Map and Directions | Register

Description:

NOTE: A separate email will be sent to you with time slot assignment.

To join or renew your KCCAA membership, click here

Please register below (up to 4 people at a time) to attend the KCCAA Passport/Visa Day 2011 at Indian Creek Community Church (12480 South Black Bob Road Olathe, KS 66062-5617).

1. Fill in your information below accurately especially your phone number and email address.

2. Follow the link http://www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/chn/qzhz/t859818.htm to prepare your paperwork

3. Expect time slot assignment email from KCCAA, and please only come during your time slot

4. Prepare cashier’s check or money order for the consulate office

5. Prepare cash for KCCAA processing fee

6. For documents other than visa, please prepare self-address return envelop with postage

7. For Chinese visa, KCCAA will provide local pick-up at 888 Market, no return envelop is needed

Register

Jessie,

Please forward to parents,

I am truly enjoying working with your children/teenagers. They are the finest group of 4 students that I have been with.  They are mature, thoughtful, charming, and oh so smart!!!!  Ii appreciate this opportunity that you have extended to me.

We will be save traveling back to Xian.  Everyone is looking forward to shopping and relaxing,

You are truly fine parents and a model to others.

If you ever want to get together to process the trip, i.e. what went well, what we could have taught better, make sure we all have exchanged pictures, let me know  Hopefully we can make this trip again!

Sincerely yours,

Sue

As some of you know, last month I had the opportunity to go to China and teach English at a school for children of migrant workers.  I went with no expectations and returned laden with wonderful memories of friendship and generosity – and a great desire to help them continue their learning despite almost unbelievable odds.

The children I taught are the sons and daughters of migrant factory workers who come to Beijing to make the stuff we buy at Target or Walmart.  They work for a pittance – the average family income is about $370 a month – or 2400 Chinese Yuan. But that is more than they can make in their home towns or provinces.  So they come – with their families in tow – to live in run down rental properties, sometimes five or six to a room.  But crowded living conditions are not all they face.

Greater Beijing already has a population of around 31 million.  The Chinese government is trying to curb more growth, so they impose taxes and registration fees for newcomers.  Most migrant workers cannot afford this burden and do not register with the authorities.  As a result their children cannot attend public schools.  They can attend private, neighborhood schools – like the one where I volunteered – but these are poorly funded and staffed.

The school where I volunteered is an old structure with 10 small rooms around an enclosed courtyard.  There is no running water and the ‘bathroom’ is a shallow pit in the back of the school.  I had up to 67 kids at one time in a classroom that might be approved for 20 here.  They sat shoulder to shoulder and fights for ‘territory’ were the order of the day, every day.

Despite these obstacles my experience was wonderful.  The children were delightful, full of energy and a longing for learning. I was showered with love and gifts including drawings, little well-used toys, candy and even a linty chicken wing shyly pulled out of a dirty jacked pocket and proudly presented to me.

I asked what they needed most and the answer was swift and sure:  Air conditioning. The kids go all year round and Beijing summers are brutally hot.  I cannot imagine sitting in such close quarters in these smelly little rooms when the temperature hits 100F+

While I was there I purchased four low energy use units. They were installed into the kindergarten and 1^st grade classrooms the next day.  But this is just not enough — those children need 6 more units. For them the cost is insurmountable– 18,500 Chinese Yuan or about $3,000.  But for us, if we work together, we can raise the money needed.

I am asking you to consider a gift that, when pooled together with others, will raise the $3,000 needed to provide these 6 air conditioning units before the really hot months hit in July and August.

Your gift will be tax-deductible because it will go through a reputable non-profit organization, Lotus Education, in San Jose California.  All donations made to Lotus Education for the Beijing Migrant School project will go toward the $3,000 cost of the air conditioners.

You can:

• Enjoy the dinner/auction on June 23 and learn more about this school
• Make a tax deductible purchase and/or a donation
• Send a check made out to Lotus Education in the enclosed envelope.

