US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Vol

US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Vol. XXXIX, No.2

• Jim Grantman Fund • Sister-City and Sister State-Province Relationships • What Is USCPFA Work? • 2015 USCPFA’S 25th National Convention: Many Faces of Friendship • Remembering Sidney Shapiro • Year of the Goat Letter from the President

US-China Peoples Friendship Association Office of the National President ® 105 Treva Road, Sandston, VA 23150 804-310-6388 mobile - [email protected] [email protected] Faces of Friendship

Dear Friends of China,

Greetings to all of you in the Chinese New Year of the Sheep!

The Year 2014 seemed to pass quickly. I reflected on the ways USCPFA and Youxie were able to share and celebrate together our 40th anniversary and their 60th anniversary last year. Last year was such a milestone year for both China and the United States, the 35th anniversary of formal U.S.-China diplomatic relations. Barbara Harrison and I were honored to be in attendance at those celebrations in Washington, D.C. and in Beijing.

We are fortunate to have made so many Chinese friends, along with many others worldwide, who realize the importance and the gravity of U.S.-China friendship. The U.S. and China must continue to demonstrate how two powerful nations can work together to find solutions to difficult problems that affect all of us together. Our resolve should be that we strengthen our connections and enliven our conversations with energetic and kind words that point us to a brighter future of better and deeper understanding between our two peoples.

The 25th USCPFA National Convention, September 11–13, 2015, will be hosted by USCPFA National and the USCPFA-Atlanta chapter at the Emory University Conference Hotel. We thank Peggy Roney, Southern Region President; Ed Krebs and Doug Reynolds, Co-presidents of the Atlanta chapter; and the Atlanta convention committee for their leadership in planning the convention. “Faces of Friendship” is the theme, and more details are in this issue. Make plans now to attend the 25th USCPFA National Convention.

Do you realize how little each USCPFA member pays for four well-written issues of the US-China Review per year? If you guessed only $12, you are correct—$12 for four quarterly issues of the USCR. Production costs, mailings and editorial costs are at approximately $3,000 per issue, which totals $12,000 or more per year. Have you ever considered putting an ad in the USCR or sending in a donation to defray the cost of this wonderful magazine? Consider how little you pay to USCPFA National for your four issues per year.

An educational tour of China from Beijing to Shanghai is being planned for October 19-29, 2015. Apply by June 12. Read more details in this issue. Invite a new friend to join your USCPFA chapter and keep working to build on the past 40 years of U.S.-China friendship.

In Friendship,

Diana Greer President of USCPFA US-CHINA REVIEW ® Spring 2015 • Vol. XXXIX, No.2

US-CHINA PEOPLES Contents FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION A California Non-profit Corporation Features The US-China Peoples Jim Grantman Fund 4 Friendship Association is Sister-City and Sister State-Province Relationships: a nonprofit, educational Harbin-Minneapolis Ralph Beha 8 organization whose purpose is Taiyuan-Nashville Barbara Cobb 9 to build friendship between Changsha-St. Paul Neil Bray 10 the peoples of China Xiamen’s Siming District-Sarasota Dr. Carolyn Bloomer 11 and the United States. Quzhou-Redwing Tao Peng 13 Wuxi-Chattanooga Bob Edwards 13 USCPFA Board of Directors Shaanxi-Minnesota Linda Mealey-Lohmann, Mary Warpeha 14 PRESIDENT 2015 USCPFA’s 25th National Convention: Many Faces of Friendship 16 Diana Greer Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival Celebrations 18 TREASURER What Is USCPFA Work? Jane Lael 18 Wen Li Remembering Sidney Shapiro Mindy Ratner 20 NATIONAL BOARD Christine Brooks (East) Departments Kirk Huang (East) Barbara Harrison (Midwest) China Currents 5 Kitty Trescott (Midwest) Transitions: Elaine Griebenow, Suellen Fleming 21 Archie McKee (South) USCPFA Educational Tour to China 22 Peggy Roney (South) Friendship Work 23 Frances Goo (West) Joe Lau (West) Western Conference Reports Frances Goo, Elizabeth Kraft 29 Stanford Yuen (Hawai’i Subregion)

US-China Review About the cover: Woodblock print from an award-winning Shaanxi peasant EDITOR painting. Photo courtesy of Mary Warpeha. Charles K. Petersen PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Marci Duryea The material appearing in the US-China Review does not represent a consensus, nor does it reﬂect the views or policy of the US-China Peoples Friendship Association or its SUBSCRIPTIONS National Board. The Review does not accept responsibility for the opinions expressed by Marge Ketter the authors of articles but it does accept responsibility for giving them a forum for expression and consideration. It strives for a variety of subjects and opinions. CONTRIBUTORS: The US-China Review is published by the USCPFA four times a year. U.S. annual subscrip- Eastern Region: tion rates are $35 for individuals and $38 for institutions; overseas $49. A charge may be Diana Greer, Cindy Han, Mel Horowitz, assessed for replacement copies or special requests; contact Subscriptions for details. USCPFA Kirk Huang, Rose Sigal Ibsen, Mary Klug, members’ subscriptions are included in annual dues. Address changes should be sent to: Jimmy Lee, Ming Lowe, Judy Manton, USCPFA, 7088 SE Rivers Edge St., Jupiter, FL 33458; Email [email protected]. Richard Pendleton, Valerie Stern Contributions of articles and information from USCPFA members and other readers are welcome and may be submitted to [email protected]. General correspondence or Midwest Region: questions should be directed to USCR, 3S244 Cypress Drive, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, Email: Linda Mealey-Lohmann, Mary Warpeha [email protected]. ISSN 0164-3886 Southern Region: The Review is printed on recyclable paper. Marge Ketter, Ed Krebs Western Region: USCPFA NATIONAL PRESIDENT REGIONAL OFFICES (See page 31 for complete list) Lenora Leu, Jana McBurney-Lin 105 Treva Road Eastern Region Midwest Region Sandston, VA 23150 200 Van Rensselaer Blvd. 8718 Metcalf #202 General information about 804-737-2704 Menands, NY 12204 Overland Park, KS 66212 USCPFA is available online at [email protected] 518-449-8817 913-341-5996 http://www.uscpfa.org USCR SUBSCRIPTIONS Southern Region Western Region 7088 SE Rivers Edge Street 18 Fairfield Drive c/o Guardian Escrow Svcs. The name and logo of the US-China Peoples Jupiter, FL 33458 Avondale Estates, GA 30002 2347 S. Beretania St. #200 Friendship Association are registered ® Phone 561-747-9487 404-292-0714 Honolulu, HI 96826 in the US Patent and Trademark Office. Fax 561-745-6189 808-951-6991 All rights reserved. [email protected] © 2014 by the US-China Peoples Friendship Association Jim Grantman Memorial Fund Application Guideline Jim Grantman, a member of USCPFA-Minnesota chapter, contributed tremendously to developing people’s friendship between China and the United States during his life. In mem- ory of a great friend of China, a special memorial fund was established at USCPFA National with donations from a board member for the mission of promoting activities to increase the USCPFA membership.

In recent years, USCPFA has seen notable decrease in membership at most of the chapters. Membership is the foundation for USCPFA, and the National Board is making efforts to work with regional and local chapters to promote USCPFA membership to preserve the foundation. It is very important that we carry out meaningful and interesting events and programs to attract new members and retain current members. The National Board understands the costs associated with sponsoring events, and encourages every chapter to apply for funding through the Jim Grantman Memorial Fund. The application guideline is as follows:

• All chapters that are in good standing in compliance with USCPFA national bylaws and ex- ternal filing requirements are eligible to apply for the funding. The compliance requirement includes paying USCPFA National membership dues, submitting annual financial statements to USCPFA National Treasury, timely filing the annual IRS e-postcard, and not in violation with any USCPFA National bylaws. Chapters that are in the process of formation are eligible as well. • The initial application for the funding ranges from $500 to $1,000, depending on the chapter size, event scale, and current chapter financial condition. • The application must describe the event/program the local chapter is considering to sponsor and explain why the event/program would attract new members. • The application must include a budget for the event/program to promote the membership. • The application should include the latest financial statement of the chapter, cash and equity balances. • The chapter receiving the grant must report to the National Board on the result/outcome of the event/program within 45 days after the event, including the number in attendance, the number of new memberships recruited, and the actual money spent. • If the event/program brings in 10 or more new members, the National Board will disburse an additional $500 from the Jim Grantman Memorial Fund to the local chapter for future activities to continue to recruit new membership and retain current members. • The application is processed on a first-in, first-out basis until the Fund is used up.

Chapters that are interested in applying for the funding, please submit the application and subsequent correspondences to the USCPFA National Treasurer: Wen Li 6600 Lyndale Ave S #1306 Richfield, MN 55423 Or e-mail to [email protected]

