•  會長的話

Message from the Co-President

Hsun-Tseng Chang (張訓曾) | 2027

For thirty-eight years, the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association (IECSA) has flourished like a majestic evergreen tree, deeply rooted in our community, with strong branches and abundant foliage. Throughout these years, the Association has provided a warm and welcoming home for the Chinese community.

The Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association was officially established in 1989 by more than twenty founding members, most of whom were parents of students attending the Irvine Chinese School. At the first meeting, Mr. Zhao Xixiong (趙樨雄) was elected President and Mr. Fan Zhong (范仲) Vice President. It was also decided that the Association would hold its monthly meetings on the third Saturday of each month, a tradition that has continued for thirty-eight years.

Looking back, IECSA has grown from just over twenty enthusiastic founding members to an organization with a cumulative membership of more than 2,200. The Association's growth has been closely intertwined with the prosperity and development of the City of Irvine. Together, we have witnessed the remarkable transformation of our city and contributed to the vibrant history of its Chinese community.

Since the 1970s, Irvine's population has grown from approximately 10,000 to more than 300,000 residents, with Chinese Americans accounting for approximately 12% of the population. During the early development of the Lakeview Senior Center, a project costing $7 million, generous contributions were made by the Irvine Company and the Kaiser Permanente Foundation. Under the leadership of Mr. Feng Limin (馮理民), IECSA also raised $100,000, becoming one of the founding supporters of the project. We were honored to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony in 1994 and the grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony.

IECSA holds its monthly meetings on the third Saturday of each month, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These gatherings offer a wide variety of activities, including entertainment performances, raffle drawings, medical lectures, birthday celebrations, afternoon karaoke, and Dr. Ma Zaizhuang's (馬在莊) popular discussion series, "Heart-to-Heart Conversations" (知心園地). These programs have been warmly received and highly appreciated by our members.

Our regular weekday activities are equally diverse and engaging. They include calligraphy classes on Mondays, dance classes on Tuesdays, Tai Chi classes on Wednesdays, choir rehearsals and activities organized by the Evergreen Recreation Group (常樂園) on Thursdays, as well as traditional Chinese painting classes. In addition, seminars on Social Security and Medicare for seniors are held every other Tuesday. Since 2020, the monthly meeting calligraphy classes have been conducted online on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

Throughout the year, IECSA celebrates traditional holidays by preparing thoughtful gifts for members, including roses for Mother's Day, rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival, mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, longevity peach buns for the Double Ninth Festival, and red envelopes for Lunar New Year.

Our annual celebrations also feature exciting cultural performances, such as dragon and lion dances, traditional face-changing performances, and Peking Opera. These activities bring warmth, joy, and a sense of cultural connection to our members.

President Ann Hwu (胡安瀅) has devoted tremendous effort to planning and organizing our monthly entertainment programs. Thanks to her dedication, our performances are rich in variety and consistently draw enthusiastic audiences, averaging approximately 150 attendees per event. The annual performances presented by the IECSA Choir and the Evergreen Recreation Group are especially popular and have become highly anticipated highlights of the year.

On the last Monday afternoon of each month, the Board of Directors meets to discuss upcoming activities, Association operations, and ways to support programs organized by the City of Irvine. Our close partnership with the City has been both productive and rewarding.

Currently, IECSA has 16 board members and numerous dedicated volunteers who work together harmoniously to advance the Association's mission and continued development. We are actively recruiting additional board members and volunteers to bring new energy, fresh ideas, and momentum for future growth.

IECSA is truly like one big family, and every member is an essential part of it. The harmonious cooperation of our directors and the selfless dedication of our volunteers have enabled the Association to grow stronger, more vibrant, and more successful over the years. We look forward to a future filled with unlimited possibilities.

On the occasion of our 38th anniversary, on behalf of myself and the IECSA Board of Directors, I extend our warmest wishes to all members of the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association and express our heartfelt appreciation for everyone's generous contributions and dedication.

We also wish to convey our sincere gratitude to the City of Irvine, the Irvine Lakeview Senior Center, numerous Chinese American business leaders, and community organizations for their generous support and continued partnership.

May the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association remain evergreen, prosperous, sustainable, and continually growing, with a bright and boundless future ahead!

Message from the Co-President

Ann Hwu (胡安瀅) | 2027

Time flies! In the blink of an eye, the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association (IECSA) has reached its 38th anniversary.

I still remember the early days of the Association. I had just completed my term as principal of the Irvine Chinese School and had returned to teaching. At that time, IECSA invited me to help a group of senior members rehearse a poem written by General Fan Zhong (范仲) for a Mother's Day recital. I was deeply touched by the dedication and enthusiasm of these elderly participants. That experience marked the beginning of my long and meaningful relationship with IECSA, and I continued to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

Around the year 2000, my mother joined IECSA and became a member of the Board of Directors. I was still working full-time then. Whenever there was a board meeting, Mr. Chen Enjun (陳恩鈞) and his wife would kindly drive my mother to and from the meeting. I was so grateful for their thoughtfulness that I naturally felt compelled to become more actively involved in helping the Association.

During the presidency of Xia Kaiyu (夏開玉), she invited me to organize entertainment programs for several monthly meetings each year. As time went by, I continued helping with these programs. Eventually, I turned 55 and officially became eligible to join IECSA. Following in my mother's footsteps, I became a board member.

Several years ago, I was elected Co-President of IECSA to fill a vacancy. I feel truly honored to serve alongside Co-President Hsun-Tseng Chang (張訓曾). We share our responsibilities and have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship.

My primary responsibilities are organizing entertainment programs and arranging meals for our monthly meetings.

Over the years, our ent