Cross-cultural connections between The Dalles and Japan are gaining an exciting new dimension with the New Year, as volunteers with The Dalles Sister Cities Association launch a membership campaign, redesigned website and informational brochure with the goal of expanding community participation in a program that began nearly 30 years ago.
“If you’ve been intrigued by the student delegations from our sister city of Miyoshi, Japan, or if you’d like to help resume our own student delegations beginning in 2016, there’s no time like the present to become involved,” said Dan Spatz, sister cities association president.
Student delegations over the past 30 years have inspired generations of local students. Many have turned their experiences into professional careers; international business opportunities are also being explored through the association.
The organization’s mission is “To build and sustain cross-cultural connections and mutual understanding with our sister cities and the larger global community” through education, exchanges, cultural events, partnerships and activities. Additional members are essential. People are needed to help with membership recruitment, event planning, fundraising, host families for future delegations, and the selection of student delegates from The Dalles and other Wasco County communities.
“Our goal is to resume annual student delegations to Miyoshi City beginning in 2016,” said Anya Kawka, vice president of the sister cities association. (A small group of adults, including The Dalles Mayor Steve Lawrence, will make an official city visit to Miyoshi this summer.)
Longtime residents Bob and Kris McFadden started the sister cities program in the 1980s, building on a personal connection with the city of Ikeda, which is located on the island of Shikoku. Ikeda merged with neighboring communities in 2006 to form Miyoshi City.
The Dalles Sister Cities Association is led by a team of volunteers, working in partnership with the City of The Dalles, North Wasco County School District and Columbia Gorge Community College’s Japanese language program. Board members also include Corliss Marsh, Michele Spatz and Katie Paul. The Dalles City Clerk Julie Krueger is the official liaison to Miyoshi City.
The 2015 membership campaign for The Dalles Sister Cities Association includes a new brochure now in production.
Copies of the brochure will be mailed to recent host families, and will also be available at The Dalles City Hall, public library, school buildings, the Riverenza, Columbia Gorge Community College and The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Anya Kawka designed the brochure.
Additional information, news and updates are available on the association’s new website, which is designed by Michal Kawka. This is located at www.thedallessistercities.org
“The New Year will be a critical time to build our membership and expand our longstanding relationship with Miyoshi City,” said Michal Kawka.
“The sister cities program is a wonderful way to enrich our lives by exploring new cultures and building life-long friendships with our counterparts in another land. We encourage everyone to join us and help make our mission a reality.”
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