Category: Reports

SISTER CITIES ELECTS LEADERSHIP 2013

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities
Volunteer of the Year, Rose Knoop and Board Leadership Award winner, Dr. Staussa Ervin

Membership Celebrates 2013 at Annual Meeting

Newly elected officers at the annual meeting and holiday party last night were Board Chair, Ann Rice; Chair-Elect Michael Bennett, Bennett Benner Pettit; Secretary, Eva Bonilla; and Treasurer, Mike Thomas, Inwood Bank. New board members include: Johnny Campbell,  Greg Kalina, David Parker, Paxton Motheral, Nancy Lopez, Tracy Williams, Asusena Resendiz, Ronda Stucker, David Johnson and Andrea Puente.

Chairwoman Ann Rice and Nagaoka Chair Tom Brents

“The annual meeting is a time to review accomplishments and recognize those responsible for our success,” said Ann Rice Chairwoman of the Board. “This year we signed a five-year contract with the City of Fort Worth, celebrated 25 years as partners with Trier, Germany and Nagaoka, Japan and coordinated youth exchanges to our sister cities for nearly 100 students.”

Sister Cities also recognized individuals and businesses for outstanding service. The Fort Worth Japanese Society was awarded the Eisenhower Award for Organizational Involvement. Dr. Staussa Ervin was awarded the prestigious Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership and Janet Diaz was awarded the Yamagata Emerging Leaders Scholarship. Youth Volunteer of the Year went to Sarika Sabnis and Volunteer of the Year to Rose Knoop.

Bob, Catrina & Eva Bonilla and Harvey Yamagata

Other elected officers include: Past Chair/Nominating, Brad Mahon, Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier; Development Chair, Becky Renfro Borbolla, Renfro Foods; Government Relations, Michael Hyatt, UBS Financial Services; Marketing Chair, Kara Peterson, Alcon Laboratories; Program & Exchanges Chair, Dr. Staussa Ervin, TCC; At-Large members Travis DeVault, BNSF Railways, James Meintjes, JP Morgan Chase and Mary Jo Polidore, DFW International Airport; Bandung Chair, Nancy Lopez; Budapest Chair, Mary Alyce Zimmerman; Guiyang Chair, Albon Head, Jackson Walker, LLP; Mbabane Chair, Tracy Williams, TCU Neely School of Business; Nagaoka Chair, Ronda Stucker; Reggio Emilia Chairs, Mark & Robin Nurdin, Bank of Texas; and   Toluca Chairs, Richard Casarez, ONCOR and Asusena Resendiz, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Pro Tempore Zim & Mary Alyce Zimmerman

“We have many things to look forward to next year. We’re going to Hungary & Austria in June; we’re moving into City Hall; welcoming Toluca, Mexico’s new mayor to Fort Worth; arranging a trade mission from Trier, Germany; and we have nearly 100 students going to our sister cities on educational exchanges,” said Ms. Rice. “We do this because we’re citizen diplomats. We care what the world thinks about the U.S. and we want to know more about the rest of the world.

For more information, please contact Mae Ferguson, President/CEO at 817/632-7104.

 

2013-12-05 12:06

SISTER CITIES ELECTS LEADERSHIP 2013

Volunteer of the Year, Rose Knoop and Board Leadership Award winner, Dr. Staussa Ervin

Membership Celebrates 2013 at Annual Meeting

Newly elected officers at the annual meeting and holiday party last night were Board Chair, Ann Rice; Chair-Elect Michael Bennett, Bennett Benner Pettit; Secretary, Eva Bonilla; and Treasurer, Mike Thomas, Inwood Bank. New board members include: Johnny Campbell,  Greg Kalina, David Parker, Paxton Motheral, Nancy Lopez, Tracy Williams, Asusena Resendiz, Ronda Stucker, David Johnson and Andrea Puente.

Chairwoman Ann Rice and Nagaoka Chair Tom Brents

“The annual meeting is a time to review accomplishments and recognize those responsible for our success,” said Ann Rice Chairwoman of the Board. “This year we signed a five-year contract with the City of Fort Worth, celebrated 25 years as partners with Trier, Germany and Nagaoka, Japan and coordinated youth exchanges to our sister cities for nearly 100 students.”

Sister Cities also recognized individuals and businesses for outstanding service. The Fort Worth Japanese Society was awarded the Eisenhower Award for Organizational Involvement. Dr. Staussa Ervin was awarded the prestigious Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership and Janet Diaz was awarded the Yamagata Emerging Leaders Scholarship. Youth Volunteer of the Year went to Sarika Sabnis and Volunteer of the Year to Rose Knoop.

