MA, NY, AND KY ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGE FCC TO STOP ROBOCALL MESSAGES

MA, NY, AND KY ATTORNEYS GENERAL URGE FCC TO STOP ROBOCALL MESSAGES

BOSTON – Urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on the national onslaught of robocall messages, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear opposed a petition requesting that so-called “ringless robocalls” be exempt from consumer protections under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

In the joint comment letter sent last week, the Attorneys General urged the FCC to not add to the existing plague of unwanted robocalls. The petition – filed by All About the Message – seeks an exemption for ringless robocalls that deliver voicemails to consumers without causing their phones to ring, arguing that they should not be considered “calls.” The attorneys general argue that this exemption further opens the floodgates to more harassing messages.

“Massachusetts residents already face a constant barrage of harassing, intrusive and unwanted robocalls,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. “Granting companies a free pass to push ringless voice messages to consumers’ phones just adds more robocalls and causes significant financial harm to those who are charged for checking their messages.”

           

“New Yorkers are already the victims of countless unwanted phone solicitations,” said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. “The federal government has a basic responsibility to protect American consumers. That certainly doesn’t mean making it even easier for companies to spam them with costly, unsolicited, ringless robocalls.”

“Protecting Kentuckians from the constant barrage of unwanted scam and robocalls is an ongoing priority of my office,” said Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear. “We must strengthen the protections to our citizens, not clear the way for costly, unwanted calls.”

The purpose of the TCPA is to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive calls. The FCC’s Robocall Strike Force reports that robocalls are the number one source of complaints it receives, with consumers receiving an estimated 2.4 billion robocalls per month in 2016.

The letter points out that these ringless robocalls prevent consumers from blocking unwanted messages with many of the latest call blocking apps for mobile phones. Also, whether the they ring or not, robocalls can impose significant costs on consumers, especially those with prepaid cell phones or limited minutes who are charged for checking their messages. These messages will adversely impact consumers with limited size voicemail boxes may miss important messages when their voicemail is clogged with unwanted messages. 

新波士頓人英語獲10萬元補助款

English for New Bostonians, Boston Cares receive

Cummings Foundation grant of $100,000 for volunteer ESOL Tutor Corps 

  

ESOL Tutor Corps connects local volunteers with immigrants and refugees learning English across Boston

BOSTON, MA - June 5, 2017   A partnership between English for New Bostonians (ENB) and Boston Cares is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive a grant of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation's "$100K for 100" program. The Boston-based organizations were chosen from a total of 549 applicants during a competitive review process.

ENB supports 25 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs for low-income immigrants across the city of Boston, reaching approximately 1,100 students every year. Boston Cares mobilizes individual and corporate volunteers who strengthen communities and improve the lives of people in need, engaging thousands of adults, children, teens and corporate partners annually serving 67,000 hours at 165 schools and nonprofits. The ESOL Tutor Corps will add in-class, small group, and individualized assistance for 210 students each year, allowing them to attain their economic, educational and civic goals more quickly.

Representatives from ENB and Boston Cares will join approximately 300 other guests at a reception at Trade Center128 in Woburn on June 8, 2017 to celebrate the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston's nonprofit sector. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $170 million to local nonprofits.

"Cummings' support for immigrant and refugee communities, and the organizations that serve them is exactly what is needed from our philanthropic community right now," said Claudia Green, ENB's Executive Director. "We are deeply grateful for this grant, and look forward to welcoming new volunteers to building meaningful relationships with those making Boston their home."

"Partnering with English for New Bostonians, Boston Cares has introduced new ways to recruit and retain ESOL volunteers. The Cummings grant will allow us to expand and accelerate this work, leveraging more volunteers for one of Boston's most pressing needs," said Boston Cares Executive Director Patrice Keegan.

ENB and Boston Cares will expand their joint volunteer initiative, the ESOL Tutor Corps program, which helps adult immigrants learn English and gain confidence and skills to fully contribute as workers, parents, and community members. Volunteers in the Corps are exposed to rich experiences working directly with immigrants as part of a well-organized team, while building ESOL programs' capacity to reach more students.With Cummings Foundation support, ESOL Tutor Corps will build ESOL support infrastructure on a citywide level while ensuring distinct needs of hard-to-reach immigrant students at community programs are effectively met.

