NAPABA AND AAJC APPLAUD CONFIRMATION OF PAMELA K.M. CHEN TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

NAPABA AND AAJC  APPLAUD CONFIRMATION OF PAMELA K.M. CHEN TO THE  EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

WASHINGTON---Today, the Senate confirmed Pamela K.M. Chen by a voice vote to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She becomes the first openly gay Asian Pacific American to serve on the federal judiciary.  "NAPABA congratulates Pam Chen on her historic nomination and confirmation and is proud to have supported her in the nomination and confirmation process along with the LGBT community," said Wendy Shiba, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). "We applaud President Obama and Senator Schumer for their continued commitment to diversifying the federal judiciary." For almost 14 years, Judge Chen has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where she has served as chief of the Civil Rights Section for more than eight years, and previously as a deputy chief of the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division. She also served as a deputy commissioner for enforcement at the New York State Division of Human Rights, as a trial attorney in the Justice Department in Washington D.C., and in private practice. Judge Chen has won numerous awards for her work, particularly in addressing human trafficking. "Judge Chen's confirmation is a step in the right direction," said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. "There are more than 40 federal District Court judges in New York City. Judge Chen will become the third Asian Pacific American, bringing APA representation on the bench more in line with our 14 percent share of the city's population." Judge Chen's confirmation increases the number of active Asian Pacific American Article III judges to 18 nationwide: two federal Appellate Court judges and 16 federal District Court judges. President Obama nominated a record 17 Asian Pacific American to the Article III courts. Three more Asian Pacific American Article III nominees are pending in the Senate: Sri Srinivasan, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the D.C. Circuit; Raymond T. Chen, nominee for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Federal Circuit; and Derrick Kahala Watson, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. NAPABA and AAJC urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm these individuals, who are highly qualified for the federal bench.

新網上工具可查麻州府投資計劃對個別家庭預算影響

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES NEW ONLINE TOOL TO SHOW IMPACT OF INVESTMENT PROPOSALS ON A FAMILY’S BUDGET

Approximately half of Massachusetts residents will pay less, or the same under Governor Patrick’s proposal to grow jobs and opportunity

BOSTON – Monday, March 4, 2013– Governor Deval Patrick today unveiled an online tool that shows the impact of the Patrick-Murray Administration Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) budget proposal on an individual or family’s budget. The tool can be found, along with maps that outline the education and transportation plans that will help grow jobs in every corner of the Commonwealth, at www.mass.gov/governor/choosegrowth. 

“We are proposing meaningful investments in education and transportation, and people want to know what that means for them,” said Governor Patrick. “Last week, with the maps, we showed what long-postponed projects would get done in each community. Now, with this tool, we show just what the costs or savings will be for individual households.”

Residents will enter information including their annual income and filing status, and will be able to view the impact of the Governor’s proposal on their personal taxes.

"The Governor and I know that asking people to pay more by any type of tax increase is never easy," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "However, our growth strategy will expand opportunities for this generation and generations to come. As we continue the conversation, we hope this online tool will help residents understand the impact taxes will have on them personally and for the strength of our economy and Commonwealth.”

To support almost $2 billion in meaningful investments that will strengthen the state’s economic future, the FY14 budget calls for the creation of a simpler and fairer tax system that lowers the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent, and raises the income tax to 6.25 percent. All proceeds from the sales tax will be dedicated to a public works fund that will support the Administration’s 21^st century transportation plan, as well as the school building fund and other public infrastructure projects, and will be off limits for any other purpose.

To make that increase fair to all according to their ability to pay, the Governor has proposed doubling the personal exemptions for every taxpayer and eliminating a number of itemized deductions.  Making those changes gives the Commonwealth a tax code that is simpler and fairer. The changes to state sales, income and business taxes will make Massachusetts comparable on taxation to our neighboring states and those with which we compete.

Last week, Governor Patrick unveiled an online map tool that outlines transportation projects in every community that would be funded under the Governor’s FY14 budget proposal, as well as the additional Chapter 70 education funding and support for public colleges and universities communities can expect to receive under the Governor’s investment plan. The maps also show how many children in each community are on the waitlist for early education and care programs. As part of the Governor’s investment plan, the 30,000 child waitlist for early education and care programs across the state would be eliminated. 

Following the announcement of his investment plan in his January State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Patrick has been traveling across the state making the case for business leaders, educators, local elected officials and members of the public about the importance of investing now in education and infrastructure to spur job creation and unlock opportunity in every corner of the Commonwealth. For more information on the Governor’s investment plan visit www.mass.gov/governor/choosegrowth.

