Chinese Language Core Team Meeting

February 3, 2007, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Des Moines Public Library 

Attendees:  Adam Ross, Mei-tsu Chuang, Catherine Pease Barnhart, Lotus Perry, Tiffany Lin, Chunman Gissing, Sharon Gao

Highlights of the Meeting

1. The meeting began with a subset of team members who were coming reviewing over the content of the program on January 31 on “How to Start a Chinese Language Program.”  Consensus held that it was a successful turnout even with a good number of repeat participants.
   
   Discussion on whether to repeat program.  Idea to focus on business support of starting Chinese program.  Idea that a repeat program might be focused on a follow up, i.e., “How to Support Chinese Program.”
    

2. Introducing Catherine Barnhart, and her background as Director of the Business School at Western Washington
    

3. Do we need separate CLTN and Core Team? 
   Chunman related that Michele felt and recommended that probably more suitable for CLTN to align with WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teaching) since it’s more teacher oriented, and for the Core Team to pursue other affiliations since the member and function are broader than just teachers. Chunman also reported that she has contacted WAFLT and CLTA about information of possible alignment and is waiting to get responses from both.
   She also mentioned that she is visiting with Boeing’s China Relations person on Sunday and will ask her if she would be interested in getting involved.
    

4. Move to form an Organizing Committee to start a Chinese Language Teachers association for Washington state

• Does Oregon have a similar organization?  Check with Tara Vanacore (Portland Public Schools) and Abe Schaeffer-Meyer (Catherine Barnhart has contact information).
• Lotus – what are the drawbacks?  Right now, to formalize the group would create more work without necessarily bringing any extra benefits.  As Core Team, we have the flexibility to do what we want and to invite whom we want.  Becoming a formal non-profit organization has certain obligations that we may not have the time to meet.

5. Discussion of the opportunity to bring Cyndy Ning to CLTN meeting in March.  Issue is money – how do we gain funds for her travel expenses and an honorarium.  Currently, we have $300 apiece from Lakeside School and EARC, $100 from UPS and PLU. 

   Reservations expressed about charging a fee for attendees.  Discussion of other possibilities for charges.  Catherine B.:  Sliding scale idea from Catherine.  Sharon:  have continued education hours with two charges for members/non-members.

   Idea to create “paper certificate” to add to file

   Lotus:  Movement to up to $500 held in the UPS account from the Core Team. Chunman: second. All in agreement
    

6. Discussion of future budget for Core Team.  If we pledge $500 for CLTN meeting, we will have no more funds in our coffers.  How can we raise funds?

• Catherine: business backing is key!  Is Freeman grant a possibility?
• Chunman: Need to get on next year’s EARC budget now so they can set aside more funds earlier.
• Catherine:  Annie Wright Head Susan Bosco will want to participate in our activities and may have funds to support us.
• Talk to Greg Youtz about possibilities to approach Freeman Foundation.
• AAS grants?
• Business matching

7. Review of January 24 meeting with Asia Society’s Michael Levine with Business leaders and Chunman, Michele and Adam

• Confucius Institute discussion:  Lotus working with Nanhai, which is supported by Hanban.  However, likes the idea of having a new model which would need to be more inclusive of more stakeholders in the community.

• Sharon Gao talked about problem of CI courses not issuing credits, and people not being willing to take them when they could take regular courses for credit.  Agrees we need to support China Relations Council in shaping a new model to connect with China/Hanban

8. Tiffany:  report about Tseng Miao-fen’s workshop.  Follow up teacher training workshops in May.

• Chunman: very happy to see heritage schools (led by Tiffany and others) are supporting programs like this for teacher training.  Talking about “seed program” to train a lot of teachers.  We would like to see good teachers take part.

9. Movement to have Tiffany and Catherine become formal members the Core Language team.  Accepted by all present.
    
10. Mei-tsu: Report on arrival of  Zhu Dan (new Chinese teacher at Madison, Denny and Chief Sealth).  She has just visited a number of Chinese programs around the area.  One major challenge for her is that she will be taking the bus between schools.

• Which organization is responsible for this assignment and supporting Miss Zhu?  Seattle Schools applied to College Board and Hanban.  Will have mentors at all schools as well as Mei-tsu.  Noah Z. is also an amazing resource and will be mentoring Miss Zhu.  While she has tons of support, she is very nervous about her new job.

11. Discussion of possible next meeting dates:  March 31 or April 28, location TBA.
     
12. Action Items:

• Chunman:  talk to Jennifer Liu about connections with CLTA; talk to Cyndy Ning about arrangements for workshop; idea of book show in May?
• Adam:  check with EARC, ask if Mary and Mary can join our next meeting, budgeting for next year;  Talk to Lakeside about additional support for CLTN program.
• Catherine:  Maintain connections with Annie Wright leaders about Chinese program, Core Team activities

-- submitted by Adam Ross, February 5, 2007

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