Brief Introduction to the Westchester Taiwanese Women’s Association (WTWA), New York

Edited by the Westchester Taiwanese Women’s Association

Organizational History:

Our association was founded in the fall of 1974 by several Taiwanese women, including founder Fang-Yuh Rita Chen and convener Shih-chen Hsu Lin (deceased). 40 Years have passed since then. Westchester is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Manhattan, New York. WTWA is a non-profit, non-political organization.

Mission – our organization has three missions:

Strengthen the friendship, mutual benefits, and cooperation between the women of Westchester.
Maintain women’s status and rights.
Promote cultural and educational exchange.

Activities – Regular activities during the early years of the association:

Meetings and parties were held at the host family’s home starting in September until the following June. Since our members are so talented, we had many wonderful programs at our meetings, covering all topics from family life, children’s education, financial management, art, health, insurance, travel, and interacting with elders, and on top of all this, there was the addition of our members’ specialty Taiwanese hometown cooking. When the Lunar New Year arrived, friends and relatives gathered together to joyously welcome the new year.

Special Events – events that our association has hosted or attended over the years include:

We were invited by the Scarsdale Women’s Club (SWC) to do an “East Meets West” music program cultural exchange. During the event, pianist Fang-Yuh Rita Chen played a number of works written by modern Taiwanese composers and our association members sang a number of Taiwanese folk songs and nursery rhymes with the Club Chorus. The performance was very well-received.
To celebrate our 25^th Anniversary, Fang-Yuh Rita Chen held a charity piano concert. The fundraised money was donated to the Taiwan Center to help purchase a Steinway Concert Grand Piano, and to the Music Conservatory of Westchester Scholarship Fund.
In 2005, SWC invited us to participate in a second “East Meets West” cultural exchange and present about Taiwan. We performed the “Sun Moon Lake” puppet show (performed by the Westchester Taiwanese Cultural Society), Fang-Yuh Rita Chen played three piano adaptations of Taiwanese folk songs, and association members sang five Taiwanese nursery rhymes with the Club Chorus. All the performances were very well-received by the entire audience.
Community Events That We Participated in:
Attended activities hosted at a local library by the Westchester Taiwanese Cultural Society for Taiwanese American Heritage Week. We performed puppet shows that are rich in local flavor, “Auntie Tigress” and “Sun Moon Lake,” introduced Taiwanese folk customs, organized games, and taught crafts.
Participated in the Taiwan Center’s Passport to Taiwan event, held at Union Square in Manhattan.
Participated in Team Taiwan for the Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure event, hosted by the Susan G. Komen Foundation in Central Park, Manhattan.
Members of our association participate in volunteer and charity projects through religious organizations and regularly organize entertainment programs and recreational activities for retired clergymen, a service which is deeply appreciated.

An Overview of Recent Activities:

Over these 40 long years, there are members who have moved away, passed away, and many who have entered retirement and their senior years. Many members have become grandmothers and helping to take care of their grandchildren has become one of the more relevant topics in their lives. Thus, the number and frequency of meetings and parties has naturally decreased, but our member’s mutual support, care, and encouragement for one another still continues to increase. Thinking back to how our members have established happy and beautiful families by being great wives who assist their husbands and great mothers who raise good sons and daughters, this period of friendship truly brings back countless memories. We wish the WTWA members health and safety.

Written by current President Hsiu-chin Huang Su, current accountant, Kuei-ru Kuo Huang, and Founder Fang-Yuh Rita Chen.

Sourced from the Westchester Taiwanese Women’s Association, New York.

Translated from 18. 威郡台灣婦女會 /2014/09