仁,徐世勳,陸禮德等等歷任會長的名字唸了一遍,指過去一年來,校友們的大力支持,讓她深以身為成大人為榮,包括柯乃南贊助學生會員出席餐會,王子仁自動自發捐款五十元,辦活動時校友們不但自己準備,捐助食物,連校友之友都不肯收材料錢。
            黃俊義表示,正是這種向心力,讓他感到校友會有如大家庭,深為自己有機會延續這傳統,感到榮幸。他指出,成大校友會現有臉書專頁,給校友們做交流平台,希望校友們多利用。今後該會將加強與紐英崙玉山科技協會,新英格蘭台灣青年商會等等機構的合作,並互通消息。他今年參加了升旗典禮和雙十遊行,覺得很有意義,讓他覺得人雖離開了,卻仍能藉此關心台灣。
            當晚是柯曼雯卸任前的最後一次聚會,節目十分豐富,聚餐之外,安排有田介純談校友重聚一甲子,王本仁講泰廟設計,李湘盈報告紅血球研究,柯乃南給年輕學弟妹提忠告等校友發言,另有朱友珍表演京劇,主持猜謎,抽獎。
            成大北美校友會董事張重華報告成大已和史丹佛大學簽署合作協議,成大校友獎學金由林雄生擔任主委,請校友推薦傑出校友申請,加州矽谷有四名成大學長成立了風險投資基金,將一年資助十六人來美接受四至十六週培訓,明年十月成大在德州辦校慶活動。
            今年滿八十歲,1957年從成大畢業的校友田介純,分享了她的畫冊,以及他們那一屆“重聚一甲子”的校友聚會。成大校友中心內的思源庭,就是她設計的。
           王本仁簡述了他為泰國國僧設計泰國境外最大泰廟的經過,介紹泰廟落成的模樣,還透露建廟費用是由一名亞洲首富無限度贊助,主掌泰廟建造的國僧,還已購置鄰近土地,將繼續擴建,明年會有泰國皇親貴族出席盛會。
            李湘盈介紹了她在麻省理工學院白頭(Whitehead)生物醫學研究院做的紅血球細胞研究,包括體外製造紅血球,治療貧血的藥物,以及基因改造紅血球等。由於這一研究成果的用途廣泛,她的指導導師已成立了Rubius 療法公司。
            即將71歲的柯乃南表示,參加校友會活動,給他機會找過往回憶,聽年輕人未來。 他勸年輕人在外不談政治,處事要有優先順序。臨尾他還出考題,要座中眾人考慮,如果有機會登上火星,但上去之後回不來,頂多只能活三個星期,有誰仍然願意?結果做中竟有四人舉手表示願意以生命作賭注,爭取這一輩子難有的一探其他世界機會。
            當天應邀出席的嘉賓,包括駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪,波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文。
            賴銘琪為出席活動,事前頗下了一番工夫做準備。他指出,從一九九三到現在,遠見,天下,企業等雜誌的調查都指,台灣畢業生最愛的大學就是成功大學,學生整體表現和競爭力都是第一名,還有77人當過國內外大學校長,其中一人還當過台灣大學校長。台灣最長,建造時挖出來的泥土有如兩座埃及金字塔,用的水泥可見七座台北一零一的雪山隧道,也是成大人設計的。新英格蘭地區的成大校友也是傑出人才眾多。他希望成大人能持續支持台灣,利用各人在主流社會中的影響力,把台灣之美介紹出去,也希望成大人多和辦事處交流。
            郭大文在席間獲悉,已移居美國廿,三十年的校友中,竟然還有人不知道僑委會是做什麼的,特地說明僑委會成立淵源,報告了近年的委員長,前有吳英毅,現有陳士魁;政府曾動議要把僑委會併入外交部,因海外僑胞強烈反對而取消等概況。他指出,諸如哈佛,麻省理工等院校,近年來自台灣學生人數銳減,希望校友會等團體能多辦活動,與波士頓傳統僑社互動,甚至效法波士頓市議員吳弭,參選從政,以增加在大波士頓內的台灣人氣。
            紐英崙成大校友會今年的最後一場活動,最後在劉泰國和王子人合唱校歌聲中結束。卸任會長柯曼雯的丈夫劉泰國,當晚體貼的準備了大蛋糕,請六十名出席校友,嘉賓,和他一起補祝柯曼雯六十大壽,並透露次日一早,他倆將上郵輪渡假去。

