HISTORY

"Networking, service, and information exchange" have been the main objectives of the Chinese Friendship Association of Portland ("CFAP") since June 11, 1993. 

Around 1992, several Chinese professionals working in the downtown Portland area gathered together for various social activities. These professionals included Grant Bow of U.S. Bank, Rongwei Cai of Tonkon Torp, Fu Li of Portland State University, James Mei of Black Helterline, and David Yu of Schmitt Forge Corp. They realized that more and more Chinese professionals had moved into the Portland metropolitan area. However, there was no Chinese organization to provide these professionals with the necessary information and a forum to address their concerns and needs, especially those who had just moved to Portland from outside of Oregon. The needs were there. They asked, "Why not form a social organization to serve our own needs?" After a couple of informal discussions and meetings, they finally decided to plan a few activities to test whether their feeling was correct.

They informally elected Grant Bow of U.S. Bank as the leader of the group. The initial success of the group's activities, such as a real estate seminar, a tax return seminar, an immigration seminar and a Chinese new year's gathering, made these people strongly believe that there was a real need for their own organization. They entrusted Rongwei Cai to incorporate the CFAP as a non-profit organization with the State of Oregon on June 11, 1993.

The first Board of Directors of the CFAP consisted of the following persons: Grant Bow of U.S. Bank, Rongwei Cai of Tonkon Torp, Fu Li of PSU, Jinke Li of PSU, James Mei of Black Helterline, May Daily of Mutual of New York and David Yu of Schmitt Forge. They were representative of many professionals in the Portland metropolitan area, such as professors, engineers, bankers, insurance brokers, and lawyers. These people volunteered their spare time to organize various activities to achieve the CFAP's objective of "networking, service and exchange information."

Because of the nature of the CFAP, it has regularly conducted a wide range of activities to provide members with opportunities to get acquainted with each other and to exchange information. These activities include seminars on financial investment, insurance, purchase of a house, preparing a tax return, summer picnic, dancing party, Chinese movie shows, Chinese New Year's Celebration, and reception for delegations from China.

Over the years, the members of the Board have changed. The number of regular members of the CFAP is growing steadily. The total number of members on CFAP first Mailing Directory was about . However, as of June, 1997, in the fourth edition of our Mailing Directory, CFAP has over members. It truly reflects significant growth of the population of Chinese professionals in the Portland metropolitan area during the past four years. Computer engineers or specialists are among the fastest growing groups, and the Board has decided to increase the number of Board members representing high-tech industry in Oregon. Thus, Mr. Shaofeng Yu of Intel, Gang Li of Intel, Genghong Ruan of Analogy, Inc., Yueheng Xue of Intel, Songyu He of ABC Technologies, Inc., as well as Mr. Jon Duan of Intel were elected to the current Board to organize and direct the CFAP's activities.

The leadership of several individuals made it possible for the CFAP to grow and be successful. The past presidents of the CFAP are as follows: Grant Bow of U.S. Bank, James Mei of Davis Wright Tremaine, Rongwei Cai of Graham and James, David Yu of Schmitt Forge, and Shaofeng Yu of Intel.

Since CFAP is a non-profit organization, its financial resources mainly depend upon membership dues from members and advertising fees from the CFAP's Mailing Directory or notices. The membership fee is really nominal: $15 for a family and $10 for an individual.

With tremendous support from its members and efforts by its Board members, CFAP continues to prosper in the Portland area. We sincerely hope that more Chinese professionals will join our organization and that more volunteers will help to organize more interesting and colorful activities to attract more new members. CFAP welcomes you to join and sincerely expects that you can make an invaluable contribution!

Portland Chinese Friendship Association P. O. Box 8101, Portland, OR 97207-8101 Contact: Tel: (503)725-3824, Fax:(503)968-1660, Email:cfa@ee.pdx.edu last revised July 21, 1997

Back to Home