粽在一起之前 Before we wrap and tie together on June 1, 2019

We will wrap and tie the rice-dumplings together the day after tomorrow. I have been thinking about the need for a newsletter to come out and remind all before the event. This kind of newsletter is actually very difficult to write. On the one hand, I know that most people will not see it in time and read it carefully. (In fact, many people claim that they don't read e-mail, and they don't use social media.) On the other hand, there are thousands of things to remind and interpret. Under the principle of "simple and clear", I don't know what to write, where to start, and which details to skip. I only know it will be wrong or not good enough no matter what. 後天就是我們粽在一起的日子了。一直在構思需要有一期電子報在活動之前出來提醒，說明一番。這樣的一期其實很不好寫，一方面明明知道大部分的人不會在適當的時機看看到並且仔細閱讀。（其實也知道很多人宣稱不看電子信，更不使用社交媒體。）另一方面就是千頭萬緒，在「簡單明瞭」的前提下不知道該寫哪些，從哪裡開始，需要略過哪些細節。只知道怎麼寫都不對。

To buy bread while attending the event one had better pre-order and pay at the webpage  若想要順便買麵包，記得先在網頁裡預購並付費。

First of all, let me try to remind everyone that this kind of activity is to show the purpose of the Taiwanese Association, create opportunities for gathering folks to learn from one another, encourage one another, and promote the traditional culture of Taiwanese Americans. I hope that everyone will be inspired to learn how to introduce the culture of Taiwanese Americans to people, including the children born here, of other cultures. I remember that Taiwanese Americans are not exactly the same as Taiwanese. Therefore, the focus of the activity is not on eating a meal, but on knowing people and being recognized, exchanging experiences and learning from one another. If you expect to have a good meal, although a rice-dumpling is quite large, you will be disappointed. 首先，來試著提醒大家，辦這樣的活動是在展現同鄉會的宗旨，製造機會召集鄉親一起互相學習、互相鼓勵，好推展台美人傳統文化。期盼大家都獲得靈感，學到向其他文化的人（包括在這裡出生的小孩子們）「介紹台美人文化」的功夫。記得，台美人跟台灣人不盡相同。因此，活動的重點不在飽食一餐，而在於認識人與被認識，大家交換經驗互相學習。期待好好吃一頓的話，雖然一顆粽子相當大，一定會失望。

Next, I would remind everyone that there is no specific time scheduled for any particular activity other than the opening remarks at 6:15pm followed by the first demonstration and explanation with English translation. It's like a continuous eat-and-go. It is impossible for the store to accommodate 80 people at the same time, walking around and speaking out loudly. The opening remark, demonstration, and presentation will be recorded on video and posted on the web page to continue the sharing. After the first demonstration and explanation, it will be done again as needed. Perhaps many of the folks who have experiences in making rice dumpling would jump in to help and guide the first-time learners. Everyone has only one dumpling to practice. Maybe we need to design some different models of making rice-dumpling together in the future. At the moment, the received registration forms show that there are not many people who need to have hands-on learning. 再來，要提醒大家，除了6:15pm的開場白與第一次示範兼講解之外，並沒有其他特定的時程與節目。就像一場流水席一般。那個店面不可能同時容納80個人走來走去又通通出聲講話。開場白、示範、與講解會錄影放在網頁裡繼續分享、發酵。第一場的示範與講解之後就看著辦了。或許需要許多已經包過粽子的鄉親隨時協助指導生手。每個人只有一顆粽子的機會。也許以後需要設計合包粽子的活動。目前在報名表上打勾表示要動手的人不算很多。

We do not have 100% confidence that we can have enough rice dumplings to distribute to those completed the registration after the deadline. Since not many people filled out the form with a check mark to indicate the intention to participate in the hands-on exercise and paid in full by mail, the registration information is quite complicated and it is possible to include mistakes. 報名截止日期過後才付費完成報名的，我們沒有百分之一百的把握可以有足夠的粽子分發出去。由於很少人按照設計的方式填表郵寄報名，報名的訊息相當複雜，很可能出錯。