圖片說明:

            紐英崙成功大學校友會年終聚會。(菊子攝)

            紐英崙成功大學校友會會長柯曼雯(左二)請駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪(右二),波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文(右一)見證會長交接。黃俊義(中)接任會長,曾宇文(左一)接候任會長。(菊子攝)

            柯曼雯張開雙臂,表達她對蛋糕祝壽的驚喜。(菊子攝)

            柯曼雯(左),劉泰國(右)介紹學姊田介純。(菊子攝)

            柯乃南說他對學弟妹們有兩點忠告。(菊子攝)

            紐英崙成功大學校友會玩得氣氛融洽。(菊子攝)


            校友徐世勳發言指成大教學有成,他仍在能源界努力。(菊子攝)

華人青年協會拉隊滑雪破五百人同行記錄

華人青年協會(CYPN)上週末拉隊到佛蒙特州(VT)奇靈頓(Killington)滑雪,參加人數高達五百,盛況空前,打破歷年紀錄。
奇靈頓滑雪場今年推出上了初學者課之後,就送滑雪板課,或滑雪課的優惠,華人青年協會一發佈消息,立即吸引許多初學者,不辭波士頓、紐約到佛蒙特州的路遠,都趕來報名。
華人青年協會負責籌辦這次滑雪活動的吳迪一,陳家輝,何鵬,張琦等人表示,今年是該會第四次舉辦滑雪活動,往年也都有三百人左右,今年在“買一送一“折扣,以及三個住宿地點都提供優惠的”好康“吸引下,暴增到五百人,連開給讓參加滑雪者互相認識的派對,都變成了超級“大趴“,大家都好“high“。
這場滑雪活動總共二天二夜,週五晚出發,週日晚踏上歸程。協辦單位包括紐約留學生網。他們包下了假日客棧(Holiday Inn)的120個房間,舒適客棧(Comfort Inn)的60間房,品質客棧(Quality Inn)的40間房,才勉強為所有報名的人都安排出住宿地點。
            何鵬表示,許多初學者在一個週末間,就把滑雪技巧學得似模似樣,讓他們這些主辦者看著也覺得高興。
            主辦者們沒透露,但相關參加者在各自臉書,微信上秀出來的照片,卻美的讓沒去的許多人羨慕。開派對時,勇男美女們竟穿得單薄到只有比基尼,泳褲,就跑到雪地上照團體照,再蜂擁回客棧裏的室內溫水游泳池去享受冬泳,充分展現了年輕,好玩的氣氛。
            華人青年協會(CYPN, Chinese Young Professional Network)的共同創辦人吳迪一透露自己是一名十四歲就移民來美的華人,在加州成長,求學,從南加大(USC)畢業後到康乃爾唸碩士,來波士頓工作已有五年,最近換到一家做商務智能的電子商務公司工作。他表示,剛到波士頓時,不認識人,也找不到一個認識新朋友的平台,於是和朋友發起,籌辦了一個,沒想到會成為新英格蘭地區發展最快,也是最大的年輕華人活動團體,已正式登記為非牟利組織,為準備找工作,以及剛踏進職場工作的年輕華人建立一個交流平台,定期舉辦上百人的大規模活動,以及小型的聚會。該會的臉書網友已上萬人。
            查詢該會詳情可上網www.cypn.net

圖片說明:

            華人青年協會穿著色彩豔麗的滑雪服,在出發滑雪前拍張小隊團體照,趁著四處白雪,美麗非常。(圖由華人青年協會提供)

