2017年 會長的話
亞特蘭大台灣同鄉會（ATAA）敬愛的會員及親朋好友們，
非常感謝您過去一年的慷慨支持。沒有您的支持，台灣同鄉會就不會完成這麼多大型的活動，促進台灣的國際能見度、傳統文化和台美關係。
今年，我們將努力實現以下目標：
1）增加青年人的參與度。台灣同鄉會的一般情況是由年齡層稍長的台灣第一代組成，美國的大多數城市都是如此。以前的活動很少或根本沒有是為年輕一代設計的。因此，老年人逐漸凋零後，與年輕世代交流，考驗著一個迫切的人力資源問題。我的第一個建議是積極接觸各校台灣學生會，並鼓勵青壯年人參與我們的活動。
2）加強會員間的聯絡。 台灣同鄉會的初始目標之一是交流和互相幫助。然而，過去大多數的活動並不是為會員而設計的。因此，我們計劃組織一些活動，如露營和旅遊假期，讓會友們有更多機會彼此認識。
3）與當地台灣社區保持聯絡。大型活動若沒有其他台灣社團的支持，是不可能成功的。必須為這些活動精心製定新的策略計劃方針。這些活動包括台灣傳統週和台灣中秋夜市。
4）促進台灣人的利益。我們支持所有和台灣有關的利益。我們真誠地回報台灣，因她是養育我們的母親。
ATAA是一個非營利組織，成立於1973年，由數名台裔美國人組成，倡導人權和言論自由。 台灣同鄉會的目標如下：
· 增進亞特蘭大地區的台裔美國人的友誼
· 幫助和協助居住在這一地區的台裔美國人
· 為新來到的台灣移民提供幫助
· 連結全美台灣同鄉會其他分支機構
· 促進台灣社區與其他社區的了解。
多年來我們成功地舉辦了各式各樣的台灣新年活動，包括：農曆新年晚會暨年會、228紀念音樂會、台灣傳統週、肉粽節、專家講座、台灣電影節、及台灣夜市慶中秋。
由於缺乏成員互相認識的機會，我計劃在2017年舉辦各式社交活動。包括海倫國家公園露營之旅，感恩節野營旅行和聖誕郵輪假期。除此之外，我們還將設立台灣獎學金，組織台灣演講比賽等等。憑藉我們過去組織大型活動的經驗，我們相信新的ATAA理事會成員將舉辦更好的活動為您服務，以回報您長年來對本會的支持。請繼續給我們支持與鼓勵！
我們的年度預算約為22K，其中一半來自捐贈。沒有這些捐款，我們肯定不會有這麼多大型的活動。因此，請慎重考慮捐款支持台灣同鄉會，您的捐款將免稅。如果您要捐款，請聯繫任何一位理事會成員。
截至今年（2017），共有350戶註冊家庭，其中大部分來自亞特蘭大北部地區。大多數成員居住在Johns Creek、Norcross、Marietta、Stone Mt.和亞特蘭大市中心。下圖顯示了成員的地域分佈情況。圓圈內的數字表示會員數。
最後，我們歡迎任何來自台灣的人，加入ATAA成為一分子。讓我們攜手合作，在大亞特蘭大地區建立一個更美好，更有活力，更有趣和更有行動力的台灣社區。
羅佳田博士，亞特蘭大台灣同鄉會會長 3/2/2017
Dear members and fridneds of Atlanta Taiwanese Association of America (ATAA),
Many thanks for your generous supports in the past year. Without your supports, ATAA would not have accomplished so many great events that promote Taiwanese friendship, tradition, culture, and relations between Taiwan and USA.
This year, we strive to achieve the following goals:
Increase involvement of young Taiwanese American generations. A general impression of Taiwanese Association of America is a gang of elders, which is true in most of the cities in the States. Little or none of the previous events are designed for the young generations such as the 2nd or 3rd Taiwanese American generations. As a result, it is becoming a human resource issue when the elders are getting old. Our first proposal is to recruit nearby Taiwan Student Associations and have the young generations participate in our activities.
Enhancing networking among members. One of the initial goals of ATAA is to make friends and help each other. However, most of the past activities are not designed for members to know each other. Because of that, we plan to organize some activities just for members to relax and make friends such as camping trips and cruise vacations.
Partnering with local Taiwanese communities. Some large events may not be successful without supports from other Taiwanese communities. A new strategic plan would have to be carefully developed for those events. These events include Taiwanese American Heritage Week and Taiwan Yes night market.
Promoting the benefit of Taiwanese. We will support whatever is advantageous to Taiwanese and Taiwan. It is one of the ways to show our sincere thanks to our mother country Taiwan raising us.
ATAA is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1980 by a group of Taiwanese Americans, who advocate human rights and freedom of speech. The objectives of the ATAA are the following:
Enhancing the friendship of Taiwanese Americans living in the Atlanta area,
Helping and assisting Taiwanese Americans living in this area,
Providing assistance for new Taiwanese immigrants,
Connecting to other branches in Taiwanese Association of America,
Promoting understanding between Taiwanese community and other communities.
Over the years, ATAA has successfully held numerous of Taiwanese events ranging from lunar new year parties and annual member meetings, 228 commemoration concerts, Taiwanese tradition heritage week, Bah Zong festival, invited talks, Taiwanese movie festival, and Taiwan Yes night market (moon festival).
Owing to the lack of events for members to know each other, the Board members of ATAA plans to have social events in 2017. These social events include but not limit to Helen State Park camping trip, Thanksgiving camping trip, and Christmas cruise vacation. On top of that, we will set up Taiwan scholarships and organize Taiwanese speech competition. With our past experience in organizing great events, we believe that the new ATAA board members will organize events to serve you better. In return, please continue to support ATAA in all means.
The annual budget of ATAA is about 22K and a half of it is coming from donations. Without these donations, we certainly could not have had so many great events. Therefore, please consider supporting ATAA and your donations will be Tax deductible. If so, please contact one of the ATAA board members.
As of today (2017), there are 350 registered families, and most of which are from the northern Atlanta area. The majority of the ATAA members live in Johns Creek, Norcross, Marietta, Stone Mountain, and Atlanta downtown. Figure 1 shows the geographical distribution of the ATAA members in the great Atlanta area.
Figure 1 The Geographical Distribution of the ATAA Members in the Great Atlanta Area
Lastly, we welcome anybody coming from Taiwan originally to be a part of ATAA. Let’s work together to build a better, energetic, fun, and supportive Taiwanese community in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dan Lo, Ph.D., President of ATAA
March 2, 2017
