CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

NEWS ‘n NOTES

May, 2004


CHSSC ADMINISTRATION: THE TIES THAT BIND    JUNE PROGRAM    AROUND CHSSC
ANNOUNCEMENTS    HEALTH & WELLNESS    COMMUNITY CALENDAR


* * * CHSSC ADMINISTRATION: THE TIES THAT BIND * * *

Just shy of its thirtieth birthday, the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California has an active membership of 277, and 90 members in its 100 x 100 Club. Our two arms are our Programs Committee (April News and Notes) and the Publications and Research Committee (March News and Notes). For all this to run smoothly, however, there is a wide range of administrative responsibilities to be dealt with.

Much of what we accomplish is possible because of our members' volunteerism. These generous souls serve and provide refreshments for our monthly meetings and act as docents for our Chinatown walking tour program. We also acknowledge the volunteers who set up chairs, do our taxes, edit our publications, write thank you letters, paint our walls, coordinate fundraisers, plant flowers and do landscaping at our Bernard Street facilities, care for the Chinese shrine monument we maintain, and staff the Chinatown Heritage and Visitors Center on Sunday afternoons.

Our staff member, Randy Bloch's duties run the gamut from writing to changing light bulbs to helping orchestrate our monthly meetings. A three-term former Board member, Randy joined the Society in 1990 after getting involved in the Shrine Preservation Project. President Linda Wong Smith has said, "Randy plays an essential link in our Society; he is our anchor."

This year, our Board of Directors focused on a wide range of administrative items and at our November retreat, prioritized several goals. We established a detailed budget for 2004, hired an independent Certified Public Accountant to oversee our increasingly complicated books, and identified ways to tighten our belts. We also established an internal book inventory program and typed up CHSSC's Constitution!

The CHSSC Board meets formally each month but we contact each other—sometimes daily—via email. We disagree on some issues but are in consensus as to our overall mission and goals. We share our responsibilities and as the Society grows, we need more supporters and volunteers. Please join us!

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* * * JUNE PROGRAM * * *


Guest Speaker

FILMMAKER ALAN ROSENBERG

HAZEL YING LEE

A Brief Flight

Wednesday, June 2, 2004, 7:00 p.m.

Multipurpose Room
Castelar Elementary School
840 Yale Street
Los Angeles, Chinatown
(Park on playground, enter on College Street between Hill and Yale Streets)

A Brief Flight: Hazel Ying Lee and the Women Who Flew Pursuit tells the colorful story of Hazel Ying Lee, the Chinese American aviator of the 1930's and 40's who was a pilot in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). At our June meeting, filmmaker Alan Rosenberg screens this "true story of service and devotion to country that unfolds through original film footage, home movies, and rare photos." The film is narrated by Ming-Na (Dr. Chen on ER), and also details the circumstances of Lee's untimely death in 1944.

A Portland, Oregon native, Hazel Ying Lee took her first flight in 1932 at the age of 19. She received her pilot's license the same year, when less than 1% of American pilots were women. In 1932, she traveled from the U.S. to China with the intention of fighting against the Japanese. Though not allowed to join the Chinese Air Force, she contributed to the Sino-Japanese war effort in various ways and opened a school in Canton. She returned to the United States in 1938, and in 1944 joined the corps of elite woman pilots who flew fighter planes for the U.S. Army.

Alan Rosenberg—a documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles and New York—produced, directed, and co-wrote the film. His first documentary, Mah Jongg Mavens and Memories, was described by the Los Angeles Times as, "A loving salute to the game of mah jongg and the role it plays in the lives of American Jewish women."

Copies of A Brief Flight will be available for purchase at the meeting.

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* * * AROUND CHSSC * * *


APRIL GENERAL MEETING REPORT

By Linda Chong

With the help of our co-hosts, the Friends of the Chinatown Library, in April we featured a delightful evening with writer Adeline Yen Mah. Also a physician, Dr. Mah has recently used her bicultural, bilingual background to author a widely acclaimed series of books for adults and children.

