TAM Organization

• When established:
  Taiwanese Association of Madison (TAM) was established in late 1950's. TAM is a tax-exempt non-profit organization
• Who:
  Originally, the association was organized by Taiwanese Students who were attending graduate schools at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, the earlier arrival of Taiwanese to the US and to this campus. One important factor that brought the group together was their deep concern for the lack of true equal rights and democracy back home in Taiwan. It was at a time when Taiwanese was still living under one-party political system. As new Taiwanese students arrived and were welcomed to the association, TAM grew. TAM had about five hundred members, including students' family, in the 1970's. Over the years, stream of Taiwanese graduate students has continued to come to Madison. Also, many chose to settle in Madison upon completing their degree of higher education, and became the US citizens. Today, TAM members consist of the first generation Taiwanese Americans and their families (many already reach normal retirement age), the second generation Taiwanese Americans, and newer Taiwanese adult immigrants and their families, many of them pursuing business interest.
• Purpose/Activities:
  The mission of TAM is educational. TAM wants to promote the development of understanding and appreciation of Taiwanese heritage and culture among the American publics. It also promotes public understanding and support for the people of Taiwan in pursue for democracy and human rights through information sharing and educational programs. In addition, it offers members the opportunity to keep each other informed of current social, cultural, economical and political situation in Taiwan, and to socialize. Special speech events on topics of interest to fellow Taiwanese and friends are arranged. TAM holds social gathering three times or four times a year, usually at the time of major Taiwanese festivals such as lunar New Year celebration, Autumn Moon festival, and family picnics during summer.
• Membership:
  TAM is open to all Taiwanese Americans and their family members, Taiwanese who are relatively new to the US, and their families, and friends of Taiwanese Americans, who support TAM's mission, share a common American value of a love for freedom and democracy, and respect human rights.