Celebrating 50 Years of Citizen Diplomacy: 1956 - 2006
- Skiing and NBA Superstars: Just a Few of the Treasures in the 2006 Winter Auction
- Sister City Organizations -Contribute to the Congressional Campaign for Citizen Diplomacy
- Global Membership: The Gift That Gives All Year Long & Honors Friendship
- Get a Grant: Open World Program Seeks Communities to Host Delegates in 2007
- Project Debuts on www.SupportSisterCities.org: Falls Church Works to Improve Education in Kokolopouri
- New Travel Rules for Citizens of the Bermuda, Canada, Mexico & the United States: Get the Scoop
- Save the Date & Your Money: Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, July 18-21
- Honorary Board Member Georgianne Thomas Honored in Atlanta
- Available NOW - New Young Artists & Sister Cities Logo Greeting Cards
- Your Amazon.com Holiday Shopping Can Help the Sister City Movement
- Don't Forget to Put Sister City Logo Items on Your Holiday List
Did you know that skiing superman Bodie Miller and NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki are part of the 2006 Winter Auction, along with an amazing selection of artwork from the Showcase of Young Artists, as well as travel deals! Browse through our online catalog today, bookmark your favorite auction items, and start bidding. Tell your friends and family - you don't want for them to miss out on this opportunity! The auction on the Young Artist Showcase pieces will end on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 4PM EST and the rest of the incredible auction items will end on Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 at 4PM EST. Bidding is safe and easy - and proceeds will benefit Sister Cities International programs. For more information, contact Viktor Zikas at 202.347.8630 ext.4875 or vzikas@sister-cities.org. See these incredible items now!
Sister City Organizations -Contribute to the Congressional Campaign for Citizen Diplomacy
In January 2007, the new U.S. Congress will convene and consider bold and immediate steps to use "soft power" as a crucial element of U.S. foreign policy. A bi-partisan consensus has emerged in the Congress, and seed grants for sister city exchanges could be part of this legislative package - but the voices of the entire sister city movement - will be needed to secure this funding! Each U.S. member of Sister Cities International is being asked to contribute $50.00 for each of its international sister city partnerships to help fund the legislative advocacy effort required to pass this initiative. That's why you need to act NOW. Contact the leadership of your sister city organization and ask if they are considering this request. Learn more about the Sister Cities Exchange Initiative.
Global Membership: The Gift That Gives All Year Long & Honors Friendship
Attention US sister city members! You can show your appreciation for your international sister cities during this holiday season by donating a one-year global membership. For only $140, your sister cities can enjoy all non-voting benefits of full members, including access to the online database and members-only publications and toolkits. Fill out a sponsorship form today or for more information contact the Membership Department at membership@sister-cities.org, 202.347.8630 ext. 4000.
Get a Grant: Open World Program Seeks Communities to Host Delegates in 2007
Would you like to host a delegation from Russia this coming year? The Open World Program brings Russian elected officials, teachers, businessmen and women, lawyers, healthcare experts, journalists, and civic leaders to the United States for 10 days and promotes accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. We are currently seeking sister city organizations interested in applying to host an Open World Program delegation in 2007. You do not need to have a Russian sister city to qualify. The program provides a grant to cover travel, and our members find that this project can refresh and re-energize their community's perspective on international relationships. The Open World Program is funded by the U.S. Congress and managed by the Open World Leadership Center at the U.S. Library of Congress. For more information see our website and contact Margarita Malkina at mmalkina@sister cities.org or 202.347.8630 ext. 4874.
Project Debuts on www.SupportSisterCities.org: Falls Church Works to Improve Education in Kokolopouri
In the 25 villages that comprise Kokolopori in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 12 schools struggle to educate 5,000 students. Their sister city, Falls Church, Va., is taking the initiative to raise funds for desperately needed educational resources and other necessities. The first step is to raise $10,000 through donations online at www.supportsistercities.org. As a program of its parent organization, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative, the Kokolopori-Falls Church Sister City Partnership focuses on supporting an indigenous Congolese community which manages a 1200 square mile forest reserve in the heart of the Central African rainforest. Read the press release.
New Travel Rules for Citizens of the Bermuda, Canada, Mexico & the United States: Get the Scoop
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State recently announced the final rule for the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. All United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico departing from or entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere at air ports-of-entry will be required to present a valid passport. Learn more about the upcoming changes and how they will affect travel opportunities in the future.
Save the Date & Your Money: Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, July 18-21
Mark your calendars! The Sister Cities International Annual Conference will be held July 18-21, 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Registration will be available beginning January 2, 2007 and fees will be:
$450 per person until April 1, 2007
$500 per person until June 23, 2007
$575 per person on-site at the conference July 18-21, 2007
In our next e-newsletter - learn all about partner registration and how registering to bring 2 U.S. delegates and 2 international delegates together can save you money! For more information, contact Lynn Olson at lolson@sister-cities.org or 202.347.8630 ext. 8632.
Honorary Board Member Georgianne Thomas Honored in Atlanta
Georgianne Thomas, former member of the Board of Directors for Sister Cities International, was recently honored by the Atlanta City Council for her service and dedication to the Atlanta sister cities program. Councilman Jim Maddox noted that Dr. Thomas was the founding chair of the Atlanta, Georgia -Cotonou, Benin sister cities partnership and chair of the Atlanta Sister Cities Committee. She hosted the 2001 Sister Cities International Conference in Atlanta and signed a new Atlanta sister city partnership with Ra'anana, Israel. She is now a member of the Sister Cities International Honorary Board.
Available NOW - New Young Artists & Sister Cities Logo Greeting Cards
Boxes of greeting cards with new images from this year's Showcase of Young Artists, as well as Sister Cities International logo cards, are now available! They're the perfect way to greet your sister city friends, write thank you notes, promote the sister city program, or correspond with your sister city abroad. Prices are $12.50 for a package of ten cards and envelopes. If you want cards to use for your own sister city fundraiser, they can be purchased for $8.00 per pack (30 packs minimum). For more information, contact Phyllis Warren Briggs at 202.347.8630 ext. 8634 or pwarrenbriggs@sister-cities.org.
Your Amazon.com Holiday Shopping Can Help the Sister City Movement
Will you be making purchases from Amazon.com for your holiday gifts? Don't forget to make your Amazon purchases through the Sister Cities International website. Just log on to our marketplace and click on the Amazon.com box. Every purchase you make after connecting through www.sister-cities.org's Marketplace area provides a benefit back to Sister Cities International, and there are thousands of gifts available. Happy shopping!
Don't Forget to Put Sister City Logo Items on Your Holiday List
Visit the Sister Cities International Marketplace to find all kinds of items with the sister cities logo, produced by API. API offers polo shirts, caps, tote bags, mugs and other items, all at great prices. These are excellent gifts for outgoing or incoming committee members, for "a job well done," for sponsors, for members, or to keep the sister city name before friends and colleagues. And remember API will work with you to print your local sister city information on most of the items they offer. Check it out now!
Donate | Web site | Contact Us