A person slowly extends both hands and places a card into the palms of your hands. He lowers his head, bowing in sincerity. You read the business card and slowly, carefully, place it into your pocket as if it is a treasured possession. This is the way a business card is presented in the Republic of China. Business cards carry the weight of a resume.
Allen Beermann knows all about this procedure. In fact he has two of his own business cards made out of 24 karat gold.
Beermann has been the executive director of the Nebraska Press Association since 1995. Before that, he was Nebraska’s Secretary of State for 24 years. During his service in that office, he formed friendships in Taiwan, making connections for Nebraskans and Nebraska businesses. Beermann has visited Taiwan 17 times.
“Exchange visits are the best way to facilitate an understanding among people and to strengthen ties between countries,” said Elizabeth Chu, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City.
In recognition of his efforts to strengthen ties between Taiwan and Nebraska, Beermann received the Friend of Foreign Service Award during ceremonies in Kansas City on Nov. 16, 2001. The award included a certificate and a gold medallion in a special case that is inscribed “Friend of Foreign Service” in Chinese.
Gordon Yang, senior assistant to the director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, explained that award winners are nominated by citizens of the Republic of China and then evaluated by several individuals in government.
Director Chu said, “The medallion expresses Taiwan’s appreciation for Beermann’s friendship and service for more than 30 years.”
When Beermann learned he was to receive the award, his first thought was, “Why me?” he said. “Then I thought about all the people who made it possible to form this great relationship with the Republic of China.”
Beermann said the award ceremony was an extremely proud moment for him. He knows the ties between Nebraska and the Republic of China have been beneficial. “Medals are nice,” he said, but added, “People should never work for recognition; they should always do work that is worthy of recognition,” drawing from a favorite quote.
Beermann has built the relationship between Nebraska and Taiwan via a series of steps. He was pivotal in the drafting and the signing of the sister-state relationship between the state of Nebraska and the Republic of China on Dec. 2, 1983, when he was Secretary of State for Nebraska. It was the perfect beginning to what has become a long relationship, Beermann said.
“Taiwan has been a very good trading partner,” Beermann said. He helped arrange and host all 17 of the Republic of China wheat missions. Nebraska businesses received millions of dollars from the missions.
In December 1989, Beermann was selected to be an official observer representing the United States for China’s first democratic election in the several thousand years. He remembers the day vividly. Everyone was dressed up to vote, and parents even brought their children along. The turnout for the election was more than 80 percent.
It was a historic moment. “The Republic of China entered a new century, bringing with it 23 million people who have earned a place in this world with democracy, freedom and their love for ballots,” Beermann said.
Beermann was also invited for the 10 10 celebration in the Republic of China, celebrated each Oct. 10. The nation marked its 90th anniversary in 2001 with the 90th national day on Oct. 10. The celebration is comparable to America’s Fourth of July celebration.
In his current role as executive director of the Nebraska Press Association, Beermann helps increase Taiwan’s visibility through media coverage. This May he and his wife, Linda, led a delegation of 33 publishers from around America for a culture and study tour of the Republic of China, Mainland China and Hong Kong. Beermann said he and his wife would be “the den mothers” of the group.