麻州總檢察官辦公室將辦四場公開會議法講座

                                                        

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO HOLD REGIONAL OPEN MEETING LAW EDUCATIONAL FORUMS THROUGHOUT STATE

BOSTON - Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office will hold four educational forums on the Open Meeting Lawthroughout the state during the months of March, April and May. On July 1, 2010, the Attorney General’s Office assumed responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law from the state’s District Attorneys, who previously enforced the law as it pertains to municipal and regional public bodies. 

The forums are part of a broad effort by the AG’s Office to assist public bodies in understanding and complying with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law. State, local, regional, and county public bodies are required to comply with the Open Meeting Law. The Open Meeting Law educational forums will be conducted by attorneys and staff from the AG’s Division of Open Government and are open to the public. To date, the AG’s Office has conducted 11 regional education forums on the Open Meeting Law, reaching more than 660 attendees.

The regional educational forums on the Open Meeting Law will be held at the dates and times below:

AyerThursday, March 28, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Ayer Town Hall
1 Main Street
Ayer, MA

Waltham
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Arthur J. Clark Government Center
119 School Street
Waltham, MA

Springfield
Thursday, May 9, 2013
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
60 Congress Street
Springfield, MA

GreenfieldWednesday, May 15, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
John Olver Transportation Center
12 Olive Street
Greenfield, MA

The educational forums are being offered free of charge. All members of public bodies, municipal employees, and members of the general public are encouraged to attend. Individuals interested in attending an educational forum are asked to register in advance by calling 617-963-2925 or by emailing OMLTraining@state.ma.us, and providing: 1) their first and last names; 2) town of residence; 3) the public body/organization they represent, if appropriate; and 4) the location of the educational forum they will attend.

Since assuming responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law, AG Coakley’s Division of Open Government has responded to thousands of inquiries about the law’s requirements, conducted or participated in 81 trainings across the state, and issued more than 200 determinations. In October 2011, in an effort to provide greater transparency and access to the office’s decisions, all of the AG’s Open Meeting Law determinations became available online through an interactive database, the Open Meeting Law Determination Lookup.

For more information on the Open Meeting Law, visit the Attorney General's website atwww.mass.gov/ago/openmeeting.

僑委會2013年首期網路店面行銷實務班四月底開課

僑務委員會為培育海外僑商網路行銷經營能力，特於2013年4月29日至5月10日開辦「2013年第一期網路店面行銷實務班」，由社團法人中華民國全國中小企業總會承辦。研習課程以網路行銷實務專業課程為主

，除由國內專家業者講授網路開店實務、行銷策略規劃與應用、實際案例解析、業者經營成功技法及經驗分享等外，並安排參訪國內應用網路行銷經營成績優異之企業。

研習課程之教材、師資及場地等學雜費用由僑務委員會負擔，學員自付由僑居地往返之交通費用、研習期間之膳宿費，有意報名者請於2013年4月3日前逕洽波士頓華僑文教服務中心。招生簡章及相關訊息請自本會網站（www.ocac.gov.tw首頁/貼心服務/報名僑商研習班）或全球僑商服務網（www.ocbn.org.tw /首頁/最新消息）下載。

台商盃保齡球賽 蘇鴻昌、許漱馨、Kevin Walsh隊奪冠

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會昨(三)日舉辦第七屆台商盃保齡球賽。蘇鴻昌、許漱馨、Kevin Walsh這組以總計1396分贏得冠軍，游舒婷、許欽俊、楊凱傑這組得亞軍。

            男子個人冠軍為506分的蘇鴻昌，女子個人冠軍為503分的許漱馨。

            昨日這場球賽，共有十隊參賽，每組三人。其中三組為新英格蘭台灣同學會聯合會會長王俊凱召集來的各校同學。大部份的人，平時都沒打保齡球，這次應邀組隊，都玩得很開心。

            王俊凱透露，他已很久沒打過保齡球，第一局剛開打的時候，還有一百多分，沒想到後來越打分數越低。有經驗的許漱馨笑說，新手都是這樣，打到後來手臂就酸痛無力了，分數自然好不起來。

            前任台學聯副會長，已從布蘭岱斯大學畢業，進了鴻海波士頓分公司的樊長鑫，昨日也加入打保齡球隊伍。

            新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會的理事及歷任會長們，昨日都很捧場，包括蔡坤喜、林鳳池、蔡明機、許炳煌等人都出席打球後再和當天也因腿傷，未打球的王本仁一起開理事會。他們紛紛笑說，一年就打這麼一次保齡球，重要的見見朋友。

