About the Taiwanese American
Association on Long Island
Taiwanese American Association on Long Island, Inc.
(TAALI) is a non-profit organization incorporated
in 2006. TAALI's mission is to promote Taiwanese culture and
citizenry harmony. Organization of TAALI consists of the General
Assembly (all members) and the Board of Directors (11 directors).
A history of TAALI:
During the early 70's, a great number of Taiwanese students came to Stony Brook University to pursue their graduate studies.
These students sought each other out and formed close bonds, which played an important role in their campus life.
They formed a support network and spent extracurricular time together doing such things as shopping in Chinatown, playing sports,
and holding barbeques. Professor C. T. Chen of the SBU Engineering Department is particularly remembered for his kind efforts
in this time period to look after these students who were so far away from home. Professor Chen helped them in every way he could.
In 1972, the Taiwanese students were struck by an urgent
need to organize when Taiwan lost its United Nations membership.
Many students were worried and deeply concerned about the
precarious situation of their beloved homeland. They anxiously
got together to discuss the unexpected change of global circumstances
and to think about ways to deal with their uncertain future.
They decided to hold regular meetings as a forum. Around 1975,
they officially formed the "Taiwanese Organization
of Stony Brook", under the leadership of K. C. Liu.
In the 80's, the organization gradually expanded as they invited Long Island Taiwanese Americans beyond the Stony Brook community to
join them. The organization began to hold meetings at different places such as the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the
Neighborhood House of Setauket, and the Stony Brook Student Union. Every year a new president was elected who was in charge of
arranging activities and events.
Throughout the 90's, the demographics of the membership
gradually shifted. The number of current student members declined,
and the population of local Taiwanese American families increased
substantially (attracted to Long Island's job opportunities
and lifestyle). Many original student members also settled
down in the area and continue their active membership. During
Chung-sing Hsieh's presidency, he proposed changing the name
of the association to reflect this shift in demographics,
to encompass the overall Taiwanese American community of Long
Island. The organization thus matured into the "Taiwanese
Association on Long Island".
Over the past 15 years, this homey and familiar association has been holding three regular gatherings annually to celebrate
the three major Taiwanese holidays: the Lunar New Year in winter, the Dragon Boat Festival in summer, and the Mid Autumn Festival,
all held at the New Village Recreation Center in Centereach. In addition, there have been occasional extra events such as field
trips, Christmas parties, talks by members with expertise (such as medical doctors and professors), and performances by members
with talents (such as classical music, dance, or martial arts). And of course, the cornucopia of Taiwanese delicacies provided by
the skillful hands of our members. Over the years, the organization is sustained by the tireless efforts of our members; some of
them (such as K. C. Liu, Kuo-chen Wu, and Chung-sing Hsieh) have served two or more terms as president. Their enthusiasm and
diligence are widely appreciated.
We believe the more we devote ourselves to association functions,
the more progress we will make. As we embark on the 21st century,
TAALI will surely serve as a bridge between
Taiwan and America, as well as a second home to all Taiwanese
Americans on Long Island.
Adapted from Mrs. Frances H.F. Jean's
work by Roger Tsai on February 12, 2007
The purposes of the TAALI are:
- To educate young Taiwanese Americans and general public about Taiwanese heritage and culture through workshops, seminars, and large cultural events.
- To educate Taiwanese Americans about American culture to promote social/cultural adjustments through workshops and seminars.
- To advocate cultural exchange between Taiwan and America.
- To promote the best interests and welfare of Taiwanese Americans.
- To encourage fellowship, harmony, and support among the citizenry of the communities.
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