FROM THE CHAIR

Dear fellow tongzhis:

In July we had a successful potluck party of 50 in attendance. Of course, it is not just the quantity. It was the friendliness, the sharing of great food, the atmosphere, the karaoke, the camaraderie, etc., that made it a fun and intimate social event.

Besides our loyal members and friends, we had new faces and members. Our first official lesbian members were introduced, one of whom is an accomplished singer and one just had her asylum petition approved. Hearty congratulations from all of us!

So our organization is definitely on the right track and expanding. Our reputation is great and our future is bright indeed.

In the years 2000 and 2001, we had successful dining-out events, sometimes called CRA/GAPSN Classics dinners. They were most enjoyable, drawing anywhere from
10 to 25 diners each time. We could all sit in one or two tables so all can share in the lively conversations. Yes Southern California is blessed with excellent and authentic regional Chinese (and other Asian, Italian, and other) restaurants.

Thus our Labor Day dining-out event. If you are in town that weekend (or wisely have come back on Sunday or early Monday to avoid the traffic hassle), be sure to join us for dinner. Don't forget to RSVP. You will be glad you do.

For the rest of September, we will probably have a pool party and a party at a new bar. October of course will see our annual Asian costume party, which drew over 100 people last year.

See you all at our fun up-coming events!

Andre' Ting
andreting@aol.com