Posted 12:03 am Saturday, February 04, 2012
Sister Cities Celebrate Anniversary
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Tyler Sister Cities members had an opportunity Friday to spend a few minutes with visitors from their partner city, Yachiyo, Japan, to discuss celebrating the 20th anniversary of the relationship.
Talks with Tyler officials began with an early morning meeting with Mayor Barbara Bass and continued at a noon luncheon at Tyler City Hall.
Yachiyo Mayor Toshiro Toyoda said through an interpreter the purpose of the visit was actually two-fold.
“Of the 10 of us who came to Tyler on this trip, many have never been before and they represent the next generation of Yachiyo leaders,” he said. “We wanted them to meet our Sister City and form relationships for the future.”
Yachiyo’s mayor added, “Also, the people who came on this trip will go back and share with the people in Yachiyo, which will encourage more people to join us on the 20th anniversary trip we have planned to Tyler in October of this year.”
Staff Writer
Tyler Sister Cities members had an opportunity Friday to spend a few minutes with visitors from their partner city, Yachiyo, Japan, to discuss celebrating the 20th anniversary of the relationship.
Talks with Tyler officials began with an early morning meeting with Mayor Barbara Bass and continued at a noon luncheon at Tyler City Hall.
Yachiyo Mayor Toshiro Toyoda said through an interpreter the purpose of the visit was actually two-fold.
“Of the 10 of us who came to Tyler on this trip, many have never been before and they represent the next generation of Yachiyo leaders,” he said. “We wanted them to meet our Sister City and form relationships for the future.”
Yachiyo’s mayor added, “Also, the people who came on this trip will go back and share with the people in Yachiyo, which will encourage more people to join us on the 20th anniversary trip we have planned to Tyler in October of this year.”
Toyoda told Mayor Bass the group visiting in the fall will likely include about 10 high school students.
“By bringing the 17-year -lds, we will be giving them an opportunity to learn more about the United States and Tyler, which will grow international relations in the younger generation,” Toyoda said.
Tyler Sister Cities President Price Arredondo expects about 30 adults could ultimately make the trip, which is timed to coincide with the 2012 Texas Rose Festival.
Adding young people to the mix will be first for all involved, he said.
“By bringing the 17-year -lds, we will be giving them an opportunity to learn more about the United States and Tyler, which will grow international relations in the younger generation,” Toyoda said.
Tyler Sister Cities President Price Arredondo expects about 30 adults could ultimately make the trip, which is timed to coincide with the 2012 Texas Rose Festival.
Adding young people to the mix will be first for all involved, he said.
“They want to be able to introduce the students to high school students from here,” Arredondo said. “We see a lot of benefit from that. They really want to bring up the next generation to maintain the Sister Cities relationship.”
Arredondo said the relationship with Yachiyo is Tyler’s oldest Sister City partnership.
Every other year, the two cities take turns visiting one another’s communities, a tradition now decades in the making.
Actual friendships have been forged among members, who communicate regularly by email and mail, officials said.
Mayor Bass praised the efforts extended by Sister Cities members, past and present, local and abroad — without that cooperation, there would be no partnership.
“We are looking forward to October,” she said.
Local officials rallied last year when Japan suffered a deadly earthquake and tsunami.
Toyoda said Yachiyo was not directly affected by the March disaster, but recovery continues to affect everyone.
“There is much work being done to try to come up with ways to prevent this from happening to the next generation,” he said. “Also, the entire country is concerned about the impact of the nuclear plants damaged in the disaster. It will take time to know what the impact will be, but we are all very concerned.”
Tyler, last year, entered into a new relationship with San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, founded in 1542.
San Miguel is Tyler’s fourth Sister City, following cities in Poland, Chile and Japan since the group’s 1982 formation.
Tyler Sister Cities is part of Sister Cities International, a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to create strong partnerships between the United States and international communities.
Arredondo said the relationship with Yachiyo is Tyler’s oldest Sister City partnership.
Every other year, the two cities take turns visiting one another’s communities, a tradition now decades in the making.
Actual friendships have been forged among members, who communicate regularly by email and mail, officials said.
Mayor Bass praised the efforts extended by Sister Cities members, past and present, local and abroad — without that cooperation, there would be no partnership.
“We are looking forward to October,” she said.
Local officials rallied last year when Japan suffered a deadly earthquake and tsunami.
Toyoda said Yachiyo was not directly affected by the March disaster, but recovery continues to affect everyone.
“There is much work being done to try to come up with ways to prevent this from happening to the next generation,” he said. “Also, the entire country is concerned about the impact of the nuclear plants damaged in the disaster. It will take time to know what the impact will be, but we are all very concerned.”
Tyler, last year, entered into a new relationship with San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, founded in 1542.
San Miguel is Tyler’s fourth Sister City, following cities in Poland, Chile and Japan since the group’s 1982 formation.
Tyler Sister Cities is part of Sister Cities International, a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to create strong partnerships between the United States and international communities.
