As Program Committee Chair, I sought people or organizations on campus that would be interested in using the Club as a venue for sharing their culture, typically through the coffee hours or international dinners. In so doing, I was able to meet many delightful and eager individuals.
Interestingly, some of those with whom I made contact, I met only in "cyberspace." For example, in trying to find entertainment for a Chinese dinner, I sent an electronic mail (e-mail) message to the Chinese Student Association, whose Vice-President forwarded the request to Chinese friends. In response, I received a kind offer from Shikhuan Hsu, offering to retell ancient stories and talk about the art of Qigong and the history of that age- old discipline. In the course of exchanging email messages with Shikhuan, I learned something about the Chinese arts of healing and meditation. Shikhuan was not able to present her talk at the dinner, but she did so at a coffee hour later in the year. Though unable to attend that event, I was informed that Shikhuan shared a message of balance and harmony.
Another "cyberspace contact" was Portia Shah. When I saw her posting to a U of I electronic news group about forming a Pakistani Student Association, I sent her an e-mail message, suggesting that, once her group was organized, she could prepare a dinner at the Cosmo house. She accepted my offer, and a Pakistani dinner was held in March, to the enjoyment of the Cosmo guests.
In retrospect, I feel that the outreach I did as Program Chair was one of my most satisfying experiences with the Club. For each Cosmo event I hosted or attended, there was at least one person or conversation that made the event special to me. These special events highlight for me the fact that Cosmo is a gathering place for people eager to share their stories and experiences with one another.