民眾抗議弗古森事件 州市政警察加班耗資兩百萬

波士頓市府官員表示,人們為密蘇里州和紐約州兩名黑人死於警察之手而發起的抗議行動,估計使得波士頓市和麻州政府得花兩百萬元的警察加班費。一旦上週末的示威費用計算出來後,這數目可能還會增加。
過去數週來,數以百計,有時逾千的人們,在波士頓內遊行示威,抗議密蘇里州弗古森(Ferguson),以及紐約州的警察使用暴力致人於死。這兩宗案件都在地方大陪審團調查之後,選擇不起訴警察。
上週日,麻州警察逮捕了23名示威者。其中大部分都是在試圖闖過州警攔阻,在波士頓的利佛瑞圈(Leverett Circle)被捕的。波士頓警察表示,他們沒有逮捕任何人。
這些被逮捕的人將於本週內在波士頓地方法院出庭。州警表示,所有人都被控行為不檢。另有一人被控襲警。
根據波士頓市長馬丁華殊辦公室的說法,波士頓市為這些抗議,迄今已花了大約一百五十萬元的警察加班費,一旦總數計算出來,這一數目還會變動。麻州警察表示,他們花了五十一萬八百九十一元的加班費。

觸發抗議示威的原因,是密蘇里州弗古森的麥可布朗(Michael Brown),紐約州美國島(Staten Island)的艾瑞克嘎納(Eric Garner)死亡,以及最近發生的其他事件。這些抗議也在全美引發警察和少數族裔社區關係的爭論。

華埠王氏青年會慶聖誕 眾議員黃子安到賀

華埠王氏青年會上週末舉辦第廿七屆兒童聖誕節聯歡會,照例把該會籃球場佈置成慶祝會場地,安排出十餘項遊戲,還請來聖誕老人製造氣氛,吸引了750多人出席。
曾經擔任該會董事,現為麻州眾議員的九龍餐廳東主黃子安(右起),當天應該會董事Nancy Solomon, 發展主任陳魯誠等人邀請,到會做嘉賓,和新朋舊友暢敘。

該會行政主任包薇珥(Patricia Barnwell)表示,聖誕聯歡慶祝是該會回饋社區的一項活動,即日起至十二月三十一日止,凡是加入成為該會家庭會員者,可免繳報名費。查詢詳情可洽617-426-2237,或www.ymcaboston.org/wang(圖由麻州眾議員黃子安辦公室提供)

Bunker Hill Community College Among Fastest Growing Community Colleges in U.S.

Bunker Hill Community College Among Fastest Growing Community Colleges in U.S.

BOSTON, December 16, 2014—Bunker Hill Community College ranks among the 20 fastest growing of U.S. community colleges with enrollments of 10,000 or more, according to an analysis by Community College Week, an independent publication covering community, technical and junior colleges. The largest and most affordable community college in Massachusetts, BHCC currently enrolls more than 14,000 students. 

BHCC is among the few community colleges in the study whose growth increased between fall 2012 and fall 2013, bucking a trend toward declining enrollments at colleges around the country, according to the study. “Since community college enrollment reached its all-time peak in 2010, it has declined 7.1 percent, from nearly 7.9 million to just over 7.3 million,” reported Community College Week. BHCC’ s enrollment has grown 30 percent since 2009.

Colleges successfully fighting such trends often attribute continued growth to successful efforts to align their programs with the demands of employers and four-year colleges. “BHCC continues to expand its partnerships with employers to develop programs that meet specific workforce needs,” said BHCC President Pam Y. Eddinger, “and highly successful programs like Learn and Earn, which offers paid internships in prestigious Greater Boston companies, continue to attract students to our College.” In addition, BHCC is steadily increasing agreements with four-year institutions, make transferring easier and encouraging students to consider community college for their first two years of college. 

