Official
Publication of US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter, www.uscpfa.org/chicago
Roger Noback, Chapter President and Editor,
630/762-8225 October 15, 2006
“The only way to have
a friend is to be one.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The scheduled venue, time, topic, and activity for the USCPFA October
meeting are
2-4 p.m. @ House of Fortune Restaurant, 2407 S. Wentworth Ave.,
Chinatown, Chicago
OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGH THE USCPFA and its
YOUXIE
LIAISON IN CHINA
By Chapter President,
Roger Noback
The
USCPFA has 50 chapters throughout the U.S.
and a liaison in China
with offices in the capital city of each province and other major cities, the
Chinese People’s Association for Friendship With Foreign Countries (commonly
termed “Youxie”). Roger spent the second
week of September in China talking with Youxie National and Provincial leaders
regarding how the various levels of Youxie, in China, and the Chicago and other
USCPFA Chapters can more effectively cooperate and collaborate with each other
to further each other’s objectives (which, in principle, are the same). This followed up on meetings Roger had with
Youxie provincial officials in October, 2003 which have borne fruit in a
variety of areas in the succeeding 3 years.
The principal mission of the USCPFA
Chicago Chapter is to foster friendship, fellowship, and understanding between
the peoples of the U.S. and China. In fulfillment of such objective, a number of
initiatives and other activities were discussed, including without limitation,
the following, each of which requires the enlistment of volunteers from
members and friends of the Chicago
Chapter. Roger will discuss these
opportunities as well as opportunities to assist with the upcoming Annual China Symposium
2006, Dec. 2 at Loyola U. of Chicago.
1) Chicagoland Suburban
High School Teachers. The Chapter’s highest priority in the past
year has been to encourage attendance of such teachers at the Chapter’s Annual
China Symposium. Teachers and
officials of Elgin’s
U-46 School District, the second largest in the state (5 high schools), are
among those expressing enthusiastic interest in such attendance. Following this, the Chapter intends to work
to arrange educational tours for such teachers in China, through its Youxie liaison. Volunteers are sought from the Chicago
Chapter to inform other High Schools and School
Districts of these opportunities through the USCPFA-Chicago
Chapter.
2) Donations of Professional
Libraries by Retiring Professionals.
Occasionally, retiring U.S.
professionals have accumulated a professional library which they have an
interest in donating for use in developing and newly emerging economic regions
(e.g., doctors, engineers, lawyers, actuaries, scientists, etc.) Professionals and professional organizations
in some areas of China
(e.g., western and central provinces) may have an interest in acquiring such
libraries, and Youxie has expressed interest in working with the Chicago
Chapter to explore such opportunities.
3) Families with Adopted
Chinese Children. Youxie has expressed interest
in exploring ways in which it may assist the education of adopted Chinese
children in the culture of China. The Chicago Chapter has meaningful contacts
and relationships with Chicagoland organizations serving such families, and
hopefully will be able to mobilize resources to assist this activity.
4) Delegations and Dignitaries
from China. After Roger’s 2003 meeting with the Zhejiang
Province Youxie, the Chicago Chapter targeted introducing the China Academy
of Art in Hangzhou (the capital of Zhejiang province) to the School of the
Art Institute of Chicago (each one of the 2-3 leading art schools in their
respective countries) with a view to the mutual exhibit of their respective
contemporary art at their respective schools and the potential establishment of
collaborative activity between them. The
first stage of this initiative was realized in June 2006, with the exploratory
visit of a delegation of deans and officials from the China Academy
to the SAIC. During Dec. 4-6, 2006, the
Chicago Chapter will host artistic members of the Beijing Federation of
Literature & Art and an exhibit of their works (photos and
drawings). Other delegations and
dignitaries are anticipated in future months and years.
SAVE THE DATES (See enclosed and chapter
website)
Sat. nite, Oct. 7, Autumn Moon Festival: As
the Ancient Chinese Celebrated It, spontaneous poetry readings and
dance with beverage (byo) at Ping Tom Park in Chinatown.
Sat. afternoon, Dec. 2, Annual China
Symposium 2006 at Loyola University Chicago-Lake Shore Campus.
Dec. 4-6, Reception for Delegation from Beijing
Federation of Literature & Art and the exhibits of their photos: Ordinary
Beijinger’s Life and Beijing: Old and New and
sketches at College
of DuPage.
The regular monthly Chapter meeting
includes a delicious traditional Chinese multi-course meal, which begins at 2
pm; the hour long luncheon talk (with Q&A) begins at 3 pm; and all this is
only $15. Please reserve in advance
at AssociationSvcs@aol.com
(indicate USCPFA in subject line) or call 847.251.1400, ext. 0
(members have priority seating). Cfade101506FINALema