Thanks very much for considering how you can help these children continue their learning even under difficult circumstances.  Every gift will benefit these wonderful kids more than you can ever imagine.

With best regards –

Doug Ahrens

Learn how to help, click here …

The Largest Chinese New Year Celebration in 7 States – organized by KCCAA, KU Confucius Institute, and Edgar Snow Memorial Fund.

Pictures by Jun Zuo

Pictures taken by Scott Song

Pictures taken by Steve Thompson stevethompsonphotography.com

Pictures taken by Huaiyu Ren

Mayor Funkhouser to help Kansas City kick off a year of prosperity, health

The Chinese New Year begins the Year of the Rabbit, traditionally associated with prosperity, health and fortune. “The new year brings with it new potential for our community,” Mayor Funkhouser said. “We know from the wisdom of generations, that all the flowers of all of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today. May we all become successful gardeners this year.”

7pm-9pm, Saturday, February 5, 2011

Yardley Hall, JCCC

Tickets Available at www.kccaa.org

Proudly Presented By:

Kansas City Chinese American Association (KCCAA)

University of Kansas Confucius Institute

Edgar Snow Memorial Fund

Executive Director – Eric Xie

Dance Program Director– Jinsong Zhang

Stage Design Director– Chunyan Qiu

Culture Program Director- Jin Jing

Vocal Program Director – Jessie Shi

Master of Ceremony – Kelly Jones, KCTV5 News Anchor & CJ Wei, KCCAA President

Acrobatics – Xu Zhang & Rachel Butler

Feature guest performers – Breathtaking feat of strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility…

World Class Bass – baritone Sun Yu ———- New York Times & Washington Post

Sun, originally from Anhui province in China, studied at the Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. In 2001 he won the Liederkranz Wagner Competition in New York, and in 2002 he sang five operas with the Washington Opera at Kennedy Center under the direction of Placido Domingo. Sun will perform “Toreador” from “Carmen” and “Non piu andrai” from “Marriage of Figaro” and a song from “Savage Land.”  In “Carmen”, Sun will be accompanied by exquisite Flamenco dancers from Ole’ Music and Dance of Spain.

Central China Normal University Performance Arts Troupe (华中师范大学艺术团）

Our special artists from China will showcase their extraordinary Chinese music and folk dances.

Legacy School of Arts

The elegant “Legacy School of Arts” will come back with more beautiful ballet and jazz dances following their blockbuster performance in 2010 KC Chinese New Year Celebration.

Brookridge Elementary School Chinese Club – 感动堪城

Our exciting celebration of New Year will not be complete without our children. Be part of our special performance – the song “Thankful Hearts” with sign language presented by 50 students from Brookridge Elementary School in Overland Park, joined by 50 students from their sister school “KC Friendship school” in China…

Jasmine Chinese Dance Group

Our grand opening features over 20 children dancers in traditional Chinese costumes with Chinese fan dance, lantern dance, and red ribbon dance…

KCCAA Dance Team

For years, KCCAA Dance Team has entertained thousands of people with their beauty and grace. With refreshing spirit, KCCAA Dance Team wants you to remember this special evening with their never-seen-before glittering dance.

LeYue Choir Group

Evening finale “Love of My Motherland” will be sung by the largest Chinese choir – 60-member LeYue Choir joined by Mr. Sun Yu, and 16 dancers…

2011 KC Chinese New Year Celebration Gala – 7pm – 9pm, Feb.5, Saturday

Admission:

$8/ticket (KCCAA Members, all ages) with advance purchase through January 30 (Membership renewal and ticket available online www.kccaa.org )

$15/ticket (non-member, all ages) with advance purchase through January 30 (tickets available online at www.kccaa.org).

$20/ticket (all ages) after January 30.

