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星期三, 9月 24, 2014

矽谷咖啡率中國企業家訪波士頓

北京大學新英格蘭校友會新任會長羅嘉元(第二排坐者左一)和講者,出席者合影。(周菊子攝)
北京大學新英格蘭校友會新任會長羅嘉元(後左一)在會中主持大局。(周菊子攝)
             (Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導) 新英格蘭北京大學校友會九月廿一日在麻省理工學院介紹“矽谷咖啡”帶來的十幾名中國企業家。搓揉了中國國情的北大“1898眾籌咖啡”,打算比臉書還炫的“得脉”,揚言招員工不考慮八五前的“上海雲享科技商宴通“,讓大波士頓華人領略到不一樣的中國面貌。
            這場講座由北京大學新英格蘭校友會主辦,新任會長羅嘉元主持,未名紫荊創業聯盟以及麻省理工學院中國創新創業論壇協辦,吸引到會的人不但坐滿全場,連站位都差點擠不出來。
北大校友創業聯合會秘書長,“1898 Café”董事長楊勇。周菊子攝)
        “矽谷咖啡”聯合創始人張馳,子路內觀旅遊產業創始人馮雅靜帶來的十幾名中國企業家,行業分佈很廣,從高端深度旅遊,藝術經紀,鐘錶,投資,保險,大數據,環保,基金會,創業輔導等,不一而足。
            當天主要有四人發言,包括北京大學1898眾籌咖啡董事長兼創辦人楊勇,太美集團創、得脈創辦人兼董事長胡世輝,南京高盛房地產開發暨深圳樂富股權投資基金管理董事長孫天元,以及上海雲享科技商宴通合夥人張琴。
自稱天使投資人的趙子麥後來也上台闡述了一番他的經驗。
北大校友創業聯合會秘書長,“1898 Café”董事長楊勇。周菊子攝)
北大校友創業聯合會秘書長楊勇表示,“1898 Café” 是中國式眾籌,和美國Crowdfunding 的只籌錢很不一樣。他們的這咖啡館為中國帶出一個基本上沒風險的籌資創業途徑,不只籌錢,還集智,分享人脈關係,社會資源。
楊勇解釋了“1898 Café”講究既要出錢,也要出力,給投資者參與感,歸屬感,榮譽感,使命感的眾籌模式,以及衍生出來的,有如小型交易所的孵化創業力量。從去年十月十八日開業以來,有不下二,三千人找他陳述創業構想,要加入投資行列,
 南京高盛房地產開發暨深圳樂富股權投資基金管理董事長孫天元。周菊子攝)
他透露,由於“1898 Café”推出以來的效應驚人,他們打算將來做眾籌明星,眾籌教授,眾籌電影,眾籌法律中心院等項目,藉著眾籌的減少投資壓力,讓更多人能更輕鬆自在地實現夢想,追求品質。
            其中的胡世輝,從海南做高端旅遊起家,2007年他快四十歲時,成立了太美集團,股東包括馮倫,馬雲,郭廣昌等許多中國知名企業家,廿多個行業裏的第一名。
上海雲享科技商宴通合夥人張琴。周菊子攝)
            穿著豔紅色緊身長褲,黑絨夾克,外表看來像街頭龐克的胡世輝表示,他現在做 實名制的“得脉”,一個比鏈接(Linkedin)效率高三十倍,為人提供更廣泛人際關係的社交商務平台。
天使投資人趙子麥。(周菊子攝)
他坦言自己喜歡玩手機,檢討自己的事業發展經歷,發現許多機會其實都來自互聯網,而不是自己的親戚,朋友,在觀察到未來世界離不開互聯網這趨勢後,他決定打造一個能把社交,時間,空間,角色,技能,榮譽,意願等結合起來,又好玩,有趣的新平台,藉實名制,幫人和散落在世界各個角落的可能資源連上線,實現各人的理想,夢想。他說,“得脉”的理念是在夢想面前,人人平等。他們已有二百多萬用戶,十億人次的關係建立,有用戶因此實現拍電影,創作音樂的夢想。
  矽谷咖啡合夥人張馳。(周菊子攝)
孫天元是在上MBA課時,認識第一個創業夥伴,踏進房地產行業。賺到錢後,他怕看得見的未來,思考人生該做什麼,嘗試各種自虐似冒險,沿著玄奘大師當年路徑的走過沙漠,騎自行車九天八夜的遊台灣等等。他認為互聯網為社會帶來了一場新的,更徹底的文明革命,把中國撕開了一個口,幾乎無論哪個行業要繼續生存,都得擁抱互聯網。
張琴的發言,在會場引發一片訝嘆聲。她一開口先說創業要慎選合夥人,接著表示她的團隊都是八五後,九零,招人不考慮八五前。會場內一大半人一下子就有被“年齡”擊垮的慨嘆。她接著表示,他們偏好找處女座做產品策劃,處女座做市場行銷,又讓場內聽眾再爆訝異聲。


