Thanksgiving Message from Miao Yuting, New President of OCEF
Dear OCEF volunteers and donors:
OCEF has experienced numerous challenges and difficulties since it was founded in 1992, and we have overcome all of them with the support of our volunteers and donors. On the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in and contributions to OCEF, for your continuous encouragement, companionship and assistance, and for your selfless dedication and sincerity. It is you who made possible OCEF’s growth and made us unwavering in our conviction: any difficulty is only temporary as long as we continue to do the right thing.
In the past years, school aid programs sponsored by OCEF have been progressing steadily, and more and more students in poverty are getting our help in spirit, in their studies as well as in their daily lives and are growing up to contribute to the society. All of this makes us happy and proud.
Because of the implementation of a new law on the administration of overseas nongovernmental organizations, OCEF can legally continue its operations in China only after completing a registration process. So far we have been able to complete the process only in Sichuan and Guangxi, so programs outside those two regions had to be suspended for the time being. Under the circumstances, OCEF also suspended its fundraising activities in October, as previously communicated to all donors and volunteers.
Even though we had to slow down our pace temporarily, our heart has not changed. Currently we are actively working on a registration that extends to multiple provinces. To our great pleasure, through the tireless efforts of our volunteers both in China and abroad, we have recently had a breakthrough in that work and have submitted a registration application that cover all of the current aid sites as well as an application for temporary exemption. If either of these is approved in time, we will be able to resume distribution of school aid packages around Spring Festival in 2020 and to continue conveying the love and support from our donors to the students in need.
Our volunteers and donors have been paying close attention to the progress of the registration process and helping us with it out of their trust in OCEF and their recognition of the work accomplished by the foundation over the years. That is the reason why OCEF will not be overwhelmed by the difficulties on hand. Carrying the expectations of our donor and volunteers, we will never give up but will do everything we can to go through the legal process, keep the foundation in operation, and pass on our ideals and convictions. We will remain true to our heart and keep our mission in mind, for there are still many students in poverty waiting for our help. Again, thank you, our volunteers and donors, for your understanding and continued support. Let us hope for the best to come soon!
OCEF Board of Directors and Executive Committee Election Results
Members of the Overseas China Education Foundation (OCEF) voted between October 15 and 29, 2019, and elected the following candidates to the Board of Directors: Chen Shiyi, Feng Min, Ma Nan, Gui Hongning, Lin Lin, Jiang Yingying, Miao Yuting, Shen Wei, Sheng Zhong, Tan Huihua, Wu Gan, Xiong Lanying, Yang Hao, Yang Min, Zhang Bingjun and Zhang Linfeng. Pursuant to the OCEF Bylaws, the validity of the election results has been confirmed and the above-mentioned candidates have become members the 16th OCEF Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Later, the Board members voted to elect Miao Yuting as President of the Board, Ma Nan as Secretary, and Tan Huihua as Treasurer. On November 9-12, upon nomination by Miao Yuting, the Board further elected Sheng Zhong, Zhang Linfeng and Gui Hongning as Vice Presidents of OCEF, Ma Nan, Tan Huihua, Sheng Zhong, Zhang Linfeng, and Gui Hongning as members of the Executive Committee (EC), and Shen Wei as Deputy Secretary. Each of them will serve a two-year term, due to expire in October 2021.
At this point, the 2019 OCEF general election has been completed. We are grateful for the diligent work by the members of the 15th Board in the past two years, including President Sheng Zhong, Vice Presidents Miao Yuting, Liu Xiu, and Zhang Linfeng, Treasurer Gui Hongning, Secretary Xiong Lanying and Deputy Secretary Jiang Yingying. Under their leadership, and thanks to the efforts of all volunteers, OCEF continued its journey in educational charity work and made great progress in overseas fundraising, aid programs in China and the registration process required by the Chinese government. We sincerely appreciate everybody’s contribution and the support from their families.
Many thanks to Sheng Zhong for overseeing the election process, to Xiong Lanying for her diligent ballot tabulation, and to all the members, volunteers and donors for their support and participation. We congratulate the new Board members and EC members, and appreciate their willingness to take on the extra work load of OCEF’s daily operations outside their busy professional and family lives. May OCEF take it to the next level under their leadership in the coming years!
第37期（2019年11月）/No. 37 (November 2019) 翻译：何雪炀 编校：汤柏 Translated by He Xueyang Edited by Tang Bai
