Incorporation of Macau Cultural Center &
2010 Board of Directors

The Macau Cultural Center (MCC) was incorporated on February 16, 2005.  A Board of Directors consisting of nine (9) members, three (3) from each club (Casa de Macau, UMA, Inc., and Lusitano Club of California) have taken office.

The 2010 MCC Directors and Officers are:

The MCC was incorporated following an agreement by the three clubs to actively locate and purchase a building for a cultural center as directed by the grant letter dated 20.09.99 from Fundação para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento de Macau (FCDM).  Please be assured we have not formed a fourth club; the building will be available for all the functions and activities of the three existing clubs.  This agreement removed the burden of extensive discussion and decision making by the multitude of directors of the three clubs that resulted in an impasse for 5 years since the grant money was received.  This union fulfills the intent of the FCDM, yet the MCC will operate independently from the Clubs to serve the Macanese community in California and the United States of America.

The MCC will serve to promote and preserve the history, culture and heritage of the Macanese people.  It will work with other foundations and organizations worldwide to these ends.

The Macanese people have a rich heritage to hand down to our descendants and share with the rest of the world.  Much has been written to preserve the history of Macau, its patois and related literature, but not enough done to recognize and remember the Macanese of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Treaty Ports.  The MCC will endeavor to contribute to that wealth.

A library will be installed to house the books the Clubs have been given over the years.  Macanese artists, artisans, musicians, scholars and others who go unknown in our community deserve recognition.  The Cultural Center will offer opportunities to feature their work.  Artwork by Macanese artists, if loaned or donated, will be displayed, as will historical artifacts when those are collected.  Our cuisine is unique and social/cultural functions will allow us to share in that wealth.  Cooking and language classes to teach Portuguese and Chinese will be among the educational programs we intend to promote.

The three clubs will use the Cultural Center for their meetings and club functions they manifest.  The MCC will seek to sponsor specific social functions such as Chá Gordo, New Year's Eve dance and other such events to be determined by the Board of Directors.  This will include functions of our community in Southern California.

The MCC will strive to unify and restructure the 3 clubs to merge them into one single entity.  The incorporation of the Macau Cultural Center is a major step toward unification as it moves toward joint functions, and when the building is purchased, the provision of a center for all to meet in friendship and share in our common bond.

The MCC looks for support from our community; it is for them and future generations of Macanese descendants that the Center will exist.  The MCC will be looking to foundations and organizations that are interested in our culture to lend us support, financially, educationally and in the spirit of cooperation.  Slowly, as we can afford it, through donations or otherwise, the Center will be one that the Macanese and their descendants will be proud of.  Macau and the Macanese will, at last, have a place to affirm their history and culture in the United States of America.

Three California Macaense Clubs Form Cultural Center

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

MACAU CULTURAL CENTER, INC.,

A California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation

I

The name of this corporation is Macau Cultural Center, Inc.

II

This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person.  It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for public purposes.  The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under such laws.

III

The specific purposes of this corporation are:

1) To take custody of the funds now held in trust at Charles Schwab and to use those and other funds to purchase, construct, remodel, operate, and maintain a building or center hereafter called the Macau Cultural Center for the Macanese community in accordance with the terms of the grant specified in a letter from our benefactors in Macau: Fundação para a Cooperação e o Desenvolvemento de Macau , dated September 20, 1999.

2) To preserve the history, culture, and heritage of the Macanese people.

3) To educate members of the Macanese community about their Portuguese and Macanese history, language, literature, art, music, and foods through various social, cultural, sporting, and educational events.

4) To work closely and in unity with other groups and organizations that promote and preserve the history, culture, and heritage of the Macanese people.

5) To strive towards the unification of Casa De Macau USA, Inc., Lusitano Club of California, Inc., and UMA, Inc., with the intent to merge them into one entity.

IV

The name and address in the State of California of this corporation's initial agent for service of process is:

Maria Roliz
564 Market Street, Suite 715
San Francisco, CA 94104-5415

V

This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(4).

VI

The net earnings and property of this corporation are irrevocably dedicated to charitable, educational, recreational, or other social welfare purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member, or to the benefit of any private person.

VII

Upon the dissolution or winding up of the corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or organization that is organized substantially for social welfare purposes for the benefit of the Macanese community.  The distribution of funds first must comply with the laws and provisions of the State of California before any funds are transferred out of the state to other organizations.

VIII

The board of directors shall consist of nine, three (3) from each of the clubs, namely Casa De Macau USA, Inc., Lusitano Club of California, Inc., and UMA, Inc.  The qualifications and powers of each director, and the manner in which directors shall be chosen and removed from office, shall be as stated in the bylaws.

IX

The selection of directors, the terms to be served by directors, and the regulation of the internal affairs of the corporation shall be governed by the corporation's bylaws.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the incorporators of MACAU CULTURAL CENTER, INC., have executed these Articles of Incorporation on February 12, 2005.

Arthur Britto, Incorporator

Robert De Graça, Incorporator

Antonio M. Jorge da Silva, Incorporator

Teresa Roliz, Incorporator