Sister Cities International E-Newsletter

				E-Newsletter 01.09.2013
	Happy New Year to all our members! Wish you a year filled with peace and prosperity! IN THIS ISSUE Next Week: Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala 2013 Membership Renewal Invoice Engage the Next Generation: Project Earth-Sister Cities International Challenge 2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Proposed Bylaw Changes from the Membership Jan 12, 2013 Culver City Sister City 50th Anniversary Celebration Jan 14, 2013 Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee Meeting Jan 17, 2013 Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala How is your sister city organization celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on January 21, 2013? Make sure to tell us all about it at www.sister-cities.org/submit-your-member-story.    Attention members! To ensure that your membership dues payments are received on time, please update our new address in your system: 915 15th Street, NW 4th Floor Washington, DC 20005		Join us next week: Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala! The exclusive Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala is next week! On January 17, come celebrate the inauguration of our Honorary Chairman, the President of the United States at the beautiful International Hall of Flags at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce situated a block from the White House. Doors will open for the Gala at 7:30 pm and there will be live music, with a special performance by the United States Marine Band; open bar; and heavy hors d'oeuvres! General Colin L. Powell; Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Daniel Inouye (D-HI) (In Memoriam); Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Michael Honda (D-CA), Randy Hultgren (R-IL), William Keating (D-MA), Steven LaTourette (R-OH), Zoe Loftgren (D-CA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Sue Myrick (R-NC), Aaran Schock (R-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL) are on the Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala Honorary Host Committee. So join us for this exclusive event showcasing the important role of everyday citizen diplomats in promoting peace and prosperity around the world! Reserve your tickets today at www.SisterCitiesInaugural.org or call 202-347-8630.  Attention Young Professionals! If you are 25 years or under, get your Inaugural Gala tickets at a discounted rate of only $125/ticket! 2013 Membership Renewal Invoice In November 2012, Sister Cities International emailed invoices for members whose membership runs from January 1 - December 31, 2013. If you are a primary or billing contact for your sister city organization and have not received an invoice via email, please contact Adam Kaplan, Membership Director, at akaplan@sister-cities.org. Please note, Sister Cities International will not be sending paper invoices to members this year. Please be sure to renew so you can continue to be a part of one of the largest networks of citizen diplomats in the world and continue to receive benefits from Sister Cities International such as our toolkits and templates, webinars, an individualized profile on our website, access to grants and programs, as well as support from staff and your fellow sister cities members! Engage the next generation with the Project Earth-Sister Cities International Challenge!   “The Project Earth – Sister Cities International Challenge” is underway through Spring 2013! The Challenge engages the next generation of citizen diplomats through environmental and renewable energy projects. Utilizing the Project Earth online resources and sharing platform and the Sister Cities International network of students, teachers, and schools, this challenge allows young people to work with fellow students in their sister cities to implement sustainable projects focused on mutual environmental problems. Eligibility: K-12 school classes or clubs with a teacher sponsor and a partner class in their sister city; Cities where schools are located must be a partner in good standing with Sister Cities International; Project must be registered on Project Earth website through their teacher/adult sponsor. For further details on the project and registration instructions, visit http://www.sister-cities.org/project-earth-sister-cities-international-challenge. To view sample projects visit the Project Earth website at www.projectearth.net. Questions? Email info@sister-cities.org.   2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Open to all Sister Cities International youth members! The 2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase theme is "The Power of Exchange." Sister city relationships foster partnerships within the community and between international cities, counties, and states. Whether in person, online, or through the mail, exchanges of people and ideas facilitate community development and educational opportunities. Entries should illustrate the long-term impact that exchanges have had on an individual or community. The deadline for sending in entries is May 1, 2013. For details, visit: http://www.sister-cities.org/young-artists-and-authors-showcase Click on the links below to download the entry forms: Young Artists Form Young Authors Form   Proposed Bylaw Changes from the Membership Each year, Sister Cities International's Governance Committee receives and reviews suggested changes to our bylaws and board policies submitted by our members. These proposed changes are then voted on by the membership during the 2013 Elections. Members of Sister Cities International may now submit proposed changes to the Governance Committee for review.  Bill Boerum, chairman of the Governance Committee, requests any proposals for changes to the Sister Cities International bylaws, procedures, or board policies be submitted byMonday, January 21, 2013 to President & CEO Mary D. Kane at mkane@sister-cities.org, or in a letter postmarked by January 21, 2013 to our main office (915 15th Street NW - 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005). To view all current organizational documents, please click here.