Report of the JTU 10th reunion in Houston, Texas
June 18-20, 2010
Humidity and high temperature in Houston made us feel as if at home in Shanghai. It was impressive of the grandness of the reunion ceremony, of the great extend the reunion reached, from JTU leaders of Taiwan and mainland, to active alumni from Canada and so many states across the whole USA.
Each JTU had a strong delegate team, and displayed the achievement of teaching and research. SJTU chairperson, Dexiu Ma, gave a presentation of SJTU's achievement, from deep water technology, medical school and ACM. That was the most outstanding among all JTU. Experts in materials and green technology gave reports of the latest developments. The seminar is well blended with information and inspirations.
Elaine L. Chao, the nation's 24th Secretary of Labor and the first Asian-American woman appointed to a President's cabinet in U.S. history, and her father, a SJTU alumnus, showed up. One presentation was also given by Elaine. I reminded sjtu-sv to her once again as she heard us at last year's meeting in LA. She extended regards to sjtu-sv last year when I met her in LA, and this time, I told her that she would be welcome to visit us whenever possible.
Yao Ming, the SJTU alumnus, also appeared at the meeting. A basket ball signed by him and a pair of white shoes, size of 16, of his own with signature were auctioned to $11,000 and $10,000. The auction income would be used to for the reunion party.
After talking with Katherine He and SJTU leaders, they all supported SJTU-SV to hold the SJTU American Summit in bay area in the next year. That will be an honor of SJTU-SV even though it is challenging too.
Meeting with presidents of other chapters of SJTU alumni, like NewYork, VA, Houston, Dallas, and Austin, was inspiring. Each of us felt it urgent that our chapters should have closer communications to make a bigger community to cover the whole USA. The bigger community would help our alumni better no matter where he is in this country. The ambition could start from linking to each other on our websites, and exchanging group emails.
Overall, the reunion meeting is exciting and informative. It is a good chance to speak up and promote our sjtu-sv, and also a good chance to social and learn.
Thanks
SJTU-SV representatives
Yujie Hu and Tong Wu
June 22, 2010