Governor Baker Visits Goodwill’s Quarterly Clothing Collaborative

Governor Baker Visits Goodwill’s Quarterly Clothing Collaborative

Governor Baker met with individuals participating in a program created through partnership between Boston Career Link and the Department of Correction

For high-resolution and more photos, click here.

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta and executives from Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries  visited Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries’ quarterly “Clothing Collaborative,” which makes donated business clothing available to male and female job seekers who participate in Boston Career Link (BCL).

For nearly 20 years, BCL has served as a Massachusetts One Stop Career Center, offering job training and placement programs to assist job-seekers in their efforts to obtain and retain meaningful employment. Last year, leveraging support from the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Department of Correction entered into an agreement with BCL to provide services to pre-release individuals, including registration, orientation and employment services. Currently, 98 individuals have attended orientations, registration and completed a career action plan and 88 individuals have been employed.

AG HEALEY STATEMENT ON DACA RULING

AG HEALEY STATEMENT ON DACA RULING

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today issued a statement following the ruling by a federal judge that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) must remain in place while legal challenges to the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind DACA are pending:

“Yesterday the court confirmed a fundamental truth: Dreamers are Americans. They grew up in our neighborhoods and attend our schools. They serve in our military and start businesses in our communities. For now, the court’s decision requires the federal government to keep its promises. I look forward to continuing to defend the Dreamers while we wait for Congress to do the right thing and extend permanent protection to these young people.”

AG Healey previously filed suit challenging the administration’s decision to rescind DACA and sent a letter urging President Trump to maintain and defend DACA.

BROCKTON COMPANY TO PAY NEARLY $500,000 FOR NOT PAYING WORKERS MINUMUM WAGE, OVERTIME

BROCKTON COMPANY TO PAY NEARLY $500,000 FOR NOT PAYING WORKERS MINUMUM WAGE, OVERTIME

50 Employees to Receive Restitution of up to $15,000 through AG Settlement

            BOSTON – A Brockton warehouse and related transportation company, which package and deliver products to local restaurants, agreed to pay more than $460,000 to resolve intentional minimum wage, overtime, and record keeping violations, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. As a result, approximately 50 employees will receive restitution averaging thousands of dollars for each. 

In a settlement with the AG’s Office, New England Market, LLC and owner ZhiQing Wang have agreed to pay more than $393,000 for alleged violations including intentional failure to pay minimum wage, overtime, and keep true and accurate records, with workers receiving more than $8,600 in restitution on average.

Foodland Distribution, LLC and owner BuYing You have agreed to pay more than $75,000 for alleged violations including intentional failure to pay minimum wage and keep true and accurate records, and workers will receive approximately $3,000 in restitution on average. 

“This company cheated its workers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and paid well below minimum wage,” AG Healey said. “We brought this action to ensure that these workers are treated fairly and receive the wages they earned.”

New England Market, a warehouse in Brockton, and Foodland Distribution, which provides transportation for New England Market, are owned by the same family and are functionally operated as one establishment.

An investigation by the AG’s Fair Labor Division revealed that there was a systemic underpayment of minimum wage to workers at both companies, and in the case of New England Market, overtime as well.

Investigators also found that the companies were lacking both accurate time records and complete payroll records. In response to a payroll demand, the companies provided deficient paperwork which lacked both contemporaneous timekeeping records and complete payroll records. None of the records matched up and some appeared to have been fabricated. 

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws,workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Amy Goyer and Supervising Investigator Jennifer Pak of Attorney General Healey’s Fair Labor Division

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW TOOLS TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW TOOLS TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT

BOSTON - Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the Office of Housing Stability has established two new resources to prevent displacement and eviction of tenants in Boston, one geared toward landlords and one toward tenants. The guiding principle behind both new resources is that if appropriate information and mediation is offered early in the process, many evictions can be avoided.     "We have to work together to keep our communities stable, and ensure families have access to good homes in good neighborhoods," said Mayor Walsh. "When landlords and tenants have the information they need and open lines of communication, evictions can be prevented, or have their impacts lessened. I'm grateful to all of the City's good landlords who work with their tenants to avoid conflict, and I'm proud that we're also helping tenants learn more about their rights and responsibilities."   To further prevent evictions, the City has rolled out its first ever online guide to tenants' rights when served with an eviction notice. The guide, which is also available to download, walks tenants through the steps they can take to respond to the eviction process from the moment they receive a notice to quit. The guide includes information about mediation, a guide to preparing for court, and information about resources and rights available to tenants in the event a judge orders them to leave.     The Office of Housing Stability has found that tenants often do not fully understand all of their rights in an eviction proceeding, and in some cases, may be forced to leave when they otherwise might be able to stay or to receive some sort of compensation or assistance. For example, families facing a no-fault eviction have the right to file a motion asking the court to delay the eviction for up to six months so they can find new housing, and if someone in the household is disabled or over 60 years old, they may request up to 12 months. Tenants who might not otherwise know these rights can now access them in the guide, which provides easy to understand, actionable suggestions for eviction response and information about available resources.     Last month, the Office of Housing Stability hosted a workshop on preventing evictions from subsidized housing. In partnership with HomeStart, the workshop was targeted to managers, owners, resident service coordinators and other professionals who work at properties that receive subsidies. The seminar included a panel presentation on eviction prevention strategies and resources and offered an opportunity for industry professionals to hear about best practices, challenges, and goals.   Launched in 2016, the City of Boston's Office of Housing Stability is one of the first of its kind in the nation. The office is designed to keep communities intact by helping tenants maintain their housing. The office's work includes supporting tenants who are in crisis; creating and offering resources, programs, and information for both tenants and landlords to learn about their rights and responsibilities; and researching and creating policies that aim to prevent displacement. The office also oversees the Metrolist, a clearinghouse for income-restricted and affordable housing opportunities in Boston and neighboring communities, and hosts evening clinics to offer housing support for tenants and landlords to meet after regular business hours, when it may be more convenient.  The office also partners with the Community Dispute Settlement Center to provide mediation for landlord-tenant conflicts.   As part of the Administration's commitment to preventing displacement, Mayor Walsh filed an anti-displacement package at the State Legislature, which includes the Jim Brooks Community Stabilization Act; an act that would allow tenants and nonprofits the right of first refusal to purchase properties subject to foreclosure or short sale; the right to counsel in housing court; and would create state income tax credits for renting unsubsidized units at below market rates.   This guide to tenants' rights is part of the Walsh Administration's commitment to creating more affordable housing in Boston, and ensuring families are able to stay in their homes. To date, the Walsh Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Today's announcement builds on the City's preservation and anti-displacement goals, outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030, Mayor Walsh's housing plan, and the housing goals laid out in Imagine Boston 2030, Boston's first citywide plan in 50 years. As part of both plans, Boston has prioritized increasing the overall housing supply, with a focus on creating and preserving affordable housing.

BCNC Receives Top Ratings by Charity Navigator and GuideStar

BCNC Receives Top Ratings by Charity Navigator and GuideStar

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC)’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, as well as a Gold Seal on GuideStar’s nonprofit profile.

Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is America’s largest independent charity evaluator. BCNC is the only Asian-American organization in Massachusetts to receive the highest rating. GuideStar (www.guidestar.org) is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. More than 8 million visitors per year and a network of 200+ partners use GuideStar data to grow support for nonprofits.

“It is truly a testament to the intention and care our staff bring to the work to be counted among the nation’s leading nonprofits for accountability, transparency, and financial health,” said BCNC Executive Director Giles Li. “We understand that serving over 3,000 constituents every year requires us to hold ourselves to the highest standards, and we are honored to be recognized for doing so.”

“BCNC’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds BCNC to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity, when they decide to support BCNC.”

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. Charity Navigator uses 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to assign its ratings. These metrics reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders.