Born and reared in China, educated in Britain, and currently based in Huntington Beach and London, Dr. Mah is the author of Falling Leaves; Chinese Cinderella; A Thousand Pieces of Gold; and Watching the Tree. Her repertoire will soon expand to include two more children's books - Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society and Stories of a Daughter Nobody Wanted.

After enjoying a smashing debut with Falling Leaves—which sold more than one million copies worldwide—Dr. Mah retired from medicine to write full time. Her second book, Chinese Cinderella, is an autobiographical work written in the style and manner of a children's book; her third book, Watching the Tree, is a work of Chinese philosophy. In a similar vein, her latest book, A Thousand Pieces of Gold, seeks to deepen readers' understandings of China's past through examining its centuries-old proverbs.

At the CHSSC meeting, Dr. Mah spoke passionately on Chinese Americans' need to better understand their ancestral heritage and to avoid rejecting the wisdom of Chinese thinking because American culture tends to be Eurocentric. She also noted that her greatest rewards are the letters and feedback she receives from children around the world whose lives are touched by her stories.

Adeline Yen Mah is a member of the prestigious Committee of 100, an organization founded by an elite group of Chinese Americans (including renowned architect, I.M. Pei) which strives to advance the lives of Chinese living in the United States. Dr. Mah is married to Robert A. Mah, a fellow physician, and the couple has two grown children.

Royalties from Adeline Yen Mah's books go the Falling Leaves Foundation which enables American students to study at universities in Beijing and Shanghai.



MARCH GENERAL MEETING REPORT



(Eugene Moy, VP-Programs; William F. Chew;
and CHSSC President Linda Wong Smith)

On March 3rd, we proudly hosted CHSSC Treasurer (and now published author), William F. Chew, who presented his new book, Nameless Builders of the Transcontinental. Though now retired, during an illustrious aerospace career, Bill developed a component for the first Mars landing, designed a Space Shuttle experiment and led a program on space commercialization.

Bill Chew's grandfather helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. Fittingly, the book's dedication reads: "To my grandfather, Chew Wing Qui, who would not know that his contribution to railroad travel would, within two generations, lead to his grandson's contribution to planetary travel." Chew's new book is the fruit of years of research to identify descendants of Chinese railroad workers. It taps heretofore unpublished payroll information from the Central Pacific Railroad Company - a rich vein of primary historical data. It is the flowering of two trips to Promontory Point, Utah in 1998-1999 to re-enact the celebrated "Marriage of the Rails" and "Golden Spike" ceremonies. On his second Promontory Point trip, Bill was inspired by a conversation with Golden Spike National Historic Site Superintendent Bruce Powell - "a pivotal encounter that launched me on an amazing journey." Addressing CHSSC at a 1999 meeting, Bill was beside himself when many Society brethren came forward to tell him of their ancestors' ties to the railroad: Johnny and Johnson Yee's great-grandfather, Yee Kwang Toy, had been a black powder worker; Anita Wong Lim's grandfather, Wong Wah Fung, was a rail worker; author Lisa See's great-great-grandfather, Fong Dun Shung and his two sons worked on the railroad; and several other members told him of their ancestors' contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad.

The March 2004 meeting and book signing was a significant event in Bill Chew's life. Many Chew family members were there to share the occasion. Also attending was his literary mentor, Susan Sovine, who spoke on her lifelong study of Pearl S. Buck at our last month's general meeting. As evinced in his talk, Bill Chew brings a scientific approach to research gathering and synthesis by eschewing preconceived notions and rejecting the unsubstantiated.

In his general meeting talk, Bill focused on four areas of inquiry. Regarding the first dates of employment and names of the first Chinese rail workers, his research gives a date of January, 1864. Payroll sheets from January and February of that year record Hung Wah and Ah Toy as leaders of a crew of 20. Chew listed the most notable railroad projects as Bloomer Cut (near Auburn, California), Cape Horn, a cluster of 13 tunnels blasted through solid granite in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and a record-setting 10 miles of track laid in one day at Rozel, Utah. As to the number of Chinese railroad workers, Chew said: "The rounded total of 23,000 Chinese workers is considered a minimum but is much larger than the previously published total of 10,000 at peak employment, especially since 29 months of payroll records from 1864 through 1867 are lost." Concerning Chinese lives lost, Chew states no company or government officials recorded the number of fatalities, though it is estimated at 1,300. He stated the death toll of Chinese workers is the largest among public and private projects in U.S. history.

