On November 1, 2014 Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter held its quarterly meeting at the Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino, California. Andrea Press, daughter of SoCal Sister Cities co-founder Thelma Press who was also in attendance, opened the meeting with her rendition of the John Denver Sister Cities song.

Past Mayor of San Bernardino, Pat Morris, gave a brief talk on the importance of Sister Cities to a community, despite city budget cuts and poor economic conditions.  He has seen the benefits a sister city program brings, especially to the educational component and youth.

Mayor of Upland, Ray Musser, also spoke about Sister Cities and their advantages to a city.

SoCal Sister Cities Board Member Judy Maculsay talked about the formation of San Bernardino’s sister city in Japan, Tachikawa in 1959 by Louis and Thelma Press. In 1962 a student exchange program was started and is still on going. Jeannette Avila spoke about raising funds for this program, an annual golf tournament, annual rummage sale and car wash (where students get involved) and the annual firework sales. Jennifer Avila, student mentor, talked about her role in getting exchange students ready to go to Japan. And, finally Bob Fredericks, former exchange student to Tachikawa, Japan talked about the transformation and change this program makes in the lives of a student.

SoCal Sister Cities would like to thank U-DJ Rental Systems for graciously providing audio video equipment at no charge for the meeting. They kindly setup the equipment and their in-kind donation was greatly appreciated.

By Anthony Al-Jamie, Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter First Vice-President