4 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 hold permit was necessary, because it relieved from their posts by the end China Currents can help address a series of issues, such of this month, according to The South as buying house and car, and sending China Morning Post. Beijing No More the Favorite children to public schools. Richard Kramer, the London-based of Tsinghua Students —By Wang Zhenghua, chinadaily.com.cn, managing director of Arete Research, More than half of the graduates from March 20, 2015. an equity research firm, said: “The renowned Tsinghua University have mainland has not been a major part opted for a job outside Beijing for three China Attracts More Overseas of Yahoo’s strategy for many years, consecutive years, a trend that shows Students in 2014 even though the company has good the Chinese capital and its popular res- More than 375,000 students arrived legacy businesses in Hong Kong and idence permit are losing their attraction on the Chinese mainland from around Taiwan.” The company’s announce- among the elite young people. the world for studies last year, a 5.77 ment, however, did not surprise most A decade ago, however, more than percent increase over 2013, the Minis- 80 percent of the graduates from the industry experts, as they feel that try of Education said on Thursday. The company has been under increasing Beijing-based university would land 377,054 students came from 203 coun- a job in the capital, and getting their pressure from shareholders to reduce tries and regions, according to figures costs and improve profits. household registered in Beijing was released by the ministry. viewed as a must to enjoy the benefits of Yahoo’s other two R&D facilities, The numbers coming from Oceania one located in its headquarters in medical care, pension, children’s welfare and Africa last year increased dramati- California and the other in Bengaluru, and other facilities. cally, but those coming from the Amer- Between 2012 and 2014, more than icas fell a little. A total of 6,272 students India, have also been affected by job 50 percent of the graduates took up came from Oceania, a 32.24 percent cuts in recent months. jobs in other provinces or cities instead increase year-on-year, while the number Neil Shah, research director at of the capital, the Beijing Morning Post of those from Africa—41,677—rose by market research firm Counterpoint, quoted Zhang Qiguang, director of stu- 24.93 percent from 2013. The numbers said: “The writing was very much on dents career development center at the coming from the Americas dropped by the wall. Since the end of 2013, Yahoo university, as saying on Friday. 2.45 percent, but the ministry did not had started scaling down its services “Nearly half of the students grad- give a reason for this. in the Chinese mainland and it was uating this year have landed jobs, and Some students said they came to about time to reduce the unwanted it’s estimated that more of them will study in China because they were at- resources not contributing to any seek a job outside Beijing,” he added. tracted by the country’s political and revenues.” A total of 7,000 Tsinghua students will economic development. This year has been tough for for- graduate this year, with about 4,000 of James Mwita, 30, from Kenya, said: eign technology companies operating them expected to enter the job market, “China has a system that is working, in the Chinese mainland as they face while the rest will try to pursue further and its political system is efficient. Its increasing competition from stronger studies. economic and social developments are The change in students’ employ- local firms. In February, Microsoft impressive, and I hope my country can announced that it would close two ment preferences and the city’s popu- emulate them.” lation control policies are behind the factories and lay off around 9,000 —By Zhao Xinying, chinadaily.com.cn, workers. Also in February, social gam- move of more graduates opting for a job March 20, 2015. elsewhere, Zhang said, adding that the ing company Zynga decided to close demand for a Beijing residence permit its studio in Beijing. also slid in recent years. Yahoo to Exit from Chinese —From an article in China Daily by Currently, the population in Beijing Mainland Market Emma Gonzalez and Meng Jing, March has surged to 21.54 million, and the Yahoo Inc is set to completely 20, 2015. city will allow a rise to no more than exit from China this year, after the 21.8 million by the end of the year. The United States-based technology giant A Literary Comeback capital also plans to control the size of said it was shutting its research and A cursory glance at Dangdang. its population and to have no more than development center in Beijing. The com’s recently published list of the 23 million people by 2020. Students company’s decision to end its only top 10 bestselling children’s books in said they left Beijing partly because of physical presence in the Chinese China in 2014 reveals one salient and its high living cost and better career mainland could eliminate as many perhaps sobering fact: Of the 10 titles opportunities in other areas. as 300 jobs, industry sources said on on the list compiled by China’s pre- Wang Yan, a PhD student at the Thursday. Yahoo, however, declined mium bookselling website, only two university’s architecture college, has to specify the actual number of jobs decided to work in the urban planning were originally written in Chinese. that would be made redundant. The Magic School Bus by American sector in Sichuan province. “Neither “We are constantly making chang- my husband nor I are from Sichuan. authors Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen es to align resources, and to foster and The Adventures of Tintin by Belgian But we chose the province because I am better collaboration and innovation more suitable for a job on the grassroots cartoonist Hergé (real name Georges across our business. Today (Wednes- Remi, 1907-83) came in at first and level, and there are more development day) we informed our employees opportunities there,” she said. second places respectively. The two based in Beijing that we will be closing Another graduate was quoted as original Chinese-language entries saying that to stay in Beijing, a house- our office there,” a statement said. were authored by Taiwan-based The workers, mostly engineers, will be scholar Wei-Ping Chen and Chinese Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 5 American writer Liu Yong. which in those days acted as China’s UK, save for the matters of foreign So why the dearth of authors from cultural hub. affairs and defense. the Chinese mainland on the list? Yu started by looking for the ver- Apart from the world-famous What is it about the work of domestic sion of the Children’s Library book Manx TT motorbike racing competi- children’s writers that has so failed series published by the Commercial tion and a unique breed of tailless cats, to capture the imagination of the Press in 1934, regarded as the earliest the island is famous in the West pri- country’s youth? It has been argued picture books for children in China. marily as a center for financial services by some that the underrepresentation This collection originally contained and for its low-tax regime. Income tax of Chinese-language originals on the 200 titles; however, locating all of is capped at 20 percent, there exists no list can be attributed to the conten- them proved in no way to be child’s capital gains tax, stamp duty, wealth tion that foreign children’s books play. Yu’s team first discovered several tax or inheritance tax, and the island are possessed of a richer imagination titles in this collection at online sec- boasts an enviable zero-percent tax and are generally regarded as more ondhand bookstores and purchased on corporate profits. Its financial in- interesting and appealing than their them. However, the pages of some dustry initially dealt primarily with Chinese counterparts. of these books turned out to be dam- British expatriates but now increas- “Many Western publishing houses aged or torn. “In the past, it was not ingly trades with foreign nationals. engaged in the publishing of chil- permitted to stock children’s books Although it is not a member of the dren’s titles have histories stretching in public libraries, which was one of trading bloc, it also possesses special back more than 100 years, which has the reasons why many of these books rights and privileges pertaining to enabled them to accumulate a wealth were lost or failed to survive intact to trade and export in the EU market. of experience in the area,” said Yu the present day,” said Yu. Customs and excise arrangements Xiaoqun, President of Dolphin Books, Finally, with the help of the Shang- allow Manx-based overseas businesses a Beijing-based publishing house spe- hai Library and the Commercial Press to ship exports directly to European cializing in children’s books. Ltd. in Taiwan—one of the successors markets from their country of origin, “In China, conversely, it’s hard to the Shanghai-based publishing thus physically bypassing the island to find a children’s publisher of an house—that republished the col- altogether. equivalent vintage as the develop- lection in the 1960s, Yu was able to Like China, the island has weath- ment of many such companies has secure 184 of the original collection’s ered the recession well and is one of been interrupted by wars and political 200 works and to publish them in four the few places that come close to that movements,” Yu said. China’s modern volumes. country’s GDP, with an average annu- history is fraught with turbulence, The Children’s Library series uses al growth rate of 6 percent over the ranging from wars against invading pictures and simple language to tell past five years. Despite this, the island powers from 1840 onward to politi- stories or convey knowledge about remains largely unknown in China, a cal turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s, nature and society. For example, it situation Simon Pickering, the Manx instability that has undoubtedly taken includes one chapter which discusses government’s head of Retail Finan- a toll on its publishing industry. the issue of how to be a good student. cial Services, and colleague Steven Although foreign children’s books Once the first volume, consisting Beevers, head of Special Projects for are popular in China, Yu said the of 10 books, was put on sale on the the island’s Department of Economic country boasts its own excellent e-commerce platform JD.com in 2011, Development, hope to change. Over children’s authors. Yu is particularly the initial run of 10,000 copies were the past two years, they have ventured interested in children’s books written sold out within less than a month. to China 10 times and Beevers said during the period of the Republic of Another 10,000 copies were printed that they are “increasingly excited China (1912-49), which he regards as afterward. “The commercial success and confident to work with Chinese being of an exceptionally high quali- bolstered our confidence. We con- businesses and entrepreneurs.” ty. Ever since joining Dolphin Books tinued to search for children’s books The two men are seeking to attract as president in 2009, Yu has been of that period and have since found wealth and talent to invest in and devoted to ensuring these books can more and more good stuff,” said Yu. possibly live on the island, pointing enjoy a renaissance in their country —By Ji Jing, BeijingReview.com.cn, to attractive features such as its low of origin. “I was struck by the sheer March 12, 2015. crime rate, beautiful scenery and idyl- quality of the textbooks compiled lic lifestyle. They see their efforts as back then,” said Yu. An Alternative Gateway to facilitating a two-way process, as Isle After studying several books on Europe of Man entrepreneurs and investors the history of Chinese children’s lit- Lying between Ireland and the are also, naturally, casting their eye erature, Yu found that this sector of UK, the Isle of Man occupies a curious toward the emerging Chinese mar- the publishing industry experienced a category in the classification of plac- ket at present. Some of the island’s boom in the almost 40 years following es. Home to almost 90,000 people, homegrown manufacturers possess 1912. A large number of reputedly it is neither a member of the UK nor hundreds of employees in China as excellent works were published by the EU, but a Crown dependency. it stands. the Commercial Press, the Zhonghua Although Queen Elizabeth II acts as At present, a number of Chinese Book Co., and several other publish- the island’s sovereign, its government, entrepreneurs have set up trading ing houses no longer in existence. All which is said to date back over 1,000 enterprises on the island, with a view these presses were based in Shanghai, years, is wholly independent of the toward establishing sales operations 6 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 into Europe. Some Chinese shipbuild- In late 2013, the central govern- ers have listed their vessels with the ment asked government officials to island’s ship register. Other companies take the lead and stop smoking in USCPFA from China have employed Isle of public places. Man corporate vehicles to list on for- —Xinhua News Agency, December 10, NATIONAL eign stock exchanges. Yet more Chi- 2014. DIRECTORY nese investors have used vehicles to purchase commercial property in the Benguela Railway in Angola Is President UK. “We would dearly like to attract Completed Diana Greer a Chinese bank to the Isle of Man, as Beijing-China Railway Construc- 105 Treva Road we don’t have one at present,” said tion, one of China’s largest construc- Sandston, VA 23150 Pickering. “We think the first Chinese tion companies, finished building a 804-737-2704 bank to come would do very well be- massive railway line in Angola [in Nov. [email protected] cause of our international trade and 2014] and plans to put it into operation our links to the UK.” this year. The 1,344-km Benguela Rail- Treasurer —From an article by Eric Daly in Beijing way is the second-longest railroad built Wen Li Review.com.cn, March 6, 2015. by Chinese overseas, shorter only than 6600 Lyndale Avenue South #1306 the 1,860-km Tanzania-Zambia Railway Richfield, MN 55423 China Likely to Raise Tobacco built in the 1970s. 952-831-2649 It will be the longest and fastest track [email protected] Taxes to Reduce Smokers in the southwestern African country of China is considering raising tobac- Angola, said Liu Feng, head of China Membership co taxes and cigarette prices to reduce Railway Construction’s Angola Railway Marge Ketter the number of smokers in the country, project. It connects Angola’s Atlantic 7088 SE Rivers Edge Street said an official on Wednesday. Yao port of Lobito to the eastern border town Jupiter, FL 33458 Hongwen from the National Health of Luau, and further to the rail network Phone 561-747-9487 and Family Planning Commission of southeastern Africa’s Democratic Re- Fax 561-745-6189 said at a press conference that the public of Congo. [email protected] commission will work together with The 67-station railway has a design other agencies to push hard for a tax speed of 90 km per hour, involving a Tours boost as a way to protect public health. total investment of 1.83 billion U.S. Position currently unoccupied. “China is now on the course of dollars, according to the company. Liu Contact President Diana Greer if you fiscal and tax reform, which provides said the Benguela Railway also marks the have questions. us with a rare chance to take advantage successful application of China’s railway Center for Teaching About China standards in Africa. The original Ben- to raise tobacco taxes and prices for Kathleen Trescott tobacco control,” said Yao. guela Railway was built in accordance with Portuguese standards, and trains 1214 W. Schwartz The Chinese Government in 2009 Carbondale, IL 62901 raised tobacco taxes. But a report could only shuttle at 30 km per hour. Liu said the rapid development of 618-203-1807 published by the World Health Or- [email protected] ganization in May said China’s tax China’s high-speed trains and com- increase has had no impact on tobacco mitment in price and quality had US-China Review (USCR) helped China Railway Construction consumption because “higher taxes Marci Duryea, Prod. Coordinator win the project. The railway, built in were not passed on to the retail price 3S244 Cypress Drive the form of EPC (engineering, procure- Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-7361 of cigarettes.” The report said tobacco ment, construction), not only adopted 630-469-8710 in China is very cheap, and tobacco Chinese standards, but procured all in China has become much more af- equipment from China. The project [email protected] fordable over time as average incomes employed some 100,000 locals during USCR Subscriptions have increased with China’s rapid construction and trained over 10,000 Marge Ketter economic growth and development. locals to be technicians. 7088 SE Rivers Edge Street As the world’s largest tobacco mak- The Benguela Railway provides ac- Jupiter, FL 33458 er and consumer, China has more than cess to the inner part of Angola. When Phone 561-747-9487 300 million smokers, and another 740 it is fully operational, it will be able to Fax 561-745-6189 million people are exposed to sec- carry 20 million tonnes of cargo and four [email protected] ond-hand smoke each year. According million passengers annually, according to the official, some 1.36 million Chi- to earlier reports. Film & Audio-Visual Library nese people die from smoking-related China Railway Construction, listed Richard Pendleton diseases annually. in both Shanghai and Hong Kong, fo- 19 Hemenway Street #1 The Legislative Affairs Office of the cuses on railway, highway and subway Boston, MA 02115 State Council released a draft regula- construction. 617-353-1211 tion on tobacco control last month —Source: Richard Pendleton shared the [email protected] which said China would ban all forms above article from allafrica.com, Novem- of tobacco advertising, sponsorship ber 2014. and promotion of tobacco products. Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 7 SISTER-CITY AND SISTER STATE-PROVINCE RELATIONSHIPS Overview Council Member Quincy were Melvin Sister cities. Sister provinces. These Tennant, President and CEO, and Bill relationships have many facets: a Deef, V.P. of International Relations, government side, a nonprofit side, of Meet Minneapolis; and Ralph Beha, business involvement, artistic and a Minneapolis-based international cultural dimensions, visiting delega- lawyer and board member of USCPFA- tions, passionate volunteers. Sister Minnesota. Cities International estimates that The Minneapolis delegation also there are 163 relationships between visited Harbin’s Sister City Museum, U.S. cities and states and Chinese cit- located in a beautiful old building that originally served as the Danish ies and provinces. Because they don’t Harbin Mayor Song with Minneapolis Mayor track nonmember relationships, there consulate in Harbin during the early Hodges at the opening gala in Harbin. Photo may be more. 20th century. This museum contains courtesy of Ralph Beha. Sister relationships ebb and flow, exhibits provided by Harbin’s 28 sister sometimes very active, sometimes cities. During their stay, the delega- of performing arts, spectator and quieter—not so unlike those of tion also visited the Harbin Planning participation sports (from ice fishing siblings. One passionate volunteer Exhibition Hall, an impressive display and skating to pond hockey champi- sometimes makes it all work. Zheng- featuring photographs, artifacts, vid- onships to the City of Lakes Loppet). zhou in Henan Province is Richmond, eos, and a gymnasium-sized model of Other mayors (from Edmonton, Virginia’s sister city. USCPFA National Harbin and its environs showcasing Canada; Rovaniemi, Finland; Aarhus, President Diana Greer writes, “We are Harbin’s past, current and future Denmark; and Asahikawa, Japan), working on protocol and trying to get development; a large Siberian tiger as well as the UNDP Special Advisor the two cities to have their leaders preserve on Tai Yang Dao (Sun Island); for Strategic Partnerships, spoke of meet. If we can accomplish this in a Harbin high school; and several their various cold cities’ strategies 2015, it will be a great breakthrough.” buildings and areas of historical and for enhancing the economic, social In this issue, we learn about some cultural interest. and environmental quality of life in of these sister relationships with US- During a formal reception and cold-zone areas. CPFA involvement: their background luncheon for Mayor Hodges’ delega- Mayor Hodges’ delegation also and character, the people they draw tion, Mayor Song warmly welcomed visited the Harbin No. 6 Senior High into the mix, and the range of ac- the group, and reviewed the 22-year School, where administrators and tivities. We’ll take a look at these sister-city relationship between Har- teachers explored ways for the mayor pairings: Harbin-Minneapolis, Tai- bin and Minneapolis. He recalled the to help connect the school with high yuan-Nashville, Changsha-St. Paul, visit last summer of a musical ensem- schools in Minneapolis and the Twin Xiamen’s Siming District-Sarasota, ble from the Twin Cities, the St. An- Cities. Quzhou-Redwing, Wuxi-Chattanoo- thony Brass Quintet, to the biennial The delegation enjoyed numerous ga, and Shaanxi-Minnesota. Harbin Summer Music Festival, which Chinese banquets provided by the was cosponsored by USCPFA-MN and Harbin hosts, and visited historical Meet Minneapolis, with support from sights in Harbin including the St. So- Harbin-Minneapolis the Harbin Foreign Affairs Office and fia Cathedral, from the early days of By Ralph Beha numerous private donors. Mayor Russian cultural influence in the city; Song set forth the potential for future the New Jewish Synagogue, where the Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges collaboration between Minneapolis history of Harbin’s role as a haven for and 11th ward City Council Member and Harbin in the fields of trade and Eastern European Jews in the early John Quincy, together with repre- economic development, academic 20th century was recalled in placards, sentatives of Meet Minneapolis and cooperation, and possibilities for a photographs and dioramas of Jewish the USCPFA-Minnesota visited Min- mutual exchange of representative life in Harbin; and the Zhongyang neapolis’ sister city Harbin, China offices. Road “public architectural arts mu- from January 4-7, 2015. The Mayor At the Cold Zone Expo and Fo- seum,” where scores of old buildings of Harbin, Song Xibin, had invited rum, Mayor Hodges and several other are preserved along and around a Mayor Hodges, together with the Harbin sister-city mayors presented cobblestone pedestrian mall. mayors of several other Harbin sister their cities’ perspectives on making ______the most of the winter in their cities. cities with serious winters, to attend Ralph Beha is a Minneapolis-based in- the Harbin Cold Zone Expo and Fo- The Mayor described the many activities and events that serve to attract ternational lawyer and the newly elected rum, held in conjunction with the president of USCPFA-Minnesota. opening of the 31st annual Harbin visitors and energize local citizens in International Ice and Snow Festival. the wintertime, from the Holidazzle Accompanying Mayor Hodges and Holiday Market to the wide range 8 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. By the visitors’ request, several committee members met with them to talk about the Nashville-Taiyuan sister-city relationship. USCPFA Nashville, with the help of Youxie staff at the Chinese Embassy, has helped to obtain contacts and information as needed. Music is a natural exchange for Music City. We were not successful in bringing a traditional Ladies’ Band from Taiyuan to perform in Nashville. But a classical trio from Nashville will be traveling and performing in China this spring, and our Taiyuan contacts are helping with arrangements for them to stop over and perform in Taiyuan. Taiyuan-Nashville’s most successful venture has been a high-school student exchange. Early in the fall, we visit schools (particularly those Taiyuan students and teachers at Nashville’s Channel 5 TV News set (TV-5), February 2014. with Chinese language classes) to Photo courtesy of Barbara Cobb. recruit Nashville students to go. The expense of airfare is hard for Taiyuan-Nashville: that involve both city-city and some to pay, and SCN offers partial Sister Cities state-province relationships.) scholarships as needed. Starting in In 2006, an official delegation July 2013, Nashville students have By Barbara Cobb from Taiyuan visited Nashville and traveled to Taiyuan (after a stopover a letter of intent was signed. In in Beijing) for a week of touring, ac- Nashville (Tennessee) and Tai March 2007, both mayors signed the tivities, and home-hosting with stu- yuan (Shanxi Province) were twinned Sister City agreement while a busi- dents of YuYing school. Each Febru- as sister cities in 2007. But their rela- ness delegation, led by Nashville’s ary, Taiyuan YuYing School students tionship began much earlier. mayor, was in Taiyuan. Several ex- travel to Nashville (after a stopover In the mid-1980s, the governors changes have followed. Delegations in Los Angeles) for a week of tour- of Tennessee and Shanxi Province of Taiyuan government officials ing, activities, and home-hosting signed a Friendly Relations Agree- have explored business interests in with Nashville students, including ment to facilitate exchanges. As the Nashville and the U.S.; a delegation one day attending school. Each capital city of their state/province, of industry-businesspeople is tenta- group is blown away by the warm Nashville and Taiyuan were target tively planned for 2015. The Chi- welcome they receive! This year, by sites of visiting delegations. USCPFA- nese student organization at a local their request, the Taiyuan students Nashville leaders were present at the university has provided interpreters will participate in an environmental signing, and the chapter has partic- as needed. Nashville businesspeople project at Radnor Lake State Park. ipated in hosting receptions, din- participate in official trade delega- The Nashville-Taiyuan relation- ners, and meetings for delegations tions to China, but also travel to ship helps fulfill the purpose of from China and from the Chinese China as individuals. Three USCPFA Sister Cities of Nashville: to connect Embassy in Washington, D.C. tours have stopped in Taiyuan for the people of Nashville to people of Sister Cities of Nashville (www. events or meetings, including the the world, promoting peace through SCNashville.org) was founded in 2007 signing and a follow-up visit mutual respect, understanding and 1990, and Magdeburg (Germany) to a Tai Chi Grandmaster after we cooperation—one person, one com- and Caen (France) were quickly had assisted with an International munity at a time. signed. Early attempts to engage a Tai Chi Symposium in Nashville. We ______also arranged social contacts with a Chinese sister city were unsuccess- Barbara Cobb is a USCPFA member Taiyuan family for the family of a ful. But by 2006, interest in business in the Nashville chapter. She co-chairs professional basketball player from and trade with China had grown the Taiyuan-Nashville Committee for Nashville who played for the Tai stronger, and both sides wanted Sister Cities of Nashville. a relationship. Taiyuan seemed a yuan team. natural choice for sister city because In March 2014, we arranged of the prior connection between meetings with Nashville’s mayor Shanxi Province and Tennessee. and members of the metro council (We are one of the few partnerships for a small delegation from the

Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 9 Changsha-St. Paul thriving. SPA’s sister high school ago, those conversations might have has 8,000 students going to school been tinged with suspicions and By Neil Bray from 7:30 in the morning to 10:00 warnings, but in the modern China at night. The city is building one of there is an earnest desire to host only We are in the resurrected city. An- the world’s largest buildings. Lush as you would want to be hosted. cient walls around the perimeter, buried gardens grow on rooftops. When St. There is a huge difference be- beneath invasions and insurrections, Paul Mayor George Latimer visited tween visiting a country as a tourist rebuilt on top of tombs of past lords for the first time 25 years ago, he saw and visiting as a language student. and lost lives. Skyscrapers of glass look barely a single modern structure. Did And there is an equally profound out on the millions, coming in search he know that in the abject poverty he difference between practicing some of work and wealth. I stayed with a was seeing, there was a phoenix-like language from inside the safety of family of tea farmers, my age exactly, history that would imagine itself into an English-speaking exchange group whose seasoned harvest over decades the present? That city has been built, and actually being forced to com- now yields a condominium and trips invaded, destroyed, rebuilt, besieged, municate basic needs in a homestay. abroad. They share their black tea as restored and transformed over and Whether or not a student’s Mandarin an old treasure from the new world. The over again for more than 2,000 years. improves depends largely on the city is still the gathering place, no matter History is happening there again. quality and planning of the envi- where in the continuum of history we At its core, Changsha has people ronment in which they stay. The are. A purposed center destined to rise who are living small solutions every hosts in Changsha spoke little or no again. day. I didn’t know Changsha then, English and were heavily dependent —call to worship at Unity Church, 2014 when it was all languished industry on my students’ Mandarin to help (N. Bray) and far away from the economic communication along. Not every prosperity of the rest of the world. student felt successful or understood, 2014 was a wonderful year for But I see it now, confident and but everyone engaged in the process. the Chinese program at Saint Paul working. It is wholly different from On March 20, my students and Academy. Thirteen students and a its past incarnations, and yet largely I traveled by bullet train from Bei- teaching colleague traveled with me unnoticed by my Minnesota world. jing to Changsha and were met by to Changsha, China, for a five-day It has sprouted into something “not representatives from a sister school language and cultural exchange with like us.” Will we fear the city and there for the first time. They took Mingde High School, one of the larg- its impending largesse, or will we us into the heart of the city and we est and most respected high schools approach it prepared to be trans- were introduced to host families in Hunan province. My students all formed? who whisked away my students stayed with Changsha families. It was Mingde Middle School features to their Chinese homes for 6 days. the first time that any of the students prominently in Chinese history, Not a word of English was spoken. had ever been to China, much less most notably as an intellectual gar- No money was exchanged. I was experienced the fiery blend of fla- den for revolutionary thought at bringing those precious children into vors and local dialect that have for the turn of the 20th century. John something changing that I didn’t centuries made Hunan a rich and Dewey, the father of progressive and still don’t understand half as unforgettable destination for anyone educational thought in the United well as I want. We were Americans interested in authentic Chinese life. States, lectured there in the 1920s. St. going towards Changsha, leaning Although the time there was book- Paul Academy sent its first students into the confusion, relying on small ended with valuable time in Beijing to visit in 2010 after months of nego- acts of community to be transformed and Shanghai, the memories from tiation and careful planning between ourselves. Changsha remain the most indelible my predecessor, Aaron Bohr and the The fastest, most productive in the minds of my students. Mingde school leadership. We visited Changsha is a city literally on the again in 2012. Only after that was a vocabulary lesson that I have other side of the earth that is being bona fide homestay discussed and ever taught reborn. Perhaps you haven’t heard considered. Approaching the city, the chil- of Changsha. It is 2,300 years old. While hosting international stu- dren were looking out into the It is the capital of Hunan province. dents from Europe is common for unknown, and it was impossible for It has more than 7 million people American high school students, it is them not to feel afraid. Numerous and as many 30-story buildings as relatively rare in China. It can be an times since we returned home, I’ve New York City. It is St. Paul’s sister enormous risk for a school to invite recalled my students standing on the city in China. But that doesn’t mean kids who are so culturally different edge of that uncertain “abyss.” that Minnesotans are there. There into Chinese homes. “What if any- “You’ll be right there when I don’t are only a handful of non-Chinese thing happened? China is very poor” understand, right?” I’m sorry but I people there at all. It is not made were common refrains. The safety of won’t. comfortable for the Westerners like the American guests was foremost in “What if I don’t eat spicy food? If Shanghai or Beijing. The dialect can Mingde officials’ minds. I was told I don’t want to eat anything?” Then be incomprehensible Mandarin. The that the Chinese families would you will be hungry… food is extremely spicy. Fermented be thoroughly vetted and carefully “Do I give my gift as soon as I tofu is the hot dish. The city is groomed to host Americans. Years meet them?” Allow the relationship 10 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 jumpsuits, three SPA students pre- Xiamen-Sarasota China Friendship pared speeches for the morning Gardens announcements heard by all 8,000 By Dr. Carolyn Bloomer In the Twin Cities, the two sister-city Mingde students. In the Chinese relationships have bloomed in many literature, mathematics and science The Siming District of Xiamen ways through the years, and China gar- classes, on the basketball courts, SPA and Sarasota, Florida became sister dens are yet to come. students were sprinkled in among cities in 2007. Dmitry Shoutov, PhD, St. Paul-Changsha Sister City China hundreds of Chinese kids. Stories free-lance writer and Assistant Chief Friendship Garden: The China Garden filtered back to me of host trips to of the North American Bureau of the Committee of USCPFA-MN and the the Chinese malls, an impromptu Beijing Review, wrote an article about MN China Friendship Garden Society evening rendezvous with groups of the relationship for the March 2013 are working with the City of St. Paul, friends, and weekend hikes up local Review. He said, “It takes a lot of effort the City of Changsha, Hunan Province to build a city partnership. Siming in China, and the St. Paul Parks & Rec mountains. Five days later, riding Department, to create a China Garden northeast to Shanghai with Chang- District of Xiamen was selected as at Phalen Park, next to beautiful Lake sha at our backs, each student called Sarasota’s sister city because of the Phalen, using Changsha-style architec- their host family, exhausted and two parties’ similarities. Siming is a ture. This would be a sister-city China grateful for the true gifts of cultural coastal community with a subtropical Friendship Garden with Changsha-style exchange. climate featuring beautiful botanical architecture. Changsha has been the gardens and outdoor sports. Both like sister-city to the City of St. Paul since The future public art displays, symphony, opera 1988. This month I am making prepa- and jazz while tourism contributes a Beiming Yuan—Garden of Northern rations to begin our next exchange lot to both economies.” Brightness: The China Garden Commit- with Mingde in 2016. I look forward The following is a timeline for tee of USCPFA-MN and the MN China to the next educational break- major points along the way: Friendship Garden Society are working to through, hoping for a two-way stu- create a China Garden at Washburn-Fair 2007: Official sister-city signing dent exchange that brings Mingde ceremonies were held in each city. Oaks Park, across from the Minneapolis students to SPA and social media Institute of Arts. This will be a sister-city 2008: A 10-person delegation China Friendship Garden with North- dialogue between kids in St. Paul and headed by the Xiamen deputy mayor, ern-style architecture. Harbin has been Changsha. interested in city planning and pub- the sister-city to the City of Minneapolis ______lic art policies and practices, visited since 1992. Neil Bray is World Languages Depart- Sarasota. At this very time the huge Please visit the new China Garden ment Chair and Middle School Chinese enlargement of a Xiamen elementary Society website at mnchinagarden.org teacher at St. Paul Academy. He is pupil’s accepted entry into Sarasota’s also chairs USCPFA-Minnesota’s St. annual Embracing Our Differences Paul-Changsha sister-city committee. (EOD) exhibition was on display on to breathe first. “How will I explain my Amer- ican family?” You mean your two mothers, your divorced parents, your biracial household, your adoption, your Japanese ethnicity? That will be up to you. “I’ve forgotten how to introduce myself…” “How do you say vegetarian...” Pens scrawled pigeon pinyin on notebooks. The kids and I were going to be unconventional visitors. I couldn’t tell them anything for certain except to hold uncertainty close. With all my years of living in China, I didn’t really know what I was doing. In the waiting, the suspended judgment, the sincere effort to look through children’s eyes and perceive the in- tentions of our hosts, we were all but stepping out, going on faith. The homestay had its unforget- Shen Hongying, 6-year old first grader at Little Egret Elementary School in Xiamen, Fujian, table moments, forming wonderful holds a copy of “Me and You”, her entry to the 2009 international Embracing Our Differences bonds and new language confidence. exhibition held annually in Sarasota, FL, which won first prize in the student division, bringing Dressed in their Mingde uniform an award of $1000USD to her school.

Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 11 the campus of Ringling College of Art and Design. In their annual cycle of exhibiting student artwork from Sarasota sister cities, Manatee Community College hosted an exhibition of artwork from Xiamen University students, which remains in the permanent collection of the College (now State College of Florida). 2009: Two Xiamen artists—a wa- tercolorist and a traditional ink paint- er—visited Sarasota for two weeks, were home-hosted, and interfaced with many different segments of our Sarasota community, both formally and informally. USCPFA-Sarasota and our local Gulfcoast Chinese American Association (GCAA) collaborated on hosting arrangements and schedules. A six-year-old, first-grade pupil from Xiamen won a $1000 prize for her school in the student division of Sister-city friends from Quzhou and Redwing gather near the dugout where Americans hid the Embracing Our Differences (EOD) from the Japanese after crash-landing near Quzhou in 1942. Photo courtesy of Tao Peng. annual exhibition on the Sarasota Bayfront. At an all-school, end-of- year awards assembly, Dr. Carolyn tion organized by Professor Qin Jian, Dr. Dmitry Shoutov and Huang Bloomer personally delivered the Chair of the Multimedia Department Wei, Assistant Chief and Chief Edi- EOD check to the principal of Little of Xiamen University and Dr. Caro- tors of the North American Bureau Egrets elementary school and also lyn Bloomer, Liberal Arts Professor at of Beijing Review, visited Sarasota for delivered prizes to five 5th-grade Ringling College of Art and Design. the purpose of researching an article girls whose play was accepted into SCAS, GCAA, and USCPFA-Sarasota on Sarasota’s sister city relationship the international Young Playwrights co-hosted Professor Qin’s visit to with Xiamen, and were hosted by competition sponsored by Sarasota’s Sarasota, which included lectures and the city, SCAS and USCPFA-Sarasota. Florida Studio Theatre, plus an award meetings with faculty to discuss future Dr. Shoutov’s article was published in to a third-grade boy whose photo- exchanges. We produced a fully bilin- the March 13, 2013 issue, which can graph had been accepted into Sister gual exhibition catalog. be accessed at http://www.bjreview. Cities Association of Sarasota (SCAS) Xiamen hosted two Sarasota artists com/culture/txt/2013-03/11/con- All-Sister Cities Photography Exhibit for two weeks at Xiamen University tent_525560.htm and currently continues to hang in and Jimei University. After their 2014: Sister Cities Association of City Hall. These awards were the sub- return, the artists gave public presen- Sarasota, USCPFA-Sarasota, and Gulf- ject of a front-page story with color tations on their visits at the Sarasota coast Chinese American Association photo in the Xiamen Daily and the Art Center and elsewhere and have co-sponsored a public reception and weekly bilingual language newspaper since attributed shifts in their artistic invitational dinner to honor four Common Talk. development to their China visit. Chinese scholars from the PRC who Ringling College of Art and Design 2012: Xiamen Municipality award- are newcomers to Sarasota: Dr. ZHANG hosted an exhibition of digital images ed Sarasota’s Dr. Ed Lin a $1,000,000 Fan, Curator of Asian Art at the of works from Fuzhou University’s USD “Leading Pioneer” technological Ringling Museum; Dr. SHI Xia, New Xiamen College of Art and Design, innovation grant for research and de- College history professor; ZHANG including lacquer painting, sculpture, velopment of his wound-healing treat- Shizhong, Fulbright Scholar at New graphic design, interior design and ment technology. Dr. Lin was a found- College; and Dr. MA Qian, postgrad- space planning. ing member of the Gulfcoast Chinese uate fellow at Mote Marine Research Ten entries by Xiamen students American Association, a community Laboratories, who is also a graduate of were accepted into an All-Sister Cities support group for the Xiamen-Saraso- Xiamen University College of Marine photographic competition sponsored ta sister city relationship; he is also a Science. by SCAS and exhibited at Sarasota member of USCPFA-Sarasota and Sister ______Cities Association of Sarasota. County Libraries and Ringling College Dr. Carolyn Bloomer, a board member of of Art and Design. 2013: Xiamen University marine the USCPFA-Sarasota chapter for over 10 2011: Selby Gallery, Ringling science postgraduate fellow at Mote years, has been the SCAS City Director for College of Art and Design, hosted Marine Research Laboratories in Sara- Sarasota’s Sister City relationship with “Hanging in the Balance: 10 Emerging sota gave a presentation at Sister Cities’ Xiamen since the official signing in 2007. Chinese Artists,” a multimedia exhibi- multi-city Sustainability Conference. 12 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Quzhou-Red Wing understanding of the culture and people-to-people communication. people, the exchange teacher would The two cities are still deeply By Tao Peng stay with local families, participating involved in talks about higher educa- in the activities as a family member. tion exchanges, and what teacher and Had it not been for great courage, These successful teacher exchanges student exchanges might look like at an unexpected accident and legend- opened up other opportunities for this level. Recently, we successfully ary rescue, Quzhou, Zheijiang prov- cultural exchange. connected two classrooms, one in Qu- ince, would still be a small, quiet city Soon after teacher exchanges zhou Technical College and the other at the south of the Yangtze River, and began, students from each city par- in Southeast Technical College, via Red Wing, Minnesota would remain ticipated in an annual International video conference. This format would just another small, quiet city on the Young Artist contest, for which a greatly improve our communication, bank of the Mississippi River. Instead, theme is proposed each year and stu- and also serve as a way for classroom an historical event more than 70 years dents from various countries submit exchange in the near future. ago changed the fate of these two cit- art work based on the theme. These No one knows what the future ies, linking them forever as sister cities student art works make their way to holds for any of us, but the peoples and bringing together their peoples in different places for display. of Quzhou and Red Wing know that a long-lasting friendship. A few years after the sister-city the future is exciting, with endless In 1942, the United States relationship began, an opportunity possibility. launched an air raid on Tokyo, Ja- for an exchange of artists presented ______pan’s capital city. Later known as the itself. As a fully accredited member Tao Peng resides and works in Red Wing. Doolittle Raid, this was a response to of the Alliance of Artist Communi- He is a vice-chair of Red Wing Sister Cit- the brutal Japanese attack on Pearl ties, Anderson Center in Red Wing ies Commission. Born in China, Peng is Harbor in December 1941. Though provided two- to four-week retreats fluent in Mandarin and English and acts the Doolittle mission was a success, it from May to October for exceptional as interpreter for the Red Wing sister-city functions. suffered a setback; originally, raiders international artists and scholars. were supposed to land in China after Quzhou and Red Wing began to ex- the bombing mission, but due to low change artists on an annual basis for Wuxi-Chattanooga fuel, they crash-landed on the coast of a month-long stay in each other’s By Bob Edwards China around Zhejiang province. Pi- community. A visiting artist would be lots that survived the crash, with help able to interact with the local artist, Chattanooga, fourth largest city in of Chinese civilians, later returned to have their work reflect what they Tennessee, with a population of over safely to the United States. learned about the other culture, and 171,000, is paired with Wuxi, Jiangsu Fifty years later, a group of Amer- to present their work to their home province, having a population of over icans from Red Wing, Minn. went to community upon return. 6 million. Wuxi’s nickname is “Pearl Zhejiang province in search of any- In 2003, Sister Cities Internation- of Lake Tai” because it is built on the thing left from this mission. When al awarded Red Wing with the Best shore of Lake Tai. It has also been they stopped in Quzhou, they were Overall Program honor, as Red Wing dubbed “Little Shanghai” because of presented with pieces and artifacts and Quzhou entered their tenth year its close proximity to Shanghai and of the planes from the mission, and of the relationship. The award served its fast urbanization and booming heard the story of the people involved as an important turning point in the economy. in the mission, their courage and dar- relationship. Chattanooga fancies itself as the ing rescue. They also visited a cave, Sister Cities International has pro- “Scenic City” due to the Tennessee more of an opening dug into the side vided an important platform for in- River that flows through it and the of a hill, said to be the place where ternational communication, serving Tennessee River Gorge that provides some raiders hid from Japanese sol- as a major carrier of city diplomacy, a passageway to the western United diers after they crashed, some hiding a form of nongovernmental commu- States. Once considered America’s there for more than a couple months. nication. For the next phase, we are most polluted city, Chattanooga’s After exploring and visiting Quzhou, concentrating on people-to-people rebirth as a clean, modern city has the group returned to Red Wing, exchanges to deepen understanding made it a model for others to follow. bringing back this story and also an of each other’s culture. A higher In August 1981, Zhang Xueliang, invitation seeking possible friendship education exchange is also being Council Member of the Chinese with the city of Red Wing. In late 1993, considered. People’s Association for Friendship Quzhou and Red Wing formally signed Fast-forward to today: Relation- with Foreign Countries, visited Chat- an agreement to become sister cities. ships between the two cities have tanooga, and along with Jean Troy, The relationship began with gone beyond friendship, transform- then President of U.S.-China People’s exchange teachers, at first a few ing into family ties. Whenever some- Friendship Association-Chattanoo- teachers serving as ambassadors for one arrives from Quzhou, it feels like a ga, initiated the plans to have Wuxi each city. They went into the school family member has come back home become a sister city of Chattanooga. classrooms, talked about their own after a long absence. We are still do- Jean Troy was born and raised in culture, exposed students of each ing the teacher and artist exchanges, China and once served as USCPFA city to a culture very different from and along with a pen-pal program for Tour leader and National President. their own. In order to achieve better students, we have strengthened our Without her efforts, this relation- Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 13 ship would never have been forged. The official signing of the sister-city agreement took place in Wuxi on Oc- tober 12,1982. Chattanooga mayors who have visited Wuxi include Mr. Pat Rose, Mr. Gene Roberts and Mr. Ron Littlefield. Over the past 33 years, the two cities have had many exchanges in the areas of urban development, environment, education, arts and culture. Chattanooga’s early out- reach to Wuxi set the stage for the introduction of Mandarin Chinese in several area high schools. Pres- ently there are well over 70 Chinese students enrolled in Chattanooga’s two boarding schools. The arrival of a large Volkswagen factory in Chat- tanooga suggests that Chinese auto part manufacturers will soon find a home here as well. Twenty-five years ago, Wuxi presented Chattanooga with three prized Taihu rocks said to represent the plum tree, a pine tree and Mr. Yao Jianhua and Mr. Booker T. Scruggs, June 2014, in Chattanooga. Photo courtesy of bamboo—three friends that endure Bob Edwards. through the coldest winter. Hap- pily, Wuxi and Chattanooga have always been close friends. Plans are and Minnesota Chapter member Bar- Mary Warpeha. underway to re-create Wuxi’s famed bara Harrison said it best in describ- On the China side, we recognize Plum Garden as a sign of U.S.-China ing her experience on the National Mr. An Wei and Mr. Bai Anping, friendship for generations to come. USCPFA Silk Road tour in 1990. After former officials of the Sister Re- ______traveling along the old Silk Road in lationships in the Foreign Affairs Western China for many days, when Office in Shaanxi Province, and Ms. Bob Edwards is a longtime USCPFA Barbara finally arrived in Xi’an, she Liu Xianlian who have maintained member and leader of the USCPFA- said it “felt like home.” And that’s long-standing friendship with us. We Chattanooga chapter. true for many of us—Xi’an and great- are grateful for the support from the er Shaanxi feel like “home” to us. entire staff of the Sister City Depart- Shaanxi Province and Extraordinary individuals made ment of the Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Minnesota this relationship happen 33 years ago. Office in working with USCPFA-MN USCPFA is an all-volunteer group that to promote the sister relationship. By Mary Warpeha was founded in 1974 as a national How did this great sister relation- and Linda Mealey-Lohmann organization with a mission of work- ship begin? Between 1979 and 1981, ing on people-to-people diplomacy the Hsiaos and Ptashnes, and other Minnesota and Shaanxi have a between the people of the U.S. and dedicated USCPFA-MN volunteers, long and wonderful relationship. the people of China. The Minnesota spent countless hours to make this Our commonalities include unique Chapter of USCPFA was the driving dream a reality. Joyce and CC ini- cultural centers, expanding industrial force that brought about the sister tially proposed the idea for a sister centers, important agricultural areas relationship between Minnesota and relationship to USCPFA-MN, and and prestigious large universities— Shaanxi in the early 1980s. Fred Ptashne, the Chapter President, Xian’s Jiao Tong Da Xue and the USCPFA-MN has had many won- enthusiastically approved the idea. University of Minnesota. We appre- derful members who worked tireless- This was followed by an official trip ciate Shaanxi’s long, rich history with ly over many years to foster, create, to Shaanxi by Joyce and CC Hsiao its many historical and famous sites and sustain this relationship: Joyce to meet with Vice Governor LI Lian including the Terra Cotta museum, & CC Hsiao, Fred & Millie Ptashne, Bi to discuss details about creating the restored City wall, Hua Shan and Bill and Garnett Kirchner, Barbara the sister relationship and a letter of more throughout the province. Harrison, past President of USCPFA support from Minnesota Governor We also appreciate the people National, Fred & Jennie Hsiao, CJ Liu, Al Quie to Shaanxi Governor Yu we’ve met and the deep relationships Ming and Jim Tchou, Jolie Klapmeier, Mingtao suggesting the formation of we’ve developed there. In fact, the Howard Knutson, Larry Coleman, a Friendship State-Province Relation- former National USCPFA President Charles Petersen and Co-President ship. USCPFA-MN played a vital role

14 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 in helping Governor Quie develop the co-sponsored a tour, “Xian and Rural of the equipment and protocols of Friendship Agreement. In September Shaanxi,” which included stays in An the public and private operations 1982, Joyce Hsiao took the lead for Shang Village near Xian, four days of was a highlight. The following year, USCPFA-MN in hosting the advance hiking in Changqing National Nature members of the Minneapolis team delegation from Shaanxi, including Reserve in the Qinling Mountains were invited to present and participate Mr. He Ke Jing, who traveled to Min- near Hanzhong. Xian and its history in a provincial conference in Xian, a nesota to make arrangements for the were also included. mutually beneficial sharing of ideas formal signing ceremony. A USCPFA-MN Board Member par- and procedures. All of this ultimately led to the ticipated in an editing project which USCPFA-MN cooperated with the one-week visit by Governor Yu Ming culminated in publication in Shaanxi Minneapolis Institute of Arts to host Tao and LI Lian Pi, HE Ke Jing, SHEN of the story book, Old Land New Tales dinner for a delegation of scholars Xi Bang, ZHU Jing Qi, and YU Zhi in 2014. Twenty stories of members participating in the opening lectures Zhong in October 1982 for the official of the Shaanxi Writers Association for the major art exhibit: “Beyond the signing of the Friendship Agreement. were chosen to represent important First Emperor’s Mausoleum.” Mem- This delegation was one of the highest- literature originating from the prov- bers were encouraged to attend the level delegations to ever visit the U.S. ince and its people. These stories were two days of lectures by Shaanxi and at the time. The signing ceremony took translated by members of the Shaanxi Greater China experts discussing the place in the State Capitol on October Translators Association and then sent custom-designed exhibit. The Minne- 19, 1982. The official document was to volunteers in the U.S. for further apolis Institute of Arts holds one of signed by Minnesota Governor Al editing. As a follow-up, Mary Warpeha the major collections of Chinese art Quie and Shaanxi Governor Yu Ming was able to meet with one storyteller in the U.S. Tao. Among the USCPFA-MN members and two translators in Xi’an to discuss In 2012, at the International present were Fred and Millie Ptashne, the story and the logistics of collegial Friendship Cities Conference in CC and Joyce Hsiao, CJ Liu, Jennie translation and editing. Chengdu, the Shaanxi Peoples Asso- and Fred Hsiao, Ming and Jim Tchou, Many delegations have traveled ciation for Friendship with Foreign Meiling Hsu, and Meiling Saunder. through Minnesota. A most recent Countries presented an award to On the 25th anniversary of the one was from Shaanxi and Xian emer- the State of Minnesota for excellent relationship, we hosted an exhibit of gency disaster response departments. participation in friendship activities. Shaanxi clothing, peasant paintings, We connected the delegation to the Mary Warpeha was present to receive photos by a Shaanxi photographer Emergency Management teams of this award and convey it to (then) and women’s decorative handicrafts Hennepin County and the City of Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon at the University of Minnesota. There Minneapolis and our local Jewish at the Minnesota State Capitol. The was a well-attended opening evening Response to Disaster organization. Minnesota Chapter of USCPFA has with festive music performed on They viewed a video describing the been designated the official partner traditional instruments and moon tragedy and recovery from a major in the Shaanxi relationship for the cake refreshments. That same year, interstate bridge collapse in down- State of Minnesota. We work closely the Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Office town Minneapolis. An in-depth tour with international trade staff in the Minnesota Trade Office. Many US- CPFA-MN members have traveled on trade missions with Governors Tim Pawlenty and Mark Dayton. We were also represented as traveling compan- ion with (then) Lt. Governor Carol Molnau on an official visit to Xian. Thirty-three years after the initia- tion of the sister relationship, volunteers in USCPFA-MN are still leaders in keeping the friendship contacts active. Through projects initiated in both countries, we continue to fulfill our mission. ______Mary Warpeha is immediate past co-president and Linda Mealey-Lohmann is vice president of USCPFA-Minnesota.

Drummers from local band welcome members of the Xian and Rural Shaanxi tour. Photo courtesy of Mary Warpeha.

Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 15 16 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 17 Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival Celebrations

