Log Report

- 10/23 - Mr. Harnsberger / KASA came to Lushan and brought Ellen Roots and Ms. Chen Hui together to remember the lost history of a unique time in Lushan’s history.

-- During that visit, Mr. Harnsberger / KASA brought together cultural exchange officials from Jiangxi/Lushan/FAO with the US Wuhan Consul General and Public Affairs Office.

-- At that meeting, the KASA Lushan Suite Team presented their research on the Beijing Film Festival in the Great Hall of the People (1972), and proposed two cultural exchange partnership agreements to jointly create two new People-to-People Cultural Exchange Programs.

- 4/24 - Mr. Harnsberger, as the American host, traveled with the Jiangxi/Lushan FAO delegation to San Francisco, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York. 

-- During that time, Mr. Harnsberger spoke - at the delegation’s invitation - at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC about the 140 years of American friendship in Lushan.

-- During the delegation’s time in the US, the Jiangxi Province and Lushan FAO teams agreed and signed two cultural exchange partnership program agreements with KASA and Ellen Roots for the Lushan Suite Film Festival and Exhibit, and a second Pearl S. Buck in Lushan Educational Exchange program which KASA arranged and included:

-- The Pearl Buck Festivals and Exhibits in Lushan, Nanchang, and an exhibit in Wuhan – including a concert plan for this year and for a larger annual concert event beginning in 2025.

- 4/15/24 - Lushan Suite Agreement between Jiangxi FAO, Ellen Roots, and the PPX / Kuling American School.

-- Pearl S. Buck: Educational Sponsorship, Essay Contest, Educational Seminar, and a Permanent Pearl S. Buck in Lushan Exhibit in a Lushan Museum.

_4/19/24 - Pearl Buck Agreement between the PS Buck Foundation and Lushan Mayor's Office - Signed at The Pearl Buck House in Philadelphia.

- 5/11/24 - Jiangxi/Lushan FAO formed a joint US/Lushan Film Festival Planning Committee with three members of the KASA/PPX team. 

-- The Pearl Buck Festival Team was formed following the Jiangxi Delegation visit to the US April 15th - 20th.

-- Committee comprised of 11 people total: two from P2PEX, eight from Jiangxi FAO, Jiujiang FAO, and the Lushan Mayor's Office.

-- In attendance: Li Yuqiang- Deputy Director General, Jiangxi FAO, Nanchang - Team Leader Jiangxi FAO, Tiffany Chen, Director, Jiangxi FAO, Nanchang, Xiao Zhibin (Alex), Jiangxi FAO, Nanchang: works for T. Chen and DDG Li - Steve met him in 10/23, Connie Tao, Jiangxi FAO, New York City, Mr Yuan Yong, Vice Mayor and Bureau Director Head of Tourism & culture, CCP Member, overseas the  Lushan Museum (main City in the “Mao Villa”) - on behalf of Lushan City, Mr Yuan signed both Lushan Suite Exchange & Pearl Buck Agreement, Sunny Lushantran - Jiujiang FAO (Added to Team 05/29/24), Jiujiang City FAO, Duan Qiang, Jiujiang City FAO, Steve Harnsberger, Ellen Roots, Ms Chen Hui  -  PPX Advisor.

-- Director Tiffany Chen has advised the group that Philadelphia Orchestra has been requested previously by the FAO group to come to Jiangxi

-- PPX Organized the concert  Planning  group on WeChat directly with Mr Li Yuqiang after we were advised that Mr Hu also DDG at Jiangxi FAO would delegate responsibility to Li.

-- Parties agreed to jointly develop:The 2024 and 2025 Pearl Buck Film Festivals & Exhibits in Lushan and Nanchang, Exhibit Wuhan, including: the exhibit, photos, videos, and written materials to stage, record, and promote the story

-- The Pearl Buck in Lushan 2025 Program cultural events, educational exchanges, and museum exhibits.

- 5/27/24 -  Jiangxi FAO reported that the Philadelphia Orchestra may be able to send a small group of musicians to Lushan in Oct. or Nov  2024 for the first Lushan Suite Film Festival

- 5/29/24 - SH spoke to Mr Li Yiquiang, Deputy Director General Jiangxi Foreign Affairs, about the Lushan Suite Photo Exhibit and agreed it would be desirable to have a concert and an exhibit in both Lushan and Nanchang City and adding musicians from Nanchang Orchestra would be beneficial. Mr. Li agreed to contact the Nanchang Orchestra. A Wuhan Exhibit Site (or Beijing) for The Pearl Buck was suggested.

- 5/30/24 - Jiangxi FAO held a meeting in Jiujiang FAO with Lushan City to discuss The Pearl Buck Exchange proposed by KASA - it was agreed to include Pearl S. Buck Chinese team In Zhenjiang, Jiangsu,  to arrange a visit to this China #1 National Site - Steve introduced Mr. Li Yiqiang to Mr. Tang the Director of the Zhenjiang Pearl Buck Institute on WeChat via Catherine Cao.

-- Steve suggested the PS Buck Exhibit is separate from the Lushan Suite and will not be finished by the US team until Q1 2025 - won't fit in October schedule

- 5/31/24 - P2PEX China Representative Chen Hui met with Jiujiang Newspaper Publisher,  Luo Qi, chief Editor of Changjiang Weekly (CW) of the Jiujiang Daily News, (CW is the weekend Edition) has agreed to review US proposal to publish a series of monthly articles in Mandarin from the photo story book "Lushan Memories" 1986 if the US kids love of Lushan & memories of growing up in Shangri La.