摩頓河節首見龍舟賽 市長試掌舵

摩頓市長葛帝生和華林派太極功夫學校師生合影。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Oran周菊子摩頓市報導)報導)摩頓市由市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)發起的首屆龍舟賽,九月廿日在三市合作的第五屆摩頓河節亮相,吸引了六千多名遊客遊賞。
            共有五隊參加,一連廿次比賽後,波士頓龍舟俱樂部第一隊(Boston 1 Dragon Boat Club)奪得冠軍,生命根Living Root)龍舟俱樂部亞軍,波士頓碼頭員工(Boston Dock Staff)隊季軍。
  摩頓市長葛帝生(左起)試著當龍舟鼓手,余翠梅,伍振中,波士頓龍舟節
的劉凱忠在一旁要確保龍舟不會划開。(
周菊子攝)
            摩頓河節是由包括摩頓市(Malden),麥德福(medford),艾佛瑞(Everett)三個城市的三市社區行動項目(Tri-City Community Action Program)主辦,今年已跨入第五屆,每年都在摩頓河邊安排許多文娛節目,給市民一個內容豐富的夏日活動。
生活根隊出發。(周菊子攝)
            今年在摩頓市長葛帝生推動,波士頓龍舟節創辦人之一劉凱忠支援,市內亞裔于豔,余翠梅,洪梅,羅祖德等人參與策劃下,首次舉辦龍舟賽。
劉凱忠指出,波士頓龍舟節全力支援摩頓市辦第一次辦龍舟賽,老遠從波士頓把該機構擁有的兩艘龍舟划到摩頓市來,還支援了賽場工作人員。如果按照正常程序,這場只有五隊參加的龍舟賽,恐怕得花費不下兩萬元才辦得成。
 華林派舞龍開幕。(周菊子攝
籌委會透露,這一比賽有華人醫務中心,哈佛朝聖者醫療保險公司(Harvard Pilgrim)等贊助。代表華人醫務中心,最近才在華人醫務中心昆士分部開畫展的伍振中也親自上船掌舵。哈佛朝聖者醫療保險公司的社區關係經理譚敏兒也親自出席,和李潔英一起為民眾介紹該公司服務。
活動現場,還有河濱藝術節,四十多名本地藝術家在那擺攤展示各種手工藝品,畫作。摩頓市青年會送出300個兒童自行車頭盔。下一步生活(Next Step Living)等公司在會場介紹節約能源。
 無二烤肉的劉曉(左)也來開食物車來助陣。(周菊子攝)
華林派功夫學校舞龍舞獅,為節慶活動揭幕後,還安排了一場功夫示範,吸引了許多人圍觀。朱志敏音樂學校,Paula Ternzi及On Pointe舞蹈學校,Core Ccardio健身會,移民學習中心等都推出了表演節目。
哈佛朝聖者醫療保險公司的社區關係經理譚敏兒招呼攤位。周菊子攝)
無二烤肉食物卡車,那天姍姍來遲。老闆劉曉笑說,記錯日子,才遲到,好在現場還有不少人,還是能讓他們聞聞烤肉香,順道宣傳一下他們已經在摩頓市內開了實體店。