Pre-show Activities:

2:00-4:00pm JCCC GEB Building – FREE to the Public 1^st KC Chinese Dance Competition
5:00-6:30pm JCCC Regnier Center CapFed Room – ($100/person, Sponsors FREE)
VIP Reception / Fund Raising (including VIP ticket to the Gala and Dinner)

3:00-6:00pm JCCC Carlsen Center – FREE to the Public

Dance/Music Performances, Acrobats, Puppet Show, Martial Arts, Food, Children Activities, Culture Presentation (including Dumplings / Noodles Making), Chinese Paper Cutting, Calligraphy, Health Services, Culture booths, and Much More…

[Feb. 6 2010] As many of you know, currently there are two organizations  in the area with almost identical names.  This has caused much confusion.  Feb. 1 2010, the Board of Directors of KCCA proposed a name change to help remove any further confusion.  The reaction and feedback from the public for the proposed name “Kansas City Chinese American Association” (KCCAA) has been very positive and constructive.

Our reasons behind the name change are as follows.

1.  The new name will help create a harmonious environment for the local Chinese community.  Even though it was this board that created the name KCCA three years ago, and it is near and dear to our members’ hearts, the board has decided to give up this highly recognized name to prevent more confusion and conflict.

2.  The new name can better represent our organization’s current and future state.  The new name has broader appeal to individuals, families and organizations.  We would like to welcome everyone including individuals and families who are Chinese from various places, Chinese Americans, families with Chinese children or anyone who love Chinese culture and want to be part of our organization.  Chinese culture has a vast and rich root.  Its inclusiveness reaches beyond Chinese descendants and the culture heritage belongs to the entire world.  Our new name transcends the “Exclusive Chinese Club” image and reaches to the mainstream society.  We also hope the new name and “new” organization will be a catalyst to melting communities and cultures together and building more understanding.  In one or two decades, when the 2nd or 3rd generations of Chinese Americans become community organizers, this name will be even more fitting.

3.  The new name will help us operate more effectively.  With IRS approved  501C (3) status, we believe our new name will have broader appeal to the public for fund raising.  This will help support our charters (charity, education and culture exchange) as well as community services.  Our near and longer term plan includes:

• Organize and improve Chinese New Year Celebration and other Chinese festival activities
• Organize and promote culture exchange  in Kansas City from China and/or other states in the US
• Youth Summer Camp programs both in China and US
• Connect schools in Kansas City area and schools in China (such as sister schools)
• Support Kansas City Friendship School (which we funded and named) in China and other selected schools in the future. Provide student scholarship, books and equipment.  Organize student visits etc.
• Support disadvantaged students with school material, facilitate members sponsorship for students in poverty to help them thrive
• Organize member benefit seminars on financial planning, investment, health, education etc.
• Hold an annual local passport renewal event
• Organize community activities

Our new name “Kansas City Chinese American Association” becomes effective on Feb. 7, 2010. The Board of Directors of the new KCCAA appreciates all the support from our communities and look forward to continuing serving our communities in the future.

堪城中华联合会（KCCA）理事会关于更改名称的声明

正如会员所 知，目前有两个华人组织有着极其相似的名字。不论事情产生的原因如何，名字的雷同已给会员造成很大的困惑。为解决此问题，二月一日，理事会向广大会员征求 改名意向。建议将原名“Kansas City Chinese Association(KCCA), 堪城中华联合会“ 改为：“Kansas City  Chinese  American Association (KCCAA), 堪城中美联合会”。群众对此名反应非常积极，并提出了许多建设性的反馈。以下为我们对新名称的三点看法：

