February 2000  The Newsletter of CRA - Gay Chinese Organization in Greater Los Angeles     Volume 5  Issue 2

CRA New Board and Future
From the Chair Andre T.

    Happy new year, my fellow Tongzhis:
    The year of the Dragon is a very special year; I hope each one of you will have good health, happiness, and good fortune during the entire year. CRA has a new board and we plan to serve our members very diligently while keeping our original mission in mind at all times. The new board is: Chair: Andre' T.,, Treasurer: Y. Song, Membership Director: H. Hu, Social Director: E, Chang, Special Events Director: Richard K. and Newsletter/website director: L. Zhou.

   This coming year we will continue to have relaxing and fun monthly social parties (they have been so successful in the past years). We will also continue to have beach volley ball games as soon as weather permits.

   We will have special events such as the Lantern Festival (Feb. l9), CSW parade and festival booth, nightclub dance parties, birthday dinners at the best Chinese restaurants, etc. In addition, we will co-host a "Commitment Ceremony," a holy union ceremony celebrating our members with domestic partners. California has now the domestic partner registry for the first time in history (!) where same-sex couples can register and enjoy many benefits just as the straight counterparts do. This planned event will be history in the making with blessing of the couples, buffet, slow dance and a lot more.

    Some CRA members will travel to Asia this summer for the International Tongzhi Conference. They will represent CRA and tell other groups about our existence, mission, and activities. It will be great networking.

    But above all, we will always be here to support one another, emotionally and in other ways, so that we will continue having our warm, close-knit Chinese "rainbow family." This is our mission and raison d'etre.

    Once again, happy new year, my dear comrades.