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CSC NEWSTwenty-Five Years On:a history ofThe centerTExT: STEVE PARKER1987 Jackson released Bad, whichsaw George Michael go solowith the album Faith. Michaelproduced five number-one singles (a record that has neverbeen beaten). U2 released the album The Joshua Tree,which made them international superstars. Madonnabegan her “Who’s that girl?” tour. Kylie Minogue beganher singing career with a cover of the Loco-motion. Andthe biggest song of the year would be Bon Jovi’s Livingon a Prayer. And I turned 21….Michael Jackson may since have left us, but love themor hate them all of the artists listed above are as strong apresence in music today as they were 25 years ago, if notstronger. And I like to think that 25 years later I am stillan active and useful member of society….1987 was also special for the birth of a very importantTaiwan institution — the Community Services Center.That makes it our 25th birthday this year. Twentyfiveyears later we are still serving the internationalcommunity in Taiwan. Our mission has adapted with thetimes but our ‘music’ is still heard by many.As a non-profit organization it is not really our way tomake too big a deal out of this milestone, but it’s mademe, and many of the people who work here, think abouthow The Center started and exactly what The Centermeans, today, in 2012.CENTER BEGINNINGSI find as I talk to people that one of the first questionsthey ask me is how The Center started. There are onlya few people still in Taiwan who really know how it allbegan. Even those who have been around for many yearssometimes forget. I believe in The Center and believe inall the good work we do, but like many good things thegreatness was born out of tragedy.In 1987 there were three teenagers from theinternational community who often hung out together.They were teens whom people generally called ‘troubled’and many were concerned about them, but like a lot ofcommunities did not know what to do, trusting in timeand maturity to ‘cure’ them. And then tragedy happened.The three teens were hanging out on Yangmingshan ina common hangout area. Without going into too muchdetail the three were drinking, taking things that theyshouldn’t have, and playing dangerous games. The endresult of all this was the tragic death of one of them. Ihave spoken to those who were around at the time andthey recall just how strongly this affected the internationalcommunity. What came out of this was there was nosingle crisis intervention center to help the internationalcommunity cope and so The Center was created.Initially it was the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)and the Taipei American School, along with a number ofsocially minded members of the international communitywho got together to set up The Center.THE CENTER NOWAs I said above, this year is the 25th anniversary of TheCenter. From humble beginnings we have come to anequally humble present, but we have grown and changednonetheless. Originally The Center was about CrisisResponse. We had a professional counselor on staff whocould provide counseling and crisis response immediately,as needed. The counseling service has helped countlessthousands of people over our 25 years and has nowgrown from an initially — and necessarily — reactivecounseling service to one that covers the whole gamut ofcounseling needs.Gradually over the years we realized that one ofthe elements of coping with crisis was to make surethat people were equipped with the tools they needto avert crises from happening. The Center began todevelop more into a hub of activity and a place wherepeople would come to learn about their new home, getinformation and eventually enjoy activities like Chinese,arts and crafts. For the newcomer professional itdeveloped into a place to take cross-culture training tomake sure they understood about the place they weregoing to work in for at least the next two years.Developing further The Center started to producebooks and a magazine. Taipei Living has become the‘Bible’ for most people arriving in Taiwan and is currentlyin its 10th edition. Our magazine Centered on Taipei isread by an estimated 10,000 people every month. And14 march 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw
then came the fantastic Day Trips (and later Taipei Escapes) booksone and two and the Yangmingshan guide from Richard Saunders,followed in recent years by Amy C Liu’s successful Taiwan A-Z.People drop in to The Center, people pick up information atThe Center, people get healed at The Center, but still there wasmore that we could do. You wanted more. And so we have cometo where we are now, 25 years later, and the mission has evolvedfrom Crisis Response to a four-tiered full-blown mission to Inform,Engage, Support, and Unite.• Inform: Through our web, books, magazine and newcomerorientation programs to help the international community allover the world understand Taiwan.• Engage: By providing activities and programs for theinternational community to assimilate we improve the social andbusiness climate in Taiwan, making it more and more attractiveto the world.• Support: In times of crisis The Center is there to support thoseindividuals, companies and groups that need us. In 2011 we,amongst other things, helped evacuated victims of the Japanearthquake, individuals cope with sudden loss, and companiescope with institution-wide crises.• Unite: We bring the international community together to helpTaiwan when it needs us. In 2011 we continued our supportof Orphan Education in Taiwan and literacy in underprivilegedareas of Taiwan, as well as many other bespoke projects.The Center is grateful to our current premier sponsors, oursupporters big and small, the staff, volunteers and all the peoplewho attend our events and use our services. You are all the heart ofThe Center and we would not be The Center without your support.Every month this year we will be delving deeper into the historyof The Center and meeting people and personalities that haveshaped The Center as it is today. I look forward to spendinganother great year with you all.hThanks to our premier sponsors:3M TaiwanBai Win AntiquesBP Taiwan Ltd.China American PetrochemicalConcordia ConsultingCostco Wholesale TaiwanCrown Worldwide Movers LtdFour Star Int’lGrand Hyatt Hotel, TaipeiHSBCICRTMetacity Development CorpNokia Siemens NetworksProQCSan Fu Gas Co. Ltd.Smerwick LtdSongfu LiStandard Chartered BankhEvents at The CenterMOVIE NIGHTA Special Deal for Friends of TheCenter!Join us for a movie at MiramarCinemas for NT$230 per ticket!Each month we’ll receive the upcomingfeatures and let you know whichcomplex to meet at, the date and themovie.Keep a lookout on the Center website andFacebook page – pre-booking is essential– just ring us!SPRING BAZAAR AND LUNCHEONThursday, March 8th from 11 am to3:30 pm at the Regent, Taipei.Proceeds from this year’s Bazaarwill be donated to the Taipei Women’sRescue Foundation, an organization thatoffers services to women and childrenaffected by domestic violence and humantrafficking.On the occasion of The Center’s25th anniversary year, we're bringingthe Spring Bazaar back after a threeyearhiatus and making it better thanever. It is one of the few places whereyou’ll find a collection of some ofTaipei’s most talented artisans all underone roof. Tickets are on sale at TheCenter and cost NT$1,000. The priceof admission includes access to a widearray of vendors, a full buffet lunch, andsparkling wine.For more information, please emailevents@communitycenter.org.tw ordrop by The Center.TASTES OF TAIPEITuesday, March 27th from 5 pm – 9 pmEd’s Diner216 Lequn 2nd Rd., Taipei ( 台北市樂群二路 216 號 )For more information please see page 17.www.communitycenter.org.tw march 201215
Page 1: Publication of the Community Servic
Page 5 and 6: Letter From The EditorPublisher: Co
Page 7 and 8: Amy'sulturalCorner台灣Oolong TeaT
Page 9 and 10: OFF THE BEATEN TRACKRICHARD SAUNDER
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Page 19 and 20: it crossed my mind to find out howt
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Page 25 and 26: Taiwan YouthClimate CoalitionUpcomi
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Page 29 and 30: The ‘Maple Leaf’ExperienceGener
Page 31 and 32: BUNSTExT: IVY CHEnIMAGES: xIAnG TIn
Page 33 and 34: COMMUNITY GROUPSOrganization Teleph

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