 

The Cummings Foundation grant comes at a time when both volunteers' good will and immigrant students' language acquisition needs are at record-high levels. Since November 2016, ENB has seen a 100% increase in individuals wishing to volunteer to assist immigrants.

The $100K for 100 Program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is benefiting 35 different cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by affiliate Cummings Properties.

"Nonprofit organizations like ENB and Boston Cares are vital to the local communities where our colleagues live and work," said Joel Swets, Cumming Foundation's executive director. "We are delighted to invest in their efforts."

This year's diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including homelessness prevention and affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. A complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

 

English for New Bostonians' mission is to invest in the future of our region by creating opportunities for English language learners to pursue their educational, economic and civic aspirations. ENB programs serve 1100 students at 25 sites each year. The English Works Campaign, founded in 2008, activates unions, employers, immigrant community leaders, civic groups, and educators calling for government and private resources to sustain an ESOL system responsive to needs of immigrant workers and their employers.

Boston Cares mobilizes individual and corporate volunteers who strengthen communities and improve the lives of people in need. Boston Cares builds relationships with schools and nonprofits around needs that can be filled by volunteer teams; then recruits, orients and leads reliable volunteers who get the job done. Boston Cares' programs and service events engage thousands of adults, children, teens and corporate partners annually serving 67,000 hours at 165 schools and nonprofits.

About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-Based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester. With assets exceeding $1.4 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional Information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

六四燭光悼念會 6/4 晚在紐英崙中華公所舉行

六四燭光悼念會

2017 年 6 月 4 日（星期日）

為軫悼二十八年前犧牲生命、八九民主運動期間失去家園的鬥士與難屬致敬，海外香港華人民主人權促進會於 2017 年 6 月 4 日（星期日），晚上七時半，假紐英崙中華公所（波士頓華埠 泰勒街 九十號），舉行悼念燭光晚會，歡迎各界人士參加。波士頓港澳之友社協辦是次悼念會。查詢請電 +1(617)966-2575 Che8888@aol.com 謝中之先生。

Candle Light Vigil

28th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre

4 June 2017 (Sunday)

In commemoration of the June 4 Democracy Movement, a candle light vigil will be held on 4 June 2017 (Sunday) at 7:30 pm at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (90 Tyler Street, Boston, MA 02111).  All are welcome.

For inquiries, please contact the organizers of the vigil, the Association of Overseas Hong Kong Chinese for Democracy and Human Rights, and Friends of Hong Kong and Macau at +1(617)966-2575 or Che8888@aol.com.

新英格蘭台灣青年商會慶端午節吃粽子

左起，BTBA會長魏曉瑩，紐英倫玉山科協理事康雅玢，青商會幹部，青商會會長歐怡君，副會長饒夢華，波士頓經文處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，紐約青商會會長林敬倫，副會長林維洋，以及劍橋合唱團新團長屠澤寬(後)。(周菊子攝)

新英格蘭青年商會會長歐怡君(左起)敦請經文處副處長陳銘俊，
僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 新英格蘭台灣青年商會(TYCCNE)6月3日在牛頓市海德社區慶祝端午節。會長歐怡君呼朋引伴，邀來60多名會員，會友和嘉賓"呷粽”，玩”超級比一比”，讓一眾帥哥美女在活動中應遊戲要求對視交流，一，二小時下來，彼此全成了好朋友。

新英格蘭青商會前任副會長許晃哲(前右二)等人都義不容辭的出席
支持。(周菊子攝)

               新英格蘭台灣青年商會是新英格蘭台灣商會為鼓勵青年參與，發起成立的組織，迄今已有鄭宇辰，康麗雪，王力遠，楊凱傑等人擔任過會長，今年四月由歐怡君接棒，和副會長饒夢華，顏伯任，鄭怡等組成執行團隊，計畫每個月舉辦職場分享，未來產業趨勢演講，聯誼，球賽，電影欣賞及生活小知識等不同活動，來為會員服務。

               6月3日是該會新屆幹部的第一場活動，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓華僑文教中心主任歐宏偉都應邀出席，致詞。

新英格蘭台灣商會副會長李苡惠(前)也應邀出席，和出席者一起玩遊戲。
(周菊子攝)

               陳銘俊說，波士頓真是一個很好的地方，是美國歷史，文化，藝術，醫學的首都，更是生物科技上全世界的首都。不過從外地來美的人要找工作，融入本地生活，或多或少的難免遭遇盲點，青商會這活動給大家彼此認識，互助合作的機會，的確很有意義。他鼓勵青商們多交朋友，因為來到波士頓的人，常常一個比一個優秀，多交朋友，一定有驚喜。

