NOTES FROM THE SQUARE CIRCULAR

SCHOLARCHIP AWARDED
     The Edith Lew Memorial Mills College Scholarship was awarded to student Ya Tin Hu For the 2010-2011 school year.  Edith was a long time active S&C member until her passing over 20 years ago

IN MEMORIUM
     It is with deep sadness we report the passing of Mary M. Wong on Dec. 15, 2010 at 98 years young.  An S&C member since 1940, Mary resided in Palo Alto and last attended S&C's "Octo-ma'ams and Nona'ma'ams" Birthday Celebration in April, 2010.

SQUARE AND CIRCLE MAKES DONATIONS
     $3,000 donation to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund administered by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.
     $2,500 donation for a Centennial Wall Plaque at the Angel Island Immigration Center Project commemorating the detention of many S&C ancestors.

DONATIONS RECEIVED
     From member Mei-Ling Saunders in memory of Andrew Horn
     $1,000 from Kaiser Foundation towards the Cookbook prjoect.

EDITORIAL TRIBUTE TO ROSEMARY CHAN

It is with deep sadness to inform you that our dear S&C member and friend, Rosemary Chan, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2011.  At her request there will be no services.

A devoted S&C member and leader since 1941, Rosemary was instrumental in initiating many S&C programs and service activities.  A San Francisco Unified School District teacher for 37 years, she was selected as one of the school district's first Community Teachers and was the founding Community/Screening Teacher at the Chinese Education Center.

Upon retirement from teaching in1979, she was a docent for the Asian Art Museum, a volunteer, Board Member, and interim Director for the Chinese Newcomer Service Center, and volunteered with a number of community organizations and events.  She was a life-long teacher as well as a life-long student.  She was fluent in Chinese, had a passion for Chinese brush painting, and enjoyed the slot machines, and Keno, and was a devoted fan of the SF Giants.

My first encounter with Rosemary was September 1962 during my first student teaching assignment at Le Conte Elementay School (now named Leonard R. Flynn ES).  Two stories come to mind before our first meeting:
>One afternoon at school dismissal, I saw the back of a petite teacher, purse in hand banging on her left, and right hand forefinger waving at a sixth grade student twice as tall and wide as she.  He (the student) was looking down at the teacher with remorse and listening to every word she had to say.  Later I learned the teacher was Rosemarn.
>In the faculty lunchroom, the same teacher walked around the room with her topless Tupperward container asking if anyone had seen the cover, which was never recovered.  Oh, yes, we all know - what good is Tupperware without the cover?  The teacher was Rosemary.

In 1963 I was fortunate to be assigned to LeConte as a full time teacher and became an acquantance, then good friends with Rosemary, joining her car pool to/from school.  In 1967 she invited me to join Square and Circle, an affirmative decision I've never regretted.

Square and Circle has its way of working with and "training" new members.  The "rookies" are invited to join committees comprised of members with club experiences at all levels who (indirectly) mentor toe "new ones".  Mentorship includes role modeling, offering experienced advice, being available for consultations, and being encouraging.  Rosemary was my mentor within the relm of S&C as well as in my profession.  Always maintaining a positive outlook, she was able to capitalize on the strengths of individuals - accepting, encouraging, and being inclusive.

Member Mary Lee said of Rosemary, "She touched all of us in her special way....a wonderful role model.  Soft spoken, yet, she had a voice that could control a crowd in a restaurant.  That experience must have been from her teaching days.  Not once, but many times, when asked about taking a position on the S&C Board, Rosemary would step up to the challenge, saying "I can't let the Club down"

Rosemary was twice named "Miss S&C", a tribute honoring her as a distinguished representative of the club's motto, "In Deeds Be Square, In Knowledge Be All-Round"

S&C has lost a devoted member and I have lost a dear, dear friend.
Rest in peace, my dear friend
Claudia C. Jeung, Editor
Square Circular, Sept. 2011