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IN THIS ISSUE
Annual Awards Nominations Open!
2013 Sino-African Initiative Conference
Accepting Applications for Open Positions on the Board of Directors
2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase
USMSCA 50th Anniversary Convention
Feb 09, 2013
Palo Alto Neighbors Abroad "Around the World in Six Cities"
Feb 12, 2013
Denver Sister Cities International Setsubum Festival
Feb 21, 2013
Sister Cities Association of Cary Board Meeting
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Opportunity for Your Program to Shine!
Nominations for the Sister Cities International Annual Awards are now open! The Sister Cities International Annual Awards highlight your sister city program's achievements and brings international recognition to your community's contributions to the citizen diplomacy movement. Established in 1962, the Annual Awards recognize exceptional sister city programs.
Applications for the Annual Awards recognizing achievements in the year 2012 are now open in the categories: Best Overall Program, Innovation, Volunteer of the Year, and Youth Leadership. Current dues-paying members of Sister Cities International with at least one formally recognized sister city partnership are eligible to apply for the Awards. A panel of judges will review the entries and the winners will be honored at the 57th Sister Cities International Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, July 12-13, 2013. Click here to get started on nominating your program today! Deadline for application is Wednesday, April 3, 2013. Please note that all submissions MUST be submitted electronically this year. Please review the details on eligibility, rules and regulations, submission requirements, and evaluation before submitting the electronic entry form.
2013 Sino-African Initiative Conference
Sister Cities International hosted the 2013 Sino-African Initiative Conference in Nairobi, Kenya from January 31-February 1. The Conference, on the theme of “Urban Service Delivery in Public Health and Waste Management,” was part of Sister Cities International’s two-year, $1.5 million Sino-African Initiative (SAI) Program.
Sister Cities International President and CEO Mary D. Kane, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Vice-President Xie Yuan, and Inter Region Economic Network and Eastern Africa Sister Cities Director James Shikwati were present at the Conference along with local officials and academics as well as representatives from the three selected SAI trilateral partnerships:
- Osogbo, Nigeria - Asheville/Raleigh, United States - Xiangyang, China.
- Zomba, Malawi - Urbana, United States - Haizhu district, China.
- Nairobi, Kenya - Denver, United States - Kunming, China.
Participants attended technical workshops, expertise and training sessions on a comprehensive range of topics including financial management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting aimed at providing a solid foundation as the partnerships begin implement their SAI projects. The Conference ended with the signing of trilateral partnership project MoUs.
Ms. Kane later said, "Through conferences such as this one, we are proud to continue to facilitate innovative ways for cities and citizen diplomats to partner and exchange ideas and best practices." Sister Cities International thanks all attendees for their enthusiasm and participation in making the Conference a success!
Click here to learn more about SAI.
Accepting Applications for Open Positions on the Board of Directors
Sister Cities International welcomes all qualified applicants to run for open positions on the Board of Directors. Elections to the Board of Directors are held each year during the Annual Conference. If you plan to run for a position at the 2013 Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX July 12-13, 2013, please carefully review all information on the elections process to ensure your eligibility.
Eleven (11) Board positions will be open during the Annual Business Meeting at the Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas on July 12, 2013. This includes:
- 9 Board of Director positions (three-year terms, 2013-2016)
- 1 Young Professional Representative to the Board of Directors (two-year term, 2013-2015, must be between 19-35 years of age)
- 1 Youth Representative to the Board of Directors (two-year term, 2013-2015, must be 18 years of age or under)
It is the policy of Sister Cities International Board of Directors that each candidate applying for the above positions, including current directors who are running for the board and wish to have their names placed on the ballot, complete the following form and electronically submit the form and all supplemental information to the Sister Cities International office by 5:00 p.m. EST on May 15, 2013 to mkane@sister-cities.org. Materials received after this date will not be considered.
Please take note of all word count requests throughout the application. If an applicant exceeds the desired word count, Sister Cities International will edit your application to meet the requirements.
Please email completed applications to Mary Kane, President & CEO, at mkane@sister-cities.org.
Application Packet must include:
- 2013 Board Application (click to download)
- Electronic Photograph or Headshot (300 dpi or higher)
- Official letter from a representative of a dues paying Sister Cities International member organization or an elected official, endorsing candidacy
For more information on the 2013 Elections process, please CLICK HERE.
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-showcaseClick on the links below to download the entry forms:Young Artists FormYoung Authors Form
USMSCA 50th Anniversary Convention
The United States Mexico Sister Cities Association (USMSCA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! USMSCA will be celebrating this milestone with a 50th Anniversary Convention to be held in Laredo, Texas, February 21-23, 2013.
The convention is set to offer many exciting and memorable events for delegates as well as their families. To view the agenda and to register, please visit www.usmsca.org.
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