June Events Recap

June 21 Piyesta Pinoi 2014
June 22 Reiyukai Family Fun Group

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June 21 – Piyesta Pinoi is community celebration aiming to unite the Filipino American Communities in and around the Chicagoland; to promote and preserve the Filipino culture and heritage. It is also their focus to foster collaboration amongst different groups, organizations, clubs, businesses and individuals.

It was a great pleasure for Reiyukai America Chicago Activity Committee to be part of the very first Fil-Am Celebration introducing the basic concepts of “family values” that Reiyukai promotes along with the ideas of recycling crafts!

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June 22 – Diversity is one of the keywords that can describe the first Reiyukai Family Fun Group. Different families from different cultural backgrounds—Cambodia, Moldova/Romania, Spain, Mexico and Japan—joined at Brookside Park, located near the famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena to play together, sing songs, make creative recycling crafts, and enjoy book readings in many different languages! Can’t wait for the next meeting in July! For details, call the office!

 

May Events Recap

May 03 Reiyukai America at the Fil-Am Summit, Waipahu (HI)
May 03 Pasadena Earth and Arts Festival 2014
May 03-04 Hawaii Book and Music Festival 2014
May 10 2014 Flores de Mayo Festival, Honolulu (HI)
May 18 Honoring our National Heroes San Diego (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Honolulu (HI), Aurora (IL)
May 25 Honoring our National Heroes Pasadena (CA)
May 26 Honoring our National Heroes Chicago (IL)
May 27 Reiyukai Gathering – Los Angeles, CA

Picture6May 03 – A representative from Reiyukai America joined the Fil-Am Summit that was held at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, HI as one of the corporate sponsors. Along with networking with future Filipino American young leaders, it was a great opportunity to introduce the concept behind the Letter to My Parents(TM) Contest having many agree that improving the family relationships leads to the development and improvement of the entire community.

 

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May 03-04, 10 — Reiyukai America is at it again, happy to announce its participation in this year’s Pasadena Earth and Art Festival. At the local park just two blocks away from the Reiyukai America Pasadena Center, Reiyukai America was able to introduce the ideas of helping and bettering the community. Not only that, Reiyukai America has also participated in two community festival in Honolulu with the hope of reaching out to more people to introduce the life-improving concepts of Reiyukai. During these events, Reiyukai America provided a free recycling workshop incorporating the ideas of the Oriental Fusion Handcraft(SM) – Recycling Workshop.

 May 18,25,26 – Throughout the month of May, the Reiyukai America National Committee organized numerous Memorial Day activities in different locations. Being part of these Memorial Day events, members and friends were, once again, able to realize that the freedom of this nation was never free—our lives can only exist upon those who dedicated their lives for this nation and its future. Below you will find photos and information on each event and location.

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For the first time, a wreath was presented to a monument dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic in the City of Aurora, Illinois (left).Don Nose, President of Go For Broke National Education Center was present at the flower presentation to the Go For Broke Monument in Little Tokyo (right).

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Members in Hawai‘i joined their voices reciting a sutra at the chapel located inside the National Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl (left). Young members in Chicago dedicated a flower decoration to a monument after attending the ceremony that was held in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (right).

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Family Fun BBQ was organized in Pasadena where kids enjoyed answering Memorial Day trivias. Later, participants joined for a flower dedication at the Memorial Park. Several new people joined Reiyukai, too! (both)

 

Picture11May 27 – Ever since the 4th Reiyukai America National Committee was inaugurated, one of the short-term goals for the Los Angeles area committee was to re-establish a place where local members who live in the West LA area can attend a Reiyukai meeting. Members living in the area gathered at Kiyohara’s residence. After the sutra recitation, attendants enjoyed exchanging ideas and thoughts about what it means to incorporate the teachings into their daily lives. The next gathering at this location will be on July 22nd. For details, please contact the Pasadena office at (626) 356-8055.

April Events Recap

April 06 In Memory of Mr. Ichitaro Ogata
April 11 REACT Meeting in So-Cal

April 06 – It has been one year since the tragic news was released that broke many Reiyukai members’ heart worldwide. Through out the month of April, the Reiyukai America National Committee organized gatherings in memory of the late Mr. Ichitaro Ogata, former International President of Reiyukai. In Reiyukai America Pasadena Center, a gathering in his memory was held to remember his achievements, which became an opportunity to renew the pledge to stay active as a proud member of Reiyukai who cares about others and the community

 

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April 11 – REACT members came together from Orange County, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Chicago to the Reiyukai America Pasadena Center to discuss the future plans to bring care to the community by incorporating the ideas of Reiyukai. REACT members agreed at the meeting to explore areas of having partnership opportunities with local businesses to be able to support them to grow, while at the same time promoting further current activities and explore new projects of Reiyukai in the community. REACT members have also discussed details upon a new logo design which will be the symbol for this new project. Don’t forget to check out www.meetup.com/ReACTNow/ for the future updates about REACT!

March Events Recap

March 01 Letter to My Parents Contest in Chicago
March 02 Reiyukai America National Committee Annual Meeting

Picture1March 01 – With over 100 attendants at this year Letter to My Parents Contest in Chicago guests were greeted by this year MC Hector Luis Freytas, a teacher,  who believes deeply in the impact of writing a letter has on improving the communication within the family. The Finalists are Viridiana Quiroz, Armando Gallegos, Karen Sarai Flores, Daisy Aguilera, Luis Fernando Alvarez Huizar, Salma Gonzalez, Daniel Lara, Alma Mendoza, Isha Miranda, and Juan Manuel Rosales. Each one winning a one year subscription to BenchPrep, a high school and college preparatory app that aids in the study for College Entrance Exams, AP Exams, Professional Certification and College Content Coursework ($360 Value). Letter to My Parents Contest in Chicago would like to thank all the participants this year and sponsors for all the support and fun we had!

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March 02 – Reiyukai America National Committee Annual Meeting: All the activities of Reiyukai America are planned and organized by the Reiyukai National Committee. This year Reiyukai America Committee is pleased to announce a new framework for young leaders known as ReACT. ReACT stands for Reiyukai America Active Care Team with its mission to look into the community (local or worldwide), assess the problems or needs of that community, and provide a ReACTION! The ReACTION is Reiyukai Principles of remembering our ancestors and providing care to others.

For more details about ReACT, visit: www.meetup.com/ReACTnow