$20,000 donation to help firefighters in Puerto Vallarta
On November 9, 2019 the Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter held its quarterly meeting hosted by Santa Barbara Sister Cities on at the Santa Barbara Library. Special thanks to Morgan Stanley, Berry Man, Inc. and the Santa Barbara – Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities Association for their sponsorship. It was very motivational to see the International Firefighters Training Association make a $20,000 donation to the Santa Barbara – Puerto Vallarta Sister Cities Association. IFTA Founder Bret Russel kindly presented a check to Marti Correa de Garcia, Chair of SBPVA, at the event to be used for repairs of fire department and fire fighter training.
The following presentations were made:
CALL TO ORDER
Anthony Al Jamie, SCI SoCal President
WELCOME/INTRODUCTIONS
Pat Fallin, Santa Barbara Sister Cities Chair
CITY COUNCIL WELCOME
Oscar Gutierrez, Council Member
SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Helene Schneider, SCI Board of Directors
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Fundraising
Geoff Green, CEO SBCC Foundation
PANEL PRESENTATION
Grants/Grant Writing – Helene Schneider, SCI Board of Directors
Youth Programs – Victoria Schwartz, La Canada/Flintridge Sister Cities Chair
Connections – Gil Garcia, SCI SoCal Board of Governors
Capacity Building – Nia Lyte, SCI SoCal Board of Governors
Moderator – Geoff Green
DISCUSSION GROUPS

Welcome from SCI SoCal President Anthony Al-Jamie 
Bret Russell, founder of the International Firefighters Training Association (IFTA). presents a $20,000 donation to the Santa Barbara – Puerto Vallarta Sister City Association Chair, Marti Correa de Garcia 
Bret Russell, founder of the International Firefighters Training Association (IFTA). presents a $20,000 donation to the Santa Barbara – Puerto Vallarta Sister City Association Chair, Marti Correa de Garcia 
Sister Cities International California State Representative / Santa Barbara Sister Cities Chair Pat Fallin 
Santa Barbara Councilmember Oscar Guitterez speaking on his recent trip to Santa Barbara’s recent trip to Weihai, China 
Helene Schneider, SCI Board Member & Former Mayor of Santa Barbara, providing an update on Sister Cities International’s recent activities 
Santa Barbara Community College Foundation President Geoff Green speaks on Fundraising 
Panel Presentation on Youth Programs, Grants/Grant Writing, Connections, and Capacity Building 
Victoria Schwartz, LaCanada/Flintridge Sister Cities speaking on Youth Programs 
Helene Scheider, SCI Board of Directors and former Santa Barbara Mayor, speaking on Grants / Grant Writing 
SCI SoCal Board of Governors Gil Garcia speaking on the importance of Connections 
Nia Lyte, SCI SoCal Board of Directors, speaking on Capacity Building 
Capacity Building roundtable discussion 
Capacity Building roundtable discussion 
Youth Programs roundtable discussion 
Youth Programs roundtable discussion 
Connections roundtable discussion 
Grants / Grant writing roundtable discussion 
SoCal Sister Cities President Anthony Al-Jamie (right), thanks Bret Russell, founder of the International Firefighters Training Association (IFTA) for IFTA’s $20,000 donation to the Santa Barbara – Puerto Vallarta Sister City Association