REP LIEU URGES USCIS TO RECONSIDER ONEROUS NEW IMMIGRATION CASEWORK REQUIREMENTS

REP LIEU URGES USCIS TO RECONSIDER ONEROUS NEW IMMIGRATION CASEWORK REQUIREMENTS

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D – Los Angeles County) led a letter co-signed by 11 Members of Congress from Southern California urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reconsider its new onerous submission requirements for congressional offices inquiring on behalf of constituents. These changes create considerable barriers for congressional offices working to process immigration casework in a timely manner.

In the letter, the Members write:

“Immigration cases comprise some of the most challenging, voluminous and time sensitive casework handled by congressional offices throughout our nation.  As congressional representatives serving Southern California, home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States, our district offices handle a significant amount of immigration cases, working with USCIS staff in local and regional offices to assist our constituents. 

By requesting that immigrants provide a full translation of all documents into English by a certified translation service, USCIS would delay the ability of our constituents to submit privacy release forms to a congressional office and would require that these applicants incur additional costs beyond the costly USCIS application fees they pay to process applications.  By requiring that our offices secure additional privacy releases from constituents for previously opened and active cases, it creates further barriers for our offices to assist in processing cases in a timely manner.  When applications to petition for an alien relative, to request asylum or to obtain permanent residency can last for months and years at a time, requiring further release forms from a constituent for long active cases would add unnecessary barriers for offices to assist our constituents.

At a time when USCIS is struggling with significant backlogs in processing immigration applications and congressional offices are receiving increasing volumes of immigration casework, we cannot support these changes to the USCIS casework process.  As such, we call on USCIS to reconsider these changes and to work with our offices to agree to procedures that do not hamper the already challenging immigration application process.”

 READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER HERE

###

Congressman Lieu is a member of the House Foreign Affairs and House Judiciary Committees.   Mr. Lieu is also a Veteran, an Assistant Whip for the Democratic Caucus, and a Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.

麻州元極舞健身會慶十週年

麻州元極舞健身會慶十週年合影。(謝開明攝)

麻州元極舞健身會會長鄭玉春(左五)，副會長宋玉珍
(左四)邀經文處處長賴銘琪(左六)，僑教中心主任
歐宏偉(右六)切十週年慶蛋糕，與社團首長合影。
左一，二為謝如鍵，周一男。右二向左起為洲美桃，
曾秀梅，薛劍童。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 麻州元極舞健身會1月7日中午在牛頓市僑教中心慶祝成立十週年，還以貼滿半片牆的小紅包，迎接狗年新春，讓來來去去的近百名會員，嘉賓在超豐富美食，獎品中，又唱又跳，狂歡一午。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪致詞。
(周菊子攝)

             麻州元極舞健身會是志同道合者為健身，齊聚一堂練元極舞而組成的社團，由於團員個個熱心，友善，每週又固定在波士頓僑教中心跳舞健身，彼此友誼日漸深厚，許多人還順理成章的做了僑教中心志工。

麻州元極舞健身會為歡慶10週年，這天不但由會長鄭玉春邀來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歐宏偉，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，紐英崙客家鄉親會會長周一男，紐英崙養生舞協會會長周美桃，新英格蘭台灣商會會長歐陽露等許多嘉賓，還勸募贊助，準備了極為豐富的抽獎獎品，裝有1元以上，不等數額現金的幾十個小紅包，在陳裕逢，宋玉琴兩名司儀的主持中送出去，讓每個出席者都笑容滿溢，會場歡樂得不得了。

             經文處處長賴銘琪致詞時幽默表示，十年前他也在波士頓辦事處服務，十年後再見，他要恭喜元極舞女會員們樣貌一點也沒變，至於男士，抱歉，不在他觀察範圍之內。

劉秀春(左)抽中大獎現金100元，當場捐50，贊助麻州
元極舞健身會。會長鄭玉春(右)大讚。(周菊子攝)

             賴銘琪接著言歸正傳，誠懇的說，元極舞協會的活動，他一定要來，因為許多會員是僑教中心志工，而志工是僑教中心推廣活動的主要助力，他要求自己每次活動都參加，聊以表示對志工們的關懷與謝意，更藉以告訴志工同伴們，大家的努力，他都看在眼裡，希望大家繼續支持僑教中心，經文處，以及將來上任的新處長。