            之前曾是台商盃保齡球賽五連冠的蔡高進，一方面因為腳受傷，一方面老把冠軍盃領走，有點不好意思，昨日本來下場，沒想到台商會長胡美惠熱情邀約，於是下場入隊，但倒底腳傷還是有影響，未發揮原有水準，他那隊沒得名次。不過他很高興，昨天他居然連續打出四次全倒，得到計分電腦上出現一隻火雞的獎勵。

            台商會副會長許欽俊是今年這場保齡球賽的主辦者。他的另一半，游舒婷透露，現在的保齡球館都用電腦計分，只要連續打出三個全倒，電腦計分器上就會顯示一個火雞，表示獎勵。許欽俊昨天也領得兩隻火雞。

            打完球後，台商會就在保齡球館內聚餐，享用批薩。期間會長胡美惠還頒獎表揚許炳煌為該會做了許多事。

            新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長胡美惠(前左一)抱著保齡球，頒發冠軍獎給Kevin Walsh(後左二)，蘇鴻昌(前左二起)、許漱馨，亞軍獎給游舒婷、許欽俊、楊凱傑。(菊子攝)

            新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會的歷任會長、理事們，左起，林鳳池、許欽俊、蔡高進、許炳煌、胡美惠、蔡坤喜(右一)、蔡明機(右二)在打完保齡球後開理事會。(菊子攝)

            新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長胡美惠頒發特別獎給許炳煌，表揚他對該會的貢獻。(菊子攝)

滋根新年慈善音樂會 籌款逾萬元

歌聲落下，掌聲響起。滋根基金會波士頓分會昨(三)日在哈佛大學山德斯劇院舉辦的新年慈善音樂會，不但籌得萬餘元，更讓大波士頓人欣喜讚嘆，全因住在波士頓，才能享受到楊光、段小毅、李玉新、王麗文等聲樂家演出的音樂饗宴。

            波士頓滋根基金會發起人龍俐麗昨日在音樂會開幕時感謝出席眾人的熱心，報告經辦波士頓滋根十五年後，今起交棒給李小梅。

            龍俐麗很坦白，表示辦這麼一場音樂會，製作費並不便宜，售票收入扣除開支，節餘有限，但在十多名好友每人每曲贊助至少250元的支持下，共籌六千多元。再加上廣告及贊助商的贊助，共約籌得一萬餘元。龍俐麗透露，售票成績不夠理想，共有座位一千餘的劇院，約有四百空座位，她看著很心痛。但讓她安慰的是，至少她為大波士頓人帶來一場原汁原味的高水準音樂會。

            滋根基金會是1988年，一群來自香港、台灣的熱心人士為幫助中國最貧困地區人民而創辦的非牟利機構，主要目標為幫助兒童接受基礎教育，保持地方文化，傳授婦女謀生技能。廿年來，滋根基金會已在中國八到十一個省份，為將近九萬人次的中國女童及孤兒，提供了助學金，為八千多村民舉辦了掃盲班和基本生計課程。滋根針對中國「撤點併校」問題發起的提案，也獲得中國教育部門重視，進行政策改善。滋根創辦人楊貴平也因此獲得中國新聞週刊2012年影響中國年度人物之社會公共利益守望者獎。

            昨日的音樂會由楊光、段小毅、李玉新、王麗文等四名聲樂家和北美合唱團演唱廿一首中西名曲。聲樂家們的歌聲之美，各曲目樂音的或引人哀淒，或令人歡悅，不單只讓觀眾們對幾名聲樂家的唱功讚不絕口，情緒也隨之起伏牽動。

            上半場時，四名聲樂家各自展現演唱中西名曲的功力。楊光的一曲「你知道什麼是愛」，段小毅演唱的弄臣裏「善變的女人」，魏晶的Cecily，王麗文的Bachianas Braslieras No.5 Aria，李玉新和魏晶合唱的一段歌劇「啊，美麗的姑娘」等，每曲一畢，觀眾的如雷掌聲，要求安可聲立即響起。

            楊光是這場音樂會的主要唱者，不但演唱了多首歌劇曲，也演唱了春歸何處、江城子，我愛你中國等中國歌曲。

            台下觀眾中，曾任大波士頓中華文化協會會長的胡世沛感慨表示，這天的演唱會真是好。他指出，這幾名聲樂家大波士頓人早在廿年前就已熟悉。其中一、二人曾一度嗓音有變，但沒想到昨日的這場演唱會，每個人都唱得那麼好，幾乎全無瑕疵。另一名觀眾也指段小毅演唱「那就是我」時，感情之投入，讓人聽著就感動。

