The Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors in the San Francisco Bay Area (FASCA SFBA) hosted its annual new member training for its thirteenth year in operation from June sixteenth to June eighteenth. As per usual, all trainees and staff met at the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in San Francisco (Milpitas) for the three-day training period. On the last day of the training, a showcase was held for trainees to show off what skills they had developed during the training session.
Overseas Community Affairs Council is the reason for FASCA’s founding in chapters all over the world and continues to support its activities through the years. This year’s new member training was different than in previous years, as it was organized outside of FASCA SFBA staff.
VIP at the showcase included Director-General Ming-Chi Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Franciso, Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Culture Offices in San Francisco (Milpitas) Director Sophia Chuang, Deputy Director of Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Culture Offices in San Francisco (Milpitas) Jenny Chen, Overseas Chinese Affairs Council Commissioners Jenny Tan, Catharina Gill, Johnney Lee, and Anna Wei. Chairman David Wang of Taiwanese & Chinese American Atheltic Tournament of San Francisco Bay Area and Association of Northern California Chinese Schools President Lisa Wang were also present.
This year’s camp instructors included Yu-Yi Kao, David Huang, Ellen Hsu, and they were led by Mei-Chih Tsai. This year, the team dance was taught by Taiwan University of Arts Dance Professor Yuh Ching Lin, and local Chinese teacher Sara Tseng taught some of the culture classes.
During the training camp, FASCA SFBA Advisors Tony Chen, Lily Liu, Katy Wu, Noya Lee, and Assistant Advisors Jeffrey Liu and Emma Wang were present for the sixty-three trainees.
This year's trainees were split up into six groups, including Taipei 101, Jade Mountain, Taiwan black bear, Taipei Tree frog, Taiwan blue magpie, and Taiwan butterfly as each respective team’s mascot.
There were over two hundred attendees at the showcase on June eighteenth, where trainees performed multiple dances: new members, returning students, and a whole new chapter dance. Homework winners’ videos were projected for the audience to watch, which were on topics such as immigrant family experiences, anti-Asian racism, and role models of Chinese/Taiwanese immigrants.
After the showcase, the new board of chapter leadership was selected after rounds of speeches and voting. For the first time in three years, FASCA SFBA finally has another female president. Congratulations to the newly elected President and Vice Presidents, everyone is excited to see what you all accomplish in the coming year!
