On July 19th, the Northern California Chinese School Association held its 48th annual meeting and president’s handover ceremony in San Jose. More than 200 guests from the political, overseas Chinese, school principals, and association volunteers attended the grand event to witness the legacy and glory of the association.
The event kicked off with a stunning performance by the FASCA drum team, followed by the current president, Li Naya, leading the association’s dance group in elegant qipaos, performing “The Moon Represents My Heart”. In her farewell speech, Li Naya emotionally recounted her year of hard work and dedication, expressing her deep love for the association and its sacred mission of promoting overseas Chinese language education.
Li Naya shared how she devoted herself to the association, thanking her husband for taking care of the family and proudly mentioning her son’s admission to UC Davis despite her absence. She expressed gratitude to Dr. Wu Yiming for his assistance, acknowledging that without them, there would be no association. The audience applauded her heartfelt speech.
During the handover ceremony, Acting Consul General of the San Francisco office, Zhu Yongchang, praised President Li Naya for her dedication to organizing events, training, Chinese proficiency tests, and being a charismatic host and talented singer in the community. Although stepping down as president, her influence in the overseas Chinese community will continue to shine.
Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, Zhuang Yashu, emotionally expressed gratitude for the association’s partnership in organizing training, competitions, and heritage activities for Bay Area schools, enabling future generations to understand Chinese culture. She jokingly remarked that she was “tortured” by Li Naya’s creativity and activities over the past year, expressing concern about her successor having even more ideas.
California State Senator Aisha Wahab specially attended and presented a certificate of appreciation to Li Naya, praising the deep cultural heritage in the Bay Area Chinese community with Chinese schools serving as a key force in language and cultural preservation. Senator Wahab, as Vice Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, emphasized the importance of community and language preservation based on her experience in Taiwan.
Santa Clara County Councilwoman Sally Wu presented a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the county, commending Li Naya’s tireless efforts over the year and her positive energy. She encouraged President Fu Qijun, emphasizing the need to continue raising the standards set by Li Naya.
With the oversight of the acting consul general and past presidents as witnesses, Li Naya officially handed over the seal to Fu Qijun, symbolizing the continuation of responsibility and mission. Director Zhuang Yashu then read a thank-you letter to Li Naya and a congratulatory letter to Fu Qijun on behalf of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
President Fu Qijun delivered his inaugural speech, acknowledging the differences between him and Li Naya but expressing his commitment to work hard. He thanked Li Naya for her exceptional team and appreciated the dedication of all volunteers. Fu Qijun revealed Li Naya’s love for pink, joking that he had turned everything, including his business cards and the event’s guest name tags, pink.
Fu Qijun announced a website style update after assuming office, emphasizing the association’s commitment to serving schools, teachers, and students while continuing the spirit of innovation and heritage. He expressed gratitude to his wife and daughter for their support that allows him to serve the association without worries.
During the event, Senator Aisha Wahab personally awarded scholarships and certificates to ten outstanding students, encouraging the younger generation to continue inheriting the culture.
The highlight of the evening was the performance by renowned Taiwanese female impersonator Wang Haibo, who, at the age of 70, entertained the audience with stand-up comedy and a splendid Beijing opera segment, culminating in a duet of “Wujiapo” with Li Naya. The exciting program also included guzheng performances, a dance by association members titled “Embrace the World Embrace You”, karaoke, and a lively grand prize draw, bringing the evening to a perfect close amidst music and laughter.