這天贊助演唱的熱心人士包括陳瑞虹、伍玉璋、李小梅、何玉琦、胡小非、胡俊杰、胡玉婕、曹宏遠、龍俐麗、劉泰國、柯曼雯、王藐若、文乃建、蔡茗、胡涵詩、王黎、程紀平等人。大波士頓中華文化協會的蔣宗壬、周健男、王子仁，劉劍英等許多人，都出席捧場。Azuki創辦人吳錦城，台灣生技育成中心執行長蘇懷仁，也都被朋友邀來聽音樂會。       

哈佛大學中國學生學者聯合會這天動員了多名幹部當義工，包括張旭、孫雷之、雷雨等人，或當接待，或負責攝影、拍照。他們都表示能為做善事盡一分力，是很有意義的事。

圖片說明：

            波士頓滋根基金會發起人龍俐麗(左一)把棒子交給李小梅(右一)，邀得王藐若(左二)、段小毅(右二)等人籌辦出一場慈善音樂會。(菊子攝)

            即將赴紐約大都會劇院演唱的楊光(左)應波士頓滋根基金會李小梅之邀，為慈善音樂會領銜演出。(菊子攝)

            李玉新和魏晶合唱的一段歌劇「啊，美麗的姑娘」。(菊子攝)

            波士頓滋根基金會慈善音樂會謝幕。(菊子攝)

廣教學校闢出一面牆 列名感謝捐款者

中華廣教學校在二月廿八日晚，以隆重典禮揭曉「建校捐款芳名榜」，聊向五百名以上善長仁翁，表達感激之情。

      這面以玻璃纖維製作，設計得很美的捐款牆，就放在門口走廊，出入廣教學校的每個人都要經過、看到，猶如向這些捐款者不斷行注目禮。

      中華廣教學校董事長蔡倩婷、副董事長雷國輝在致詞時，以中英雙語感謝一眾捐款者，聲稱是這些善長仁翁的慷慨解囊，才讓廣教學校得以改善設備，為社區傳承中華文化，提供教育服務。

      中華廣教學校校長曾秀芬補充，指出沒有忠誠、努力、盡心的老師，熱心支持的家長與學生，廣教學校無法走到今天。她特地介紹了在廣教已任教29年的梅淑雅老師，以及呂錦芳老師，廣教五年級學生Angelina、曹太、雷太等人。

      根據廣教學校記錄，萬寧路室長交誼室，華人投資公司(CI Associates)音樂廳，紀念蘇瞱初音樂廳，黃官羨夫婦藝術室，麻省藍十字藍盾體育中心，黃氏基金會，李伍綺蓮闔家紀念李實卿，陳家的毓旋、毓禮、金鳳、鳳瓊、鳳娣、鳳娥紀念父親陳應俊、母親梅顏香及黃蓮秀，吳陶至剛、李湯鳳鳴校長室，美國銀行圖書館，John Hancock 金融服務公司，紐英崙至孝篤親公所，校友李錦光牙醫、李伍碧香闔家，塔芙茨醫療中心浮船兒童醫院，黃兆英及黃余金遇，波士頓安良工商會，李瓊球及雷月華，黃家兆英、麗容、麗坤紀念父母黃高秀及黃周綺文，陳黃景佩校友及陳毓旋，永豐銀行，美國利寶(Liberty Mutual)基金會中國語言電腦室，道富集團基金會教師休息室等，各別至少捐款八萬元，取得房間命名權。

      雷國輝指出，廣教學校今日能擁有自置校舍，發展更好，幕後還有很多無名英雄，包括華埠信託基金會、Yakey基金會、獲多利(Fidelity)公司，以及在廣教建校期間，免費做法律顧問的李保華律師及古德溫(Goodwin Procter)律師樓，做建築設計顧問的鄭繼良，在廣教學校當年流離失所時提供暫用場地的中華頤養院等等。

      曾秀芬表示，她很高興可以向出席儀式的嘉賓們報告，如今廣教學校的課餘班學生，比三年前多了三倍，週末班的術科學生也人數大增，暑期夏令營更是等候名單長得令人咋舌。這在在證明了社區、廣教學校師生及家長的努力有成。

      廣教學校當晚為娛到會嘉賓，展現廣教學校學生的學習成績，還安排了腰鼓舞「歡樂中國年」，蒙古筷子舞、漢族採茶小姑娘、苗族苗兒舞等舞蹈，杜曉琳、黃敏儀、曹子宇等人揚琴演奏花好月圓、鄉村舒懷、土耳其進行曲。