This year Chinese New Year fell on organizers verify the answer. Gifts February 19, and it will be the Year of are presented to the people who get the Goat! the right answers. Chinese New Year is also known as Folk Dances: Lion Dance and the Spring Festival. The celebrations last for 16 days, running from Chi- Walking on Stilts nese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern One actor manipulates a small lion Festival on the 15th day of the first made of quilts resembling a real one, month. With a history of over 2,000 and with two persons acting like a big years, various traditional customs and lion, one manages the head part and activities are held during Lantern Fes- the other, the rest. Under the guid- tival that appeal to people of different ance of a director, the lions sometimes ages, including watching lanterns and jump, leap, and do difficult stunts. fireworks, guessing lantern riddles, Walking on stilts is another folk art. performing folk dances, and eating Performers not only walk on stilts yuanxiao. And because every house- by binding them to their feet, but hold eats yuanxiao on that day, it is also do some breathtakingly difficult also called Yuan Xiao Festival. moves. As actors impersonate different characters like monks, clowns, Watching Lanterns and fishermen and perform vivid Red lanterns can be seen every- and humorous acts, the art amuses where. In the parks, lanterns of vari- many people. harmony and happiness. During the ous shapes and types attract countless night of the festival, family members visitors. These visitors marvel that Eating Yuanxiao sit together to taste yuanxiao and various lanterns so vividly demon- Also called tangyuan, yuanxiao is appreciate the full moon. Because strate traditional Chinese folklore. a dumpling ball made of sticky rice appreciating lanterns also offers a flour stuffed with different fillings. good chance for young boys and girls Guessing Lantern Riddles Yuanxiao differs by region and fillings to meet, the Lantern Festival is also People write all kinds of riddles include sugar, rose petals, sesame, regarded as Chinese Valentine’s Day. on pieces of paper, and paste them sweetened bean paste, and jujube ______on colorful lanterns to let visitors paste. Some do not have fillings. Kirk Huang shared this article from guess. If one has an answer to a Yuanxiao is round in shape so it is en- wikipedia.org. riddle, he can pull the paper to let dowed with the meaning of reunion, What Is USCPFA Work? By Jane Lael A fellow USCPFA member once bean curd in sheets, stinky dried fish Thrilled I was to sit among this chided me, saying, “You only work in tall metal containers—all sorts of group of missionaries booted out of with the national (via the USCR). You things I’d never heard of—and told China, pro-Mao politicos, and odd- need to work more on the local. We’re me where to get it. A university stu- balls like me, united by our passion losing membership.” This sparked me dent from Hong Kong assisted with for China. In those days, the early to examine my own USCPFA work, the first order. The news got out, and ‘70s, the USCPFA was an oasis in the and to ask myself, “What is USCPFA every Chinese person in St. John’s desert of anti-Communist reflexes work?” showed up, the store ringing with and just plain ignorance about Chi- I reviewed my history with China. Cantonese. na. For me it was simple: people with I grew up in a cow town in Wyoming: Discovering the USCPFA whom to share my love for Chinese 2,400 people, mostly Caucasian, After five years, I moved back people and things Chinese, purpose- main business ranching. Chun King to the West. Miserable without the ful activity, education. Chow Mein was my only contact with store’s rich interactions, I felt un- I went on USCPFA tours to China things Chinese. directed, and no friend or family in 1977 and 1979. I felt at home in In the early 1970s I married and member shared my interest in things China in 1977. I’d simply have stayed moved to Newfoundland, Canada. I Chinese. In a Denver bookstore, I saw there, had it been allowed. opened a natural foods store, which a poster for Shirley MacLaine’s movie What’s it all about, this China pas- swiftly morphed into a natural, spe- on China. There I found the Denver sion? A Denver friend, who became cialty and foreign foods store. Chi- USCPFA: Shirley’s movie, books, in- a Buddhist nun, said, “Jane, think nese customers wanted sticky rice, formation, and tours to China? Wow! about it. Everyone’s been Chinese 18 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 at one time or another!” A friend in The Sister City organization edgeable editor. Where did I get the Hawai’i once said, “I went into an decided to run a students’ tour to background? The USCPFA. antique store and touched an old Wuxi, Chattanooga’s sister city, in Grateful to the USCPFA Chinese chest. Jane, every hair on my July of 2007. I went as a chaperone, I am forever grateful to the Denver body stood straight up. I just knew and three of my students came too. USCPFA for being the first to provide I’d starved to death in China and They were the only ones who spoke a venue for me to express my love incarnated over here so I could eat!” any Chinese, and were very popular for Chinese people and things Chi- Whatever it is, once ignited, in the shops, translating for the other nese, to assist me to channel all that it wants to flame. Newly single, I students. energy into something positive, for worked at the Graduate School of In- My story, not unique for our educating me, for providing unique ternational Studies at the University members, is textbook USCPFA. The opportunities and unique people to of Denver as a copy editor on their passion gets triggered, and it moves associate with. For running those Monograph Series in World Affairs. on its own momentum. Our USCPFA tours to China that, more than any- An American student started teaching stories are an expression of its very thing, sent ripples through my entire me Chinese. Then, for three years I principles. I know I build friendship life. I express USCPFA principles on dated Sam, who is Chinese. He taught between the peoples of China and the a daily basis, in all the myriad forms me to make jiaozi and Peking duck. U.S. from the core of my being. It just they take. That’s what it’s all about. He came to stay with my family one flows, when I least expect it. The Denver chapter no longer ex- summer in Wyoming, and worked Visiting family in Wyoming, I was ists. And it would not now be the oasis with my dad. Priceless cross-cultural standing in line at the post office in in the desert. People find information lessons. Laramie. In came a Chinese man, about China on the Internet, book On the second tour to China, I was Shaofeng, then his wife, Hairong, and their own flights, read the plethora recruited to Thunderbird Graduate baby. Of course I said “ni hao,” and of China-focused books and articles, School of International Management within an hour I was at their home see China news on TV. All manner of by the young man sitting next to me, on campus, and we talked for hours. groups provide China-focused edu- a T-Bird graduate and fellow USCPFA They were thrilled to find someone cation and camaraderie. Schools and member. I went. I studied Chinese. who had been to China, speaks a universities teach Chinese culture and I then spent 18 years in Hawai’i, little Chinese, and who clearly loves language. Business contacts abound. living in a mix of cultures, before them. I was thrilled to be with them. It is no wonder that our sharing moving to Tennessee. There, on my Hairong assisted with my Chinese doesn’t always yield increased mem- remote one day, I “mis-hit” a number class via email, and I edited a story bership. But that does not diminish and landed on Dish Network’s CCTV- she wrote. our actual friendship work! 9, the Chinese English-language I copyedited the University of Every USCPFA member radiates channel out of Beijing. Stunned that Tennessee-based educational jour- positive energy about China and there was such a thing, I was glued nal Education About Asia for seven things Chinese in his or her unique to the set in my free time, taking in years. How did I get the job over an life, touching people in many ways. all of new China, sometimes in tears, equally qualified editor? My China From a smile that surfaces when one sometimes in joy. I’d not been there background. How did I get to China? sees a Chinese person, to research in in twenty years. The dormant flame USCPFA. How did I get recruited to U.S.-China relations, it all counts, it shot sky-high. I began re-studying Thunderbird where I was grounded in all works, and it is all one can do. Chinese. I taught Chinese to a Uni- basic Chinese? By a USCPFA member, The USCPFA quietly trained and versity of Tennessee student headed on a USCPFA tour to China. educated thousands of China “am- for a summer trip to China. I joined For three years I attended the bassadors” whose work is ongoing in the Chattanooga USCPFA. I really American Council for Teaching For- ways large and small. Keep in mind liked teaching beginning Chinese, eign Languages conferences. I did an the purpose of the USCPFA: to build called schools in Chattanooga to in-depth exploration of the Chinese friendship between the peoples of offer volunteer classes. Not one was language section, learned about the China and the United States. Exam- interested––this, in 2003. state of teaching Chinese in the U.S., ine, in this regard, the deep cultural Triggering the Passion had fun with the Chinese people interchanges expressed even in one and families––especially the brilliant USCR. Let’s celebrate the results of our Then, at our USCPFA Chinese New Chen family of Better Chinese––and Year’s dinner, I sat next to a person hard work! the China-focused vendors, encour- I say to all of us: Job well done! I didn’t know. I shared my school aged them in their work, and wrote story. She said, “Oh, you can teach in it up for ... the US-China Review. ______my room, just come an hour before I like to edit. I put my business school starts. I’ll clear it with the card out at the conference. I’ve now Jane Lael is an editor of the US-China principal, and tell the students.” Just edited a stream of books on China Review. like that, the first Chinese class in a and Asia. I deepen my knowledge Tennessee public school. I taught for this way, helping to further commu- three and a half years. Now, of course, nication between the U.S. and China the private schools teach Chinese, as and other parts of Asia. Publishers do the public schools. are pleased to find a China-knowl- Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 19 Remembering Sidney Shapiro By Mindy Ratner I embarked on the adventure of a The photo lifetime at the end of April 1998, when was taken I left the Twin Cities and headed to in Sidney Shapiro’s Beijing to begin work as a classical home in music host on the English Service of August 2010 China Radio International. I arrived (age 94). exhausted and somewhat disoriented, Photo but a soon-to-depart radio colleague courtesy of made sure right away that I’d meet Mindy up with one of her favorite people in Ratner. China. So, on my very first day in the city, she and I and a couple of other American women piled into a taxi and headed for the hutong home of Sidney Shapiro, then in his eighties. He was gracious and welcoming, a real gentleman with impeccable manners and a New York-style sense read, wrote and spoke Mandarin with Sidney was always interested in of humor which was familiar and the greatest ease and could convey my work as a classical music host on wonderful! I think he was thrilled the subtlest nuances of his adopted the radio, and I know he missed me to have someone to whom he could tongue. He was a prolific author, on China Radio International when I tell Yiddish jokes, and he was my first translator and editor. The collec- returned. He was extremely comfort- connection with the Beijing Jewish tion of essays Jews in Old China was able with technology and, even as community. compiled, translated and edited by his eyesight waned, he used to “surf” Sidney led a modest life, but with Sidney, and was the first thing I read radio channels until he found me a certain elegance. Maybe it was the after meeting him. A tiny handful of on the air somewhere with classical time and place from which he came. his other literary accomplishments music from Minnesota Public Radio. He spoke English with a New York ac- includes a book about Dr. George Ha- What a great and loyal fan was he! cent, to be sure, but it was with those tem (known in China as Ma Haide); a I returned to Beijing in autumn lovely, pear-shaped tones reminiscent memoir, My China; and the definitive 2014 for a brief visit, and had an op- of a 1940s movie actor. As for his ap- translation of the epic Chinese classic portunity to see Sidney twice, the last pearance, he dressed in the Chinese Outlaws of the March. time on National Day, which I know manner, with slippers on his feet, I’ve returned to China numerous meant a great deal to him. We didn’t and always looked distinguished. His times to visit friends over the years, have much conversation since by that home was a very old house in a tradi- and Sidney was always at the top of time he wasn’t really up to it, but his tional neighborhood nearly overrun my list! We’d e-mail or I’d call from daughter Yamei and granddaughter by international tourists searching for the States, and get a list of delicacies Stella and I sat together on my last the “authentic” Beijing. he wanted me to bring: a particu- day in town, gazing out at the drizzle Sidney and I became fast friends lar brand of coffee candy that his that fell, eating roasted sweet potatoes and, on the many times that I’d go mother used to have around the and chatting quietly. to visit him, he’d regale me with apartment when he was young, or Then I had to say goodbye, re- brilliantly crafted stories which gave a certain type of Jewish pastry that luctantly, knowing that it would be me a glimpse of his life on the other he especially liked. For you, Sidney, the last time. As much as I didn’t side of the world from where he’d anything! When I’d see him, we’d sit want to leave I didn’t linger, because grown up. He was like a teacher, too, together and drink tea and catch up. I thought my heart would break. As explaining the political and cultural Then, we’d head to one of the many it turns out, Sidney passed away less intricacies of the transformation of restaurants overlooking the lake in than three weeks later, just short of China. I learned so much from him the park nearby. We’d walk down his ninety-ninth birthday. In the end, and that, in turn, has enriched my there together, and he always stopped even though he’s gone, his enduring own life on an ongoing basis. He be- to chat and laugh with neighbors and friendship remains a priceless gift and came a naturalized Chinese citizen in friends we’d meet along the way. He an enduring source of happiness! the 1960s, and served as a longtime was totally in his element when going ______member of the CPPCC. out and about, and everybody knew Mindy Ratner, of USCPFA-Minnesota’s Sidney Shapiro was a man to him. He loved it! chapter, is a classical music host on whom language meant so much. He Minnesota Public Radio. 20 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Transitions Elaine Griebenow George died in April 1987. Elaine and joined a group of like-minded Elaine was born February 8, 1921 and George had joined Colonial proponents forming a local chapter in Tyler, Minn. and died January 22, Church in Edina in January of that of an organization that achieved na- 2015, in Edina, Minn. For many years, year. Elaine has been an active mem- tional status in 1974: the US-China she was a member of USCPFA-Min- ber ever since, serving on numerous Peoples Friendship Association. She nesota and served on its board of committees. Elaine actively pursued made her first trip to China in 1978, directors. She was known to many for medical and educational missionary and six years later spent a year in her easy smile, kind manner, endless trips starting in 1988. She joined a technological school in Hunan, vigor, and good conversation. an alliance of Colonial Church and China, teaching English as a Second When Elaine was coming of age World Vision on a three-week mis- Language. (1942), she said there were only three sion to Kenya, Uganda, South Africa In her 30-year law practice, Suel- career paths for women. They could and Lesotho. Later trips included len was known as a valiant and become secretaries, teachers or nurses. working with Nicaraguan refugees in determined defender of justice rep- She chose nursing because she felt she Honduras, teaching conversational resenting people arrested and ac- could be of the most help to others. English in Changli, China (1991) and cused—many times falsely—of crim- From 1945-1962, Elaine was a Pushkin, Russia (1995). inal activity. She had expertise and community health nurse in Black In 1993, she returned to Cam- interest in cases as diverse as shaken Hawk County, Iowa. A mutual friend bodia to assess educational needs of baby syndrome, child molestation, introduced her to a young pastor, children. Also that year, she went to and the innocence project. She was George Griebenow, and they married Costa Rica to do the same work. Her a member of the Georgia Association in 1951. In 1962, Elaine and George last mission trip was in 2000 where of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the adopted their daughters, Mei and Sue, she taught home-based business in League of Women Voters. from Hong Kong. Elaine took two Bulgaria. Focusing on national needs, After battling a series of critical ill- years off to settle them into their new Elaine (at age 85) helped on clean-up nesses, Suellen finally succumbed on family. From 1964-1972, Elaine was a teams after the Iowa flood and Hurri- December 28, 2014, at Tanner Medi- school nurse for Waterloo School Dis- cane Katrina. cal Center in Carrollton, Georgia. A trict, where the family was living and Elaine’s trust in the Lord took her celebration of her life and a sharing the girls went to school. Mei recently places both near and far. Her love for of memories was held on Sunday, Jan- reflected, “Someone who didn’t know her family, friends and faith reached uary 18, 2015, at the historic Bradley our family very well took a look at all out to embrace the whole world. As (Train) Depot in downtown Carroll- of us and was clearly trying to figure Mei said of her passing, “She lived ton. She is survived by her partner how we all were related. She looked at large.” Russ Green; her brothers Bob and Joe my German/English 6’6’’ father and Fleming; her son Josh Sager, daughter shook her head; then looked at mom Lily Yeggy, and her grandson Daniel and started nodding and exclaimed Sager. that now it all made sense why Sue Suellen Fleming In Chinese culture there is the and I looked Chinese.” July 22, 1948 –Dec. 28, 2014 “Legend of the Red Thread” that In 1972, the family moved for states: George’s work to Edina, MN. Elaine By Camille S. Yahm “An invisible red thread connects Those who are destined to meet, became a child rehabilitation nurse Three score and six years ago, Suel- Regardless of time, place, or cir- at the University of Minnesota. She len Fleming emerged onto the world’s cumstance. finished her career as an adult reha- stage with a fiery passion for life and The thread may stretch or tangle, bilitation nurse in 1988 at Veteran’s liberty that affected every choice she but will never break.” Hospital in Minneapolis. made. Born in Hogansville, Georgia, Those fortunate to have known After watching the TV mini-series, in 1948 as World War II was ending, Suellen and her indomitable spirit “Holocaust” (1978), Elaine told Mei Suellen was an active, sometimes will recognize that they were bound that she never wanted to stand by feisty child who pursued her early to her through this invisible red while there was suffering or injustice dream to become a lawyer. She was thread. Wherever justice and right in the world. By 1979, she was volun- a graduate of the University of Ala- prevail, there one will find union teering for a three-month stint with bama, received her law degree from with Suellen Fleming. As a fitting the American Refugee Committee. the University of Missouri, and was tribute to Suellen, the Atlanta Chap- She worked at the Thai border with admitted to the State of Georgia Bar ter of USCPFA has contributed a gift an intensive care unit for Cambodian in 1989. in her name to the Ida Pruitt Scholar refugees fleeing the Pol Pot regime. Prior to the United States nor- ship Fund. In 1980, she was awarded a Jefferson malization of relations with China, Award for public service. The award Suellen was living in Atlanta, Georgia, is given to ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expec- tation of recognition. Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 21 CALL TO CONVENTION 25th National Convention US-China Peoples Friendship Association September 11-13, 2015 U.S. and China: Many Faces of Friendship Emory Conference Center, Atlanta, Georgia Registration Website: www.uscpfa-national2015.org The USCPFA-Atlanta chapter is the host. The registration form is enclosed in this US-China Review (see pp 16-17)

Members who wish to submit resolutions, bylaw amendments and/or statements of candidacy for President or Treasurer should mail documents, plus $15 for the first page, $5 each additional page by July 11, 2015, to Barbara Harrison, 3000 Foxpoint Road, Burnsville, MN 55337. In June, the Membership Committee will send each chapter a notice with the August 4, 2015, cut-off date for membership valuation to determine members in good standing (current dues paid) for voting at the convention. One copy of the Plenary Guide will be sent to each chapter leader. Duplicate it and share it as necessary. Please bring the Plenary Guide to the convention.

Ten-Day Educational Tour to China: October 19–29, 2015 Tour to target first-time travelers and teachers/young adults wanting to visit historic China and learn more about its municipal educational system. Fly into Beijing and exit out of Shanghai. On the way, see Great Wall, visit Xi’an, terracotta warriors and museum, then Zhengzhou. Visit children in classroom, see Children’s Palace and sites in Shanghai and more! It’s an adventure! Minimum of six travelers and maximum of ten. Itinerary is under development; tour application will be online by May 18 at www.uscpfa.org. If interested, email Tour Coordinator at [email protected] APPLY BY JUNE 12, 2015.

