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Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Action Items # 1. ITEM TITLE: Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission SUMMARY: Chairperson Dick Landis and members of the Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission to give a brief presentation of the activities of the Commission. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Presentation ATTACHMENTS: Description Type No Attachments Available Dubuque Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission Dick Landis, Commission Chair Handan, China Dornbirn, Austria Pyatigorsk, Russia History of the Sister City Commission •2010 – Commission Created by Ordinance •Pyatigorsk, Russia: 1989 •Handan, China: 1995 •Dornbirn, Austria: 2012 In the 1980’s and 90’s, the City of Dubuque established relationships with Pyatigorsk, Russia, and Handan, China. A group of citizens formed a Sister City Committee that built upon partnerships with contacts both in Handan and Pyatigorsk. These partnerships led to the formation of official relationships and delegation visits to Pyatigorsk in 1998/2003, Handan in 2008/2015 and Dornbirn, Austria in 2012. On November 1, 2010, the City Council officially formed the Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission to include 10 at-large residents of the City and 2 members of the City Council. On January 11, 2011, the membership was increased to 13 at-large residents of the City of Dubuque. Membership 11 Appointed Members, 2 City Council Representatives, 1 Staff Liaison •Sheila Castaneda •Robert Felderman •Jeffrey Jochum •Dick Landis •Phyllis Lee •Patrick McNamara •Betty Phillips •Louise Thurn •Richard Van Iten •Annalee Ward •Bryan Zygmont •Joyce Connors •Kevin Lynch •Kevin Firnstahl Mission Statement •The purpose of the commission is to facilitate and maintain educational, economic and cultural exchanges with the city's officially recognized international sister cities; to explore potential relationships with cities where a sister city relationship may be mutually beneficial; and to engage partnerships with the business community, cultural entities, and education institutions that will enhance sister city relationships. •Promote peace with mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation with cultural, education and economic endeavors Dubuque’s Global Reach Business Community •80 companies in the Greater Dubuque Area have International Sales •77 have overseas locations Higher Education •Clarke University = 6 countries, 9 students •Loras Colleges = 12 countries, 34 students •University of Dubuque = 17 countries, 160 students •UW Platteville = 25 countries, 138 students •TOTAL = 28 countries, 341 students Dubuque’s Global Reach Local Government •Dubuque has been a host city for 7 countries including: Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Timor Leste Non-profit •Over 50 nationalities are affiliated with the Multicultural Family Center Dubuque's Three Sister Cities •Pyatigorsk, Russia •Handan, China •Dornbirn, Austria Pyatigorsk, Russia •Pyatigorsk means “five mountains city” •It is one of the oldest Russian health resorts and is an industrial, commercial, scientific, cultural and tourist center •It has a population of about 144,603 (2012) •Pyatigorsk became a sister city in 1989 Pyatigorsk, Russia •The city is located 121 miles southeast of Stavropol (sister city of Des Moines) •Pyatigorsk Park at 16th St. & Kerper Blvd. was completed in 2006 and commemorates the Dubuque-Pyatigorsk relationship Handan, China •It is located in the southern tip of Hebei Province, China •Handan was matched with Dubuque because of its “quad- province” location and its antiquity •Handan is about 311 miles south of Beijing •The population of Handan is 1,800,000 people, and it administers 14 surrounding counties in which another 6,000,000 people reside Handan, China •Handan was regarded as one of the five principal cities of China. Many stories, often reminiscent of Aesop’s Fables, have come out of Handan’s long and colorful history. •Today, Handan is a manufacturing center exemplified by the Hangang Steel works and is a major supplier to China’s space program. Dornbirn, Austria •Dubuque was one of the most common destinations for immigrants during the 19th century •Austrian author Meinrad Pichler traveled to Dubuque to research the history that the cities of Dornbirn, Austria and Dubuque, Iowa share •In October, 2012 the City of Dornbirn was added as a Sister City Relationship with Dubuque Dornbirn, Austria •Dornbirn is the largest city in the northeast Austrian State of Vorarlberg •It has a population of 45,650 (2006) •Dornbirn benefits from the four-country area of Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany 2014-2015 Commission Outcomes •Delegation Visits •Photo Exhibit •Student Pen Pal Exchange •Strategic Planning Session Delegation Visits •Over the past 1 ½ years there has been a delegation visit from/to Dornbirn , two delegation visits from China comprising of 8-10 people, respectively; and one delegation visit to China •Each trip consisted of a 2-3 day visit that included tours and focused on the PERSIA model (political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and arts) •Over 200+ Dubuque representatives interacted with visitors as part of each delegation visit •Library Exhibit for both Dornbirn & Handan visits •Handan China has a specific economic & educational interest local agencies and educational institutions Delegation Visits •Goals for 2015/2016 –Need to figure out a long-term solution on how to pay for visits –Need to seek Clarification on Sister City role when we coordinate the visit or when another organization is the lead for the visit •Who should/could we cooperate with? •What is our role/their expectation? •How are updates shared with the Commission? •When to pull in Convention and Visitors Bureau? Conversation with CVB? Handan Photo Exhibit •Accomplishments/Highlights –15 cities / locations in Iowa (including libraries, colleges) –Humanities Iowa grant helped fund the project –A photo inventory of the exhibit was completed –Project created goodwill, awareness and enjoyment –We have a couple of testimonials/positive feedback on the exhibit –Successful coordination of project including grant writing and execution –Presentation request(s) are still coming in –Created awareness of Dubuque and our cultural exchange Handan Photo Exhibit •Goals for 2015/2016 –Contact Dubuque Main Street to exhibit at 2015 Fall into Art –Develop survey instrument to seek solicitation for future display opportunities –Develop survey using Survey Monkey to get feedback from locations that displayed exhibit to try and get attendance figures and other data –Build a network from existing locations who participated to use for future opportunities Student Pen Pal Exchange •Accomplishments/Highlights –Two exchanges are currently active –Dornbirn – This is the 3rd year of a letter writing exchange with Dornbirn, Austria –China – This is the 3rd year of a letter writing exchange with Handan, China –Number of Students involved: •Dornbirn exchange: 30 from Dornbirn and 28 from Dubuque, 5th grade students average age is 9-10 years old •China exchange: 50 from Handan, 50 from Dubuque, 7th grade students and average age is 12 years old –Two public schools in Dubuque –Three -four letters are sent each year as part of these exchanges –Partner teachers have incorporated program into curriculum –Informal faculty sharing among Dubuque teachers –Impact is that 50 students, the teachers and the families in each country now know where Dubuque is and vice versa –Dornbirn City Manager [former] visited Dubuque’s school during delegation trip –Telegraph Herald article –Teachers resource exchange Student Pen Pal Exchange •Goals for 2015-2016 –Considering doing a press release in German, Chinese, English, Russian and sending to our partners –Commissioner(s) write an article on successes and impact –Raise awareness through conversation with Dubuque Community Schools and Holy Family Schools regarding pen pal programs –Funding for postage – budget request Strategic Planning Session •In 5 years our commission will be known for: –Delegation visits –Growing friendships and knowledge of/with other cultures –Introducing Dubuque citizens to the world –Sense of international citizenship –Business –Fostering global awareness –Cultural festival –Financially viable Strategic Planning Session •In 5 years our partners will be: –Chamber of Commerce –Greater Dubuque Development Corp. –Convention and Visitors Bureau –Service organizations –Universities/colleges –K-12 Schools –Non-profit organizations –Private enterprise Moving Forward •Research other models –Survey of cities in progress •Inventory –Local international interaction with businesses, non-profits, and institutions Questions?