In this Issue:
New Officers Announcements and Inaugurations
Reports from Yee Fung Toy Chapters
Happy New Year of the Dog! May it bring you and your
family peace, happiness, and prosperity!
Welcome to the sixth issue of the Yee Fung Toy Global
Village Voice, an electronic newsletter for the World
Yee community. In this issue we are featuring stories
and images of yearly renewal from associations of the
Yee Fung Toy around the world, including celebrations of
the New Year and installations of new Associaiton
Officers.
We gratefully acknowledge all the contributors to the
current issue, including:
- Ah Wei Kane and Kenneth Yu of Philippines
- Andy Yu and Frank Yee of New York
- Eugenia
Khouw of Ontario, Canada
- Frank Yu of Houston
- Fred Yee of Seattle
- Larry
Yee of San Francisco
- Martin
Yee and Wing Yee of Vancouver
- Melinda
Yee of Sacramento
- Peter Yee and Winston Yee of New England
- Thomas Lo of Hong Kong
Jim Yee, Vancouver
The YFT Hall in Vancouver was filled to capacity with
over 100 members and their family and friends at noon on
December 11. Chairman Jim Yee of Vancouver and Chairman
Kan Yu of Canada preceded the Christmas lunch with
welcoming remarks.
Jim also reported on activities in the Vancouver
chapter since the Mid-autumn Festival celebration. As
the current Board will end its 2-year term at year-end,
17 candidates ran for election for the 11 Director
positions. Members returned 172 ballots out of the 240
we sent out. This unexpectedly high return indicated
great involvement and interest of our members in their
chapter. Jim thanked members for their support. New
officers and Committee members were elected last Sunday
on December 4. The new Board will be inaugurated on
January 8, 2006. Jim expressed excitement about the new
slate on the Board and Committee. They make up a group
of both highly experienced members as well as 3 or 4 new
ones. This mix of both old hands and new blood could
lead to a very productive 2006-2007 term of office. Jim
especially wanted to thank two Directors, Mr. Kan Yu and
Mr. Gary Yee, who withdrew after being elected, in order
to make room for worthy new candidates who would not
otherwise be able to make the cut.
Jim then introduced the new slate, starting with the
Advisors. The “old” Advisors Dick Yee and Wayne Yee are
joined by a brand new one just “promoted” last Sunday by
the Board, Mr. Kan Yu who is currently Chairman of the
YFT of Canada. He had served as the Chairman of the YFT
of Vancouver for 4 consecutive terms starting in the mid
1980’s, and active in the Vancouver chapter since his
arrival in Canada in the 1970’s. We know he will
continue to provide the Board with wise counsel as an
Advisor. For a full list of the new Board and Committee
members, visit the Vancouver
Officers web page.
Jim invited members to participate in the following
upcoming activities:
- Youth year-end party
- Chinatown New Year’s parade at noon January 29
- Spring Banquet February 26
- Ching Ming in April
- AGM in April
- World Yee Family Convention August 12
- Cruise to Mexico August 20
Jim thanked Steven Yee and his Committee for arranging
the buffet lunch. We then helped ourselves to dishes of
hot delicious food. As we stopped eating, the Women’s
Committee entertained us by singing the YFT Song as well
as a selection of Christmas carols.
Jim Yee
For many years, the office of the Seattle Yee Fung Toy
Family Association was located at the East Kong Yick
Building in Seattle Chinatown on South King Street. The
East Kong Yick Building was purchased a couple of years
ago by the Asian Wing Luke Museum for the purpose of
restoring into a new, expanded facility for the nationally
known museum. As a result, a number of family
associations, including the Yees, which co-located at the
East Kong Yick Building, have to make plans to relocate
their offices. The Museum has been working with the
affected family associations to plan for the option to
house their offices within the new museum space. The
process of negotiations on the terms and conditions of
this option has begun and several meetings have been held
to discuss all the issues involved. We have expressed
interest in this option of locating our office at the new
museum space if the terms and conditions would meet the
requirements and needs of our association. The negotiation
process will take months and the new museum space will not
be ready for a couple of years. Meanwhile, in addition to
the museum option, the association is also considering
other options for the long-term location of our office. In
the interim, the association office together with the
ancestral altar has been temporarily moved to the home of
an association member. The association expresses great
gratitude for such generosity and support. We will keep
you all updated on the relocation process and we are
hopeful that a very satisfying resolution will present
itself as the relocation process progresses.