Bill's recent article in the Society's Gum Saan Journal concludes: "The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869. There were celebrations in Washington, D.C., Omaha, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. The grandest of these was in Sacramento, but the most historical was at the actual site of Promontory Summit, Utah. After the 'Marriage of the Rails' celebration, dignitaries drove in the 'Golden Spike.' But after the crowd dispersed, the Chinese removed the gold and silver spikes, along with the Laurel railroad tie, and laid the last tie and drove the last spike!" -rb

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* * * ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *


 CHSSC ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2, 2004

This year, we are fortunate to have many members willing to take leadership in the Society. The following summarizes the 2004-2005 election procedures: The election will be held on June 2, 2004 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Our Board has instructed that ballots will be printed one week before the election with additional nominations allowed until May 25, 2004. There will then be allowance for write-in candidates on the ballot at the election. The CHSSC Board consists of betwen 13 and 17 total members. Since there are 7 officers, no more than 10 members-at-large may be elected. Paid CHSSC members will receive candidate platform statement of 50 words or less with their ballot. Each candidate must submit his or her 50-word statement to the CHSSC Office by May 26, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. Past president Irvin Lai will officiate the proceedings and announce the results. Randy Bloch, Franklin Mah and Stanley Mu will tabulate the ballots. As of this printing, the candidates include in alphabetical order:

President:Kenneth Chan; Pete Chinn
Vice-President:William Chew
VP-Programs:Pedro Loureiro; Eugene Moy
Treasurer:Ann Lau; Ben Nakayama
Financial SecretaryHoward Fong
Secretary:Susie Ling
Membership Secretary:Philip Tong
Member at large:Dr. Albert Chang, Dr. Betty Gaw, Susan Hum, Dr. Munson Kwok, Jeannie Liu, Dr. Don Loo, Jack Ong, Frank Yee, Martha Yee, Mary Yee, Wei Yee, Donna Young


PURCHASE TICKETS NOW FOR L.A. CONSERVANCY SCREENING OF ANNA MAY WONG IN SHANGHAI EXPRESS AT SPECIAL CHSSC PRICE!

On Wednesday, July 7th at 7:00 p.m., the Los Angeles Conservancy hosts a showing of Shanghai Express, starring Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong, at the Orpheum Theater. The screening is the closing event of the Conservancy's annual "Last Remaining Seats" fundraiser at Broadway theater district historic movie palaces. A CHSSC Board member will accept a proclamation on stage from Los Angeles Concilmember Ed Reyes, praising Ms. Wong's cinematic and humanitarian achievements. The tribute will include footage of her visit to Shanghai in 1936.

CHSSC members may purchase show tickets at a $13 special price. Please mail checks to CHSSC, P.O. Box 862647, L.A., CA 90086-2647. The deadline to buy tickets is July 1, 2004. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show begins at 8:00 p.m. and the program ends at approximately 10:45 p.m. Please phone the Conservancy at (213) 623-2489 for further details, or Randy in the CHSSC Office at (323) 222-0856.

WITH GREAT APPRECIATION: GOODBYE FRANKLIN MAH

It has been CHSSC's fortune to receive great support and volunteer professional expertise from many of its members. News 'n Notes wishes to pay special tribute, however, to outgoing Financial Secretary (and IRS Auditor) Franklin Mah. Indeed, Franklin has written our checks, coordinated our books, and done our state and federal TAXES for greater than a decade! And as the organization has grown, so has Franklin's volunteer time and dedication. Perhaps most importantly, Franklin provided much-needed continuity on the Board and has been an outspoken voice for fiscal prudence.

Franklin shunned the limelight for his contributions, but we must now thank you, Franklin, from the bottom of our hearts for debts unpayable.

NUPTIALS

CHSSC sends a very special congratulations to romance (not the first) in our very ranks. In May, longtime community leader, Gilbert Hom, wedded Linda Chong, former CHSSC administrative assistant and University of Southern California speechwriter. The wedding venue was the Old Grapevine, Plaza Park, in the shadow of the historic San Gabriel Arcangel Mission. The newlyweds will honeymoon on an Alaskan cruise.