             僑教中心主任歐宏偉指出，僑教中心遷址牛頓市，也是十年前，稍後麻州元極舞健身會成立，還從此與僑教中心展開有你有我的不解之緣，僑教中心對元極舞會員志工一直以來的協助，心存感激。尤其是才剛過去的元旦升旗，元極舞會員志工們幫了很多忙。歐宏偉還提醒志工們，在努力做事之際，不要忘了先照顧好自己的五臟廟。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉致詞。(周菊子攝)

             波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬為感謝麻州元極舞健身會的許多志工在過去這一，二年間與他合作無間的為僑社服務，這天破例開金口，在大眾面前唱了一首”淚的小雨”。
              麻州元極舞健身會會長鄭玉春表示，該會成立宗旨為健身，聯誼，如今雖然跨過十年門檻，初衷不變，他們將繼續練舞，聯誼，歡迎所有想要健身的人加入行列。查詢詳情可上臉書https://www.facebook.com/YuanJiNewtonMA/。(圖片已於8日發表)

左二起，曾秀梅，周美桃，鄭玉春等人合影。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬首開金口，獻唱卡拉OK。(周菊子攝)

  

紐英崙客家鄉親會會長周一男(左)應邀出席抽獎，旁為副會長宋玉琴。謝開明攝

麻州元極舞健身會十週年慶，謝開明圖片輯:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EwHAGUrYvWhl8Ej72

陳裕逢(右)，宋玉琴(左)主持節目。(周菊子攝)

陳家驊連任中華公所主席 談二大土地發展計畫及修章

紐英崙中華公所2018屆幹部就職，和出席的公所董事及嘉賓合影。前排左起，周樹昂，陳文浩，雷國輝，朱蘇珊，經文處副處長陳銘俊，中華公所主席陳家驊，麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，曾任中華公所主席的陳仕維及阮鴻燦。(周菊子攝)

駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(左)頒發賀狀給紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊。
(周菊子攝)

                         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 高票當選連任的紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊，1月6日就職，發表十項要點，闡述喜露街50號，大同村南停車場二大土地發展計畫，強調行事公平，公正，公開，期盼未來兩年，中華公所有更多建樹。

            紐英崙地區在1月4日剛經歷了一場罕見的沿岸海水倒灌，波士頓市區都淹水的大風雪，出席紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊及公所職員就職典禮的道賀僑界人士，依然踴躍，就職典禮舞台前一列排開的花籃，讓會場氣氛洋溢喜氣。

駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(左起)，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，以及華埠人稱
uncle Bill的陳毓璇，uncle Frank的陳毓禮。(周菊子攝)

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，副處長陳銘俊，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬等許多到場嘉賓，紛紛稱讚成員包括律師，企業總經理，房地產公司老闆，工程師的當選團隊陣容堅強。

            陳家驊在發表就職感言時，先週到的感謝前任團隊成員中卸任的翁宇才，李翠屏，留任的英文書記朱蘇珊，財政陳文浩，再歡迎新任中文書記雷國輝，核數周樹昂。

            他分成十項要點的綜述了中華公所經過兩年努力後的目前現狀，分成4點的說明未來兩年展望。

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)致詞。(周菊子攝)

            在未來展望上，中華公所希望計畫發展區域(PDA)的申請，會在2018年4月時獲批准，中華公所就可經由公開、透明的過程，在2018年第3季以前，挑選一名合作發展商，攜手開發大同村南停車場。波士頓市鄰里發展局(DND)已做某種承諾，將協助中華公所從包容性區域規劃項目來取得經費。

            中華公所還將加緊聘用顧問，申請經費，研究在中華公所大樓內建遊客資訊中心的可行性。

紐英崙中華公所新屆職員就職。左起，雷國輝，朱蘇珊，陳家驊，陳文浩，
周樹昂。(周菊子攝)

            另外就是，中華公所的中英文章程，內容並不完全相符，儘管章程中明文規定，若中英文版本章程有衝突時，以英文版為準，中華公所為避免可能發生的狀況，在新屆職員就任後，將促請修章/選舉小組繼續努力做修訂。