We have not worked out how to deal with the "overpayment of registration fee" and "those who have already paid up but cannot attend the event". Based on past experiences, it is very likely that someone will register at the scene. It must be said that everyone is welcome to show up and chat, observe or guide the hands-one exercises of others. People without advanced registration and payment in full won’t have the chance to practice hands-on will not receive the rice dumpling. (Even if some directors give up their rice dumplings, there might not be enough rice dumpling to transfer.) This activity unexpectedly received many people's responses, exceeding the expectation. Many people said they would like to participate. I don't know if any of the directors know who have mentioned that they would stay through the end to help clean up the mess. It has always been one of the traditions of the TAA-STL to have the participants work together to "clean up the mess and restore the original state". 「超付報名費」跟「已經報名而無法出席領取粽子的人」到底要怎麼處理才對，還沒有研究過。根據以往的經驗，很可能有人到現場才報名。必須說，歡迎來聊天，看看或是指導別人動手包粽子或是錯包綜子。沒有付費的人就是不參加親手練習跟不拿粽子的人。（即使有董事讓出自己的粽子也不見得夠。）這個活動意外地獲得不少人回應，超出預期效果。許多人表示要參加。不知道有誰聽到哪些人說要留下來幫忙收拾殘局。大家動手「收拾殘局，恢復原狀」一直是本地同鄉會的傳統之一。

Let’s see who are working before and behind the scenes. They will arrive at five o'clock. What happens if any one of them is missed the time? 來試看看讓大家知道幕後有哪些手腳在忙。他們五點鐘就會出現在現場動手準備了。若是任何一人臨時出狀況會出現什麼現象？

1. Roger Hsieh would prepare tableware, including forks, plates, paper towels, bottled water, bags for carrying the rice dumplings home. (The rice dumplings made on the spot will be taken home to cook by boiling or steaming.謝昌宏要準備餐具，包括叉子、盤、紙巾、礦泉水、裝粽子的袋子（現場包好的粽子各自帶回家去煮或蒸。（只有一粒粽子可帶回家，還要避免爭粽子呢）
2. Roger Hsieh and Leanne Chiou (a husband-wife team) would sit near the door to receive the check-in and distribute the tickets. Everyone receives rice dumpling with a ticket. 謝昌宏與邱良緣（夫婦檔）要坐鎮接受報到，分發點券。大家憑點券拿粽子
3. James Chan volunteered to prepare sauces and dressing. 詹前昱志願準備沾醬與配料（這好像是理所當然的事情）
4. James Chan, Meifeng Yang, and Sonya Hung volunteer to distribute the rice dumplings on the spot.詹前昱、楊美鳳、與洪尚文志願要在現場分發粽子
5. Sonya Hung (current president) will prepare an oral presentation for the “Culture of rice dumpling”at 18:15 (subject to the situation) and distribute the written introduction for the participants to take home to study in preparation for sharing the knowledge with others.洪尚文（現任會長）要為「粽文化」準備在18:15（看著辦）以口頭簡介，並分發書面簡介讓人帶回去研究以便講給別人聽。
6. Tony Su would prepare some mp3 files of Taiwanese music for the owner of Foundry Bakery to play. He would also remind Tai Lin to bring the sound equipment and the musical instruments for playing Taiwanese music on the spot. He would also dig out the tablecloths from previous activities and bring them to the scene.蘇希三要準備一些台灣音樂的檔案讓店主播放。他還要提醒林泰攜帶音響設備及（現場看情形奏出台灣音樂所需的）樂器，並且挖出同鄉會以前用剩的桌巾帶到現場。
7. Roger Hsieh, James Chan, and Sonya Hung will bring chairs from home to provide more than 30 chairs including the ones owned by the store. (some of the chairs might need to be placed outside) 謝昌宏、詹前昱、洪尚文要從家裡帶一些合椅總共會有30多張椅子可以使用。（有些可能需要擺到外面的走廊）
8. Roger Hsieh and Sonya Hung would bring foldable tables from their homes. 謝昌宏和洪尚文要從家裡帶可折合的桌子。

This event continues the introduction to the cultural tradition of Taiwanese Americans, for several years, through Taiwanese food culture. What potential and meaning can be presented through the Taiwanese rice dumpling? 這次的活動延續數年來的台灣美食文化做為介紹台美人傳統的內容。到底台灣粽子由什麼潛力與意涵可以呈現呢？。看看我們在2013年怎麼介紹台灣美食。

This exploration of the traditional and the new culture is expected to continue for a long time. Even if a good model with valid connotation were established, we still need to keep updating. Culture is always changing by definition. Everyone is welcome to discuss and experiment. What kind of meaning and value can we show from the culture of rice dumpling in Taiwan? This time our challenge is to "come together and do it by oneself." Although it has become popular in Taiwan to consume the ready-made, the DIY is a cultural model naturally developed in St. Louis. 這種對於傳統與新文化的探索應該會延續好久。即使已經找到好的模式與內涵，還是需要不斷更新。文化本來就是不斷改變的。歡迎大家一起來探討、實驗。從台式的粽文化我們能展現出什麼樣的意義與價值呢?這回我們的挑戰是「一起來；各自動手」。雖然在台灣已經流行「買便的」，這「各自動手」是在新路意自然出現也必須發展的文化模式。

