Sunday, July 27, 2008

Tanzania was presented well at the Sister Cities International 2008 Conference.

From left to the right is Deogratias Rutabana, Sam Brownback-United State Senetor, Eslun Tucker-Arusha Sister City committee member, and Mae Ferguson-Sister City International president from Washington, DC .
Mayor of Kansas Mark Funkhouser, president of Kansas City's sister city Michael Wood and other government official at the mayors reception

Deogratias Rutabana, Eslum Tucker, and United States mayor Mr. Keith Zook.
Columbus Sister City International President Barbara A.Pratzner
Mayor Mark Funkhouser of Kansas with the representative of Tanzania
More United State mayors at the mayors reception including Mayor Paul Natale of Commerce City More United State and African mayors including Mayor Glele Ahanhanzo from the Republic of Benin
Eslim Tucker,Mary Jean Eisenhower, President and CEO of People to People International (PTPI), and Deogratias Rutabana.
Mr. Michael Wood president of Kansas City Sister City and Deogratias Rutabana
President of Sister Cities International Mae Ferguson from Washington, DC and Deogratias RutabanaMayors and other delegates at the conference
More conference in a diferent session More United States government oficials at the conference
Cerebration time during the evening
More representaive from Africa During dinner time with the mayor of vilage of Hanover Park Mr. Robert D.Packham
Kansas City, Missouri hosted the 52nd Annual Sister Cities International Conference from July 16-19, 2008. The Westin Crown Center Hotel was "home base" for meetings and the final evening Gala. Delegates from the following countries: Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Ghana, Guyana, Japan, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Korea, Taiwan, Tanzania and Uganda plus the United States gathered for the 4 day conference. Over 500 participants from around the globe were in attendance. Ghana was representade by more than twenty candidates including Prince Kwame Kludjeson and his two sons.
Keynote speakers for the 4 day event conference were: Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, a noted international speaker on Sustainability, Corporate social Responsibility, Population, Gender and Justice Issues. Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs. Senator Sam Brownback furrently serving on the Appropriations, Judiciary and Joint Economic Committees. He also serves in the Helsinki Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, co-chairs the Senate Cancer Coalition and the Human Rights Caucus, chairs the Senate Values Action Team and is a founding member of the Senate Fiscal Watch Team. Mary Jean Eisenhower, President and CEO of People to People International (PTPI).

On Wednesday, July 16 the opening reception was held at the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial. During the day on Thursday, break out meetings were held with various topics containing: "Sister Schools: Connection Classrooms", "SOS sustaining our Sisters", "The Craft of Storytelling: Putting Narrative into Newsletters, Blogs and Web Sites." The Evening concluded with a Mayor's Reception at the Nelson Atkinds Museum's Kirkwood Hall. Friday events included additional breakouts with a highlight being the "Mayor's Forum "Engaging Your Elected Officials." Lunch was a special event called "Lou Wozar Annual Awards Ceremony & Luncheon." Very special Guest speakers included Henrietta Fore, USAID Administrator and Sam Brownback.

The conference was a place where you learn how to raise more money, find out how to economically develop our countries and communities through the Sister City program, gather new ideas to improve tolerance and understanding our countries, and find new sister cities. That's an Annual Conference - held once a year in July in a gorgeous destination city - and with hundreds of Sister City supporters, government officials, and Sister City leaders from around the globe. The conference is a place for networking, sharing, learning, and fun.

During the conference Tanzania was presented well by Deogratias Rutabana and Eslum Tucker . The Embassy of Tanzania in Washington, DC provided most of the materials used to demonstrate Tanzania which included the Power Point slide, DVD’s, and brochures. Kansas City is the sister city with Arusha.
Northern Ireland hosted the Friday night reception because they will host the 2009 annual conference in Belfast from July 29-August 1, 2009. Irish food, dance, music and fabulous Irish hospitality were abound!

Meetings concluded on Saturday at the Westin Crown Center Hotel and everyone gathered for the Kansas City Jazz Experience Gala in the Westin Ballroom and celebrated Kansas City style! Bebop, Blues and Big Band music played throughout the night, and mingling with old and new friends made thoughout the conference made this a memorable night.

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