Welcome to the 60th issue
of the Yee Fung Toy Global Village Voice, an electronic
newsletter for the World Yee community. In this issue we
are featuring Summer activities from the Yee family
associations around the world.
We welcome more Yee chapters to contribute events and
activities reports from their locale.
We thank all those who
have made contributions to this issue, including:
- Ron Yee, Dick Yee, Edward Yee of Detroit
- Kevin Lee of Seattle
- Eddie Yee, Kin Fung Yee and Sherman Yu of San
Francisco
- Lisa Xiao Fong Yee of Columbus, Ohio
- Paula Yee, Ringo Yee of New England
- Paul Yee of Sacramento
- Kenny Yee, Edith Yee and Chao Yu of Southern
California
- Hanie Yee, Paul Yee of Chicago
- Frank Yee of New York
- Jim Yee, James Yu and Wing Yee of Vancouver
- Yu Ze Xin of DiHai, China
- Worachai Aurprayoon and Fook Biu Yu of Thailand
- Peter CK Yee, Yee Xi Mei, Yee Ping Guang of
Singapore
- Bing Kai Lee, Johnson Yee and Wei Ming Yu of Hong
Kong
- Various Newspaper Reporters
Martin Yee, Vancouver
Singapore Yee Clan's Guangzhou Taishan
Roots Finding Tour
Many
members requested our Association to organize a
Roots Finding Tour in Guangzhou. Asia Plus Traveling
was tasked to arrange a suitable 6 days travel
itinerary. Meanwhile, we contacted our counterparts,
Yee Wen Hai and Yee Jianqiang in Kaiping for their
assistance. We are grateful to them for their superb
arrangements and enthusiastic search for my
ancestral home in Chao Wan Village. I had no idea
where this village was located in Taishan.
May 18th,
2019 at 8:20am, 20 members from Yee Clan Association
boarded SQ850 flight to Baiyun International
Airport, Guangzhou. All of us were looking forward
to learn more about our ancestral history.
First stop
was Shaoguan, which was about 190km north of
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. After visiting the grand
temple in Shaoguan and various places, we traveled
south to Zili Village Diaolou, Kaiping. These
unique, multi-story watchtowers were used as
fortifications in the 17th century. Now a world
UNESCO Heritage site, they were some of the most
fascinating historical and architectural artifacts
in China. After visiting some other places of
interests, we arrived at Dihai Fengcaitang. A group
from The Hong Kong Yue Clansmen Association were
also visiting Kaiping at the same time and we were
able to meet up with them.
In the
evening, the Kaiping Municipal Committee hosted a
grand dinner for all of us. The local TV Station was
present to film and interviewed us during the
dinner.
Yee Wen Hai
and Yee Jianqiang led us to my father’s ancestral
house in Chao Wan Village. The old house was
padlocked, deserted and dilapidated. It was sad and
emotional for me to see the old house. After that,
we visited other nearby villages.
More
photographs may be viewed at Flickr.
Peter CK Yee, Singapore
San Francisco YFT HQ Celebrated Dragon
Boat Festival
Dragon Boat
Festival 端午節 Celebration
with sharing of Zongzi 粽子
among the members of the Yee Fung Toy San Francisco
Headquarters on Sunday, June 2nd, at the Peninsula
Restaurant.
Kenny Q. Yee, San Francisco
Sacramento YFT Celebrated Dragon Boat
Festival
Sacramento
Yee Fung Toy Association celebrated the Dragon Boat
Festival on Sunday, June 2nd.
Over 200
Members attended this annual event, at noon, we pay
homage to our ancestor, then the Yee Association
awarded our elderly members who were 75 years old or
older and in good membership standing a lucky red
envelope and all recipients posed for a group
picture. Followed by a buffet lunch.
The same
evening, a celebration dinner was held at the Well
Season Restaurant on Bruceville 7 Road, Elk Grove at
7:00 pm.
Paul Yee, Sacramento
New England YFT Award Scholarships to Chinatown
Schools
On June 15,
2019, YFT of New England awarded scholarships to
both Chinatown Chinese schools — Kwong Kow and Chung
Wah Academy. Vice-President Ringo（宗
濤） was present at both locations to
personally deliver the awards.