Fred Yee
Every year Vancouver Yee Fung Toy representatives visit
the Villa Cathy Care Home to meet residents whose family
name is Yee. This year YFT Welfare Director Steven Yee
and Villa Cathy Activity Supervisor Johnson Lo arranged
a visiting hour for us on Sunday, January 15 at 2:45 pm.
Villa
Cathay, located at 970 Union Street in Vancouver,
opened in March of 1978. Being close to Chinatown, it
caters to Chinese seniors and many Yee Family members
have resided there.
Vancouver YFT members (pictured standing from the left)
Lun Zhan, Kin Man, Steven, Jim, Kan, Mrs. Ji Lup Yee,
Mrs. Kin Man Yee, Mr. and Mrs. George Yee, and Martin
were greeted by the 8 senior Yee residents gathered at
the Activity Room next to the Dining Hall. We gave them
presents and wished them all the best of health,
longevity and happiness in the New Year.
They were glad to see us and expressed their
appreciation. Despite their years and very likely lives
of physical hardship, most of them still carry the
positive attitude typical of their generation. Their
smiles made an unforgettable impression on us as they
returned to their rooms.
Martin Yee
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
It’s that time of year again! A season of joy and hope,
a celebration of tradition and diversity. A parade for
the Lunar New Year of the Dog was held in Vancouver
Chinatown on Sunday, January 29, 2006. On the Chinese
calendar, this day marked the beginning of Year 4704 --
and the dog is one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
The Lunar New Year is also known as the ‘Spring
Festival’. It celebrates the new season and new
beginnings.
Thousands of people crowded the sidewalks and filled up
storefronts to watch as a colorful, noisy Chinese New
Year parade took over Chinatown's streets on Sunday. The
streets were full of smiles amid the exploding sounds of
firecrackers, in a sea of golds and reds, lion dancers
and traditional Chinese dancers make their way from the
Millennium Gate, through West Pender Street, East Pender
Street, Gore Avenue, and Keefer streets.
The dragon, unicorn and lion dance teams, accompanied
by marching bands, paraded through Chinatown. Various
community organizations and culture groups participated
in this year’s event. Our Vancouver Yee Fung Toy Lion
Dance Team and members of the Yee Fung Toy Society
participated in this year’s celebration; the luck of the
draw put us in 39th position out of 48 groups who
participated this year.
As usual, the parents of our Lion Dancing Team brought
their children to our Society Hall hours before the
parade, preparing for this year’s big event. Uncle Lun
Zhan brought fresh pastries for everyone to start the
day. Sifu Fan made a special trip from Hong Kong to
guide our Lion Dance Team. We thank him for his caring,
dedication and commitment to the success of our Lion
Dance Team. Our Lion Dance Team danced in sync to the
sound of cymbals and drums.
"The dog means good luck, good fortune."
While the lucky dogs who traveled to Vancouver's
Chinatown for the Chinese New Year's Day parade had the
good fortune of dry weather, it was a dog's breakfast of
rain and wind after the parade as the weather gods
stopped smiling.
After the parade, our Lion Dance Team danced in front
of the Chinatown stores in Georgia Street to bring them
good fortune, despite the pouring rain. Then we all had
a delicious lunch at the Society Hall.
Best Wishes to all for a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous
Chinese New Year!
Martin Yee
For the first time in many years, the Seattle Chapter
of the Yee Fung Toy Association held a spring dinner to
celebrate the Chinese New Year. The 2006 dinner was held
on February 9 at the Jumbo Chinese Seafood Restaurant in
Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood. Uncle Hing Yu,
President of the Chapter initiated the dinner idea which
was enthusiastically supported by the chapter members.
Over 70 chapter members attended the dinner including
members of the local Ma Family Association.
The dinner was excellently prepared by Chef Jack Yee
with menu items including shark fin soup, deep fried
double crabs, sweet and sour whole fish, roasted squaws,
Mandarin style fried chicken and other delicious dishes.