五十多名同學會長聽姚鴻澤分享人生經驗

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處教育組920日舉辦新格蘭地區中華民國 (台灣)同學會會長聯席會議。來自20多所學校近50名會長、副會長在薩福克 (Suffolk) 大學法學院會議室交流,聽講。
    經文處教育組今年為這會議邀請的主講嘉賓是中央研究院院士暨哈佛大學數學系教授姚鴻澤教授。
他以「大衛與巨人──學術生涯之我思我見」為題,分享名不見經傳留學生如何挑戰資深學者與大型研究機構的故事。
他舉了幾個西方歷史事件,提醒同學做好面對世界的心理準備,要培養獨立思考能力、勇於嘗試與創新,熱衷,專注於個人的專業領域。他也以自己求學過程的轉折為例,鼓勵人不妨用「如果每一步都是正確的選擇,我會更好嗎?」這問題來反省,深思自己的人生追求。
曾經,他率領的團隊和數學大師Wigner-Dyson的團隊競爭,從那過程中,他體會到關鍵不是勝負,而是決定過程。他指出,同學們當然還要選擇能發揮自己才華的領域,別沈醉於目前有的成就,有野心,訂大目標,絕對有必要。出席同學對姚鴻澤的人生選擇,轉換跑道,都興趣濃厚,問了許多問題。
        經文處各單位當天都派有代表出席。副處長陳銘俊在介紹辦事處架構及功能之餘,勉勵同學謙卑,才能走更遠的路。他也提醒同學會長,要轉告各校同學多與台灣的家人聯絡,十月五日的雙十國遊行,要撥冗參加。
領務組洪毓羚秘書報告經文急難救助電話,護照換新、文件驗證、出生證明及返國設籍等業務。
教育組黃薳玉組長請留學生注意安全、說明該組提供畢業證書驗證等。她也鼓勵同學們趁留學期間多認識、多接觸當地資源,並常常跟教育組保持聯繫。出席同學對教育組提供同學會補助、臺灣資料展示、山地服裝及就業資訊助等服務,也都感到實用有效。
塔芙茨大學教授張重華、牙根管專科醫師王世輝、麻省理工學院教授廖灝翔及李彥頡等人經教育組延攬為留學生義務顧問。他們幾人在綜合座談中,分享了他們的留學生生活、求學、就業等各方面個人經驗。
新英格蘭臺灣留學生聯合會((FTSANE)新會長李慧真當天也在會中報告該會預定辦理的活動,包括即將舉行的賞楓採蘋果等。

圖片說明:


            前左起,張重華,姚鴻澤,經文處副處長陳銘俊,教育組長黃薳玉(前右一)漢出席同學會長們合影。(圖由教育組提供)

昭倫公所將在紐英崙推選美東副總長


謝中之撰
Photo右起 :謝如鍵(Vice-President & English Secretary),許楊威(President),談家權(Chinese Secretary),謝中之(Administrator),代表紐英崙昭倫公所出席在西雅圖舉辦的全美昭倫公所第廿一屆懇親代表大會。

昭倫公所由「談、譚、許、謝」的兄弟姊妹所組成,均是姜太公後裔,會議由96日到8日,出席人數三佰多人,談家權是唯一「談」姓兄弟出席而成為大會的「談大哥」。大會決定紐英崙昭倫公所劃入美國東北紐英崙區域,將安排及選出一位<昭倫副總長>代表美國東北區的
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine -- Six States
加拿大溫哥華昭倫親義公所是由談譚許謝的五姓兄弟姊妹所組成,在西雅圖的昭倫懇親大會,溫哥華有三十多位出席恭賀,現任主席阮少玲。
據阮少玲告知,加拿大的阮姓因與昭倫義的原因,組成了昭倫親義公所,所以加拿大是沒有阮氏公所。

Photo--右起:阮少玲(Vancouver),謝中之(Boston),譚偉業(Vancouver)

波士頓華埠傳假火警 六消防車,兩醫療車趕來


9月23日,星期二,下午六點半左右,華埠華盛頓街660號被傳出三樓發現火警,六部消防車,兩部救傷車抵達現塲,在警方到逹之前,中華公所的華埠治安巡邏隊員們,龍岡公所的關炳、劉樹榮和劉華權立刻在必珠街引導車輛轉向不進入華盛頓街,至德三德公所的曹品慈稍後亦加入,直到警方到達。半個多小時後,發現是虛報,交通回復正常,巡邏隊員則繼續在華埠巡邏。
 
中華公所巡邏隊為義務工作,歡迎加入,接受捐獻,有意者請聨系中華公所 617-542-2574,或巡邏隊總司令翁宇才 617-388-8063。(圖及文-----謝中之)
中華公所---治安巡邏隊
 


波士頓違規停車罰款付費今起手機化


Mayor Walsh Announces Partnership with TicketZen

City of Boston parking violations will now direct recipients to mobile-based payment feature


BOSTON – Today Mayor Walsh announced the City of Boston’s partnership with a Boston tech company to encourage parking ticket recipients to pay their fines using their smart phones. The new customer service improvement is the result of a request for proposals issued by the City, which invited entities to propose a mobile parking ticket payment solution for City-issued parking tickets. The resulting partnership is between the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD), and TicketZen, Inc., a company created by Boston-based Terrible Labs. For a three month pilot period, beginning on Tuesday, September 23, a reference to the mobile app TicketZen will be featured at the bottom of every computer-generated parking ticket issued by the Boston Transportation Department and will guide those with parking tickets through this new option for making payments.

