June 14, 2008
Dear fellow Taiji practitioners, masters, grandmasters and honored guests
First, allow me, on behalf of Southern California Taichichuan Association, to extend our warm welcome to each of you to our yearly event, the banquet ceremony in memory of our ancestor, the legendary Taiji founder, Zhang San Feng.
Today, we also meet here to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Southern California Taichichuan Association.
I still remember, vividly, ten years ago, master Cai and Joe came to me and simply said that "let's set up Southern California Taichichuan Association". So be it. Here it is. This is the fine example of the power of words and power of intention.
Ten years have passed. During the last ten years, SCTA, Southern California Taichichuan Association, has organized and sponsored dozens of Taijiquan activities and events, the big ones like Southern California Taichichuan Demonstration in 2000 Millennium and World Taiji Qigong Day, the smaller ones like the three Taiji seminars we just held at Taiji Club in the last three Sundays.
We won't forget those who have contributed to this organization. Most of them are not here today but their memories are still with us. Here I want express our special gratitude to the three leaders of this organization: the founder and the first president of SCTA, Cai Wei Yu, the second president Stephen Tang and the third president Frances Zhang. Without their diligent efforts and service, we won't have the SCTA as we have today.
Now I'm standing here and thinking, what is my duty as the president of this glorious organization. My duty is to live up to your trust to think and act like a real leader in carrying out our mission.
So what is our mission? Our mission is to promote peace and health with Taiji nationwide and worldwide. To make Chinese Taiji a term to become familiar with every American family and to have more people to benefit from this amazing healing art as well as martial art.
We are very clear with the reality that Taiji has not yet achieved its right position in the world. We're going to change the situation because we regard ourselves leaders and the pioneers.
Thinking affects results. We need to think big.
That's why we're setting up a new organization, the International Taiji Cultural Exchange and that is why we're organizing a big Taiji Event, Taiji Festival on August 2nd.
We expect over ten thousand people to participate. We need to make it big. We just want to make the voice Taiji, Taiji to be heard by the world.
To have ten thousand people participate at our event, we need support from each of you.
Tell your friends and neighbors whenever you have a chance. Leave some flyers behind wherever you go. Pass the word. Send some emails. Say prayer for us before going to bed. Do whatever you can to support this event. Each person contributes a little. Each person donates a little. Each person helps a little. Get people educated. Get people motivated. Get people to participate. Let's be part of making history and be part of changing the world.
What is Taiji? Taiji is the art of change. Taiji is the balance of Ying Yang. Taiji is the peace. Peace in mind, peace in body and peace in the world.
Together, together, we will make it happen.
God Bless
Sun Anguang
President of SCTA and International Taiji Cultural Exchange, Inc.