Some people say that the old tradition of the Taiwanese people include "work hard by oneself and avoid cooperation". Although this time, the wrapping and tying of the rice dumpling is not “cooperation through an assembly line", we still can't imagine what would happen to this "coming and working together." We can't imagine how many people will be on the scene at what moments, and we can't imagine how to make everyone happily carrying the single rice dumpling home to cook. (All plans need to be prepared for constantly buzzing comments and instructions on the scene.) 有人說台灣人的舊傳統包含「各自鑽營避免合作」。這次一起包粽子雖然沒有動用到裝配線的合作手法，我們還是無法想像這個「一起來」會出什麼狀況。我們是至無法想像什麼時候會有多少人在現場，無法想像如何讓大家高高興興地動手包一粒粽子帶回去煮。（一切的計畫都需要考慮到現場會有評論與指導不斷）。

In fact, the Taiwanese have the ocean culture of the islands on our back. On the one hand, it has the characteristics of adapting to the instantly changing of natural phenomenon, at the same time it also has the all-encompassing nature of the ocean. Change and transcend the ancient methods should be our strength.其實，台灣人背負著是小島的海洋文化，一方面有應付自然現象自然瞬息萬變的特質，同時也有海洋包羅萬象的能耐。變化與超越古法應該是我們的本錢。

Before going out in the afternoon the day before yesterday, I hurriedly put a personal check that was an entrusted registration fee for this coming event, into a plastic bag. I couldn't find the bag and the check all day yesterday. Not only scared, but I was also actually preparing to cover the loss. Fortunately, I found it out in the back pocket of my pants before going to bed and released the alarm. In the past few years, the TAASTL, Taiwanese Association of America in St. Louis, has lacked new members and new directors. You are welcome to study the reasons and what can be done about it. Would it be helpful if the burden of the directors were alleviated? I have heard since childhood that "Big things had better be converted to small things. Small things had better be converted to nothing. Nothing is the best." Do you believe that the TAASTL need to go by this? 前天下午出門以前匆匆地把一張受委託繳付報名費的支票放進一個塑膠袋子裡面。昨天一整天找不到那個袋子跟支票。不僅嚇壞了，還準備要認賠了。幸好，睡前在後褲袋中摸出來，解除警報了。同鄉會近年來缺乏新會員，更缺乏新董事，歡迎大家來研究到底是什麼原因，有什麼辦法可以克服。若是能夠減輕董事的各別負擔會不會有幫助呢？從小就聽說，「大事化小事。小事化無事。沒事最好。」你相信同鄉會需要這樣嗎？

Back when TAASTL was a chapter of the TAAUSA, Taiwanese Association of America in USA, those who participated in the operations, other than the president, are called “officers”. Later, when it became a registered independent company as a non-profit charitable foundation, by the State laws, it must have a board with at least three directors, including a chairperson of the board. This means that participating in the operation of the Association will have the opportunity to gain experiences and the perspectives of running a company and advance career skills by playing the various roles of directors and the chairperson. In recent years, we have rotated the chairpersonship of the board by drawing. One of the basic tasks is to write and study the meeting minutes in English. This is worthy of internship for everyone who wants to develop careers here, practicing as a secretary, as a financial manager, as moderator of a meeting, and the chairperson of the corporation called TAASTL. We have an unwritten agreement that the annual property and financial flows be kept at no more than 50,000 US dollars within a fiscal year, in order to avoid overloading the board.以前成立為全美同鄉會的分會時除了會長之外參加操作的人都叫做「幹事」。後來，立案成為獨立的基金會型的公司就必須有董事，而會長兼扮演「董事長」了。這表示參加同鄉會的經營就有機會實習、體驗公司的營運，練習扮演董事跟董事長。近年來，我們用抽籤的方式輪流當董事長。最基本的功夫之一就是用英文寫跟讀會議記錄。這值得每一位想要在這裡發展事業的人來實習，練習當書記、當財管、當會議主席、當董事長。我們有個不成文的約定，就是每年的財產與金流都不超過五萬美元，好避免財物作業超載。

This year, improving the management of the the website and the cloud information library is in our long-term agenda. Of course, it might improve the processes registration and payment in the future. Of course, the thinking of "why do we come together and get busy" is always a challenge.今年，有想要好好經營網站與雲端資訊庫。當然可能牽涉到更方便的報名及付費方法。當然，「所為何來」、「為何而忙」永遠是個挑戰。