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September Concerts Spread Peace Around the Globe
In a hectic world plagued with tales of war, a group of organizations want people to pause to consider how the world can be a more peaceful and harmonious place. Sister Cities International and the September Concert Foundation organize free musical concerts world-wide on September 11 every year. The concerts are a way for the communities to commemorate this historic date and focus on bringing all communities together, reaffirming our hope for world peace and celebrating life and universal humanity. Check out the Sister Cities International September Concert page for local program highlights and planning information, visit the September Concert Foundation for more information.
Patrick Madden selected as new Executive Director
Patrick Madden, of Arlington, Va., will become the new executive director of Sister Cities International, effective February 14, 2007. Madden has served as the vice president of external affairs and the publisher of Inside Arts magazine at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters since 2003, where he managed fundraising, government affairs and membership departments, in addition to directing the organization's communications outreach. He is a sought after voice in the fundraising community and is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University, where he teaches a graduate seminar on fundraising and the arts. Prior to joining the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Madden served as the director of external affairs for five years at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. Among his many accomplishments, he led a fundraising and media effort that secured a $30 million foundation gift to save a historic Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington. Welcome to Sister Cities International, Patrick!
2007 Annual Conference in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL
Join us for the 2007 Annual Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 18-21, 2007, themed "The Next 50 Years of Sister Cities." Come and be a part of preparing sister city volunteers and partners for the work ahead over the next 50 years. New to the conference will be Training Sessions on Fundraising and Public Relations. The conference workshops will discuss key topics such a city-to-city cooperation, tourism and economic development, youth programs and strategic sister city relationships. Showcase your programs and get new ideas from other member communities during the Best Practices Showcase. Enjoy evening receptions at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and the Broward Performing Arts Center. And you definitely will not want to miss the Gala Venetia and Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening. Don't miss out on the opportunity to receive a discounted rate!- register by April 1st, 2007.
The Congressional Campaign for Citizen Diplomacy
Local sister city committees are partnering with the Washington Sister Cities International office to participate in the Congressional Campaign for Citizen Diplomacy. Initiated for the purpose of advocating in Congress for the 'Sister Cities Exchange Initiative,' the Campaign will begin this spring.
Sister Cities International has engaged The Franklin Partnership, a lobbying firm providing government relations and public policy analysis, to advocate on behalf of the 'Sister Cities Exchange Initiative.' The firm will develop policy positions and develop plans to mobilize grassroots advocacy.
From Osage to Lermontov: 240 wheelchairs that changed lives
In May of 2003, Shirley Lister approached the Board of Directors of the Osage Community Sister City Organization with a proposal to start the Wheelchairs for Peace project to send a container of 240 wheelchairs to their sister city of Lermontov, Russia. At the time, the partnership between the two cities had become less active, and Shirley thought that the Wheelchairs project would be a great way to revive the sister-city relationship. Although initially concerned about the challenging goal of raising $18,000, the Osage Community Sister City Organization nevertheless decided to launch this project. As a result of this effort, in December of 2005, Lermontov and a number of other adjacent communities in Russia received the container and distributed the wheelchairs among its disabled members, hospitals, and state-supported social services institutions. What seemed at the beginning to be a formidable task became a rewarding experience that benefited not only the wheelchair recipients, but also the Osage-Lermontov sister-city relationship.
Strategic Planning is Under Way
As Sister Cities International gears up for its next 50 years, the Board of Directors is implementing a new Strategic Plan for 2007 - 2012. The plan, adopted at the October Board Meeting in Northern Ireland, includes the many stakeholders in the sister city movement - its members, leaders, and staff.