Paula Yee, New England
Columbus YFT Association Get Together
Dinner
On June 17,
2019, Columbus YFT had a get together dinner at the
Ming Flower Chinese Restaurant.
Lisa Xiao Fong Yee, Columbus
Southern California YFT 2019 Parents
Day Celebration Banquet
Southern
California YFT annual parent’s day celebration
banquet and scholarship award event was held on
Saturday, June 29, 2019 at the Monterey Palace
Restaurant to honor our parents, to show our
appreciations of their love, support and sacrifices.
We had more than 200 people attended. At the
banquet, there were scholarships given to those
member children of high academic achievement.
Kenny Q. Yee, Southern California
Chicago YFT 30th Annual July 4th
Picnic
Happy
4th of July to all!
About
150-160 people, 90-100 members and 50-60 kids
and family joined us at the Half Day Forest
Preserve, Shelter A for our annual July Summer
picnic.
We had
fried chicken with all the trimmings, Chinese
noodles, fried rice, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn
on the cob, French fries and watermelons, etc.
This is the first time we had so many people,
it's because it is our 30th year picnic.
The
weather was warm and sunny but no rain. Thanks
to all who came to join us, and hope to see you
all next year!
Photos
courtesy of Hanie Yee and Lily Ng.
Paul Yee, Chicago
Selangor Yee Association Day Tour
in Ipoh City
"Ipoh
One-day tour" on July 7th was organized by our
Selangor Yee Association, led by our own tour
guide, Michael Yee Fuh Wen (from Ipoh), a member
of our Board of directors.
Yee Kai Yon, Selangor, Malaysia
Sacramento YFT Annual Picnic
Our
Annual picnic was held on Sunday, July 7th from
11:00 am to 2:00 pm at William Land Park, Area
GA11-12 (next to Fairy Town). Picnic lunches
were provided for everyone, lunch start at 12
noon to 1:00 pm, exciting raffle drawing follow
immediately after lunch.
Paul Yee, Sacramento
New England YFT Chapter’s Summer
Outing 2019
YFT of
New England had its annual summer outing at
AmVets Post 79 in Natick, Massachusetts on
Sunday, July 21st. Close to 100 members, family,
and friends attended this event.
Paula Yee, New England
Summer Picnic and Scholarship
Awards in San Francisco
San
Francisco Yee Fung Toy Family Association picnic
and Scholarship Award ceremony was held at the
San Francisco County Building on July 28th, with
Larry Yee, Kenny Yee, Kin Fung Yee, Damon Yee,
Norman Yee and Sherman Yu (above photo L to R).
Kenny Q. Yee, San Francisco
Southern California Yee Family
Association Visits Phoenix Yee Fung Toy Family
Association
Grand
Elder Alan Yee, wife Edith and I had a great
time this past weekend. On Saturday, August 3rd,
we visited Grand Elder John M. Yee and our
Phoenix Yee Fung Toy Family Association chapter
members.
Back
row: Rudy Yee, Joe Yue, Brenda Fung (English
Secretary & Vice President of Phoenix YFT),
Mrs. Jerry M. Yee (Janet), Kenny Yee, Ken Foo
Kam Yu, Benny Yee, David M. Yee, Edward Yue and
Herbert Kong. Seated row: Mrs. Willie M. Yee
(Jane), Edith Yee, Alan Yee, John M. Yee, Kam
Tim Yee (Phoenix Yee Fung Toy President) and
Doon Yee.
Kenny Q. Yee, Southern California
Singapore Yee Clan Association
Celebrates Seventh Month Hungry Ghost Festival
The West
has Halloween; we have the 7th Month Hungry Ghost in
this part of the planet. We celebrated the festival
on 4th August, 2019, 12 noon, 11 days ahead of the
actual date which would be on the 15th August. Our
Association's function hall was packed full with
members. Elderly members prepared offerings in a
temporary marquee and others piled up the furnace
with paper currency to be burnt.
Buffet
lunch was served after this ceremony.
