INFO @ SARASOTA SISTER CITIES (6) March 30, 2016


INFO @ SARASOTA SISTER CITIES (6) March 30, 2016

As the New York Times says, “All the news that’s fit to print” about Sarasota Sister Cities…………..
Please read to find out about a member’s mother who was a hula dancer and movie star—and the unusual, circuitous path to the creation of our mosaic commemorating Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico, in Bayfront Park.

UPCOMING EVENTS
April 5 - 11:30 am Annual Meeting  – Sarasota Yacht Club

April 20 - 4:00 pm Presentation by Ray Young on Polynesian Cultures of the South Pacific at the new Audubon Nature Center, Celery Fields, 999 Center Rd & Palmer Blvd, Sarasota.
A Wine & Cheese Meet & Greet will follow immediately after the presentation at the same location.

May 21 - Florida Studio Theater: Young Playwrights Festival

Aug 1-12 - Dunfermline, Scotland tour

EMAIL FROM LONGTIME MEMBER, RANDY AVON
After the announcement went out about Ray’s Polynesia talk on April 20, we received an email from Randy, a member of SCAS and a Board member of Sister Cities International.
          Ray- Aloha,
          As the token Hawaiian in Sarasota SCI, I am both interested in your event and more.
          I … was born in Hawaii. My Mother was a Hawaiian legend hula dancer, movie star, and
          diplomat. I would be pleased to give you support and assistance and am planning to fly in for
          the event.
             Aloha

          Hon. Randy Avon, CEO
          Asian Pacific Development Corp.
          Home offices in Mexico City, Mexico
          U.S. Office: 1000 West Mc Nab Road; Pompano Beach, Fl 33069

Randy, we’ll be happy to see you, but do bring film of your mother.  She sounds interesting!!!!!!  Emails like Randy’s make me laugh.

NEW CITY DIRECTORS FOR TEL MOND AND RAPPERSWIL-JONA, SWITZERLAND (friendship city)
At the last board meeting, the following were voted new members:
          Nelly Camardo, City Director – Rapperswill-Jona, Switzerland (Friendship City)
          Marlies Gluck, City Director – Tel Mond, Israel.

And a BIG THANKS goes to Linda Rosenbluth who is stepping down from the Tel Mond position after having served SCAS in almost every capacity.

PLAQUES RESTORED AND NEW SIGNAGE IN BAYFRONT PARK—HOORAY !
          In three previous newsletters you have read about the restoration of the plaques in Bayfront Park.  We have a tree and a plaque on a concrete pedestal there for each of our Sister Cities.
          THE JOB IS FINISHED!  Now, in addition, we have a sign on each end of the tree walk identifying this as the Sarasota Sister City tree walk and indicating all our Sister Cities and our mission statement.
          Kudos go to Ray Young for making this happen.  It looks mighty nice, Ray!

THE MOSAIC IN BAYFRONT PARK
          It was recently noted that the Sister Cities mosaic in Bayfront Park is in disrepair.  The mosaic shows a Mérida hand and a Sarasota hand within a heart, depicting how our relationship with Mérida was seen as this lovely colonial city became our twin in the Yucatan.
          What’s the back story on the creation of this mosaic?
          A noted Mayan artist--Luis Manuel May Ku--working with students from Mérida, Sarasota & Englewood, helped these students design a 18' x 40' mosaic for a wall in the US Consulate in Mérida.  
          Luis then came to Englewood in December, 2010, to help Englewood students develop a "friendship with Mérida" mosaic they presented to the City of Sarasota.  It was presented to Mayor Kelly Kirschner on Dec. 10 in the Ringling Museum courtyard at the twinning ceremony.
          Later the mosaic was dedicated in Bayfront Park before a large crowd of Sarasota City officials including Mayor Kirschner, Sister City members, and a large contingent of local students, including Principal Grossenbacher and art teacher, Dawn Hinck, both of Englewood Elementary.
And that’s the rest of the story………...

Dat’s all, Folks!

Questions or Comments to Dave Harralson
at
dharralson7@gmail.com / 941-870-5516