SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

ANNUAL BOARD/REGIONAL MEETING 2015/2016

August 15, 2015

AMN HEALTH CARE, SAN DIEGO, CA

Gil Garcia, President of Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter called the Regional Meeting to order at 8:45 AM. Don Giaquinto, Director of Protocol for Mayor Kevin Faulconer of San Diego welcomed the SoCal Sister Cities meeting to San Diego. He mentioned the International Affairs Board, the San Diego Cities Association and other local International groups that have become indispensable assets to the City of San Diego. On behalf of Mayor Faulconer, he thanked the hard work in the sister City Program and welcome to San Diego!

At approximately 9:00 AM Kathleen Roche Tansey introduced Shea Phillips, teacher from the The Preuss School, campus at UC San Diego. Mr. Phillips in turn had his students introduce themselves. Fuad Rabi, Benium Testamicael, Tony Chair, Steven Doan, Maddison Trenho and David Lopez. Mr. Phillips Skype called the city of Jalalalbad, Afghanistan to connect with Afgan Connect and several students from this class. For the next hour the SoCal Sister Cities Association board members and guests listened to a lively conversation between The Preuss School students and the Afgan Connect students. They discussed local and national problems in each country.

At 10:00 AM Ms. Roche Tansey introduced June Schulman from the San Diego-Yantai, China Sister Cities and Dalouge Smith with the San Diego Youth Symphony. Both presented the project of the San Diego Youth Symphony trip to sister city Yantai, China. It was a very successful trip that took months of planning and gathering of sponsorships/donations.

At 10:30 AM Ms. Roche Tansey introduced David Edick Jr. from the Vladivostak, Russia/San Diego Sister City. The organization recently completed an Open World program. The program was based on science, dealing with professional oceanography, primarily algae. The program also included a social experience. The Open World Program is a World Services of La Crosse, Wi, funded in part by the U.S. State Department. Click here to see the presentation.

At 10:45 AM Ms. Roche Tansey introduced Walter Amedee from the newest San Diego Sister City, Panama City, Panama. Mr. Amedee presented a fascinating story of how San Diego became a Sister City with Panama City. The House of Panama located at Balboa Park is the foundation of this new partnership. This is a 25-year friendship with Balboa Park and Panama City. Currently they are working on the 1st Annual Panama International Film Festival and nine cottage museums at Balboa Park. Click here to see the presentation.

At 11:00 AM Ms. Roche Tansey introduced Tom Hersant SoCal Board Member from Carlsbad. His presentation was on the rebuilding of Carlsbad’s Sister city with Karlovy, Vary, Czech Republic after the City of Carlsbad cancelled the government connection. It took a lot of work from volunteers and community people. It is now a thriving Sister City with 501 c (3) status and many exchanges taking place.

SoCal Youth Committee Report – Angie Gomez, chair of the Youth Scholarship Committee reported on the scholarship recipient who attended the SCI Youth Leadership Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Amber Rush-Kennedy from Culver City attended the conference, she is submitting a written report and hopefully will be at the next SoCal Board meeting. Two youth delegates to the SCI Youth Leadership Summit from Riverside presented a power point on their experience at the summit. Bella Browning another youth delegate representing Culver City also spoke about her experience at the Youth Summit.