Dr. David Rittmann, Keynote Speaker
and Mr. Tom To, President of OCA
Organization of Chinese Americans, St. Louis Chapter
1999 Annual Members Meeting and Awards
January 15, 2000  6:00 PM
Doubletree Hotel. Chesterfield, Missouri




Mrs. Anna Crosslin, President of the International
Institute of St. Louis, Receipt of the OCA
Humanitarian Award.  On the right is her husband.

Since 1919, the International Institute has been building bridges in our diverse community by: 1) Helping people from around the world become self-sufficient St. Louisans.  Institute staff and volunteers annually help 6,000 immigrants and refugees from more than 40 countries.  2) Serving as St. Louis' Ethnic Clearing house and producing Culture Links, the directory of ethnic and international organizations and, NEAT, the database of traditional ethnic artists.   3) Preserving our Culture.
Anna Crosslin has served as president and executive director since 1978.  Besides shaping and leading the International Institute, she sits on numerous boards.  She is also the co-founder of the Japanese Festival, Missouri Botanical Garden.



Grace Yin Lo, Recipient and Dr. William Tao, Presenter
Organization of Chinese Americans 1999 Community Service Award: Grace Yin Lo
Strong belief that volunteer participation is the best way to promote the image of Chinese American s and effect change in the larger community has led Grace Yin Lo to a leadership role with a wide variety of civic and community organizations in St. Louis including CORO Midwestern Center where she sits on the board of directors, and Matthew Dickey Boys Club and NCCJ where she coordinates community services.
Grace graduated from UMSL with a business degree in 1984.  Grace is Tax/Accounting manager at Ralston Purina Company.  She is now chairperson of Chinese Culture Days 2000, Missouri Botanical Garden.



Queena Chi and her mother (L),
on the right is OCA Executive VP Jenny Ko
Organization of Chinese Americans 1999 Youth Leadership Award: Queena Chi
Queena Chi, daughter of Reverend James and Ling Chi, is a 12th grade student at Parkway South High School.  She has been active in the Presbytery Youth Council, Special Olympics as Buddy Captain, 30 Hours Famine as Coordinator, and his church pianist and piano teacher.



Rebecca Cheng and her parents
Organization of Chinese Americans 1999 Youth Leadership Award: Rebecca Cheng
Rebecca Cheng, daughter of Chi Kit and Jenny Cheng, has been elected to Missouri Girls State County Commissioner and Director of Economic Development.  She attends the St. Louis Chinese Language School, studies piano, runs track, volunteers for the International Folkfest and Special Olympics.   Her bother, Peter, won this award last year.





VIP guests from Southwest Bank attend the OCA Banquet night.