Upcoming Events

MOON FESTIVAL IN MINNESOTA

USCPFA Midwest Regional Conference
September 12, 13, 14, 2008
in St. Paul

Friday begins with participation in Hamline University’s
Global Studies Round Table
followed by the U of M
East Asian Library’s Moon Festival Open House
and dinner at Little Szechuan Restaurant

Saturday features a full day of presentations and workshops
given by local China experts and enthusiasts
on the campus of Hamline University
followed by an evening banquet and entertainment celebration

Sunday allows time for the Midwest Region Board Meeting

More details including program, schedule, hotel, costs will be available soon
Contact Mary Warpeha, Co-President of the Minnesota Chapter
for more information mary.warpeha@comcast.net

Sponsored by Minnesota Chapter of USCPFA in cooperation with
Hamline University, the University of Minnesota,
and the Midwest Region of USCPFA

Minnesota is quite proud of Barbara Harrison, who was presented the Koji Ariyoshi Award at the USCPFA National Convention in October. Barbara has worked very hard at all levels forming great friendships in China and the US through her twenty-six years on the National Board of Directors, fourteen of which were as National President. We are grateful that she continues to remain active in our Minnesota Chapter.

Throughout 2007, we have been celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Minnesota-Shaanxi sister relationship. Our activities included hosting a delegation from the Peoples Government of Shaanxi Province which was organized the Foreign Affairs Office. During the evening banquet, Linda Mealey-Lohmann presented a history of the sisterhood and the part played by USCPFA and the Shaanxi Provincial CPAFFC. A second delegation of individuals interested in medicine and hospitals joined us in November meeting members and the Twin City medical community.

A long running activity highlighting the anniversary included member participation and donation of treasures to an exhibit, Destination Shaanxi: Material Culture at the End of the Silk Road coordinated by the East Asian Library and held at the Andersen Library of the U of Minnesota. Other co-sponsored events included a dinner and lecture, Chang’an: The Cosmopolitan Capital of the Chinese Empire and Terminus of the Silk Road, a presentation by Kathleen Ryor, Professor at Carleton College. A second lecture The Dark Side of the Dao: Lives and Challenges of Medieval Daoist Nuns, Saints and Hermits was held in February, 2008. Robert Jacobsen, Asian Curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, joined the Shaanxi programming with a captivating lecture on The New Silk Road. To balance the lectures, an evening, Music from the Silk Road highlighted presentations by Gao Hong and other local composers and musicians.

Chinese New Year was celebrated by USCPFA-MN hosting 150 members and friends as well as a group of 16 students and staff from High School for Recording Arts at the Little Szechuan Restaurant in Saint Paul. In the spring, these students will be visiting Beijing and Shanghai as well as doing volunteer work with Global Volunteers in An Shang Village in rural Shaanxi. In addition to partaking in a scrumptious 15 course meal, participants were also treated to a photo presentation of two rural communities in the Shaanxi Province - An Shang and Changqing National Nature Reserve presented by Mary Warpeha, President of the Chapter. All present were treated to Minnesota's traditional festive New Year celebration coordinated by Margaret Wong and Linda Mealey Lohmann. The festive evening will certainly be a highlight of the Year of the Rat.

Announcements

The cities of Chengdu and Chongqing in Sichuan Province are looking for English teachers to visit for one month this coming summer to teach conversational English. They are expecting and would prefer non-Chinese speakers. The municipalities will pay all travel costs, accommodation and meals. A small allowance per diem would also be paid. An expenses paid tourism trip to Beijing or Shanghai would also be included. If you know of anyone who would be interested please pass this email along and have them contact Mr. Nelson Li on (212) 620-2618 or li9955@yahoo.com.
Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus
(http://bnuep.com/english/index.htm), is looking for a qualified
candidate to teach Speaking English in the Spring Semester starting Mid
February. Teaching certificate or previous English teaching experience is
required. The compensation can be up to $1,500 per month, depending on
the number of credits that will be taught. On-campus housing is provided
at a cost of around $100 for a 1-bedroom (the average living cost per
month in Zhuhai is around $200). Zhuhai is a beautiful beach city in Guangdong Province. It is adjacent to Macau and close to Hong Kong. Zhuhai is also one of the five Special Economic Zones in China. This will be a great opportunity to experience China, its culture, people and development. If interested, please email at your earliest convenience toqhwei89@gmail.com

