Lunar New Year greetings from WTIC President Lena Ou
Feb.17,2009


Mme. Hsiao, Mme. Koo, Mme. Wen, All founders, former Presidents, Dear Members, Distinguished Guests:

Good afternoon!

First of all, let me say happy New Year to all of you on behalf of “Welcome to Taipei International Club”. Also, I'm delighted to see all new members who have joined this big family.

This is the first major event of our club this year, and we are particularly honored to have our distinguished guests, wife of Vice-President Mme. Hsiao and our advisor Mme. Koo, who kindly join our luncheon today celebrating the Chinese New Year with us. I would like to thank you for gracing us with your presence despite of your very busy schedule. ?Thank you! Mme. Hsiao, Mme. Koo.

“Welcome to Taipei International Club” has entered into its twenty-third year. It was in 1986 that Mme. Julie Chien, who is the wife of then-representative to Washington DC, Dr. Fredrick Chien, and who was a member of “Welcome to Washington International Club”； invited 14 other seniors to introduce the spirit of the club to Taiwan. And so it was that the ‘WTIC” was founded, the first of its kind in Asia.? Mme. Winifred Shen was the club's first President and, after 22 swiftly passing years, I now shoulder this responsibility. I would like to thank all the founding members and former presidents for their hard work. I am delighted that over half of the original 15 seniors are present here today, and it is with thanks in our hearts that we would like to pay our most cordial respects to them:
Patricia Wen, Marie Shah, Julie Chien, Lily Chiu, Margaret Pei, Maria Hu, and Yvonne Wang,

Those absent are Winifred Shen, Christine Lin, Julie Tang, Jeanne Sun, Pei Li Hwang Bumpas, Ellen Lai Woo, Iris Chou, and Elizabeth Lamb. As vice president of “WCI”, she is participating board meeting at Orlando, USA right now.

This year, for the first time in our history, we have accepted the wonderful suggestion to invite the husbands of our members to join us in the celebration. Let us give all the gentlemen a big round of applause to make them feel welcome.

According to the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year this year fell at the end of January. Yet, the celebrations continue until the fifteenth of the lunar January, which is the Lantern Festival. With the spectacular scene of thousands of colorful lanterns, the festivity draws to a beautiful conclusion. I hope that all our friends from overseas, especially those who spent their first lunar new year here in the Republic of China (Taiwan), had a chance to experience the festivities and enjoy some Taiwanese style hospitality. I trust that today will also leave you with some fond memories.

Now, allow me to give special thanks to Mei-Yen Kao, Melody Yang, Jyn Tzy Wang, Doris Shih, Jenny Chen and all team members, without their dedication and strenuous efforts, we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy today’s wonderful programs.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone here good health, great success and happiness in your families.