Cynthia Lim
2009 President
Wa Sung is celebrating its 56th birthday in 2009. It is an honor and a privilege that I again serve as your President. Wa Sung has for many years served the Oakland community with distinction. Wa Sung has been awarding Merit Scholarships to deserving High School Seniors and awarding Educational Grants to teachers in support of their efforts to improve the educational experiences of their students. In hosting the Annual Easter Pancake Breakfasts, we strive to involve the community, as well as improve communication between the elderly and youth as they actively participate in this city-wide event. This year will be the 53rd year the Club will host this event and we invite the community to share in our annual event. Finally, we can all look with pride at the Lincoln Square Junk Boat as a gleaming example of what the Club can do when it partners with other organizations, government and the community to help improve and provide an area for creative play in a unique and cultural identity. Many thanks to all the members who made this astonishing list of accomplishments happen.
The Club will continue its list of events this coming year; and with the support of its members these will again be a roaring success. The Easter Pancake Breakfast will continue with its 53rd year at Lincoln Square Park and Recreation, serving the simple but traditional pancakes, sausages, oranges, coffee, and tea. As always the Merit Scholarship in May will honor those graduating high school seniors who have shown the honesty, perseverance and determination in excelling in their studies. When watching their parents, it’s been a real joy to see the pride in their eyes when their children are on stage receiving their scholarships at the event! The annual July picnic is a source of fun for the members, a time to spend with each other getting to review the year’s happenings. Our fall event, “Toast to Tapas,” will help to top off the year filled with events that enable Wa Sung to provide our charitable giving. Yes, We Can!
Our General Meetings are held at different venues each month and will continue to give us the opportunity to see each other and renew ties while enjoying various and always delicious repasts. We will hold our annual “Past President, Life Members, and Honorary Members Night,” a night where many of the Life Members come out to tell the crowd what it was like in the past – a great night for everyone in attendance! In October we will celebrate the Fall Event ‘Toast to Tapas,” a wine and food extravaganza, which will be held at the Englander this year. We anticipate even greater participation at the second anniversary of this event!
In each of the Hosted Events held during the year, the most important ingredient is YOU. I hope that you will make a commitment of spending time with us this year. The plans for this year are set, partners and vendors committed, too. A small commitment of time is all that we ask; and our Committee Chairs are waiting for your calls. “Yes We Can” was my call for action. I know that the Board, the Officers of the Club and I are committed to planning a year’s activities to further the goals of the Club. Please join us; and let’s have another fantastic year serving the community as we work to pass traditions and look to the future!