22 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Friendship Work EASTERN REGION first Confucius Institute in China. And another film, “Tibet, the What inspired me to teach in Chi- Truth,” screened on January 8, 2015: Northeastern New York na? One reason is my love of learn- Chris Nebe’s 2013 documentary pro- On December 13, the chapter ing about cultures and intercultural vides historical background on Tibet celebrated with a Christmas party at exchange and dialogue. In this case, not often considered: the dynastic the Friends Meeting House in Alba- I will learn about my Chinese heri- marriage with the Chinese Tang Dy- ny. Potluck dinner was followed by tage, which I know very little about. nasty in the 7th century and the rise personalized Christmas stockings, I grew up in the U.S. and have rarely of the Dalai Lama and the yellow hat Christmas stories from around the traveled outside the U.S. This will be sect during the 14th century Ming world, and traditional Christmas a great chance to immerse myself in Dynasty. British colonialism promot- carols. a Chinese community and travel a bit ed the independence of Tibet in the Alyssa Decker, a Tech Valley High in China. I have never lived abroad, 19th century to incorporate it into School student, spoke on January so I am really looking forward to the British Empire. The theocratic 18 at the Colonie Library about her the new experience. Another reason ruling class was the basis of the 1959 summer experiences living with the is that our chapter president, Dr. Tibetan revolt, which was supported Lu family in Beijing. Alyssa, currently Christine Brooks, and some other by the CIA to destabilize China. This studying Chinese language, went to associates, wisely suggested I explore 60-minute film was followed by a China under an exchange program opportunities to deepen my under- lively discussion. arranged by USCPFA-Eastern Region standing. Hearing former Secretary of The New England chapter reports and the U.S.-China Cultural Ex- State Madeleine Albright speak about on Mary Klug’s January 2015 trip to change Society. Lu Yueqi, the 16-year- China last spring also inspired me. Shandong Province: Mary stayed in old daughter of the Lu family, will Finally, I want to teach in China the Solar Valley Micro Hotel, where travel to the United States and stay to learn about one of the most im- she presented two symposiums about with Alyssa’s family. portant countries in the world and to ecological sustainability. Mary joined This is a USCPFA chapter that deepen my experience in teaching. I 45 graduates for a reunion of the goes snowshoeing! On February 7, believe that experience teaching in leadership training she had partici- members, their families, students and China and knowledge of Chinese pated in during October, 2014. As a scholars gathered at the Five Rivers culture and language, are key com- part of the reunion, she facilitated Environmental Education Center ponents for me to move forward in a symposium called “Awakening in Delmar. We either bring our own higher education, one of my fields the Dreamer, Changing the Dream snowshoes or rent them at the cen- of experience and interest. I’ll keep (ATD).” (See Fall 2014 USCR for ar- ter. The guides show the uninitiated USCPFA posted on my adventure! ticle about March symposium tour). how to put on snowshoes and how New England Mary also met with Huang Ming, the visionary who developed Solar to walk in them on top of the snow. Richard Pendleton writes that Potluck lunch followed at the Delmar Valley. Huang Ming asked Mary to USCPFA-New England continues to present the symposium to over 300 Reformed Church. coordinate on programming with On February 21, the chapter host- of his employees. The result of these the Center for Marxist Education. two symposiums brought in many ed their annual cooking demonstra- They screened the film “Misunder- tion to show off the serious cooking volunteers requesting to help with standing China” on Dec. 11, 2014 developing an even better sympo- skills of visiting students and scholars. with this synopsis: This 1972 docu- The chefs teach step by step so chap- sium geared towards the Chinese mentary from the National Archives audience, along with those wanting ter members and friends can recreate looks at how Chinese people have the dishes on their own. to become facilitators of the ATD. been depicted in American culture Mary plans to return to Solar Valley Metro DC and film, both positive and nega- in April to take the next steps to ac- Ming Lowe, a Metro DC chapter tive stereotypes: from hardworking complish these goals. builders of railways and mines to member, writes about her upcoming New York City teaching assignment in China: the sneaky and perfidious after the I am delighted to report that I de- Chinese Exclusion Act. Fu Manchu, Rose Sigal Ibsen, a NYC chapter part in late February to teach English Charlie Chan and Madame Chiang member of many years, decided it to college students in China over the Kai-shek all appear, as do the evil would be nice if President Obama next year. There is an orientation in brainwashers of the Korean War. and his family had Chinese names. Shanghai through the Council on Nixon visits China and meets Mao. Thus, in 2013 she forwarded to the International Educational Exchange Today U.S. media continue to per- White House Chinese names in her (CIEE), then I’m off to Jiangxi Normal petuate stereotypes. This film gives unique calligraphy style for President University in Nanchang City, the excellent historical perspective and Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, capital of Jiangxi Province, in east- much to discuss. After the screening, and daughters Malia and Sasha. On ern China. This university has about many in the audience acknowledged January 23, 2014, Rose received a 40,000 students and was home to the that they were not born when Nixon letter from the White House: first visited China in 1972. Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 23 Friendship Work

Dear Rose, 2007, Guiyang was honored as the Top neering projects. We visited villages Michelle and I would like to extend Summer Tourist Destination City of specializing in making incense, batik, our deep thanks for your gifts. China by the Chinese Meteorological embroidery, and barkcloth paper. Of Your generosity is much appreciated. Society. According to environmental course, we have fallen prey to their Each day, I am moved by the thoughtful monitoring, the city’s monthly av- unique wares which follow age-old gestures of people from across our coun- erage temperature in July is a balmy patterns! Buddhism was never widely try, and I am touched by your kindness. 24°C; and its UV radiation is among adopted here, but among the animist Thank you, again, for the gifts. I wish the lowest of the world’s cities. Its air villages, we’ve encountered not only you all the best. quality is rated “excellent” and “good” Guanyin among the local deities, but Sincerely, Barack Obama. on 95% of the days of the year. even a tiny church! Rose Sigal Ibsen, Romanian born, In recent years, the national gov- It’s interesting to observe the in- has an unusual gift for Asian painting ernment has recognized Guiyang as fluence of American pop culture on and calligraphy that could strike some “One of China’s Best Tourist Destina- T-shirts, store names, advertisements, viewers and critics as an inexplicable tion Cities,” “One of the Best Cities to etc., but I wasn’t prepared for the anomaly. Sigal Ibsen’s unique talents Live in China,” and “One of China’s speech that the 16-year-old daughter for sumi-e did not appear until later Best Convention Destination Cities of our driver practiced with me last in life. She can only explain this re- in China.” night after dinner in their home. Her markable ability as a “gift from God.” Guiyang is also home to more topic was that every young person Artist’s Statement: ‘Why did I, an than 37 ethnic minority groups with must have a dream. Her dream was enamellist, become a calligrapher? I Miao and Bouyei ranking as the two shaped by an American TV program, really don’t know. When I went to largest. In January 2015, we were led “Gossip Girls,” which she watches China to study, something happened to the Qing Dong Nan region, about a online. She aspires to become a fash- in my heart—the brush, the paper, two-hour drive southeast of Guiyang. ion designer in New York and design and I have become one spirit.’— We were first treated with the famous for Victoria’s Secret! Our guide’s little American Society of Contemporary Artists Fish in Sour Soup (hot pot) in Kaili daughter sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Rose Segal Ibsen has moved and City (famous for its fish). This tradi- Little Star” mixing Miao dialect and can be reached at: 455 North End tional Miao dish, with its unique sour Mandarin with a few recognizable Avenue, #1008, New York, NY 10282- and spicy taste, is a “must order” by words in English. Absolutely ador- 1131; Tel: 212-979-2459 (she does not visitors to Guizhou Province. The fish able! Since our guide speaks English have an email address). is served in either a spicy red soup or quite well, I need to speak Chinese The New York City Chapter ex- a milder white soup. only with our driver, restaurant and tends a grateful thank you to Joseph J. We were then taken to the Xi Jiang hotel personnel, and vendors of the Imbriale, CFP, Vice President, Branch (West River) area’s Thousand-Family- incomparable handcrafts of Guizhou. Manager, Gramercy East Office of Miao Tribe. Standing on top of the Portland, Maine M&T Bank. Mr. Imbriale has been mountain, you have a bird’s eye view Cindy Han writes: graciously handling our USCPFA bank of the whole tribe. After that, we Since 2013, CAFAM has worked account for many years, going back enjoyed a dinner in a Miao family closely with the new Confucius Insti- to the days of Irving Zuckerman’s restaurant. It is a Miao tradition that tute (CI) at the University of Southern presidency. they treat guests with their family rice Maine. The university has partnered wine by feeding you with your hands Northern New Jersey O.C. with Dongbei University of Finance free at your back. Mr. Jose Tavares and Economics in Dalian, China, to Jim Lee reports from a January and I had no choice but to be fed like 2015 personal visit to Guiyang City establish this new Confucius Institute babies. Finally, we finished the day in Maine. It aims to provide a regional in Guizhou province: trip by watching a Miao group dance Guiyang is one of the best plac- resource for educators, business pro- performance. fessionals and community members es in China to live, visit and start And Judy Manton writes about a a business. It is home to 3,940,000 to engage in Chinese language and December visit, also to Guizhou: cultural studies. The CI is now of- people who live in an area of 8,034 In sharp contrast to fascinating square kilometers. As the capital city fering teacher training and language Kashgar on the Taklaman Desert studies in the Greater Portland area. of Guizhou province in southwest- near the border to Pakistan, we are ern China, Guiyang administers one The director of the USM Confucius now spending a week in my favor- Institute, Dr. Joseph McDonnell, subsidiary city, six urban districts, ite part of China: lush Guizhou in three counties and two national-level serves on CAFAM’s board to help the south. Part of this province is jointly forward the mission the two economic development zones. an autonomous region due to the With an average height of 1,070 groups share in fostering Chinese large number of minorities living in cultural understanding in Maine. meters above sea level, the city is wooden villages on the mountains. located on a 26° northern ecological CI has helped host CAFAM’s recent We have been winding our way along cultural celebrations, including a belt. Forests are everywhere in Gui- mountain roads among the terraces yang, covering 41% of the city. In Moon Festival event and our Chinese past huge highway and bridge engi- New Year event. They add authentic 24 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Friendship Work