               陳銘俊也提醒青商會員們，台灣雖小，卻是全美國的第7大留學生來源國，第9或第10大貿易國，不過和人數較少及貿易量也小得多的以色列相比，成功創業家還真的少很多。他鼓勵青商會員們趁年輕，多交朋友建立人脈，鼓起勇氣，組織團隊，嘗試創業。

               歐宏偉說明自己去年到波士頓上任，和上屆會長楊凱傑，許晃哲打過交道，要代表僑委會委員長吳新興表達端午問候，他還透露吳新興預定6月14日到訪波士頓，歡迎青商會員們參加傳統僑社的歡迎宴。談及對青商會的期許，歐宏偉直言自己有三大目標，要鼓勵所有海外青年參與傳統僑社活動，融入主流社會，連結台灣。他還建議青商們組織參訪團，他可帶隊拜會傳統僑社。

               紐約台灣青商會會長林敬倫，副會長林維洋當天特地從紐約趕到波士頓，支持友會活動，其他出席的本地友會代表有波士頓台灣人生物科技協會會長魏曉瑩，紐英倫玉山科技協會理事康雅玢，劍橋合唱團新任團長屠澤寬，新英格蘭台灣商會副會長李苡惠等人。南北家園，朋友圈等商家分別贊助了奶茶，蔥油餅等食品。

               查詢新英格蘭台灣青商會詳情，可上臉書https://www.facebook.com/groups/tyccne/。(6月7日更新)

華林功夫太極學校昆士市分部開幕(圖片)

華林功夫太極學校創辦人余翠梅(中白衣者)和師叔功陳植光，師伯伍振中等人及學生，老師合影。(周菊子攝)

華林功夫太極學校創辦人余翠梅(左起)和師叔功陳植光，師伯伍振中
展示華林龍舟隊旗幟。(周菊子攝)

余翠梅師傅教學生太極。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華埠槍擊案二嫌犯 一人被捕

在逃嫌犯，Greg Wright。

            (Boston Orange)波士頓華埠Hudson街66號前，5月27日凌晨兩點左右發生槍擊案，一名20歲出頭男子死亡案件，波士頓警察局6月4日宣佈已逮捕兩名嫌犯的其中之一，籲地方民眾協助追捕另一人。

             波士頓警方早前已公佈了兩名嫌犯的照片，個資，分別為現已被捕，23歲的Ricardo Edwards，以及住在劍橋市，仍然在逃的21歲Greg Wright。他們兩人都大約5尺10吋高，180磅重。

             5月27日凌晨兩點35分左右，警方聞訊趕到Hudson街時，發現一名20歲出頭男子受了槍傷，送醫院後不治死亡。警方表示還未能確認其身分。

             波士頓警察局局長尹萬斯(William Evans)表示，希望民眾協助搜尋另一名嫌犯。通報訊息可打電話給波士頓警察局凶殺案警探，617-343-4470。社區民眾有意匿名協助者，可打電話到”阻止犯罪者熱線”， 1-800-494-Tips，獲發短信”TIP”到 CRIME(27463)。

            Ricardo Edwards預定週一(6月5日)到波士頓地方法院出庭。

波士頓僑教中心為今夏返台服務青年辦行前說明會

波士頓僑教中心於6月3日下午舉辦「2017年華裔青年暑期回臺行前說明會」，邀請曾經參加過語文及英語服務營的學員分享經驗，以期今年暑假即將回臺參加活動的學員進一步的瞭解並做好各項準備，計有30名錄取學員及家長參加。

曾參加語文班的學生陳靜慧和李嘉欣準備了幻燈片，分享她們在淡江大學住宿6星期學習中文、認識新朋友的心得；去年參加英語服務營，分配到瑞芳國中的江彥龍詳細說明如何規劃課程、實際教學及旅遊參訪。三位學員都表示回臺參加暑期活動是他們難忘的學習經驗，也希望今年的學員要把握及珍惜這個機會。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞時，特別叮嚀回臺學員們注意自身安全、遵守營隊規定，也鼓勵學員除了上課學習外也要多認識臺灣的人文風情。(圖文來源:波士頓華僑文教中心)