            第1，第2，第5，第6點和喜露街50號有關。

            熟悉中華公所歷史的人大概都知道，喜露街50號早年稱為SCM大樓，是塔芙茨大學為校地擴建，以象徵性的1元價格，賣給中華公所，聊以表示回饋社區的物業。塔芙茨大學並和中華公所簽有協議，中華公所出租SCM大樓的所有收入，將存做未來發展可負擔住宅之用。

            截至2015年12月，SCM大樓的租金收入共約300萬元，不過大約從1989、1990年那時起，中華公所已開始從這戶口借支經費，以維持營運，並在截至2015年12月，共借用了大約250萬元。

紐英崙至孝篤親公所為宗親陳家驊連任中華公所主席紛紛出席道賀。前排
左起，主席陳文棟，陳文珊，陳仕維，阮陳金鳳，陳家驊，陳毓璇，
陳毓禮，陳建立。(周菊子攝)

            陳家驊指出，黃光野在擔任中華公所主席期間，曾試圖把喜露街50號的租金定位為無用途限制的收入，但麻州總檢察長辦公室不同意，並於2015年12月透過時任中華公所律師的陳朝聖，發信給當年的中華公所主席阮鴻燦，要求中華公所交代喜露街的租金收入去向，也從此規定了中華公所要繳交季報，以確保中華公所在研究，推動，把喜露街50號蓋成可負擔住宅。

陳家驊表示，他接任中華公所主席以後，繳交季報給麻州總檢察長辦公室時，也都同時發送了給中華公所董事們。

前左起，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓洪門致公堂監堂阮振強，
李氏公所元老李壽泮。(周菊子攝)

中華公所也分別在2016年間償還約97萬元，2017年再還25萬元的還錢給SCM大樓戶口。由於中華公所應可支領5%的SCM大樓管理費用，中華公所要還給SCM戶口的錢，總數因此只有大約220萬元，今後中華公所繼續每年償還25萬元，估計2021年可還完。

為了因應麻州總檢察官督促中華公所發展可負擔住宅的要求，中華公所已組成喜露街50號發展顧問委員會，成員包括中華公所物業小組，以及4名社區代表，分別為亞美社區發展協會，華人經濟發展協會，華埠土地工作小組(Chinatown Land Task Force)等機構的代表，以及一名整個社區的代表。

出席就職典禮者，會後享用中餐。(周菊子攝)

為推動喜露街50號的土地發展，中華公所還和擁有所物道(Shawmut Ave.) 112號的戴維斯(Davis)公司，擁有所物道120號的華人佈道會(BCEC)合作，向波士頓市政府申請，把該三塊地段規劃為計畫發展區域(PDA)，以取得更寬鬆的土地發展限制。

戴維斯公司已同意支付申請PDA的所有費用。一旦取得PDA的區域規劃後，三機構可各自規畫土地發展，互不限制。

中華公所目前的想法是，在喜露街50號地段上，蓋一座高14層的大樓，有大約300個住宅單位，以及14,000平方呎的零售空間。其中30%將為可負擔住宅。

出席就職典禮者，會後享用中餐。(周菊子攝)

戴維斯公司還計畫把因應波士頓市政府包容性發展(IDP)政策所需撥出的款項，交給中華公所，將可容許中華公所新建的大樓，增加29個可負擔住宅單位。

第7點是關於大同村南停車場的土地發展計畫。中華公所已邀請12家發展商參加聯合發展的資格要求審核，其中6家回應，中華公所也已發出招標書(RFP)給榮氏(Winn)，明燈(Beacon)，以及亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)。中華公所的預想是蓋座大約有90個住宅單位的大樓，其中至少一半是家庭收入在平均中位收入60%以下的，都負擔得起的單位，另外一半則是工薪家庭也負擔得起的單位。

紐英崙余風采堂的兩名前主席余景新(左)，余國華。(周菊子攝)

