News & Events >> 2008

TECO Celebrates Lunar New Year in Tennessee

February 2, 2008

Director General R.C. Wu of TECO in Atlanta led President Joe Tu of the Atlanta Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and a 25 person delegation to celebrate Lunar New Year in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, February 2, 2008. The community celebration was held at the site of Mr. Sam Wong’s restaurant in Knoxville. About sixty people attended the event, including Senator John Duncan, Tennessee state legislators, local community leaders and members of the media. TECO in Atlanta thanks Dr. Henry Lee and Mr. Sam Wong for their efforts in organizing this event.

The day’s program highlights a performance by the Sung Chiang Military Array, which was followed by special remarks from honored guests. In his address to the audience, Senator Duncan noted the importance of healthy and vibrant international cooperation. Mr. Joe Tu likewise remarked on his hopes that the Sung Chiang would begin a bridge of cultural exchange between Knoxville and Taiwan. Mr. Tu supports Taiwanese cultural arts as a way to prompt understanding and positive relations between local communities in the United States and Taiwan. Mr. Henry Lee made a few remarks in honor of R.C. Wu’s time as Director General of TECO in Atlanta, emphasizing Mr. Wu’s enthusiasm and dedication to building relationships with people in his Tennessee territory.

Mr. Wu closed the remarks by expressing his sincere thanks to Henry Lee, Joe Tu, Sam Wong and the communities and leaders in Tennessee who are tireless in their devotion to better lives and communities for their neighbors and families. Mr. Wu said farewell to all his dear friends and supporters of Taiwan and invited all to stop by to say hello and him and Rachel on their next vacation to St. Kitts and Nevis.

亞特蘭大台灣商會遠征田納西宣揚宋江陣民俗

February 2, 2008

亞特蘭大台灣商會一行二十餘人在?常雄夫婦率領下，浩浩蕩蕩於上週末遠征田納西州諾克斯維爾（Knoxville）市，以台灣宋江陣民俗表演參與當地台灣同鄉會慶祝農曆新年活動，獲得包括聯邦眾議員鄧肯（Dancan）等百餘位當地主流社會人士及鄉親激賞，這是該會又一次成功的國民外交出擊。

諾城台鄉會在李豐隆僑務委員協調下，在僑領王顯鏡的餐廳舉行本年農曆春節慶祝活動，除台鄉會會員外，也邀請諾城當地政要、文化界及媒體共一百多人參加，王顯鏡當天餐廳特別休業作為活動場所，並免費招待所有貴賓。節目在炮竹聲響及端出白菜象徵好采頭後，由舞獅登場，現場觀眾紛紛餵紅包討吉利，接著由宋江陣隊伍上陣，由三位美女鄭月、劉碧蘭及何少白分別擔綱宋江鼓、宋江鑼及宋江鈸打擊、在鑼鼓聲中隊伍首先繞場一週，接著由陳有田及張明橋分別表演頭旗及雙斧，接著由劉克裕副處長及尤思治分別單獨舞雙刀及三叉戢，隨後表演雙人對打，最後由亞特蘭大劍橋武術學校四位舞林高手表演關刀、藤簰刀各式刀槍、太極劍、雙人對打，全程近半小時，表演過程中觀眾歡聲雷動，連過路人車都停下來觀賞，展現濃濃的傳統過年熱鬧氣氛。

王老闆曾以贊助人身份首先介紹他的拜把兄弟主持人，曾任南卡檢察官現轉任律師的波普（Tom Pope）律師，他曾以活潑的動作貫穿全場，分別介紹與會政要及貴賓。鄧肯眾議員表示，台灣政治民主、社會開放，過年民俗多采多姿，透過宋江陣表演及年俗影片，他對農曆年更為瞭解，勉勵台鄉會繼續為美國多元文化貢獻。李豐隆僑務委員致詞說明諾城台僑概況並感謝此次亞特蘭大辦事處吳處長及台灣商會?會長大力贊助演出，希望藉著州際僑團交流，將台灣民俗廣為傳播。吳處長也曾致詞歡迎諾城各界政要踴躍參與活動，深信此項活動將可增進美國人民對台灣的瞭解，也會更珍惜民主自由的台灣。?常雄會長致詞表示，民俗協會吳會長表示未來將進一步在辦事處轄區各州內逐漸推廣這項民俗技藝，期盼未來能在海外各僑社，都能看到宋江陣等台灣民俗的表演，以在所有的海外僑社與主流社會的融合上，扮演最佳的橋樑。

最後進行餐會交誼，與會一百多位貴賓熱烈交誼，諾城第六頻道及第八頻道電視台都派員在現場錄影採訪，也分別專訪參加的各界貴賓。與會的諾城律師Mark Crockett表示，這是他第一次與台灣人歡度農曆過年，各項大紅系列裝潢布置，而舞獅及宋江陣民俗技藝的演出更是熱鬧非凡，讓他大開眼界，也對農曆春節敬天的精神深為感動。

為在美國東南區推廣台灣宋江陣民俗技藝，駐亞特蘭大辦事處前年本處曾洽得亞城僑領石羽飛醫師、何宵龍董事長及盧明宏董事長捐款，透過高雄縣內門鄉宋江陣大本營紫竹寺總幹事李正雄的協助，購置一批宋江陣器材，本年更獲得呂志全僑務委員、王泰康董事長及翁金清董事長贊助，添購一些器材。上年底曾在僑叫中心舉行演練及移交典禮，分別移交給亞特蘭大台美學校及台灣民俗協會保管使用，這一次表演即是在民俗協會吳振興會長臨時調教演練完成，並在台灣商會?常雄會長出錢出力之下的處女演出，?會長對此次演出甚為滿意，感謝大家辛苦，希望繼續練習以配合將來各項國際文化活動需要作國民外交。

Posted 2/11/08