I just wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a number of distinguished ladies who helped in the founding of the Welcome to Taipei International Club which is affiliated with all the Welcome Clubs worldwide.

First of all, Julie Chien. In 1986, when my husband and I revisited Washington D.C., Dr. Frederick Chien was the representative of our country, and Mrs. Chien, Julie, was a great help to Dr. Chien. She was very active, popular and well-liked in D.C. social and political circles. She had Twin Oaks renovated. She invited me and my family to dinner and showed us every room which looked splendid as if touched by a magic wand. A few days later, before I had a chance to thank her, she telephoned me and asked me to organize a Welcome to Taipei Club. I said I had no experience with organizing clubs, but if I could get Patricia Wen who had already organized a Friends of Washington Club to help me, I would try to do it.

When I came back to Taipei, I immediately contacted Patricia. She said Julie asked her first, but General Wen, her husband, didn’t think it was necessary to establish another international club in Taipei, since there was one already. However, being a good friend of mine, Patricia finally agreed to help me. She enlisted all the members of the Friends of Washington Club to help, too. Each and every one of them tried their best to invite their foreign friends to join.

According to the rules of the Welcome Clubs, local membership must be matched with an equal number of foreign members. The first meeting was a wonderful success. Everyone who came signed up to be a member. So the Welcome to Taipei International Club was established right-a-way.

Now I must thank another lady, Cecilia Koo, great educator and women leader. She paid for all the expenses of that first meeting. And also Sylvia Fei, who decorated the stage with beautiful lavender-colored wisteria. She made the backdrop look like a million-dollar painting.

Finally, I wish to thank all the founding members of the club for their unforgettable contribution, and for the subsequent presidents and new members of the club for making it such a continuing success

Welcome to Taipei International Club (WTIC) Agenda for the First Boarding Meeting 1. Introducing Board Members 2. Discuss the name of the Club 3. Discuss in detail the following documents: 　a. Guidelines to Forming a Welcome Club 　b. Workshop Outline and Suggestions 　c. Constitution and Bylaws 4. Discuss how to organize various interest groups and appoint group chairman: 　a. Language 　b. Chinese Calligraphy and painting 　c. International cooking 　d. Sports: Bowling and golfing 　e. Music 　f. Beauty and make-up 　g. Flower arrangement and garden 　h. Culture and Art Tours 　i. Sightseeing 　j. Shopping Tours 5. Discuss preparations for the first general meeting (invitation of VIP’s) 6. Compile WTIC Guideline and Directory 7. Compile Calendar of Events (suggest contact GIO, Tourist Bureau, City Government, Foreign Office and other offices) 8. Decide Date of Meeting 9. All officers and members shall help in membership drive

The first preparatory committee of the Welcome International Club