Chinese resources and expertise to the Palace Museum, Beijing at the chapter at the exhibit. Guests were these events, such as demonstrating Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Then given a beautiful book of the photos Chinese paper cutting and painting we had a delightful luncheon with prepared by Youxie, and entitled for the general public. regular members and also some new “Salute to Friendship.” When Jerry CAFAM hosts a Moon Festival faces of interested China friends. The showed it to his neighbor, member each year, which has traditionally docent-led tour was fabulous. The Harold Kahn, Harold tried in vain featured a potluck dinner and some Richmond Chapter is now planning to find one on the Internet. Harold music and poetry performances for its annual banquet in March 2015, served in the Signal Corps in the among the CAFAM community. Our which includes its annual mem- areas during that time, and the pho- most recent Moon Festival (October bership drive. We are encouraging tos brought back many memories. 2014), however, drew a record stand- college students and others to join Through the efforts of Diana Greer ing-room-only crowd. Most likely due our group and attend the Atlanta on a recent trip to China, assisted by to both the greater exposure via the National Convention in September. Youxie reps, we were able to obtain Confucius Institute as well as an in- The Tenth Annual ChinaFest will a copy of the book for Harold. He is flux of Chinese students studying in be held on February 12-15, 2015, at very grateful for the efforts of every- Maine, there were about 200 people the Ukrop Auditorium at University one involved in getting him the book, sharing a big buffet-style dinner and of Richmond. This is hosted by The and added that most Americans don’t enjoying a performance filled with Rose Group and has become an ex- know that the American military was dance, singing, poetry reading, even citing venue to see Chinese films in in the China Burma India Theater rapping, by participants of all ages. Richmond, Va. Robert Daly, Director during WWII. Mooncakes were served, of course, of the Kissinger Institute on China In an earlier chapter report, we but did not last long! and the United States at the Wood- mentioned an invitation being ex- CAFAM is also kicking off a new row Wilson Center, will give a lecture tended to the chapter by the Nan- effort to promote Chinese culture entitled, “Slow, Simple & Selfless: tong Returned Overseas Chinese through film. We sponsored a screen- What America and Contemporary Federation to establish a friendship ing of the film “The Search for Gen- China Can Learn from the Chinese exchange. During the summer, the eral Tso” on Feb 7, 2015, at the Space Tradition.” invitation from that organization Gallery in Portland, Maine. The film Check out the website www. was received by the chapter inviting is an entertaining documentary that theRosegroup.org to see film synopses several members of the board to be explores the origins of the popular and a brochure on the event. hosted for four days in the Nantong Chinese restaurant dish, General Tso’s area. David Pena and Marge Ket- Chicken. Along the way, it highlights SOUTHERN REGION ter, co-presidents, Marty Penn and Chinese-American culture and histo- wife, and Christine Aylward, vice ry, as well as chefs and food. Atlanta presidents, traveled to Nantong in CAFAM’s biggest event each year The Atlanta chapter planning late September. Nantong is about an is our Chinese New Year celebration, committee has been working hard on hour’s drive from Shanghai, and the held this year on Feb 7 at the West- arrangements for the 25th USCPFA delegation was picked up and taken brook Performing Arts Center in National Convention from Sept. 11- to the hotel mid afternoon, expecting Westbrook, Maine. The highlight is 13 at the Emory Conference Center an early dinner and to bed to recover always our CAFAM Chinese School Hotel in Atlanta. from the long trip. Instead, a banquet students performing a variety of tradi- On Sunday, Feb. 22, the chapter was being held up for our arrival, tional Chinese dances. Other features celebrated the Year of the Ram at Can- and we were guests of honor at this include: lion dancers, arts and crafts ton House in Chamblee with a special special celebration of several hundred activities, delicious Chinese food, a dinner including whole steamed fish, Overseas Chinese who were there to talent show, Chinese tea tasting and Peking-style pork chops, vegetables celebrate the unveiling of a bust of demo, artist’s talk, and short Chinese with garlic sauce, and ground pork Zhang Jian the next morning at the film showings. This event is one of and tofu hot pot. Silent auction and Overseas Chinese Museum. the only opportunities for the general dinner entertainment were part of the Zhang Jian (1853-1926) is a public in the Greater Portland area to evening. well-honored Chinese man, credited experience Chinese culture. We are by a longtime friend in a book on grateful that each year, more and more Southeast Florida his life as “... an important and note- businesses, organizations and individ- In May Youxie sponsored a photo worthy figure who finally brings an uals in Maine have stepped forward to exhibit at a House Office Building in end to the 2,000 years of feudalistic help sponsor the celebration. Washington, D.C. of photos taken ideology. Meanwhile he is also a pio- of American and Chinese military Richmond neer who leads his countrymen to a during WWII along the Burma Road, new society and serves it enthusias- Richmond Chapter had an excit- when the Americans were helping ing event December 13, 2014, when tically.” He was a scholar who started the Chinese fight the Japanese. Jerry many schools, an industrialist who 22 of us toured the Forbidden City Cooke and his wife represented he Exhibition: Imperial Treasures from started various industries, including Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 25 Friendship Work the textile industry near Nantong, pins, were distributed to many offi- Xiaoxi, Secretary, Politics & Law and a patriot who served the people cials and guides. If they didn’t know Committee, CPC Harbin Committee; for a short time as a government about us before, they do now! Mr. XIA Qianming, President, Harbin official. The delegation visited the The chapter’s first meeting of the Culture & Tour Group; Mr. MU Hong- textile museum, part of a very large season was held in December with a feng, Vice Director-General, Harbin textile factory known for its special presentation by Jack Hanscom on per- Pingfang District Government; Mr. blue cotton batik fabric, which is cussion drilling for brine from which SONG Xiangdong (Robert), Vice traded internationally. Officers of the a high-grade salt is made. During Director-General, Harbin Foreign Nantong organization met with the the past summer, Jack and Jianying & Overseas Chinese Affairs; along delegation to discuss possible future visited Zigong, known as “Salt City,” with Jill Griffith; ZHANG Hui (Har- exchanges. located in the Sichuan Basin. Zigong bin Women’s short track (3000 m After visiting museums and tem- has had a salt museum since 1736, relay) speed skating gold medalist for ples in the area, David, Christine, and and once was one of the richest cit- the 2010 Vancouver Olympics); and Marge went to Shanghai as guests of ies in China because of salt trading. Sandy Wang (Harbin PhD candidate the Shanghai Municipal Women’s If you’re interested in dinosaurs you at the U of M). Federation at their 2014 Shanghai might want to visit Zigong because USCPFA-MN hosted its annual International Forum on Women’s of the vast number of dinosaur fossils Chinese New Year banquet to cele- Development held at the Le Royal with bones intact; they were excavat- brate “40 Years of Friendship with Meridien Hotel on East Nanjing Road. ed there in the 1980s and displayed China”—The USCPFA-MN Chapter The all-day session ended with con- in a dinosaur museum. and National USCPFA were founded gratulatory speeches and entertain- We continue to get blogs from our in 1974—forty years ago. In those ment, and a final banquet. Since we 12-year-old China correspondent, early years, to fulfill its mission of were staying at the former Jinjiang Angela Wei, but they soon will come “developing friendships and under- Hotel on West Nanjing Road, we had to an end when the family returns standing between the two countries,” an opportunity to mingle with the from Nanjing after their three-year USCPFA was the only way most many locals during walks between assignment. Americans could travel to China and the two hotels. Women from around Please visit our website uscpfa-pb. USCPFA-MN played a key role in the world attended the forum and ex- blogspot.com to see photos and fol- establishing the sister relationships changed ideas for improving the lives low more chapter activities. between Minnesota and China. Some of women. Unfortunately, no one of those early members were in atten- from the U.S. was on the program. MIDWEST REGION dance, including Joyce Hsiao, Ming The SWF also provided transpor- Tchou, Margaret Wong, and Professor tation to the Zhouzhuang scenic Minnesota Ted Farmer. area (an ancient water town); a visit Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges On April 13, 2015, the annual to a large farm owned by a Shanghai traveled to Harbin China from Janu- USCPFA-MN meeting and election woman; visits to the Chinese and ary 4 to 7 for the 2015 Ice and Snow was held. This meeting was open to Saudi Arabian pavilions at the World Festival. Her 6-person delegation also all members. Expo site; and Bund 22, a high-end included USCPFA-MN Board Mem- commercial building and architec- ber Ralph Beha, as well as Bill Deef, WESTERN REGION tural museum, from the top floor VP International Relations for Meet of which we had a spectacular view Minneapolis, Melvin Tennant of Meet Honolulu of the Shanghai Bund and Pudong. Minneapolis, and 11th Ward City Lenora Leu writes: The opening of the tallest building Council member John Quincy. Mayor On August 17, the beginning of in China (263 floors) in Pudong was Hodges met with Harbin Mayor Song a busy fall season, an orientation to be celebrated from the rooftop during a formal reception and lun- session for new students was held at lounge in which we were served high cheon. The delegation also attended University of Hawai’i-Manoa. Major tea. The Shanghai Women’s Feder- the Cold Zone Exposition and Forum, topics discussed were banking, use ation has had a long relationship visited snow and ice sculptures, and of credit cards, housing, couponing with our chapter, and this visit was a the Russian-influenced St. Sophia to save money, driver’s licenses, car continuation of that friendship. The Cathedral. ownership, landlord-tenant rela- delegation from SWF was hosted by Meet Minneapolis, Bill Deef VP of tions, local customs and etiquette. the chapter last fall, and it was nice International Relations, and USCPFA- Three weeks later, on September 7, to see them again. Jeanie Wu, retired MN welcomed a 4-member delega- these new students were treated to from the SWF, and a longtime friend tion from Harbin on January 29-31. our Annual Welcoming Picnic at Ala of Marge Ketter, was instrumental in The dinner guests included USCPFA- Moana Park, McCoy Pavilion. With making arrangements for our delega- MN Board Members Linda Mea- a total of 73 members and students tion in Shanghai. ley-Lohmann, Ralph Beha, Wen Li, present, the students experienced During both visits, USCPFA me- and Christopher Hang, along with new foods such as hot dogs, po- dallions, as well as you and dual-flag delegation members Mr. WANG tato-macaroni salad, green salads, 26 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 Friendship Work and a local favorite, spicy kim chee. Secretary General of the China Wel- her chinaware from home. It was Some of the new students now eat fare Institute, the teachers’ group ex- wonderful to watch this kernel of an raw salads, which used to be rejected changed ideas with Punahou and Io- idea thrown out by a new member be in previous years. Following lunch, lani schools on how to teach English embraced and developed by all. students played picnic games, paper to middle and high school students. To top off the evening, Jackson airplane flying contest, three-legged The USCPFA Western Region Con- Wong invited his friend and author race and the most fun and popular, ference was held in Vancouver, Can- William Poy Lee (The Eighth Promise) water balloon toss. ada on November 14-17, 2014. Dele- to talk. Lee, who has spent the past On September 7, Mandarin classes gates Frances and Ed Goo, John and five years living and teaching in Chi- for members began. The group was Maylani Chang, Walter and Pamela na, discussed the situation in Tibet. divided into the Beginner’s Class Chang, Vernon Ching, Michael and He mentioned that the government which is using a new text, Mastering Sylvia Louie, Nancy Whitman, Anita has spent a lot of money refurbish- Conversational Chinese—Chinese for Be- Wong and William Wong attended. ing Tibetan religious sites after the ginners by Yi Ren and Xiayuan Liang. The conference was small but very destruction that occurred during the The intermediate class is continuing successful. Delegates met old friends cultural revolution—a destruction, with the same text, Ultimate Chi- and made new ones. he added, that took place not just in nese—Beginner to Intermediate by Living December came in no time and Tibet but all over China. He stated Language. Xiaobin Lin is coordinator preparations began for our annual that Tibetans are free to practice their for this year’s classes, and Kathy Jay Christmas party, which was held on religion and that the pressure to “Free and Sylvia Louie are assistants. December 14. With 250 members, Tibet” is mostly from outsiders—Ti- On Sunday, September 26, our students and families attending, the betans living abroad, Western media, chapter provided financial support, highlight was Santa’s visit with the Richard Gere types. This pressure, he advice and manpower to assist the children. Each child, ranging from contends, hurts the area rather than Chinese Students and Scholars As- newborn to 12 years, received a good- helps, as it fosters distrust between sociation in their National Day ie bag. In addition, individuals and the native Tibetans and the Chinese, Celebration; our chapter has done families received many door prizes and creates a discontent that nor- this for many years. Our board and such as toys and small appliances. mally wouldn’t exist. Many of us had members helped the students prepare One lucky child received an electronic never heard this point of view. the venue, order and deliver the food, keyboard. Throughout the door prize On September 20, one of our past and serve 400+ dinners to community drawings, Vernon Ching, the auc- speakers, activist and historian Ger- members, students and their families. tioneer, kept the group entertained ry Low-Sabado, saw a dream come Dinner was followed by the students’ with his lively remarks and jokes. The true when the city of Pacific Grove own program of songs and dances Chinese Chamber of Commerce 2014 unveiled a stone commemorating which showcased their talents. Narcissus Queen, Brittany Wei Lin the area as a former fishing village. The families of Walter Chang and Lee, First Princess Eula Mai Chu, and Low-Sabado is a fifth-generation Vernon Ching hosted the Parvin Second Princess Taj’a Kam Lin Wong descendant of the village, her great- Scholars on a trip to Aloun Farms in added to the festivities and took part great grandparents having lived and October to experience the Pumpkin in the program. fished the area from 1853. Her family Festival. Here they selected pumpkins South Bay helped launch commercial fishing for carving, had fun in the corn maze, in the area and began the tradition and experienced their first Halloween On August 24, we had a Chinese of squid fishing. But in 1906 the in Hawai’i. banquet in early celebration of the Chinese town was mysteriously On November 1-2, at the Splendor Moon Festival. It was a wonderful burned, and the history forgotten of China Exhibition (sponsored by evening because of the way it came until Gerry Low-Sabado came on the the Chinese Chamber of Commerce about. A few months earlier, a new scene. Through her tireless efforts of Hawai’i), our booth featured a family—The Wongs—had joined and persistence, as well as help from photo exhibit of chapter activities. A after their daughter gave our group the local museums and the city, the drawing to win a Peoples Republic of a Wushu performance. While some village will now be fully recognized. China one-ounce silver panda coin people put their names on the club Dozens gathered at the ceremony, was an attraction to the booth. This roster, others really jump in and give including Congressman Sam Farr, year’s lucky winner was Albert Chan life to the organization. The Wong Mayor Bill Kamp, and Assemblyman from the Chinese Physical Culture As- family did just that. Mark Stone. Congressman Farr said, sociation. Last year’s winner returned It was their idea for this banquet. “The Monterey Peninsula celebrates this year and became a new member. “Yes, but who will do all the cook- so much about how California began. On November 11, just before ing?” I asked. “We will,” they said. It’s long overdue that we celebrate the leaving for the Western Region They made specialty dishes from all richness that the Chinese brought Conference, we hosted a dinner for over China. Member Teresa O’Neill to the area.” You can see pictures on a six-member education delegation offered her home as the venue. our blogspot at www.uscpfa-sbay. from China. Led by Pan Yan, Deputy Member Billy Lee drew in a crowd, blogspot.com as usual, and Bet Messmer brought Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 27 Friendship Work

In October, Calligrapher Chan “paper sons/daughters.” The “son” gave us all a short lesson. He was or “daughter” (but mostly sons) If you do not see your born into a scholar’s family in would claim that his/her father had Guangdong province and studied returned to China to marry and pro- chapter’s activities calligraphy from a young age under create (a common practice). That he/ here, please urge your Grand Master Mai Hua San. In the she was the result, and thus belonged chapter’s leadership to 1970s, he moved to Hong Kong, in the U.S. with his/her father. submit news and where he won many prizes for his After the 1906 earthquake and artwork and became renowned in fire, which destroyed birth records at photos to your USCR his own right. Today his art is ap- the Hall of Records in San Francisco, editors often! The preciated in places as far-reaching as this practice became rampant. In fact publication schedule the Taiwan President Jeou’s personal the original interview location on collection to the Museum of Art in Granite Street ran out of room. Thus, and editors’ emails Hong Kong to the new Chinatown Angel Island Immigration Station can be found at Campus in San Francisco. Each of was created: a set of barracks, a hold- uscpfa.org/uscr.html us may even have had his art in our ing point for people immigrating to home and not known it, as he de- the U.S. signed the stamp for the Year of the Built in 1910, and in operation Snake in 2001. for 30 years, the station detained Master Chan, along with mem- people from over 80 countries—but ber Michelle Wong as his capable mostly Chinese. Prospective immi- Member Address translator, showed us the evolution grants were interviewed, sometimes of Chinese characters through the for weeks, as officers asked questions Updates ages—from the curvy pictorial de- such as, “Describe your house,” or signs 3,000 years ago to the more “How many steps is it to the village are extremely box-shaped words created in the Han well?” Mr. Gee said that when his important! and Tang dynasties to the simplified father passed away, he found a “cheat US-China Review issues which characters marched in with the Peo- sheet,” a series of questions with the have incorrect addresses are ple’s Liberation Army in 1949. answers his father was to give. While He wrote examples of each style, some immigrants passed the inter- not returned for correction, demonstrating the importance of view on their first attempt, others they are just discarded ! The holding the brush (three fingers, had to go through lengthy appeals, US-China Review mailing list vertical), the importance of the first staying in the barracks on the island relies on members, chapters stroke (the dot from which the stroke for weeks, months, even years. (Mr. and regions to keep mailing emerges), the necessity of moving Gee’s father spent six weeks.) addresses current. Please with the writing. The fluidity with Many carved poetry on the walls, send all corrections to which he worked was like art in something that only highly educated Marge Ketter at motion. As Billy Lee observed, “You people (not typical laborers) were 7088 SE Rivers Edge St., don’t even seem to watch, yet the capable of doing. This poetry almost spacing between the characters is went unnoticed when the city started Jupiter, FL 33458 perfect.” to demolish the unused building in Phone 561-747-9487 In December, Buck Gee, alumni 1970. Park Ranger Alex Weiss wan- Fax 561-745-6189 of Stanford and Harvard, retired dered through the building one last [email protected] Vice President of Cisco Systems Data time before it was razed. He saw the Center Business Unit, and current strange calligraphy and took photos. President of the Board of the Angel This small act was the beginning of Island Immigration Station Foun- the preservation of what is now a na- dation (AAISF). came to talk to us tional historical site. Gee said, “This about Angel Island. He is the son of is a place we should remember.” a “paper son.” AAISF has plans to restore Angel “What happened when the rail- Island’s building, as well as to install way was finished and the gold was state-of-the-art exhibits and foster an gone?” asked Gee. “The Chinese online presence to connect people took other people’s jobs. This creat- from present and past. To donate to ed problems.” In 1882, the Chinese the Angel Island Project, visit www. Exclusion Act was enacted to prevent aiisf.org/OpenTheDoors. Chinese laborers from entering the country. To get around the law, some Chinese sought to enter as