第8點是關於中華公所大樓的納稅類別。陳家驊指出，泰勒街(Tyler)90號的中華公所大樓，從中華公所於1983年向波士頓市政府買下該大樓以來，一直都享有非營利組織的豁免房地產稅優惠。不過在梁永基擔任中華公所主席時的2010年，因為中華公所違反了豁免房地產稅規定，在2016會計年度時，市政府向中華公所課徵地稅47,000元。經中華公所致力消除不符規定之處後，這筆稅項到2018會計年度時，已縮減為6000元。

第9點是中華公所計畫在公所大樓內建一個遊客資訊中心。在國家公園服務局(National Park Service)於2017年6月把泰勒街90號這昆士小學舊址，指定為史蹟建築，並列入國家史蹟名冊後，中華公所向聯邦政府申請重建及財務援助款，已獲得30000元對等配合補助，將用於可行性研究。

曾任紐英崙中華公所主席的阮鴻燦(右)和鯉市公所主席李源沛。
(周菊子攝)

第10點是中華公所大樓外的孔子雕像需要修補。中華公所向麻州政府申請修補費，但沒申請到，今年再次申請，希望能通過。

第3點是中華公所因應獨立稽核的要求，已制定了正式的財政政策和程序，也開始保留紀錄。歷經20年之後，中華公所還啟用新的獨立稽核，以從全新角度來審視中華公所的財務運作。

出席就職典禮者，會後享用中餐。(周菊子攝)

第4點是一直以來，中華公所完全符合聯邦及州政府的規定，准許董事合理的取得中華公所財務記錄。中華公所也在遞交報告前，向公所董事提交財務報告及年度報。

波士頓洪門致公堂陳偉雄、梅少華就職2018主席

波士頓洪門致公堂職員與嘉賓合影。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 美國波士頓洪門致公堂(Boston Chee Kong Tong, Inc.)1月7日晚在波士頓華埠泰勒街會所內舉行2018新屆幹部就職典禮，歡迎兩名主席，連任的陳偉雄，新任的梅少華。

波士頓洪門元老伍伯和(中)主持新會長陳偉雄(左)，
梅少華(右)就職儀式。(周菊子攝)

             在洪門元老伍伯和主持的交接儀式中，卸任主席鄺國添把印信交給陳偉雄，梅少華，接著2018年度幹部站在洪門五祖祭壇旁，面向元老伍伯和，監堂阮振強，依照堂口秘書陳國漢宣佈的司禮程序，半舉右手宣誓，朗讀「義氣團結、忠誠救國、義俠除奸」的洪門三大信條，在幹事鄧安敲打的錯落有致鑼鼓聲中，完成簡單、隆重的新屆職員就職儀式。

波士頓洪門職員就職宣誓。(周菊子攝)

             當晚波士頓氣溫超低，將近華氏零度，到賀嘉賓依然眾多，包括駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，波士頓安良工商會會長陳仕維，幫辦鄧北海，翁英宏，紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳文棟，陳文珊，紐英崙中華公所主席代表陳文浩，全都忝列在座。

             曾任洪門主席，現為洪門監督的司徒彥鏗，阮偉昌，李厚鵬當晚也都出席道賀。

             賴銘琪在致詞時以流利的廣東話表示，雖然天氣很冷，但他一定要來，一是為了由衷感謝波士頓洪門致公堂長期支持中華民國，再者幾個月後，他將奉調回台，這會是他最後一次以處長身分出席洪門致公堂的就職典禮，他要告訴洪門兄弟們，大家永遠都是他的朋友，也請洪門兄弟們支持下一任經文處處長。

波士頓洪門新舊任會長交接。左起，卸任會長鄺國添，
連任會長陳偉雄，元老伍伯和，監堂阮振強，
新會長梅少華。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉代表僑務委員會委員長吳新興，副委員長呂元榮，以及波士頓僑胞都熟悉的僑委會僑民處處長郭大文致賀，送上問候。

             新任波士頓洪門主席梅少華在致答詞時表示，波士頓洪門的傳承，一直靠全體會員的努力與付出，如今新的一年來臨，新幹部班子成立，在連任主席陳偉雄帶領下，將同心一志，團結和諧的把堂務辦理得更上一層樓。他自己也將竭盡己力的做好自己的本份工作。