For an
oversight story of this Festival, please visit this
site.
Peter CK Yee, Singapore
Thailand Yu Clansmen Association
Celebrates 7th Month Hungry Ghost Festival
Thailand Yu
Clansmen Association celebrates the 7th Month Hungry
Ghost festival on Thursday, August 8th, 2019 at the
Association Hall.
Lunch was
served after this ceremony.
Fook Biu Yu, Thailand
2019 Detroit Yee Fung Toy Association
Annual Picnic
The Detroit
chapter of YFT had another successful Annual Summer
Scholarship Picnic on Sunday, August 11, 2019 at
Handy Park in Redford MI. We enjoyed the friendship
of all ages of YEES and their families. The picnic
food included fried chicken, beef with broccoli,
chow main noodles, pizza, and refreshing watermelon
for dessert.
Before the
scholarship awards were handed out, the kids
participated in games, and of course, the balloon
toss. Some adults even competed in a friendly
mahjong tournament.
In all,
everyone had a great time at this annual event.
Ron
Yee, Detroit
In Memoriam of Detroit Elder Yen Ock
Yee Dong
We sadly to
report that a few weeks after our annual picnic, our
beloved Detroit chapter elder Yen Ock Yee Dong
passed away at the age of 96. He is shown seated in
the center of our group picture.
Yen Dong
was an ambitious man full of dreams. His drive took
him halfway around the world to his adopted home of
Detroit, Michigan. On Sunday, September 1, 2019, his
journey ended, peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Yen Dong
was born in China in 1923 to Lee Fung Kio and Yee
Hop Than. An only child, he received the best
education available in his formative years in
southern China. Losing his father Hop Than at the
young age of six put Yen on a course that would
define his life. Journeying alone at age fifteen, he
made his way to the United States, and Detroit in
1938. He would attend night classes at Cass
Technical high school and earn a diploma from the
Detroit College of Applied Science, learning the
skills that would serve him well throughout his
working life, culminating in a 25 year career at the
Ford Motor Company where he designed truck steering
mechanisms and suspension design / packaging for all
Ford light trucks, a skill his employer valued.
Yen was
devoted to his family throughout his life. Yen and
Carol were wed in 1949, remaining together until his
passing, totaling 70 years. He was father to Betty,
Raymond, Anna, and Larry. He was a proud grandfather
to Jennifer, Brian, Andrea, and Michael, and elated
great-grandfather to Nathan, Kaitlyn, and Phoebe. He
labored to ensure his family would have the
opportunities he did not.
In
retirement, he loved ballroom dancing and his daily
early morning workout, which centered on swimming,
an activity he was able to maintain until age 94. He
treasured the people he met along the way, and they
gave him energy daily.
He
maintained a lifelong association with the Yee Fung
Toy Family Association, the international group for
the Yee clan, of which he was a member of the 34th
generation. For the Association, he worked on
preserving genealogical records, and encouraging new
projects, traveling to many of the annual
conferences in the US and China.
He will be
sorely missed by our association.
Dick Yee, Detroit YFT Advisor
Southern California Yee Family Association 2019 Picnic
Southern
California Yee Fung Toy Family Association picnic of
this year was held on August 24th (Saturday) at
Barnes Park.
We enjoyed
great food, a tai chi exercise session as well as a
raffle (hosted by Grand Elder Alan Yee and his wife
Edith Yee) and variety of games for the youth.
Photos
courtesy of Chao Yu.
Kenny Q. Yee, Southern California
Thailand Yu Clansmen at Samut
Songkhram
Thailand Yu
Clansmen members, led by President Yu Seng Ching,
traveled to Samut Songkhram on August 31st, to
attend the annual Xu, Yu, Tu and She Clansmen
Association Autumn event.
Lunch was
served after this ceremony.
Fook Biu Yu, Thailand
The next issue of
the Yee Fung Toy Global Village Voice will be
published in mid December, 2019, featuring current
events and activities of the Yee Fung Toy
associations across the world. Please submit your
articles to the Editor via email (world.yee @
gmail.com) or postal mail (The Editor, 226 East
Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6A 1Z7) by
November 15.