1.尽管KCCA早已被广大会员 认知和熟悉，为了保护华人社区的安定与和谐，理事会决定做出退让，放弃此名。

2．理事会认 为此名称将更适合我们组织的现状和发展。新的名称将会吸引更多的个人，家庭 和机构关注并加入我们的联合会。这其中包括堪城广大华人，中美联姻家庭，收养中国孩子家庭，世界各地华人 及喜爱中华文化并热心参与华人活动的美国人和拥有美国国籍的各国人士。中华文化博大精深。它的巨大的包容性告诉我们这份遗产不仅属于华人，而且属于全世 界。新的名称会彻底改变我们单一华人俱乐部的表象，并扩大我们的影响，使我们华人社区更快地融入主流社会，同时让主流社会更多地了解中华文化。也希望冀这 个新的名称，我们这个组织能为堪城社区的族群融合起到一点催化作用。此外，再过十年，二十年，我们的第二代甚至第三代移民将步入成年人社会。华人组织是连 接华人社区的钮带。我们第一代移民迟早都会退出这个舞台，而这些土生土长的后来者对华人组织以至中华文化的认知将决定未来华人社区的兴衰。我们认为这个新 的名称将会获得绝大多数后来者的认同。

3．由于去年KCCA被美国IRS 批准为501C（3）机构，新的名称KCCAA使我们有更多机会扩大募捐范围以达到我们在开展慈善，教育，文化交流活动的同时更好地服务社区的目的。我们 的近期和远期计划包括：

• 进一步办好每年的大型迎春晚会和其它传统节庆活动
• 定期组织州内外和国内外的业余 及专业文艺团体来堪城表演
• 协助堪城中小学校在中国寻求合适的学校建立姊妹学校
• 进一步赞助堪城友谊小学 和其他获选的学校，包括提供奖学金和学习用具，组织学生互访等
• 提供贫困学生资料，协助会员助养贫困学生，开展帮贫活动
• 组织中小 学生去外州或中国夏令营
• 定期举办金融，投资，教育，健康，理财等方面的讲座
• 每年一次为会员办理护照服务
• 定期组织 各种社区活动

新名称“堪城 中美联合会”（KCCAA）于2010年二月七日正式生效。堪城中美联合会理事会衷心希望广大会员以及堪城华人社区继续支持和协助本会，积极参与和帮助本 会为社区组织的活动。为中美两国人民的友谊，为增进两国在文化，教育等各方面的交流与合作，为建立一个和谐，幸福的堪城华人社区，与我们一道并肩前进。

Hosted by KCCA, co-hosted by KU Confucius Institute and Edgar Snow Memorial Fund, all-star professional group “Embrace China” brings the best Chinese entertainment to Kansas City communities.

Date: Saturday Feb. 27th, 2010

Location: Blue Valley Northwest High School

Ticket: $10 (KCCA member and student), $15 non-member

If you haven’t already, SIGN UP for KCCA membership today and save on your tickets!

Embrace China Program

www.kcca-ks.org

2010 Tiger NewYear Poster

2010 KCCA Chinese New Year Celebration on Feb 6, Saturday 2010

Almost a year has gone by since we had the successful 2009 Show at Yardley Hall celebrating Chinese New Year. This means the 2010 Spring Festival celebration, the biggest event hosted by Kansas City Chinese Association (KCCA), is just around the corner. We anticipate another sold-out event. The 2010 celebration performance will be held in Yardley Hall again (at Johnson County Community College-JCCC) on Saturday, Feb 6, 2010. Tickets will be on sale starting January at our KCCA office inside of the 888 International Market (119th & 69 Highway) or on KCCA web site (WWW.KCCA-KS.ORG). Online tickets can be picked up at the KCCA office inside of 888 International Market before Feb. 6th, or at Yardley Hall on Feb. 6th. Members of Kansas City Chinese Association (KCCA) will enjoy discounted tickets as before (Member-$3/ticket, non-member – $10/ticket).

Purchase Tickets here

在二零零八年五月，在收到大家的资助以后，KCCA曾广泛地向大家征求关于如何合理利用捐赠资金的意见和建议，目的就是为了让捐赠所筹集的资金能最大程度 地发挥作用。我们所收到的大部分回复一致建议将筹集的资金用于重建一所因地震毁坏的学校。 为此，KCCA希望基金初选了四川省的三所小学作为我们项目的资助对象，它们是青川县的金子山乡中心小学，银沙村小学和营盘乡中心小学。