MAY GENERAL MEETING REFRESHMENTS

Thank you to the following members for their generous snack donations at our May General Meeting: Susan Dickson, Cindy Fong, Dorothy Louie Lee, Rose Marie Lee, Winnie Lee, Susie Ling, Ruth Lung, Doreen Chan Nakayama, Judge Delbert & Dolores Wong, and John & Esther Yee.

CHSSC SUMMER SCHEDULE

Please note the Society does not convene a general meeting in July or August. Also, News 'n Notes does not publish in June or July. We look forward to seeing you at our June and September general meetings!

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* * * HEALTH & WELLNESS * * *


 HOW DOES ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AFFECT US?

        By Dr. Betty Gaw

When giant whales beach themselves on our shores and expire in mass strandings, arctic polar bear populations become decimated due to disease brought on by environmental pollution, and birds fail to hatch because of fatal deformities, we all wonder why. A few years into the third millennium, we experience ever-increasing levels of lung cancer worldwide and suffer strange disease syndromes not encountered a few decades ago. Eight of our pristine National Parks, including Yosemite, are so polluted they violate federal smog standards. Indeed, all Earth's creatures great and small are suffocating in a potentially deadly soup of toxic, man-made chemicals.


THE KNOWN POLLUTANTS

Smog and Ozone

In 2003, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernadino and Riverside Counties had 120 days out of compliance with the EPA standard of acceptable air quality. Southern California is, thus, the new smog capital of the United States. The chief pollutant sources are diesel trucks and buses, cars/vans/SUVs, aircrafts, locomotives, industrial plants/factories, oil and gas refineries, construction equipment, smokers, etc. (Los Angeles Times, April 16, 2004.)

Chemicals

With our current scientific sophistication, new chemicals are created every day. The most deleterious to our health are: paint and paint solvents, including nail polish and remover; deodorants, perfumes, fragrances; hairsprays; marking pens; cleaning soaps and solutions; chlorine in Clorox and its byproducts such as flame retardants/PBDEs; plastic in every shape and form that leads to cancers of the reproductive organs and infertility; mothballs; benzene/gasoline; pesticides and herbicides; perchlorate from fireworks, rocket fuel, explosives, air bags and road flares; mercury, lead and other heavy toxic metals; and overuse of fertilizers of every kind. The newest potentially carcinogenic chemical reported is Acrylamide, formed from high temperature heating of starch foods, such as French fries, baked goods, grilled potatoes, snack food chips, etc. Health-damaging hydrogenated vegetable oils are in almost all baked goods to extend shelf life, mimicking bad saturated fats and thus contributing to cardiovascular diseases.

Noise Pollution

How many decibels of noise can our auditory eighth nerve endure before we begin to go deaf? The longer we suffer noise bombardment, the earlier we lose our hearing. Moderate but long-term noise over 60 decibels damages our health and hearing, resulting in high blood pressure, obesity, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcers, irritability, poor productivity, deafness, and insomnia. Simply put, noise is stressful.

The loudest noise is from airplanes, lawnmowers, trucks and jackhammers. In California, one can be ticketed for a vehicle exhaust system that emits noise greater than 95 decibels. A busy street or highway may emit ambient noise of 75 decibels, which interferes with learning in an adjacent school. The longer that high noise levels are sustained, the more rapidly nerve damage occurs. Therefore, rock musicians and those who celebrate with firecrackers will be deaf at a young age. Earplugs are a must for hearing preservation.


EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

We currently see an increase in new diseases of modern living, such as:
STRATEGIES FOR COPING AND SURVIVAL There is much we can do to restore and protect ourselves and our planet, thus teaching our children and grandchildren healthy lifestyles. If we do nothing, we are doomed to disastrous diseases as our immune systems are weakened and destroyed by global toxic pollution. Longevity requires taking action to ensure good health and preserve the Earth for posterity. This is our sacred and urgent responsibility.

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* * * COMMUNITY CALENDAR * * *
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