During the dinner, chapter Advisor Fred Yee introduced
the World Yee Fung Toy Website project and encouraged
members to submit articles and comments to be posted to
the Seattle Chapter website. Ms Veronica Ho volunteered
to be the photographer of the evening and recorded many
precious moments during the dinner, organized in this photo
album.
We all are very excited and look forward to the
celebration dinner for 2007. No doubt, with the momentum
created with this year’s dinner, next year’s celebration
will be even better.
Fred Yee
San Francisco
YFT Family Association U.S. HQ 2006 Officers
The election for officers
was held on Sunday, December 11, 2005 at the family
association 4th floor. The newly elected board of
directors for 2006 are as follows:
President: Phillip W. Yee
Vice President:
Wesley Yee
Chinese Secretary: Zi
Gang Yu
Vice Chinese Secretary:
Jia Sheng Yu
English Secretary:
Gene Yee
Vice English Secretary:
Kim Yee
Treasurers: Shi
Ru Yu and Hung Chun Yu
Auditors: Eddie
Yee and Chung Yen Yee
Welfare Committee
Chair: Yuhuan Yu
Public Relations
Representatives: Robert Yee and Zhen Zhao
Yu Office
Manager: Liqun Yu
We would like to thank
Zhen Zhao Yu as the outgoing Office Manager for the past
4 years+ of dedication and commitment at Headquarters
and to the Chapters throughout the world!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Seattle YFT
2006 Officers
President: Hing Yu
Vice President:
Shek Jing Yee
Chinese Secretaries:
Kit Fung Yue, Fred Yee
English Secretaries:
Chun Pan Yee, Raymond Wah
Treasurers:
Suey Yee, Kwok Keung Yee
Auditors: Ru
Zhang, Wai Man, Bing Jun
Senior Advisor West
Coast: James Yee
Advisors: Jim
Yee, Fred Yee, Suey Yee
Honorary Advisor:
Hing Yu
New
England YFT 2006 Officers
Eastern Grand President:
Peter, Kwok H.
Western Grand Presidents:
Art, Gene K.
Grand Elders:
Henry, Gim Dak
Advisors: Kenneth
MP, Ngoon Hung, Sik Ying, Hoy, Raymond, Winston, Kwok Chi.
Presidents: Peter
C., Yim
Chinese Secretaries:
Chu Choi, King Sun
English Secretaries:
Tony, Ken
Treasurers: Kwok
Chi, Melinda
Auditor: Ho Lee
Bookkeeper: Mrs.
Winston Yee
Recreation Director:
Yuen Bing
Property Manager:
Mrs. Kwok Chi Yee
Public Relations:
Winston, Kenneth MP
Office Manager:
Chu Choi
Legal Advisors:
Kenneth MP, Paul
Delegate to CCBA:
Jack, Rosemary
Women's Group Chair:
Mrs. Peter C. Yee, Linda
Women's Group Secretary:
Sara
New York YFT
2006 Officers
December 11th, 2005
(Sunday - 1pm); welcoming our new 2006
officers. We had a ceremony for the installation of
the new officers and a short luncheon. Best wishes to
all as we end another term. More pictures on our
Inaugural
Day for 2006 Officers page.
National Grand President
Eastern US:
President: Peter Yee (New York)
Vice President: Kwok H. Yee (Detroit)
Grand Elder:
Wai Hing Yu
Grand Advisor:
John B. Yee
Advisors: Hem
Fook Yee, Ming Lai Yee, Andy Yu, Shu Chan Yu
President:
Kenneth Yee
Vice President:
Gong Sum Yee
Chinese Secretaries:
Dian Rong Yu, Foo Quock Yee
English Secretaries:
May Yee, Frank Yee
Treasurers: Shu
Chan Yu, Man To Yu
Auditors: Kin
Kong Yee, Shek Lun Yu
Building Managers:
Kwong Y. Yee, Winton Yee
Houston YFT
2006 Officers
Chairman: Frank
Yu, Alan Yu
Secretary(Chinese):
Pauline Yee, Art Yee
Secretary (English):
Frank Yu, Alan Yu
Treasurer: Winnie
Yu, Lily Yu
Auditor: Paul Yee,
Vicki Ong
Youth: Roger Yu,
William Yu
Scholarships:
Vicki Ong, David Chung
Website: Stephen
Yu, Sue Ann Chu Yu
Women Group: Sue
Ann Chu Yu, Siu Yee, Bik Ngon Yee
CCC Delegates:
Lewis Yee, Alan Yu, Frank Yu, Lily Yu
Sacramento
YFT 2006 Officers
January 8, 2006: Inauguration Ceremony for 2006
Elected Officers was held at the Association Hall. We paid
homage to ancestors with a Dim Sum lunch and had a General
Meeting afterwards. That evening, we also had a dinner
banquet for the retiring and newly elected officers.