“The City of Boston continues to innovate around customer service,” said Mayor Walsh. “Implementing new technology that makes the unpleasant chore of paying a parking ticket more efficient and effective, makes life in the city easier. I’m pleased that we were able to partner with a local tech company to get this app done.”

TicketZen, a smart phone app available for both Android and Apple devices, utilizes the smart phone camera to scan the barcode on a parking ticket and connect the user’s payment details with the City of Boston’s payment network. The app provides a smoother user experience than navigating to the City’s parking ticket payment website from a mobile phone. In addition, by prompting users to make timely payments, it helps them to avoid late fees that are routinely added to the original fine after 21 days. During the pilot period, the TicketZen service will be provided at no cost to Boston users beyond the standard credit card processing fee associated with the City’s payment portal.

“BTD is excited to have this opportunity to work with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and a local technology start-up on this parking ticket payment app,” said Interim Boston Transportation Department Commissioner James E. Gillooly. “We intend to continue to aggressively research and pursue new technology available to us that can help drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to navigate our local transportation systems, to enhance the customer service experience that we provide to our constituents.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Mayor Walsh and Boston’s Transportation Department to ease the process of paying a parking ticket,” said Cort Johnson, Director of Business Development for Terrible Labs. “Boston continues to be a leader through their sustained efforts to modernize the way its residents and visitors interact with the City and TicketZen is excited to be a part of that plan.”

The City of Boston continues to innovate to make government processes more accessible through digital channels. Recent efforts include: HubHacks, a civic-minded Hackathon to reinvent the City’s online permitting experience; the installation of digital kiosks at several agencies across the City to connect constituents within two business days to City of Boston business development specialists; and the expansion of Wicked Free WiFi, providing free wireless internet across Boston’s Main Street districts.

Smart phone users with questions or comments about the new app are encouraged to contact the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500.

Boston Public Market to Partner with Interise and CropCircle Kitchen, Offer StreetWise ‘MBA’™ Program to Local Food Vendors

Boston Public Market to Partner with Interise and CropCircle Kitchen, Offer StreetWise ‘MBA’™ Program to Local Food Vendors
Vendors at Boston’s first permanent, indoor farmer’s market to benefit from award-winning curriculum, local instructor
BOSTON — Interise, CropCircle Kitchen and the Boston Public Market today announced a new partnership that will provide innovative business training to local food vendors at the planned public market slated to open in summer 2015.

“Interise’s StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program has a proven record of helping small businesses grow and flourish, and we’re excited to work with them on a new initiative focused specifically on the needs of food businesses as a way to support our vendors.,” said Liz Morningstar, CEO of the Boston Public Market. “We’re also looking forward to working with CropCircle Kitchen—benefiting from their deep knowledge of the food business and connecting our vendors to their tremendous new commercial kitchen facilities in Dorchester.”

Vendor applicants and local small food businesses will participate in Interise’s award-winning StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program aimed at growing jobs and creating more revenue. The program covers topics such as business development, strategic planning, access to capital, government contacts, financials, marketing and sales, and human resources.

Unlike some formal training, participants in the StreetWise ‘MBA’™ program don’t study large corporations, they work on their own businesses. Each participating business functions as a live case and owners use their own experiences as a case study. As business owners learn about each topic, they instantly apply the lessons to their business and implement change.

Mayor Walsh Announces Cabinet Level Chief of Arts and Culture

Mayor Walsh Announces Cabinet Level Chief of Arts and Culture

Important step in ongoing elevation of arts in Boston, Appointee led Chicago’s cultural planning process


BOSTON – Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Julie Burros as Boston’s first Chief of Arts and Culture in more than 20 years, following a national search. Burros will be tasked with stewarding the creation of Boston’s Cultural Plan, and work as an advocate for the arts community across new policy creation. Burros is currently the director of Cultural Planning for the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, a position she has held for more than 15 years. She will begin her role as Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston in December 2014.