很遗憾的是以上三所学校都没有最后成为我们资助重建的对象。原因是多方面的，主要是因为在地震以后，受灾地区收到了来自世界各地的众多捐赠，许许 多多的捐赠在数目上较KCCA所筹措的资金多出许多。同时，这些捐赠同KCCA希望基金一样，都有着希望能为灾区重建校舍等教育资助方面的偏好。另一方 面，我们所初选学校的灾后重建预计所需的费用也超出了我们的预期，KCCA所筹集的资金不能为这些学校的重建提供足够的支持，也就不能完成任何一所初选学 校的重建，而只能完成学校的部分建设，比如图书馆或教学楼等等。在这样的情况下，KCCA就不能取得学校的冠名权，也就不能让所有的捐赠人得到我们希望能 够得到的承认，这样就有违于KCCA希望基金发起资助学校重建项目的初衷。因此，KCCA决定另行计议。

虽然四川汶川以及周边县市是受灾最严重的地区，但是有许多紧邻汶川的陕西市县也受到了严重的损害。可是由于不是处于震中四川境内，这些地区，如宁 强县，所受到的媒体关注以及得到的外界捐助却少了很多。灾后，宁强县政府以及当地的教育部门为了尽快重建校舍曾向外界广泛地呼吁关注并寻求支持。注意到这 些情况后，堪城友好学校项目的负责人蒋战鹏先生与宁强县的教育部门取得了联系。经过双方紧密、细致地协商，我们很高兴的告诉大家KCCA希望基金与宁强县 沈家坝小学签订了学校重建资助项目的协议合同。在KCCA资助之中，有500,000 RMB将会用于学校的重建，200,000 RMB由于奖学金以及教育互助项目。重建预计在2009年底完成，完成后可为约200学生提供校舍。

为当地重建校舍只是KCCA希望基金在陕西友好学校项目的开始。为实现一个可持续的、长远的教育资助目的，我们广泛地与我们的战略发展合作单位与 个人，诸如堪萨斯大学孔子学院，一起努力为项目的发展制定了详细的规划。我们邀请了西北大学（中国陕西）的史耀疆教授介绍他在关于陕西学生的营养、心理以 及学习等诸多方面的研究成果。史耀疆教授以及他的社会发展研究中心将帮助我们寻找能够丰富学生以及它们家庭生活的教育项目的机会。堪萨斯大学政治科学系的 John Kennedy教授也将把他对陕西的区域文化以及社会问题的深刻理解带到我们的项目中来。堪萨斯大学孔子学院是全球诸多孔子学院中的佼佼者、也是我们项目 的主要支持机构之一。她有丰富的远程教学经验、雄厚的师资力量、最新的现代教育通讯技术。孔子学院也将帮助KCCA希望基金在交换学生、老师等诸多方面我 们的项目提供支持和帮助。

在广泛地向堪城地区的商业机构和组织寻求经济上的资助和支持的同时，我们也积极地把KCCA希望基金的各项活动推广到堪萨斯城的各社区中去，特别 是在年轻一代的青年学生中举行宣传。今年暑假，我们有三位高中学生志愿者(Andy Yu, Yuqi Hou, and Edward Jiang)将参与到我们的学校重建项目的筹款活动中来。它们将到到宁强县去调查访问，并同当地的相关部门一起探讨深化学生奖学金项目。我们将会及时地与 您更新关于友好学校重建计划的情况。请大家关注。

我再次向大家表示我衷心的谢意，谢谢您们一如既往地支持和信任。我深信，KCCA以及KCCA希望基金将持续、长久地为堪城社区以及我们朋友带来希望和福祉。

魏成军
堪城中华联合会主席

• To find out more about how to be part of this unique and exciting project,
  please feel free to contact us at kccaboardofdirectors@yahoo.com.
• To pledge your donation to KCCA Hope Fund, click the button below for fast and secured transaction serviced by Paypal.

The Society for Friendship with China, the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department sponsored the Dragon Boat Festival with the assistance from Kansas City Chinese Association (KCCA), Tsinghua Alumni Association of Greater Kansas City, and the Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club.

