Karen Dea
2012 President
In 1952, it was the Year of the Dragon and a new community service organization emerged, called the Wa Sung Service Club. Presently in a couple of weeks we welcome the Year of the Dragon. Of all the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. Coincidently the element Water Dragons years are 1952 and 2012. Water calms the Dragon’s fire and are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved. As you can see these Dragon traits weaved into the history making of what Wa Sung was born with and meant to be.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Wa Sung Community Service club in providing educational & community service. That’s been six decades of the formation of pillars molding the Wa Sung club toward it’s milestones and cornerstones and happenstance recognized cornerstone heroes, such as the transitioning of the Silver Dragon restaurant and Asian Health Services also brings together the community with food to the soul.
These past 60 years in the midst of changes and regardless of the economic situation, Wa Sung stays afloat due to individual’s random acts of kindness, and their passion and steadfast purpose for the community. We are a socially and community spirited responsible organization, and membership continues to flourish, and we are a timeless Dragon!
As we remain focus on the outside in providing community & educational services , the importance of taking care of the inside, our membership that volunteer their time and support, it is key for Wa Sung to remember the member. The SERVE (Service, Enthusiasm, Reaching Out, Vision, Education) program returns in a modified /simplified version to activate, reward, retain and encourage participation in Wa Sung events. It is a simple rewarding program to recognize the member’s community participation within and outside of Wa Sung.
Ideas start from concept to creation, it’s takes not just one person but we know the phrase, it takes a village to make great things happen! Last year the concept & creation for the need and desire of a Wa Sung Community Center came to fruition for the membership , club’s programs & events. The community center is part of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and, we proudly presented a donation for their cultural programs through the successful ‘ A Chef’s Delight’ fundraiser. This October, both organizations anticipate another successful ‘ A Chef’s Delight’ and currently we are venturing together during the upcoming Asian Pacific Heritage month, as we will be presenting a Fashion Show fundraiser for Wa Sung’s Educational Grant program.
Another historical concept & creation that was achieved last year was to have a Wa Sung Junior League, accentuating the development & encouragement of community service for the young adults from 18-25 years old. This age group is a very important time of their life as they are young enough to believe in a dream, yet mature enough to know how hard they must work to keep it alive. We simply recognize this and hope to be part of their dream making and character building.
When it comes down to really understanding what is Wa Sung, the two event s that represents our mission statement, is the annual Easter Pancake Breakfast and the Merit-Scholarship Awards. As both reach toward their 60 year mark, we need to put some concept & creation to build up both events and to increase the needed financial support to refurbish the cooking stoves in time for this Easter and to increase our number of scholarships to the many deserving High School graduates.
If community service is the welcoming mat to allow everyone to grow individually, volunteer socially with others and help serve for whatever good purposes for the community, this is the best opportunity to be part of the Wa Sung Community Service Club!
