The Taiwanese American Association (TAA) in the capital of Florida held a Lunar New Year celebration lunch on February 10. A total of 84 people attended the event. The Secretary of Florida State Cord Byrd sent the Arts and Culture Division Director Sandy Shaughnessy, the State Folklorist Dr. Dominick Tartaglia, and the Public Information Specialist Peter Abello to attend this event together.
The event was hosted by Carl Huang, President of the TAA. Carl Huang thanked everyone for their support of the association. He also thanked Steve Huang, Senior Expatriate Secretary of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami (TECO-Miami), for attending this event on behalf of the office and showing the Taiwanese government's care for the folks. Carl Huang plans to participate in the Experience Asia 2024, Dr. Lucy Ho’s Japan Emperor’s Award on September 28, and hopes that the Keelung Chung-Chen Junior High School’s Youth Folk Sports Presentation Troupe will come from Taiwan to Tallahassee again this fall.
Director Sandy read out the congratulatory message from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, wishing everyone a happy New Year of the Dragon. Florida and Taiwan established a sister relationship for bilateral official exchanges in 1992 and have continued to strengthen cooperation. Thanked Charles Chou, General Director of the TECO-Miami, for his continuous contribution, and welcomed Senior Expatriate Affairs Officer Steve Huang’s first visit to Tallahassee.
Then Affairs Officer Steve Huang delivered a speech, saying that on behalf of TECO-Miami General Director Charles Chou and Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Minister Chia-Ching Hsu, he came to wish everyone a happy New Year and would continue the overseas Taiwanese affairs work. Participants were asked to continue to support the activities organized by the TAA and to promote using the OCAC’s “i Overseas Taiwanese Card”, etc.
OCAC Associate Advisor Tien-Shuenn Wu first told a story about the Year of the Dragon and distributed 50 red envelopes to the children, students, elders and singles present as usual. The lottery activity was presided over by Carl Huang, and the atmosphere was harmonious, and everyone celebrated the New Year together.
Other distinguished guests include many community members who are friendly to Taiwan, because their adopted Chinese children once studied Taiwanese culture at the Tallahassee Chinese School funded by the OCAC, and they have long supported the activities of the Taiwanese American Association. This event included lottery draws, storytelling and red envelope distribution, which was very lively. Hsin Fang, president of the Florida State University Taiwanese Student Association (FSUTSA), and six Taiwanese international students arrived at the venue in advance to set up the sound equipment and welcome guests. They also distributed exquisite calendars from the OCAC's "Masterworks from Taiwan" and helped with photography.
For more event photos, see: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j1yGnBBql0JsSdfeVo0C3Pn9GqdKynYl
(Provided by FSUTSA)