Preparations for the race and other activities began early in the morning. I arrived late, around 9 am, to document the festival from beginning to end.

The rowers were to arrive for early practice, and to learn the rhythm of rowing, drumming and how to keep the boat straight. When the KCCA team arrived one member said: “ I hope we don’t go in the water, I don’t want to get wet.” Thus their fate was sealed. They slalomed back and forth hitting the side-walls of the creek. All of the teams would have this experience at one point or another before, during and after the race. The KCCA boat was coming down-stream and they headed straight for the wall. It looked as if moderate panic took over, because balance was lost and so were glasses, shoes, phones and other items one would carry in the pocket. The boat tipped and rolled over, everyone one went in. There were no injuries, I am happy to report, and a great story for the rowers. They pulled together, helped each other out of the water, got the boat out and bailed the water. The whole crew then placed the boat back in then everyone carefully re-boarded and rowed back to the dock.

The festivities on dry land began around 10:00am. There was a food booth selling zongzi, along with other food items, and various other booths selling fans, paper umbrellas, dragon boats, t-shirts, beverages and a photography exhibit depicting images of China. There were children’s activities such as making fans, boats, and they could have their own, dry, boat race. On the main stage the audience was delighted to watch the beautiful children drumming, doing dances from various Chinese minorities, an amazing martial arts demonstration, traditional Chinese music from the guzheng (古筝), lovely sounding Chinese singers and a fashion show to close the stage. Throughout the day one could purchase a wishing lily.

At one o’clock preparations were underway to “wake the Dragon”, a ceremony to open the races. The dragon was resting behind the stage waiting for the children to come and roust him and take him to the water. They all got to their designated pole, lifted the dragon, the drums started and they set off, winding through the crowd with much excitement and fanfare. The dragon impressively snaked through the spectators and down the path. The drums got louder as he arrived. The dragon then was coiled by the dock, as speeches and introductions were made. Then at 1:15 the official waking of the dragons began as John Fierro president of the Kansas City Parks Board and Counsel Yu from Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago opened the eyes of the dragons. The races began at 1:30.

Many teams struggled with keeping the boat straight, however one team seemed to have gotten the hang of it rather quickly. They began with the round robin race then the serious races began. The sun was peeking out as the crowd grew and excitement was building. KCCA won against Mel’s Mauraders. The final race was the Plaza Rotary against Gossen Livingston Architecture. Both teams were flying in the water. Gossen shot out of the “gate” at top speed Rotary was behind just slightly, at the turn Rotary caught up and they were neck and neck to the end. Rotary wins by almost a boat length with Gossen coming in second. It was a nail biter and the best race of the day. Everyone was excited and hot and tired. All of the teams did an amazing job. To end their racing day the two final teams took a nice leisurely row down the creek to the boat landing so that the boats could be loaded and stored until next year. The festivities broke up for about a four-hour respite when we would return later that evening.

I was back at the dock at 8:30pm, Bob Chien, president of the Society For Friendship with China, CJ Wei and Tammy Wang from KCCA, along with Counsel’s Yu and Yang were preparing the wishing lilies for launch at 9. For $5 one could buy a wish, and have their wish launched and floated in the night to be answered. This was a most serene and beautiful way to end a frenetic, exciting day. Next year I may buy 10, but, maybe that’s too greedy, since everyone one of you will want one too. See all of you there next year. Don’t forget to wish.

For more pictures, http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiejennings/sets/72157619769054817/

To celebrate 2010 Chinese New Year, sponsored by All-Federation of China for Overseas Chinese, China National Performance Arts Group is planning on a series of performances in New York, Detroit, Indianapolis, Houston, Kansas City, St. Francisco and Los Angles. As the local sponsor for this performance arts group, KCCA is excited to bring the best performance arts group from China and diversified culture to our communities.

Please stay tuned for our announcements, or visit our web site (www.kcca-ks.org) for details on both events and great discounted price for members.