--Steve received verbal permission from Bill Sheretz to use Lushan Memories photos and essays in a photo exhibit and publish in China News and online

- 6/1/24 - SH planning visit  to US Consul Shanghai and Wuhan, meet Nanjing Filmmaker and then Jiangxi  FAO, to meet Lushan Suite team 

-- SH Scheduled June 5th Meeting with Lushan City School Chen Hui, Samantha (Curator)  and Stephanie (International Programs and Jiangsu School Program) at The Pearl Buck Foundation to discuss next steps

- 06/03/24: PPX Presentation Accepted to Pearl Buck Foundation 60th Anniversary Symposium Sept 26th, 2024 in Philadelphia

- 06/04/24 - PPX Meeting with Samantha Frises, Curator Pearl Buck Museum Philadelphia - PPX Presentation Accepted: Pearl Buck in Lushan: The Life Saving Station 

-- Planned the Pearl Buck in Lushan Exhibit in Jiangxi 

- 6/05/24 - PPX Call with Lushan Educational Exchange Program

-- Call with Stephanie to discuss Planning the Educational Exchange Program with Lushan City School 

- 6/9/24 - Met with Jindong Cai, or Musical Program Advisor

-- US China Conductor meeting suggested P2PEX intro to Nanchang Orchestra (NO), 07/23 Cai Jindong conducted Nanching Orchestra.Nanching Orchestra has agreed to be a partner with whatever musicians potentially come from Philadelphia Orchestra for Fall 2024 Concert Plans (meeting with Jiangxi FAO Director Tiffany Chen) 

- 06/10/24 - Pearl Buck In Lushan - Educational and Museum Exchange Arranged by PPX Lushan Museum, P2PEX Agreement Signed 04/19/24 Follow-Up

-- SH Met with Samantha Frises - PSBI Museum Curator and Stephanie: Director of International and discussed: a. Educational Students Sponsorship in Lushan POC 09/24 starts and includes Stephanie and Chen Hui b. Museum Exchange c. Pearl Buck Essay Contest 

- 6/10/24 - PPX Introduces Lushan My Li Yiqiang to PSBI Zhenjiang Director Tang

- 6/12/24 - Create Draft Press Release to send out on 6/25/24

-- Joint Press release announcing PSBI, PPX and Lushan City Museum China People to People Exchange draft due 06/25/24 

- 6/12/24 - Quote received for Lushan Suite from Nanjing Film Co. for Lushan Suite Concert Video Performance Recording

- 06/13/24 - Jiujiang Newspaper - American Guest Column in the Weekend End Edition

-- Arranged conversation with the editor where our articles appear last year to discuss and monthly guest column - Americans Come Home to Lushan 

-- Stories from: a. Tales Out of School - Stories of the Kuling American School - Series, contacted authors family member John Epsey b. Lushan Memories: 1980's Publication of the Students lifelong memories of Lushan shared on their return to the Mountain  

- 6/13/24 - PPX received invitation to meet with San Francisco Chinese Consulate: Vice Consul Song, Wang Shiuping, Cultural Affairs, and Mr. Meng, Political Media 

-- Discussed and agreed to do a P2PEX SF Library Presentation, SF Banquet on 45       Anniversary, Video Film Rights in China for Lushan Suite.

-- Discussed Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)  SF Symphony, Gavin Newsom. Joanne in Beijing Introduced to Steve, Mr Wang who is their President.

- 6/13/24 - PPX Online Meeting Pearl Buck International House Director Tang, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

-- Steve arranging a visit to discuss Exhibits and Connecting Pearl Buck Houses  and Museum in Philadelphia with Zhenjiang & Lushan for Museum Exchanges

- 6/14/24 - US China Team: Lushan Suite Planning Committee Meeting: Li Yiqiang, Steve Harnsberger Progress Report 

-- Nanchang Orchestra has joined in support for the Philadelphia Orchestra (PO) Oct/Nov. Philadelphia Orchestra schedule and number of musicians, dates and confirmation still TBD.

-- DDG FAO Li Yiqiang invited Steve to meet in Wuhan June 24th before Wuhan June 25th Independence day meeting with the new Consul General.

-- P2PEX would license Lushan Suite music (with Roots family) to the Philadelphia Orchestra and retain live, on demand video and audio documentary rights. 

-- Film: Jiangxi FAO wants to do a documentary short film to be discussed together.

- 6/14/24 - Director Tang shared photos of his meeting with US Ambassador to China Nicholas Abrahms - Photos.

- 6/14/24 - Jiingxi FAO, Li YiqiangPublished Online Report of Our Latest Lushan Suite Program Planning Committee Meeting Notes.

- 6/14/24 - Met with San Francisco China Center at SF Library who agreed to host PPX Story Presentations

-- Presentation of the Lushan Suite and Pearl Buck 2. Meeting scheduled to discuss program and possible sponsors 

- 06/15/24 - PPX had Call with Jennifer Lin, Author and Filmmaker of "Beethoven in Beijing"

-- Jennifer suggested she should introduce our team to her friends @ the Philadelphia Orchestra Ryan Fleur, EVP Development.

-- Steve confirmed that Ryan Fleur is the guy,in Beijing last week 

- 06/17/24 - Jennifer Lin made introduction of SH to Ryan Fleur, Philadelphia Orchestra

- 07/28/24 - Attended the Banquet to Commemorate the 45th Anniversary of US/China Diplomatic Relations at the SF Hyatt Hotel and met with the SF Consul General from China.