President: Donald
Fong
Vice President &
English Secretary: Art Yee
Grand Elder, Head
Association: Herbert K. Yee
VP Grand President
Western Section: Gene K. Yee
Grand Advisor:
Hsui Young Yee
Advisor: Kwok Ping
Yu
Advisor: John K.
Yee
Advisor: Sherman
Yee
Treasurer: Shui
Sum Yu
Assistant Treasurer:
Robert Yee
Chinese Secretary:
Run Hong Yu
Auditor: Hoi Sun
New York Spring
Banquet
The New York Yee Fong Toy Association welcomed 2006,
year of the Dog, during its Lunar New Year/Spring
Festival celebrations on February 25. One characteristic
of a Dog year is the birth of leadership. For our
association, the year began with the birth of new
leadership under President Kenneth and Vice President
Gong Sum. Although the year brings new beginnings,
traditions are just as important. As traditions have it,
our cousins from Boston along with our cousins from Ma
and Tse associations join us for ceremonies honoring our
ancestors. This year the Boston group arrived early
giving everyone some time to settle in and talk. We even
had Lai Sun Yee and her parents coming to New York to
attend. Grand Eastern President Peter Yee, President
Kenneth and VP Gong Sum led the ritual with YFT
advisors, Board members, members and guests
participating. After the congratulatory speeches, we had
a buffet luncheon. We all had an enjoyable time talking
about the upcoming convention and reminiscing about the
past.
This year the evening gala had over 900 attendees.
Kennie did a great job as emcee for the night. Our
President Kenneth kicked off the celebrations by
welcoming everyone and giving us an update to the World
Yee and U.S. National Convention in August. Our Grand
Eastern President Peter Yee, President of Chinese
Consolidated Benevolent Association Yuk K. Chan, Advisor
Shu Chan, Advisor Andy and our VP Gong Sum delivered the
congratulatory speeches. With honorable mentions, few
special events made this evening more memorable. Ms.
Sandra Ong, a representative for New York State
Assemblyman Jimmy K. Meng, honored us by presenting our
association with a Citation for excellence. Mr. Dixon
Yuan, a representative for New York City Councilman John
C. Liu, presented us with a Proclamation in recognition
of our association’s achievements. Director Ha Lup Yuen
from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York
also presented us with a proclamation for friendship and
good wishes.
Our special guest Lai Sun was gracious enough to travel
from Albany to speak at our banquet. Lai Sun, who
recently inducted as president of the Asian American Bar
Association of New York, spoke about the organization
and their vision. Their present project is to organize a
group of attorneys to do health care proxies for senior
citizens on a pro bono basis. Lai Sun’s professionalism
with compassion makes her unique as President of AABANY
and as the General Counsel for the NYSEMO.
John W. Yee spoke briefly on the Youth League
recruitment drive. He outlined plans for this year’s
proposed events. Andy spoke in Chinese about the mission
of the Youth League. With the message in both languages,
the hope is that more people will join the league.
The DJ did a great job with the music entertainment.
This year the Karaoke singers topped all previous years.
Our American Legion guests surprised us by volunteering
to sing “God Bless America”. What a voice the group had!
Finally, you just had to be there when Adjutant Fang A.
Wong sang one of his favorite tunes （襌院鐘聲）. It lighted
up the entire evening. Thank you all for making this
year joyous event and hope to see everyone next year.
Frank Yee
The next issue of the Yee Fung Toy Global Village Voice
will be published in mid June, featuring reports of
Ching Ming and Spring celebrations at Yee Fung Toy
associations around the world. Please submit your
articles to the Editor via email (editor @
yeefungtoy.org) or postal mail (The Editor, 226 East
Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6A 1Z7) by May
15.
