After 30 years of bringing educational and entertaining monthly cultural programs, dinners and summer exploits to members and friends of the Seal Beach International Friendship Association, SBIFA has marked their closure with a donation of a new bench to the City of Seal Beach (located at the Marina Park and Community Center), a donation to World Vision International and an annual scholarship awarded to a high school student at Los Alamitos High School. The final 2017 recipient was Jay Oliver Ingram of Rossmoor.
The grassroots nonprofit organization was incorporated in 1986 by founders Tim Yeh, Dr. Mark Biedebach and the late June Roughton Hopkins with help at its onset from Jim Klisanan, the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Rick Paap and others. Their initial goal was to develop a sister city relationship with a city in China. Although that did not work out, the group made a successful tour to China, preceded by a semester class on China sponsored by Golden West College and taught by Tim Yeh in the city chambers to prepare the group for their trip to the newly-opened country.
There was even a “Belgian Connection” in 1998 in which SBIFA hosted author Fred Goeman and his wife, both from Belgium. Goeman had done extensive research of the Belgian immigrants who settled in the West Orange County area, especially in Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Bixby Ranch. By chance he met the outgoing June Hopkins on her flight back from Belgium after a second unsuccessful search there for a sister city with Rose Wenjen, Alice Carter, and Tim and Claire Yeh. His book was donated to the Mary Wilson Library.
Finally in 1990, a sister city relationship was established with Todos Santos in Baja, Mexico. With an assortment of gifts from the city of Seal Beach, SBIFA founders June Hopkins and Tim Yeh, Claire Yeh, then Mayor Victor Grgas, Nancy Grgas, Mayor Pro Tem Edna Wilson, Linda Wilson and interpreter, Libby Gonzales (Green) from the Seal Beach Police Department traveled there to sign Sister City Proclamation documents. They were treated royally for several days. Largely a poor farming town and art colony, Todos Santos received much help, including an ambulance, via SBIFA from La Jolla, through the heroic and untiring efforts of past President and Sister City Chair Regine Schumacher. Attorney Dr. Robert Cleaves risked flying his Cessna over the border with supplies of books, clothing, medicine, toys, school equipment, garden supplies, a computer, etc. Two vans for the one-room school house and school for the handicapped were also donated, thanks to a friend of Barbara Wright, also a past president. Wright also promoted pen pal and other communication between McGaugh students and those of Todos Santos. Early on, in an unexpected exchange, the young baseball team from Todos Santos appeared with their worn and ragged equipment, and ended up whipping our McGaugh baseball team.
Rose and Joe Ripley of Los Alamitos contributed countless hours translating science books on agriculture for students in Todos Santos to assist them in their garden projects.
Because Todos Santos increasingly received support from their local Rotary Club and ex-pats, eventually help from SBIFA was not needed. In 2012 SBIFA turned to establish the June Hopkins Annual Scholarship for local high school graduates with monies collected from their Opportunity Drawings.
Programs about the Middle East, the Japanese Incarceration, Africa, Feng Shui, China, India, Indonesia, Marriage around the World, the Arctic, Antarctica, Turkey, Croatia, Mars, Vietnam, How to Pack for Travel, “Where in the World was I,” Taiko Drumming, The Yucatan, Beijing Opera, International Fashion Show, Copper Canyon, Bonsai demonstration, Tibet, Silk Road and Orient Express, Peru, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, British Isles, Patagonia, Costumes and Customs of Chinese Minority Groups, Todos Santos, Raising Koi, Mystique of Tea, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands, Flying Samaritans, Hula 101, Language of a Silent World, Morocco, Holocaust Experiences, Coming to America, Polar Bears of Churchill, Cuba, Mongolia, Egypt, Adoption from China, Myanmar, Ireland, etc. attracted visitors from as far as Sylmar, Tuna Canyon, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, San Pedro, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Even SBIFA’s president of 14 years, Katie Montgomery, drove in regularly from Costa Mesa to conduct meetings and other activities.
Although the majority of the audience tended to be seniors, in recent years even teenagers at-tended the dinner meetings and a few parents brought their elementary school children because of the unique programs. SBIFA also partnered with the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association of Long Beach for several outstanding Chinese New Year programs.
Greek chicken, Japanese bento, Chinese dishes, empanadas, mochi dessert, flan, Cuban bean soup, Chinese dumplings, corned beef and cabbage were among the culinary pleasures served in conjunction with the various ethnic themes.
Tidbit: Some twenty years ago Karen “Hurricane” Hadley performed for SBIFA as a singer and composer of Western music while playing several instruments. Today she is recognized as “Aunt Gertie” in the Sun Newspapers! Her mother Virginia was very active in SBIFA.
The purpose of the organization was “to promote world peace through friendships, mutual understanding and cultural exchange.” Many friendships were formed and awareness of cultural differences towards mutual understanding were combined with the element of fun and adventure. “Mission accomplished.”
