CHIME

Both Hong and Ran are actively involved in the Chinese Microsoft Employee network (CHIME), the mission of which is to serve Chinese-background employees in headquarters and other countries, so they can help each other with their lives, with the career development.

Hong is currently the chairman of CHIME. Last year, Ran was elected vice-chairman.

CHIME's recent events include a professional seminar between Microsoft and Chinese IT companies, and the annual Asian Spring Festival Celebration, which drew thousands from the Greater Seattle region.

"We volunteer in the Chinese Microsoft Employee network and hope to impact the Greater Seattle region and promote better ties between China and the United States," Hong said.

CHIME was founded in the early 1990s by a group of Chinese employees of Microsoft Corporation. Nowadays, CHIME has close to 4,000 members and is one of the largest professional Chinese communities in the US.

It has played a bigger role both inside and outside Microsoft. On CHIME's website, their recent activities include the 15th Microsoft Asian Spring Festival Celebration, a river rafting trip on the Skykomish River - the most difficult river for whitewater rafting in Washington State, a short seminar to the current Tsinghua-UNC EMBA class when they visited Microsoft Redmond campus.

Lu, Shum and Huang serve on the CHIME Advisory Board.

Hong said he is excited about Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Seattle. "We look forward to it definitely. It means a lot to the United States and China. It means a lot to us."

lindadeng@chinadailyusa.com