      當晚到會嘉賓眾多，除前文曾提及的捐款善長，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文，波士頓第二區市議員林乃肯(Bill Linehan)、塔芙茨醫療中心執行長Michael Wagner 之外，包括全美安良工商會元老梅錫銳，全美安良總理胡英僚，波士頓安良會長黃國健、李天生，顧問余文博等，安良共有不下十名成員出席盛典，藉以彰顯廣教學校當年是由安良工商會創辦的這一歷史。

圖片說明：

      梅淑雅(右起)、蔡倩婷、湯鳳鳴、陳毓旋、李伍綺蓮、塔芙茨醫療中心執行長Michael Wagner、胡英僚、梅錫銳、陳家驊、雷國輝等人為廣教學校的建校捐款芳名榜揭幕。

      中華廣教學校校長曾秀芬(右起)、陳毓禮、李天生、郭大文、黃國健、梅淑雅、蔡倩婷、XXX、蘇李煥珍、陳黃景佩、李伍綺蓮、阮陳金鳳、李湯鳳鳴、李伍碧香、蔣宗壬等人在揭幕後合影。(菊子攝)

      中華廣教學校校長曾秀芬表揚資深教師梅淑雅(右)、呂錦芳(左)。(菊子攝)

浙大校友迎新春 母校教授越洋賀

波士頓浙江大學校友會日前在華森鎮劍橋中國文化中心歡慶蛇年新春。七十多人在精心佈置的禮堂中享用美味晚餐，欣賞豐富節目，接受越洋祝福，嘻嘻哈哈的笑聲不斷。

      浙江大學在大波士頓一帶有不少校友，但直到2010年北美浙江大學校友會來到波士頓舉辦第34屆校友大會，才正式成立了波士頓浙江大學校友會，現在服務幹部團有洪保明會長，倪繼紅候任會長，沈軍華常務副會長、俞薇活動部副會長、賀極蒼學術及子女教育部副會長、張進創業部副會長、張海飛學生部副會長等。

      這兩年來，該會舉辦慶祝新年、春遊、夏聚等活動，校友間的感情越來越好。去年他們趁著浙江大學公共管理學院教授苗青到麻省理工學院史隆管理學院進修的機會，在感恩節期間舉辦了創業講座。今年已回校述職的苗青，特地拍了段拜年視頻，讓波士頓浙大校友隨鏡頭一覽母校變遷。

      目前正在哥倫比亞大學做交流訪問的浙大美東地區校友會聯絡人張蔚文，這天也特地從紐約趕來，代表浙大母校，向大波士頓本地校友拜年。

      波士頓浙大校友的這場「金龍辭舊歲，銀蛇迎新春」晚會，由倪繼紅和張進主持。他倆拿中國春晚節目做話題，從趙文卓表演的「少年中國說」最有浩然正氣，最給人正能量說起，串場帶出當晚的兩場講座及表演節目。

在子女教育這場講座中，浙大校友會特地邀請來已從哈佛大學畢業的Vivian Wu，子女在全美聞名的菲利普高中(Phillips Academy)就讀的校友張力行，闡釋現代高校重視多元化能力，強調各人發展要有個別特色，以及公立、私立學校的優缺點比較等。浙大光儀系82屆校友，目前在新英格蘭視光學院任職的賀極蒼，接著講談如何保護視力。

表演節目部份，四名年輕校友，劉茁、陳航、劉佳、林胤榜，自編自導的演出小品「白蛇傳」，把現代搞笑元素融於一體，呈現出一段全新的西子河畔美麗傳說，還把竺可楨校長的兩個經典問題、浙大各校區特色、求是書院的典故等浙大特有內容，揉進許仙、白蛇、小青、法海的愛恨糾葛中，把台下觀眾笑得不行，報以陣陣掌聲。

      表演節目中，也有人唱歌，杜華華演唱了鳳凰傳奇的「自由飛翔」，一名出席者演唱了京劇。

      活動中還玩起聽歌猜名，看圖猜校區、看頭像猜人名等遊戲，最後才在抽獎中結束。由於倪繼紅、鄒英寅等熱心校友捐出不少獎品，當晚中獎幸運兒不少，歡喜氣氛十足。

      波士頓浙江大學校友會會長洪保明(右二)、副會長倪繼紅(左起)、張進、沈軍華等人為校友們籌畫出一場精彩的新春晚會。(菊子攝)

      波士頓浙江大學校友會會長洪保明(第二排右七)、副會長倪繼紅(第二排右六)和部份出席校友在慶祝蛇年新春晚會中合影。(圖由波士頓浙大校友會提供)