For sure, not every “Grand Opening!” hits the mark. Some produce no more than weak smiles or handshakes, perhaps a free hot dog on a bun with mustard and ketchup (no relish, mayo, onions, hot peppers or sauerkraut). However, the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Oregon knows how to do an opening. They demonstrated as much on Saturday, September 17, 2011 for the grand opening of their new studio at 2251 NE Glisan Street, Portland, OR, 97232. Yet feel free to stay tuned: rumor has it that this September 17, 2011 event was so much fun, such a success, that next year might see a similar One-Year Anniversary Celebration.
No surprise, a true grand opening starts with lots of planning and attention to detail. We will happily ignore realms relating to the usually-arduous process of finding a new building, financing, remodeling and all that. Event organization, quiet, structured and unhurried, permeated the walls and neighborhood.
For example, as vehicle parking was an issue for the rare, inflated number of visitors expected, Taoist Tai Chi Society members offered drivers maps to available parking. They’d also arranged with local businesses (closed Saturdays) to use their parking lots. Is that consideration all around or what?
"The Oregon Branch is honored and humbled to have been given the opportunity to maintain this building on behalf of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society and the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism. Our members worked together in harmony to plan and host such a successful Grand Opening. Many thanks to the city of Portland for participating!" –Amy Ciesielka, President, Oregon Branch, Taoist Tai Chi Society
The large, new studio space was filled with visitors from around the States, including a few foreign travelers as well. In addition to even greater numbers attending the opening festivities, about 180 people participated in tai chi workshops throughout the week-end.
Being somewhat Taoist-oriented, the studio space includes a colorful altar showcasing lovely offerings symbolizing wishes for wealth, good fortune, brilliance, safety and more. Balloons, red and yellow, floated in most of the generous exterior windows, lending a stained-glass sort of coloration. A modest stage was set up. Golden fish sported on high amid red lanterns.
Oregon branch president Amy Ciesielka emceed, initially sharing historical notes of their Oregon presence. This includes the fact that the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Portland has been around for 23 years (since 1988). Their former places were rentals located in the Pearl District and SE 11th and Division. The NE Glisan studio represents the 46th building owned by the International Taoist Tai Chi Society headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All branches of the society support the community itself.
Before we get to the speeches….
Okay, the balloons, the decorative altar, the happy, enthusiastic visitors, the promise of a free lunch and more music, and the space itself, only go so far. Ciesielka historical notes were followed by a lion dance provided by the expert Portland Lee’s Association lion dance team. Lion dances are traditionally engaged to ward off evil and attract good fortune.
Two large, long and highly decorated lions danced to lively, story-worthy music provided by the other members of Lee’s Association team. Each lion usually requires two experienced dancers hidden within the costume. Traditional musical instruments include drums, cymbals and a gong to provide background tempo and storyline. The lions use the space to interact and perform, eventually sporting over acquiring the one green vegetable, lettuce, symbol of prosperity. The lettuce-winning lion shared the wealth with the audience by spitting out lettuce bits.
Good wishes and blessings from:
Ciesielka then shared greetings from Governor Kitzhaber (on video), Ron Wyden (also video) via Mary Gautreaux, Deputy Director in Oregon, State Representative Mary Nolan, Peter Courtney, Oregon State Senate President via Tai Chi Society member Joyce Cohen, Amanda Fritz, Portland City Commissioner, Angela Kirkman, president of the Kerns Neighborhood Association, and Marsha Eberhardt, president of the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism and director of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society.
There were greetings from other society members as well. A particularly notable one came from Jeff Cheever of Newport, OR. Cheever came to Oregon from Calgary and practiced tai chi in Portland about 19 years. Currently he is teaching a tai chi class as part of the society’s health recovery program offered to people dealing with injury or chronic illness.
Cheever’s students are in their 80’s and 90’s and lightly described as “dedicated.” As a tai chi teacher, Cheever can claim one rarely loses students because of boredom. However, one of Cheever’s elderly students dropped in class. She lay motionless, apparently not breathing while 911 was called and CPR investigated. The 911 response team arrived, checked her vitals and carried her motionless body off on a stretcher. Sorrow and grief rippled through the class. But she came back to class the next week, picking up where they left off. Such dedication is hard to find. Any teacher would be envious. Cheever was thrilled. So were her co-students.
Ribbon cutting:
Yes, there was one, at high noon, just before the break for lunch. A lovely red ribbon at least 12’ long was cut to pieces by 10 pairs of loving hands.
Free lunch:
Enthusiastically embraced by all, the healthful, fragrant and tasty lunch also touched on satisfying the sense of hearing by including a performance by classical guitarist Oren Fader, Taoist Tai Chi Society member and instructor from New York. Red tablecloths rustled, VIPs’ glasses, china, and silverware clinked and flowers graced the studio tables.
The beat goes on:
The afternoon Grand Opening continued with tai chi demonstrations by society members from San Francisco, Phoenix and Portland, and outside talent demonstrating dance and drum. The Sunflower Chinese Dance Troupe, of the Portland-based nonprofit Families with Children from China of Oregon and SW Washington and the Vancouver, WA-based, 7-yr. old, thriving One of a Kind Drumline group, directed by Edward A. Esparza, lent their own notes of lightness and strength.
So what does this have to do with longevity?!
Besides the obvious contribution to well-being that a healthful celebration engenders, and the fact we’re dealing with a tai chi group, let’s see a bit more patience dear longevity readers.
Part two dives into possible health benefits, as shown by exhaustive research, swimming among the notion that tai chi is linked to increased longevity. Meanwhile, readers can float the mythical ideas that tai chi is for old people and its speed is too slow to offer any physical benefits or conditioning. Ha! Says the Taoist Tai Chi Society: tai chi can benefit people of most any age and its speed is just right: not too fast and not too slow.
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