The Dark Side of the Dao:
The Lives and Challenges of
Medieval Chinese Daoist Nuns, Saints, and Hermits

Suzanne Cahill will explore Tang dynasty (618-907) women and their Daoist practices and accomplishments, using biographies compiled by the Daoist master and courtier Du Guangting in 910

A free public event - Refreshments will be served

Cosponsored by: Consortium for the Study of the Asias, China Center, Department of Asian Language and Literatures, Department of History, and the US-China Peoples’ Friendship Association - Minnesota

At the 21st National Convention in Sarasota, FL Barbara Harrison was presented with the most prestigious award granted by USCPFA by National President Robert Sanborn. Barbara has a commendable volunteer records which includes 14 years as National President, 29 years as Minnesota Chapter member with 26 years on the Board of Directors. She has served as Minnesota Chapter president and editor of the newsletter. She is currently a representative on the Midwest Board of Directors. Barbara is a proven advocate for the mission and ideals of US—China Peoples Friendship Assn.

Koji Ariyoshi was a Japanese-American who worked for the US Army Military Intelligence Service during WWII. He spent a majority of his time stationed at the Dixie Mission in Yan’an. His primary duty in Yan’an was to learn more about the Communist activities, train Japanese prisoners of war, translate Japanese source materials, and develop Allied propaganda targeting the Japanese. After the War, among his many activities was the founding of the China-Hawaii People’s Friendship Association.

We are beginning the Board of Directors’ recruitment process for the 2008 year. We need your participation. To learn more, call 651-638-0743 or uscpfa_mn@hotmail.com and a Board Member will contact you.

The Harbin Sister City Committee has been asked to participate in Minneapolis Mosaic in July of 2008. The Committee is looking for volunteers who can offer some time and ideas for inclusion of Harbin’s people in the event. If you can help, contact Ben Zhou at rbtassociates@yahoo.com.

USCPFA-MN was recently contacted by Hua Sun, USS International Group, requesting assistance in finding homestays for visiting physicians from Chongqing. Hua is a local business person linking business and government organizations in China with Minnesota opportunities.

This is an excellent short term opportunity to host a professional from China. Your time commitment is limited since their schedules will be full with work and medical experiences. Your rewards will be global. Please forward this opportunity to others. Contact uscpfa_mn@hotmail.com for information.

NIS is seeking host families for international students in grades 9-12 attending school on the Hamline University Campus in St. Paul. 124 students from 20 countries. live with single, married, divorced host families, with or without children, young and old.

To all who participated in so many ways in the Minnesota-Shaanxi 25th Anniversary Celebration

Matthew Abbott, An Wei, Joan Brzezinski, Inkie Brons, Suzanne Cahill, Su Chen, David Ruzhao Cheng, Poldi Gerard, Li King Feng, Jesse Field, Walter Graff, Christopher Hang, Barbara Harrison, Gao Hong, CC and Joyce Hsiao, Fred and Jennie Hsiao, Hu Di, Greg Hugh, Robert Jacobsen, Robert Jamison, Alan Kagan, Jeanne Kilde, Thomas La Venture, Dong Li, Wen Li, CJ Liu, Elise Lohmann, Linda Mealey-Lohmann, Tony Lorusso, Richard Mather, Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Honorable Walter Mondale, Governor Tim Pawlenty, Paul Quie, Mindy Ratner, Kathleen Ryor, Tony Simmons, Suzanne Smith, Jim Swiderski, Mary Voight, Ann Waltner , Yang Wang, Daniel Warpeha, Mary Warpeha, Rebecca Warpeha, Walter Warpeha, Jean Wilhelm, Bruce Willits, Margaret Wong, Amy Xu, Yali You, John Y. Zhang, Penny Zhang, Chen Zhou