“I’ve said from Day One that I want to elevate Boston’s arts and culture profile,” said Mayor Walsh. “During the campaign, I often heard about the need for the arts to be more integrated into the lives of residents and visitors. Julie will bring a fresh perspective and a strong foundation of expertise to envision Boston’s cultural future and execute a master plan for the arts.”

In her position with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Burros works at the intersection of planning, culture, community development, and capacity building. During her tenure she has strengthened the arts community, and improved the City of Chicago’s cultural identity. Burros has a diversity of experience in policymaking, grant programming, non-profit development, and municipal government.

“Julie was instrumental in developing the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan and engaging the public in that process,” said Michelle T. Boone, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “Our heartfelt congratulations to Julie. This is a tremendous opportunity for her, and she will do a wonderful job.”

“I am so thrilled to be joining Mayor Walsh’s team and look forward to putting all my experience to work for the people of Boston,” said Julie Burros. “Boston has great potential in the arts world, and this is a unique opportunity to examine all of Boston’s cultural assets and align them with Mayor Walsh’s vision to make arts and culture a key piece across all City departments.”

Burros led the creation of the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012, which was awarded the Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning from the Metropolitan Planning Council, and is leading its implementation. In addition, in her current role she acts as a liaison between the arts community and regulatory City departments resolving issues with zoning, licensing, permitting, and building codes; visions the redevelopment of vacant spaces in the City for arts uses, and supports Chicago’s cultural districts. Her signature work in Chicago includes the 2009 Burnham Plan Centennial Pavilions in Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Landscape survey of 2002.

Burros did her undergraduate work at the college at the University of Chicago, majoring in sociology, and did her graduate work at Columbia University at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, with a focus on planning for the built environment.

As Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston, Burros will oversee a staff of 9 housed within the Boston Arts Commission and the Boston Cultural Council, with a budget of $1.3 million. The Chief position has an annual salary of $125,000, and also includes oversight of the Boston Public Library system. The Arts + Culture cabinet was created by Mayor Walsh to elevate arts and culture by separating it from the previous administration’s Office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events.

Pulling from her experience working on the Chicago Cultural Plan, Burros will steer Boston’s 15-member Cultural Planning Committee through Boston’s cultural planning process. The Plan will be shaped by a public conversation with the goal of creating a long-term vision that better capitalizes on existing resources and makes the City’s arts and culture creative portfolio stronger, more accessible, more sustainable, and more diverse. Burros will promote and execute the final plan, secure resources, and oversee its implementation and evaluation. In addition, she will be tasked with ensuring that all relevant City programs are aligned with the Plan.

In addition as Chief, Burros will work to create a vehicle through which the City can increase diversity and inclusion in the arts, seek grants and sponsorship opportunities, and secure funding and support for Boston’s arts community. Burros will seek to grow the arts in Boston across disciplines, from theater to dance, to the visual arts to public art.

The Arts and Culture Chief search committee included 11-members, and was led by Joyce Linehan, Mayor Walsh’s Chief of Policy.

Committee Members:

Kathy Bitetti, Artist
Patricia Boyle-McKenna, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics
David Dower, ArtsEmerson
Michael Evans, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics
Danny Green, Mayor’s Office
Vineet Gupta, Boston Transportation Department
Para Jayasinghe, Public Works Department
Jill Medvedow, Institute of Contemporary Art
Charlayne Murrell-Smith, Children’s Museum
Lois Roach, playwright/teacher
Miguel Rodriguez, Boston Baroque

星期二, 9月 23, 2014

胡炳超設宴慶祝徒孫滿天下

胡炳超。(周菊子攝)
          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)胡炳超是波士頓內的知名武術大師傅之一,早從1966年就在大波士頓開武館“竹廬(Bamboo Hut)”,一度強調少林洪家拳,在林肯街另設武館。自創揉和身體軟硬能力,既能自衛,又能攻擊的五元太極(5 Elements Tai Chi)功夫後,開始以“超武館”為名,繁衍門派,今年三月八日還在羅爾市(Lowell)威利街(Willie)開張了一家新武館。
              九月廿日這晚,在徒子徒孫,陳耀祥等武術同好,以及社區支持者共數百人的響應中,胡炳超師傅在帝苑大酒家設宴慶祝,示範該館武功。
胡炳超(右)與陳耀祥(左)。(周菊子攝)