Bob, Catrina & Eva Bonilla and Harvey Yamagata

Other elected officers include: Past Chair/Nominating, Brad Mahon, Murphy Mahon Keffler & Farrier; Development Chair, Becky Renfro Borbolla, Renfro Foods; Government Relations, Michael Hyatt, UBS Financial Services; Marketing Chair, Kara Peterson, Alcon Laboratories; Program & Exchanges Chair, Dr. Staussa Ervin, TCC; At-Large members Travis DeVault, BNSF Railways, James Meintjes, JP Morgan Chase and Mary Jo Polidore, DFW International Airport; Bandung Chair, Nancy Lopez; Budapest Chair, Mary Alyce Zimmerman; Guiyang Chair, Albon Head, Jackson Walker, LLP; Mbabane Chair, Tracy Williams, TCU Neely School of Business; Nagaoka Chair, Ronda Stucker; Reggio Emilia Chairs, Mark & Robin Nurdin, Bank of Texas; and   Toluca Chairs, Richard Casarez, ONCOR and Asusena Resendiz, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Pro Tempore Zim & Mary Alyce Zimmerman

“We have many things to look forward to next year. We’re going to Hungary & Austria in June; we’re moving into City Hall; welcoming Toluca, Mexico’s new mayor to Fort Worth; arranging a trade mission from Trier, Germany; and we have nearly 100 students going to our sister cities on educational exchanges,” said Ms. Rice. “We do this because we’re citizen diplomats. We care what the world thinks about the U.S. and we want to know more about the rest of the world.

For more information, please contact Mae Ferguson, President/CEO at 817/632-7104.

 

Proposed City Budget Contains No Funding for Sister Cities

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities
Fort Worth, TX—Nation’s Best Program in Jeopardy The City of Fort Worth’s proposed FY2012/13 budget contains no funding for Fort Worth Sister Cities.   This total cut in funding may seriously jeopardize Fort Worth Sister Cities’ continued existence. After a meeting in which the Mayor indicated further consideration of funding may be given,  Brad Mahon, Chairman of the Board stated, “We are hopeful the funding will be directly designated in the budget so that we can continue to provide award-winning programs on behalf of the City.” Fort Worth has been recognized as having the Best Overall Program in the U.S. from the national organization eight times, more than any other city in the U.S. “Since starting Fort Worth Sister Cities in 1985 during my mayoral term, I have watched Sister Cities grow youth leadership programs, travel exchanges and business expansions around the world,” said former Mayor Bob Bolen. Sister city relationships are municipal government agreements recognized by the U.S. Dept. of State.  Fort Worth has eight such recognized official agreements signed by Mayors of Fort Worth beginning in 1985.  Sister Cities, who manages these relationships, received $100,000 from the City this year which is 20% of its core budget. Fort Worth Sister Cities programs yield an annual economic impact of $2.6 million to the City of Fort Worth hosting over 500 visitors annually.   It leverages international relationships to attract economic connections and tourism.

2012-08-21 08:11

Proposed City Budget Contains No Funding for Sister Cities

Fort Worth, TX—Nation’s Best Program in Jeopardy The City of Fort Worth’s proposed FY2012/13 budget contains no funding for Fort Worth Sister Cities.   This total cut in funding may seriously jeopardize Fort Worth Sister Cities’ continued existence. After a meeting in which the Mayor indicated further consideration of funding may be given,  Brad Mahon, Chairman of the Board stated, “We are hopeful the funding will be directly designated in the budget so that we can continue to provide award-winning programs on behalf of the City.” Fort Worth has been recognized as having the Best Overall Program in the U.S. from the national organization eight times, more than any other city in the U.S. “Since starting Fort Worth Sister Cities in 1985 during my mayoral term, I have watched Sister Cities grow youth leadership programs, travel exchanges and business expansions around the world,” said former Mayor Bob Bolen. Sister city relationships are municipal government agreements recognized by the U.S. Dept. of State.  Fort Worth has eight such recognized official agreements signed by Mayors of Fort Worth beginning in 1985.  Sister Cities, who manages these relationships, received $100,000 from the City this year which is 20% of its core budget. Fort Worth Sister Cities programs yield an annual economic impact of $2.6 million to the City of Fort Worth hosting over 500 visitors annually.   It leverages international relationships to attract economic connections and tourism.