28 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 USCPFA-Western Region Conference— Chinatown. Chinese hot pot catering is his special passion. He also organizes tours to mainland China focusing on cooking Nov. 14-19, 2014 adventures. He battled to keep authentic Chinese elements Summary by Elizabeth Kraft, USCPFA-Long Beach in Vancouver’s Chinatown by promoting Chinese businesses Though the weather outside was cool and crispy, the at- and fighting against high-rise development. Sung joined a mosphere inside was warm and spirited. The 2014 USCPFA- “food and family” writing program to help Chinese locals Western Region Conference met November 14-19, 2014, in remember and record stories from their past. He entertained Vancouver, British Columbia. The theme, “Getting to Know the conference with his personal anecdotes in “Eating Stories, You,” gave USCPFA members a chance to share successful A Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal Potluck.” chapter activities and learn about the immigration of Chinese Jana McBurney-Lin from the South Bay Chapter described to Canada. USCPFA chapters represented were Honolulu, the impetus for her first novel “My Half of the Sky.” She also Oahu, Long Beach, Portland and South Bay (San Francisco), revealed the impetus that led to writing her second novel, plus Chinese Friendship Association members from Vancouver “Blossoms and Bayonets.” She felt that the riveting tale of and Victoria on Vancouver Island. Hi-Dong Chai needed to be told, about his stress-filled life The opening session started with a Chinese dinner held growing up in Japanese-occupied Korea during WWII. at the Floata Seafood Restaurant where USCPFA members John Marienthal described the settings in which he had were greeted by Conference Chairman and Western Region taught in China. When he arrived in China, he endured a tiny President, Frances Goo. cold room in a student dorm. Later, he was welcomed into The main conference was held on Saturday, November 15. the home of his Chinese in-laws. He mentioned that there are From a lofty perch on the top floor of the Business Manage- 85,000 expats currently teaching in varied settings in China. ment School, conference members enjoyed stunning views of Despite the ban on having older teachers in China’s public the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus. The group schools, there are spots for English-speaking teachers of all was welcomed by Euan Taylor, Conference Co-chair, who is the ages due to the Chinese thirst for learning English. President of the Chinese Friendship Association of Vancouver. Chu Lan Schubert-Kwock, president of the Oahu Chapter, Vernon Ching of Honolulu served as emcee with his special related her efforts in rejuvenating the Chinatown of Honolulu. brand of kama’aina—Chinese humor. Due to neglect by the city, that historic Chinatown has fallen The first speaker was Dr. Kenneth Siu, a former army medic into disrepair. Chu Lan is pouring her energy into changing who later became a physician in Hawai’i. He reviewed his book, city regulations and getting police presence so that Chinese Proud to Be Chinese in America. Referring to himself as a Pake, businesses can prosper there. which means Chinese in the Hawaiian language, he zipped Henry Lim, Hawai’i Subregion Chairman; Walter Chang, through the alphabet describing amusing characteristics and Honolulu Chapter President; and Elizabeth Kraft of Long Beach numerous contributions of Chinese people. He explained reported on their successful activities which include Chinese abbreviations like ABC (American Born Chinese) and MBA language classes for adults and a training and information day (Married But Available). to aid new university students from China. Another speaker, Tung Chan, former Deputy City Mayor of Sunday, November 16, began with a dim sum brunch at Vancouver, talked about guiding many Chinese through the the Golden Ocean Seafood Restaurant. After exotic delicacies, ropes of immigration to Canada. He mentioned the hardships conference members toured Vancouver City with a visit to the “First Nation” totem poles displayed in Stanley Park, a drive the early immigrants faced as they mined for gold or worked past the former shipping docks in Coal Harbor, and panoramic on the trans-Canada railroad. Not intending to stay in Cana- views in an IMAX movie, “Fly Over Canada.” The conference da, they scrimped to send money home to China, while later members explored historic Vancouver Chinatown with expert immigrants came to settle and establish new lives in British Co- guide Robert Sung, who treated them to apple tarts and char lumbia. Problems they faced included ethnic discrimination, sui pork from specialty shops. The afternoon tour was high- the need for a passbook (sponsor), payment of a “head tax,” lighted with a visit to the exquisite Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical the bamboo ceiling, and finally, the requirement of a sizable Chinese Garden. investment to settle in British Columbia. Political upheavals Conference members from Hawai’i continued on by ferry caused by the incident at Tiananmen Square and the return to spend the next day on Victoria Island with a stop at the of Kowloon to Chinese jurisdiction have been the impetus for famous Butchart Gardens. They also met with the Victoria recent waves of immigration to Canada. Chinese Friendship Association where they had a talk by During a break, conference members took a walking tour former mayor, Alan L. Lowe. Back in British Columbia, they of UBC campus. They paused at a plaque commemorating an ventured to Whistler Mountain, home of the 2010 Winter event in 1922 when the 1,200 university students protested Olympic Games. A First Nation guide shared stories about the the snail’s pace of completing the UBC campus. Later, campus hardships of Canadian First Nation tribes and the early Chinese buildings were completed simultaneously, giving the campus Canadian railroad workers who built most of the Canadian a look of towering brick and glass. Today, with an enrollment railroad system. of 40,000 at UBC, about 40% of the students come from a A final conference banquet featured Chinese specialties Chinese heritage. such as Abalone and Goose Web Soup. On this occasion, The conference continued with Robert Sung of Vancouver conference members praised Frances Goo and the planning as he traced his family’s path from China to British Colum- committee for providing enlightening experiences that carried bia. His ancestors arrived two generations ago in Vancouver out the theme, “Getting to Know You.” Plans are underway to and established a produce business and restaurant. Mr. Sung hold the 2016 Western Region Conference either in Hawai’i focused on his current tourism business in which he conducts or in Northern California. popular cultural and culinary walking tours of Vancouver’s Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 29 USCPFA–Western Region Conference cent of his tribe from smallpox blankets, and the attempted By Frances Goo, President erasure of his culture when children were re-educated under duress in government schools. Imagine, as he said, if the The theme of this year’s USCPFA-Western Region con- ruling class were told they could not celebrate Christmas ference was “Getting to Know You.” While it celebrates the with gifts and Santa Claus. Not only did the oppression Association’s purpose of friendship between the people of lead to cultural extinction but madness and suicides as China and other peoples of the world, it did so with two well. Parallels abound, and it is a kinship that the world’s twists. First, it asked the question, what are the histories of aboriginal groups and outcast immigrants share; both the Chinese assimilation in your respective areas? And secondly, Chinese immigrants and native Americans have shared what are your activities—both successes and failures? The similar treatment in the United States. If we do not know second twist was deepened by the fact that for the first time, our history, we are a rudderless ship. it involved both Canada and the United States since this Some of our speakers were also authors who presented conference was co-hosted in Vancouver. their books for purchase at the conference. From their The histories of assimilation were both comical, sadden- presentations, these books took on more meaning to the ing and hopeful. Some of those histories were told at lunches conference attendees. and dinners, as well as formal conference presentations. In the afternoon session, we devoted that time to We were regaled with stories of amusing language mis- strengthen “friendships” by having each chapter speak of haps and surname changes. One Canadian-born speaker their successes and failures. Long Beach, South Bay, Port- told of his youthful experience of trying to appear cool and land, Honolulu and Oahu chapters were represented in this sophisticated as he ordered a fabulous Chinese meal which discussion. included gai si chao mien (Cantonese), whose pronunciation Some of the failures: dwindling memberships, too few involved raising or lowering the “si” that left him sinking non-Chinese members in some areas, too few Chinese mem- under the table. With the lowering of one syllable, “si,” he bers in others, too few activities and non-involvement of did not order chicken with noodles but instead, noodles with members, and an aging membership. Some of the successes: chicken s- - -. I wonder what the waiter brought him! Then, acclimating Chinese university students into their American our Honolulu-born speaker spoke of mispronunciations that stay through hosting and activities, free Chinese language led to new Hawaiian Chinese surnames of “Ah something.” classes and cultural programs for members and targeted pop- My husband’s surname is Goo, but it’s also spelled as Koo, ulations, friendship dinner meetings that broadened palates, Ku or Gu, though his favorite came in a letter addressed to and gatherings that fostered understanding and friendships. him as “God.” (No, he does not grant requests.) People-to-people contact is an important adjunct to official Another Canadian speaker of high political influence meetings because it focuses on what we have in common. spoke of government edicts of racial intolerance that often How to nurture the successes and minimize the failures must took wars and decades to lighten. He also refused to accept a be left to individual chapters to work on—hopefully, with a token position by a well-meaning official because it did not newer and fresher view of the present. address real issues of assimilation. However, it was during the This conference also served to show us that both Vancou- Chinatown conference visits that we learned of how these ver and Victoria are committed to preserving the uniqueness former ghettos and areas of containment had become tourist of their respective Chinatowns. In Vancouver, we not only attractions. The cooperative building between Caucasians saw what most Chinatowns have but also a six-foot-wide and Chinese of Chinatown gates was an attempt to bury (though very long) building that is being preserved, along misdeeds and mistakes of the past. People, organizations and with efforts to stop any further destruction of their China- conferences like this one serve the dual purposes of mutual town. In Victoria, former Mayor Alan Lowe showed us the understanding and respect. recently renovated Chinatown and the largest stained-glass An Oahu presenter addressed the state of Chinatowns dome ceiling installed in North America; more than a cen- with regard to Honolulu’s homeless and the general state tury old, it resides in his Chinese clubhouse. of disrepair. The creation of the Victoria chapter, that area’s Closing credits for this conference go to John Marienthal Canada China Peoples Friendship Association, shows a for a lead name introduction; Euan Taylor of Vancouver for parallel USCPFA (American) need for the organization: the the Canadian speakers; my nephew Alex Lin in Vancouver (former) requirement of membership before one was per- who arranged for the conference site at Sauder School of mitted to travel to mainland China. Business on the UBC campus, lodgings at the Marriott, Other conference visits to the cities of Vancouver and transportation to and from events, sightseeing, and restau- Victoria were both pleasing visually and gastronomically, rant reservations; my dear friend Viola Ong in Victoria for as well as informative as to how the Chinese have adapted meetings, lunch and transportation there; Elizabeth Kraft to their new environments. Our visits to Butchart Gardens from Long Beach for conference reservations; Michael Loui, and Whistler not only put on display the beauties of nature Justin Goo and Vernon Ching from Honolulu for program with bald eagles and winter flora but provided us with a formats and emceeing, respectively; and, last but not least, history lesson from our First Nation’s guide, Jeff. He knew Honolulu chapter members for conference bags and gifts. the history of the Chinese-Canadian railroad workers who Thank you, thank you, thank you! built much of that nation’s railway system—how poorly they All in all, this was a conference of firsts in many ways. were treated, the bodies that lined the railway route, and While relatively small, the meetings led to greater camara- how they handled the most dangerous jobs. He also knew of derie and understanding. Relatively small in size, relatively his own people’s suffering with the westward expansion of large in success. “new” Canada: policies that led to the extinction of 90 per-

30 • US-CHINA REVIEW Spring 2015 US-China Peoples Friendship Regions, Subregions and Local Chapters Association (ANY CHANGES to this list should be sent to [email protected])

EASTERN REGION Chicago Houston-Galleria San Francisco Kauai Mel Horowitz Roger Noback Qiang Zeng •David Ewing Phyllis Tokita 200 VanRensselaer Blvd. 1404 Second Street S. 162 Plantation Road 838 Grant Avenue #302 PO Box 1783 Menands, NY 12204 St. Charles, IL 60174 Houston, TX 77024 San Francisco, CA 94108 Lihue, HI 96766-5783 518-449-8817/fax 244-2361 630-762-8225 281-222-4900 415-781-8181 808-346-1793 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Eastern Region Office Kansas City Nashville •Yilla Guan 720 Massachusetts Avenue Sally Ryan Barbara Cobb 29 Cook Street Cambridge, MA 02139 309 Emanuel Cleaver II 496 Ellenwood Drive San Francisco, CA 94118 CHAPTERS THAT HAVE 617-491-0577/fax 491-0594 Boulevard, Apt 504 Nashville, TN 37211 415-221-3183/fax 753-0656 WEB PAGES: New England Kansas City, MO 64112-1787 615-833-9512 phone & fax [email protected] 816-686-8119 [email protected] NORTHEAST NEW YORK Richard Pendleton South Bay www.uscpfany.org 720 Massachusetts Avenue [email protected] Sarasota Jana McBurney-Lin, Cambridge, MA 02139 Minnesota Duane Finger 35 Old Orchard Road MINNESOTA 617-491-0577 Ralph Beha 401 27th Street West Los Gatos CA 95030 www.uscpfa-mn.org richard_pendleton@ 5040 1st Ave. South Bradenton, FL 34205 408-410-1750 hms.harvard.edu Minneapolis, MN 55419 941-538-0504 cell [email protected] CHICAGO 612-396-0979 [email protected] www.uscpfa.org/Chicago New York City Southern California Valerie Stern [email protected] Southeast Florida 400 Central Park W., #9N Owensboro, KY / •Marge Ketter SUBREGION OWENSBORO, KY and New York, NY 10025 Evansville, IN 7088 SE Rivers Edge Elizabeth D. Kraft EVANSVILLE, IN 212-222-9048 Beth Hubbard Jupiter, FL 33458 412 Emerald Place www.uscpfa.org/owensboro/ [email protected] 1419 Wright Street 561-747-9487 phone Seal Beach, CA 90740 index.html Henderson, KY 42420 561-745-6189 fax [email protected] Northeastern New York RICHMOND Kirk Huang 270-724-0957 [email protected] Long Beach [email protected] Joe Lau http://uscpfarichmondva. 25 Mulberry Drive •David Pena com Albany, NY 12205 Quad Cities 3160 PGA Boulevard 1332 Via Romero Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 518-813-9104 Yan Li Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 ATLANTA [email protected] 4371 Taho Court 561-537-0584 310-541-9275 [email protected] www.uscpfa-atlanta.org Northern New Jersey O.C. Bettendorf, IA 52722 [email protected] Dr. Jim H. Lee 563-332-1380 Los Angeles/San Gabriel SARASOTA 24 Gordon Circle [email protected] WESTERN REGION Jason J. Lee http://uschinasarasota. Parsippany, NJ 07054 Frances Goo 301 N. Lake Ave., Suite 202 blogspot.com 973-394-9115 SOUTHERN REGION c/o Guardian Escrow Services Pasadena, CA 91101 [email protected] Peggy Roney 2347 S. Beretania St. #200 626-396-9397 SOUTHEAST FLORIDA 18 Fairfield Drive Honolulu, HI 96826 Fax 626-396-9114 www.uscpfa-pb.blogspot. Portland, Maine Avondale Estates, GA 30002 808-951-6991 [email protected] com Robert Rovner 404-292-0714 [email protected] 12 Mill Ridge Road San Diego [email protected] SOUTH BAY Cumberland, ME 04021 Utah Alice Hu www.uscpfa-sbay. 207-829-6883 Atlanta Shirley Smith / Val Chin 1467 Via Ronda blogspot.com [email protected] •Ed Krebs 2890 Hackney Court San Marcos, CA 92069 3240 McKown Road Park City, UT 84060 858.246.6165 Richmond Douglasville, GA 30134 435-649-6015 & 649-8861 [email protected] WASHINGTON, DC Diana Greer [email protected] [email protected] http://dc.uscpfa.org 105 Treva Road Sandston, VA 23150 •Doug Reynolds Hawai’i SUBREGION 804-737-2704 [email protected] Northern CA/Northwest Henry N. Lim PO Box 395 [email protected] Austin SUBREGION George Meyer John Marienthal Honolulu, HI 96809-0395 Metro DC 2018 Bikini Avenue 808-540-1065 Christine D. Brooks 303 S College Street Georgetown, TX 78626-5104 San Jose, CA 95122-2907 [email protected] 1834 Belmont Road NW [email protected] Washington, DC 20009-5162 512-863-4930 Oahu 202-265-3664 [email protected] North Bay Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock [email protected] Chattanooga Judy Lee 1181 Wanaka Street Bob and Jan (Chang) Edwards 2871 Doidge Ave. Honolulu, HI 96818 #12 North Lynncrest Dr. Pinole, CA 94564 808-391-4350 MIDWEST REGION [email protected] Marcia Cooper Chattanooga, TN 37411 510-758-7355 8718 Metcalf #202 423-698-7339 [email protected] Honolulu Overland Park KS 66212 [email protected] Portland, Oregon Walter T.C.Chang 913-341-5996 [email protected] Paul Morris 1268 Young Street, # 301 [email protected] Houston 2234 NE 25th Avenue Honolulu, HI 96814-1801 808-597-8135 (office & fax); Carbondale Casey Chenn Portland OR 97212 6200 Savoy Dr., Unit 328 503-249-3965 808-772-4528 (home) Kathleen Trescott [email protected]. 1214 West Schwartz Houston, TX 77036 [email protected] Carbondale, IL 62901 713-553-7833 Kailua-Kona 618-203-1807 [email protected] Kent Nakashima [email protected] 77-6555 Seaview Circle Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 2015 is 808-329-6024 [email protected] the Year of the Ram Spring 2015 US-CHINA REVIEW • 31 US-China Non-Profit Organization US Postage Peoples Friendship PAID Permit No. 7117 Association Palatine, Illinois 7088 SE Rivers Edge St. Jupiter, FL 33458

MEMBERSHIP, STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES The US-China Peoples Friendship Association is a non-profit educational organization.Our goal is to build active and lasting friendship based on mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of China. We recognize that friendship between our two peoples must be based on the knowledge of and respect for the sovereignty of each country; therefore, we respect the declaration of the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China that the resolution of the status of Taiwan is the internal affair of the Chinese on both ® sides of the Taiwan Straits. We also recognize that friendship between our two peoples and good relations between our two governments plays a critical role in maintaining peace in the Pacific Basin and in the world. As an educational organization, our activities include sponsoring speakers and programs which inform the American people about China, organizing tours and special study groups to China, publishing newsletters and other literature, promoting friendship with Chinese students and scholars while in the United States, and promoting cultural, commercial, technical, and educational exchanges. Everyone is invited to participate in our activities, and anyone who agrees with this Statement of Principles is welcome to join. Subscription to US-China Review is included in membership.

■ I would like to become a member of USCPFA; $24 annual dues per person enclosed. ■ I do not wish to become a member, but would like to receive US-China Review. Regular subscriptions are $35 per year for four issues, $38 for institutions, $49 overseas. ■ Please send a gift subscription to the name and address below. Name______Address______City, State, Zip______Phone ______Interests ______Email (Optional)______How did you learn about us? ______Make checks payable to USCPFA and mail with this form to Marge Ketter, Membership, US-China Peoples Friendship Association, 7088 SE Rivers Edge St., Jupiter, FL 33458. 2015 is the Year of the Ram

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