Mayor Walsh Announces Details and Members of Task Force on Individual Homelessness

Mayor Walsh Announces Details and Members of Task Force on Individual Homelessness 
BOSTON - On Thanksgiving, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the formation of the Mayor's Task Force on Individual Homelessness, a group charged with examining Boston’s current shelter system and available support services, and outlining a strategy that will put homeless individuals on a path to permanent housing. Today, Mayor Walsh shared the details of this task force, as well as a list of participating members.

“Homelessness is a complex issue, rooted in many causes, from addiction to mental illness to unemployment, and compounded by the competitive housing market in our city,” Mayor  Walsh said.  “The closure of the Long Island Bridge is an opportunity for us to take a hard look at what we’re doing here about the broader issue. When an individual walks into the front door of one of Boston’s homeless shelters, we need to do a better job finding them the services and resources they need to find a place to call home. To help us do that, today I am charging this group of diverse professionals and individuals to recommend bold, innovative solutions to help us end street, veterans, and chronic homelessness in the city of Boston.”
  
The Task Force will include providers, the business community, foundations and philanthropic organizations, experts in innovation and analytics, subject matter experts from City staff, and clients of the city’s homeless services. The group will be tasked with analyzing the City’s resources and delivery systems, and providing concrete ideas for structural and systems improvements. Within the first 90 days, the Task Force will make recommendations and propose an accompanying budget and action plan to accomplish eight targeted goals:
  1. Provide appropriate relocation for and service improvements to the Long Island Shelter, and implement improved communication during this transition period;
  2. Reduce and work towards eliminating the number of individuals who live in shelter for longer than 180 days;
  3. Undertake a statewide response and align City policies to reduce the number of homeless individuals arriving from outside of Boston seeking housing and services;
  4. Reduce the number of individuals living on the street;
  5. Improve discharge planning, outlining necessary proposed changes to ensure that discharges of individuals leaving state and other systems of care do not disproportionately impact Boston;
  6. Develop an Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adult engagement and diversion plan;
  7. Improve the way shelter, housing, and service needs of homeless women are addressed across the system; and
  8. Propose resources and potential sources needed to obtain improvements and recommended goals.

The City of Boston is taking the closure of Long Island as an opportunity to evaluate operations and identify ways to better serve some of Boston’s most vulnerable residents. In partnership with private shelter providers throughout the city, the City has established a temporary system to maintain access to emergency shelter, training, counseling, and support services to those individuals formerly receiving services on Long Island.

In addition, Boston is currently executing “Bringing Boston Home,” an action plan to house Boston’s homeless. Since the plan’s implementation, 121 individuals who had been previously living in shelter for one year or longer have been permanently housed. In addition, 42 vulnerable individuals who had been chronically homeless have been permanently housed, and 411 formerly homeless veterans have been permanently housed. 

The task force will be co-chaired by Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing, and Felix Arroyo, Chief of Health & Human Services. Other city representatives will include individuals from the Mayor’s cabinet, the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Police Department, Boston Housing Authority, and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics. Members of the Task Force on Individual Homelessness include:
  • Lyndia Downey, Pine Street Inn
  • Andy McCawley, New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
  • Pamela Ogletree, Children Services of Roxbury
  • Elizabeth Jackson, Bridge Over Troubled Waters
  • Barry Bock, Boston Health Care for the Homeless
  • Karen LaFrazia, St. Francis House
  • Michael Weekes, The Provider Council
  • Jack Connors, Camp Harborview
  • John Rosenthal, Friends of Boston's Homeless
  • Sachin Jain, Harvard Medical School
  • Karen Kaplan, Hill Holliday
  • Stephen Fox, South End Forum
  • Luis Rosario, consumer
  • Tonya Williams, consumer
  • Bob Pulster, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Rose Evans, Division of Housing Stabilization, Division of Housing Stabilization Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Michael Durkin, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
  • Melinda Marble, Pilot House Associates
  • Rebecca Koepnick, The Boston Foundation
  • Father Joe White, Our Lady of Good Voyage
  • Ryan Moser and Sarah Gallagher, Corporation for Supportive Housing