             就職典禮結束後，洪門在乞臣街的新珍寶餐廳設宴，接待出席兄弟與嘉賓。

洪門致公堂三大信條。(周菊子攝)

             波士頓洪門的2018年度職員，包括總顧問伍煥鵬，總監堂李拄燊，總理白杰熊，李偉強，盟長伍煥鵬，副盟長謝仲安，監堂阮振強，主席陳偉雄，梅少華，元老阮全義，伍伯和，秘書陳國漢，財政葉偉綱，外交黎亦置，司徒月華，理財余麗媖，核數阮偉昌，康樂譚偉明，幹是鄧安，洪青會長譚偉明，李永強等。            波士頓洪門致公堂另有12名監督，22名評議員。(圖片已於8日發表

波士頓黃氏宗親會黃仁宇、黃國瀚連任主席

波士頓黃氏宗親會新屆職員與嘉賓合影，齊祝新年更加好。
(周菊子攝)

                         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓黃氏公所1月7日中午，在華埠牌樓旁的黃氏公所大樓舉行新舊職員交接典禮，黃仁宇、黃國瀚在元老黃國威的監交中接過印信，連任主席。

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(中)頒發賀狀給黃氏宗親會
兩名主席，黃仁宇(右)，黃國瀚(左)。(周菊子攝)

                        黃氏公所經由選舉產生的2018年職員，包括在四選二中，依序以92及70高票當選連任的主席黃仁宇，黃國瀚；以及書記黃琴石，黃振業，外交王英健，黃協健，財政黃光沐，黃寶華，核數黃開洪，黃偉健，庶務黃達榮，議長黃國麟，婦女部主任黃周麗桃，黃謝蕙珍等。

                        其中黃國瀚和首次加入黃氏公所職員行列的黃協健是父子檔，黃國麟和黃周麗桃是夫妻檔，為黃氏宗親家族成員的熱心服務再添佳話。

黃氏宗親會元老黃國威(左起)主持印信交接。兩名主席，
黃國瀚，黃仁宇當選連任。(周菊子攝)

                       就職儀式在黃氏醒獅隊舞動瑞獅，拉出”眾望所歸，振興族務”的紅布條致賀中進行，一眾職員齊聚祖先牌位前，上香，獻三牲，敬酒，宣誓，十分傳統。每名就任職員還簽署了一份誓詞，”同人謹以至誠，尊崇祖訓，矢勤矢慎，盡忠職守，為宗族謀福利，如有違背宗人利益，營私舞弊，溺職貪污等行為，甘受嚴厲之處罰”。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，副處長陳銘俊，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，馬滌帆等嘉賓，特地出席觀禮。

經文處長賴銘琪在致詞時表示，這將是他最後一次出席黃氏公所的就職典禮，要藉這機會感謝黃氏宗親過去這數年來的支持。賴銘琪還特地送了一個漂亮花籃，恭喜黃氏新屆職員就任。

黃氏宗親會舞獅，賀新屆職員眾望所歸。(周菊子攝)

僑教中心主任歐宏偉在致詞時強調，他代表僑委會委員長吳新興，副委員長呂元榮，僑民處處長郭大文，恭賀黃氏新屆職員當選就任，希望黃氏今後繼續支持僑教中心的活動。                                                        在黃伍一家親的傳統下，每年都組觀禮團到會的伍胥山公所，更是陣容龐大，包括應邀致詞的伍氏美東副總長伍煥華，重作主席的伍輝民，以及新主席伍樹俊等，有不下十數人出席。(圖片已於8日發表)

黃氏宗親會新屆職員再祖先牌位前宣誓。(周菊子攝)

左起，黃氏婦女部主任黃周麗桃，黃氏主席黃國瀚，
黃仁宇，元老黃國威，伍氏美東總長伍煥華等人上香
祭祖。(周菊子攝)

黃氏職員與嘉賓們在黃氏會所大樓出席就職典禮。(周菊子攝)