Happy New Year to our NCA family! I am confident that 2004 will bring a renewal of hope and prosperity to all of us.

This is indeed an exciting time for NCA. According to the 2000 Census data, the Asian population in Naperville has grown to 9.6 % (which is way above the national average of 3.8 %), and Chinese has become the largest ethnic group representing about 6% of Naperville’s population. With this increased population, the need for NCA to serve as a focal point to promote friendship among Chinese American families, to preserve and promote Chinese cultural heritage, to foster integration into mainstream society, as well as to create greater visibility for Chinese Americans has become even greater.

The 2004 NCA committee has just been assembled. I would like to invite all members to participate in a New Board Initiation meeting to be held in the Lisle Public Library Meeting Room (777 Front Street, Lisle, IL 60532) on March 6, 2004 at 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Please come to meet the new committee members, to network with other NCA members and to share your thought on future NCA directions. Light refreshments will be served.

To better communicate with our members. NCA has established an email account to disseminate information and to respond to inquiries. Please send your inquiries, comments and suggestions to info@ncaillinois.org. Together we can help NCA to better serve our members and the Chinese American families in the greater Naperville/Chicago area.

Enclosed please find the membership renewal form. Please send the completed form with the membership due to NCA, 801 South River Road, Naperville, IL 60540.

Hope to see everyone there!

Sincerely,

Tong-Jen Fu
President, NCA 2004
tongjen.fu@ncaillinois.org