Dear Fellow Tongzhis:

We started a busy year of 2007 in CRA. The CRA Board of Directors' retreat took place on Jan. 21, 07. We reviewed last year's activities and planned for this year's.

The first two events will be the Chinese New Year Parade on Feb 24, and the CRA's new year buffet dinner on Sat. March 3.

Our LGBT parade contingent is a coalition of multiple organizations. This year API Equality-LA has been taking the lead in organizing. Some of you may remember that we made history last year -- marching as openly gay and gay-friendly APIs for the first time in this over-100-year-old historical mainstream parade. Our reception was so positive that we will of course repeat our effort of exposure and outreach. We want to show especially the Asian community that the LGBT people are truly an integral part of the overall API community in California.

So please come and join us on Sat, Feb 24 afternoon to take a short walk in the Chinatown area of LA. WE will be displaying our rainbow colored accessories for the first time in this mainstream parade. Showing our true colors will be fun, invigorating and empowering. We can expect curious looks, surprises, appreciation and lots of cheers from the large crowd of spectators. Our experience will surely be memorable and priceless again!

Our last year's Chinese new year buffet dinner was a resounding success - a packed party room with 60 guests! The food was great, cost most reasonable, with an eye-opening photo display, fun drawings of raffle prices and a lot of laughters! But the most valuable part of it all was the chance to revisit our loyal members, their partners and friends and see brand new faces of future members. Another word, bonding and networking of proud brothers (and sisters) at its best! This year we are planning to repeat that on Sat, March 3. So please save that date now on your calendar.

I will see you all in these upcoming fun events!

Happy new year of the boar!

Andre' Ting

Chair