Sister Cities International E-Newsletter

Email not displaying properly? Click here to view it in a new window. Click here to share this with a friend.   E-Newsletter 01.22.2014 IN THIS ISSUE   Review the 2014 Membership Directory Nominate YOUR Program for the Annual Awards 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference Entry Fee Waived! 2014 Young Artists and Authors Showcase 2014 Annual Conference January 23-February 20, 2014 Santa Clarita Sister Cities Program: 2013 Young Artists and Authors Showcase Exhibit January 26, 2014 Norfolk Sister Cities: Annual International Luncheon February 8, 2014 Los Angeles Nagoya Sister City Affiliation: New Year's Luncheon    Review the 2014 Membership Directory Sister Cities International is developing its 2014 Membership Directory and we need your input to ensure that this year’s directory is as accurate as possible. Please CLICK HERE to download a list of current Sister Cities International members and their partnerships that as of now will appear in the 2014 Membership Directory. Please review this spreadsheet to ensure that your city and all of its partners are listed correctly. If your city is not listed, is missing partnerships, has partnerships listed that you are uncertain of, or if there are any spelling errors, please email Adam Kaplan, Membership Director, at akaplan@sister-cities.org. The comment period for the directory will be open until Thursday, February 20th at 5:00 p.m. EST. This directory is distributed to all members, in addition to members of the diplomatic community and hundreds of organizations worldwide. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to have your international partnerships known throughout the world!   Nominate YOUR Program for the Annual Awards!   The Annual Awards Program highlights your sister city program's achievements and brings international recognition to your community's contributions to the citizen diplomacy movement. Sister Cities International established the Annual Awards Program in 1962 to recognize exceptional sister city programs. Current dues-paying members of Sister Cities International with at least one formally recognized sister city partnership can apply for the Awards.  Sister city programs can now apply for the 2014 Annual Awards for achievements made in 2013 in the following categories. Best Overall Innovation (Arts & Culture, Economic Development, Energy/Sustainable Development, Youth) Volunteer of the Year Youth Leadership Visit www.sister-cities.org/AnnualAwardsto nominate your program today! Deadline for applications is April 18, 2014.Please note, there is no application fee to nominate your program for the Awards. Winners will honored at the 58th Sister Cities International Annual Conference in San Jose, CA, July 31-August 2, 2014. 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference Register NOW for the 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference! Sister Cities International is honored to have the support of the following dignitaries to form our Honorary Host Committee: General Colin L. Powell Governor Sam Brownback (Kansas) Governor Jack Markell (Delaware) Governor Rick Snyder (Michigan) Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17) Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6) Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6) Congressman Mark A. Takano (CA-41) Mayor Alan Arakawa (Maui County, Hawaii) Mayor Gregory Ballard (Indianapolis, Indiana) Mayor Rahm Emanuel (Chicago, Illinois) Mayor Todd Gloria (San Diego, California) Mayor Michael B. Hancock (Denver, Colorado) Mayor Kevin Johnson (Sacramento, California) Mayor Laurel Prussing (Urbana, Illinois) Mayor Gilbert Wong (Cupertino, California) The Conference, jointly hosted by Sister Cities International and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, will bring together hundreds of business leaders, government officials, and citizen diplomats from the U.S. and China. Conference sessions will provide exciting opportunities for U.S. and Chinese cities to learn about strengthening exchanges and business engagement through informative sessions from industry leaders. For more information on the agenda and to register, CLICK HERE.   2014 Young Artists and Authors Showcase   Open to all Sister Cities International youth members!Sister cities youth are encouraged to submit artwork, essays, and poems inspired by what this years theme: "Connect globally. Thrive locally." means to them! Sister city relationships foster partnerships within the community and between international cities, counties, and states in order to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time. In 2012 Sister Cities International launched its new tag line: Connect globally. Thrive locally.Through 2D media, essays or poetry,  youth can illustrate how global connectivity allows an individual or community to thrive locally. How has this connectivity impacted youth for the better? The deadline for sending in entries is May 1, 2014. For details, visit: http://www.sister-cities.org/young-artists-and-authors-showcase. Please note, starting this year, there will be no application fee to enter this competition. Click on the links below to download the guidelines and entry forms: 2014 Young Artists Showcase Form 2014 Young Authors Showcase Form 2014 Annual Conference Register Now for the Early Bird Rate! Registration is now open for the Sister Cities International 58th Annual Conference, July 31-August 2, 2014, in San Jose, California! Visit www.SisterCitiesConference.org to register today!   The Conference will bring together elected and municipal officials, engaged citizens, diplomats, and business leaders in the exciting capital of Silicon Valley to discuss, “The Power of Digital Diplomacy”. Attend specialized regional tracks on Asia-Pacific and Latin America Meet members of the U.S. Department of State and the Foreign Diplomatic Corps and hear their perspectives Choose from sessions on topics such as:                    Integrating new technology into programming                    Fundraising effectively                    Programming for economic development                    Media relations and protocol                    And many more Network and share experiences with members of sister city organizations from around the country Want to engage the next generation of citizen diplomats? Invite high school students to attend the concurrent 2014 Youth Leadership Summit on international diplomacyEnjoy a reception hosted by the Mayor of San Jose Followed by a special performance by Dionne Warwick! REGISTER BEFORE MARCH 31, 2014 TO GET THE EARLY BIRD RATE! Visit www.SisterCitiesConference.org to register today!         © Sister Cities International. 2013-2014. All Rights reserved. Subscribe to this mailing list | Unsubscribe | Update your subscription preferences | Vew in a new window