REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION

Calendar Year Activities 1997

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Owensboro Sister Cities, Inc. encourages global understanding between our community and other world communities. The Owensboro Sister Cities Program will assist government entities with the proper reception of foreign visitors and dignitaries by serving as the community's office of protocol; pursue an ongoing mission to inform and educate our community concerning our area's international cultural and business ties and their effects on our community; initiate exchange programs in education, business, professional groups, and the arts; assist government and its agencies in promoting our community's cultural heritage through our Sister City(ies) relationship; encourage development and expansion of international trade relationships and assist with foreign trade missions; assist community organizations in direct relationships with similar organizations in our Sister City(ies) and elsewhere in the world, where possible.

Summary

Owensboro Sister Cities has had another active year. There have been twenty persons involved in our exchanges this year (1997) reflecting activity primarily in the fields of an official government visit by Mayor Waymond Morris and student education work at the college level.

This year's official visit to Olomouc was the second half of a Mayoral Exchange. Olomouc Mayor, Ivan Kosatik and his delegation visited Owensboro during the summer of 1996. A visit to one of the Twinned European cities of Olomouc also promoted Owensboro in the Netherlands. We were also successful in providing a summer study opportunity for students at the Owensboro institutions of higher education. Owensboro was host to two students from Palacky University in Olomouc during 1997 and one of the students continues his work through the Spring Semester of 1998. Finally, as part of the sabbatical leave granted by Owensboro Community College to our Executive Director, Professor West ,was able to work with both the high schools and Palacky University in the Fall of 1997.

There has been much work accomplished in establishing agreements for forthcoming exchanges between the various community's institutions and organizations which is brought out in this report. We hope that Owensboro Sister Cities will continue to be recognized as an outstanding program to provide community leadership in promoting our area and educating our citizens as they are increasingly influenced by living in the global community. It may be time to commit to broadening the international scope and role of this international initiative promoting our community.

As Associate Professor of History at Owensboro Community College, our volunteer Executive Director was granted a Sabbatical Leave for the 1997 - 1998 academic year in order to further develop the community wide Owensboro Sister Cities program (60% of his time, 1997-1998 academic year). This time allowance to the City of Owensboro Sister City program has enabled a furtherance of our program that would not otherwise be possible under normal employment time demands.

Young Artist Program, March 1997

One area of ongoing work with the secondary schools can be seen in the Young Artist Program. This was the third year that the program of Owensboro Sister Cities was able to submit a work of art by a local student artist for international competition. We have been most fortunate in that our entry won for both of the first two years of our participation in the program.

Having this local international competition winner has resulted in our community's name being published and circulated to the over two thousand Sister Cities worldwide. The Sister Cities Young Artist Program is co-sponsored this year with the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. The City of Olomouc also can submit a student work of art to this competition as our Sister City.

Official Mayoral Exchange, May 1997

This was the second part of the Official Mayoral Exchange begun during the summer of 1996 when Olomouc Mayor, Ivan Kosatik, visited Owensboro. While the formal exchange of Sister Cities Mayors is important to demonstrate the commitment to the official relationship, it also is a time for exploring potential avenues of cooperation in areas ranging from culture to business. As a result of a series of meetings with a number of Olomouc cultural institutions, tentative plans were made to seek exchanges in several areas. These plans initiated in Olomouc resulted in Owensboro matching institutions being approached upon the Mayor's return home. Many of the initiatives are set to take place after the new year.

In addition to visiting in our Sister City of Olomouc, the Mayor and those accompanying him had the opportunity to travel to one of Olomouc's Twinned European Cities. As guests of the City of Veenendaal, the Netherlands, the group was able to learn of the city planning for drainage in a country where a good deal of the land is below sea level. We were shown housing area development utilizing solar power on the individual owners homes. Also of note was the placement of compressed gas pumping stations for auto refueling within the housing district. Our group meet with both the City of Veenendaal city administrators and their Twinned City Committee. It was agreed that both the Owensboro Sister Cities and the Veenendaal Twinned City Committee would cooperate in our programs with Olomouc wherever possible. We learned that the City of Veenendaal, like us, has only Olomouc as a Twinned City and that the Veenendaal City budget allocates the equivalent of a half dollar per head of city population to fund their international program.

Summer Study, June 1997

With the participation of the Owensboro institutions of higher education, Owensboro Sister Cities successful in providing a summer study opportunity for area college students in our Sister City of Olomouc. Students from Owensboro Community College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Brescia College, Henderson Community College and Furman University were able to attend the month long summer session. After three weeks in Olomouc studying at facilities made available by Palacky University, the group of eleven were able to travel for an additional week to see some of Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Enrollment and tuition was through Owensboro Community College which also provided the instructor with half the support funding by the Chancellor's Office and the remainder of the instructor's salary from the Community College.

The instructor of record for 1997 was Dr. Bruce Beck, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Owensboro Community College. Along with Dr. Beck, Dr. Judith Rhoads, Dean of Academic Affairs also accompanied the students for the entire stay month long stay in Europe. It is our desire and plan to involve instructors from each of our institutions and provide a tuition agreement that will allow full participation of each college in earning tuition dollars and granting course credit.

Music at Maple Mount, June 1997

At the same time that our students were in Olomouc, Owensboro hosted Ms. Lenka Curikova during Music at Maple Mount. Lenka was a student of the Music Faculty of Palacky University in Olomouc. As has been true with most of Owensboro's Sister Cities visitors, this was Lenka's first visit to the United States. The visit was highly successful for all the students participating, not only due to this exceptional area music program but also due to the opportunity for both Lenka and our students to learn of a different culture.

Lenka had the additional opportunity to play with musicians from the Julliard School of Music. Her participation was made possible through the kindness of the Music at Maple Mount program and especially due to Jim and Julie White who looked after Lenka while she was at Maple Mount. At the end of her stay in Owensboro, Lenka was the house guest of David and Bonnie Adkisson. Owensboro Sister Cities is looking forward to working with Music at Maple Mount in having an outstanding music student from our Sister City participate annually.

Fort Knox Cultural Heritage Day, July 1997

Owensboro Sister Cities was invited to attend this Fort Knox sponsored event celebrating the cultural diversity experienced by today's United States Armed Services personnel stationed around the globe. Our program was one of a half a dozen Kentucky Sister Cities attending the day long event. Joining in our attendance were two young Czechs currently working in Owensboro independent of our Sister Cities program.

Olomouc Flood Relief, September 1997

Owensboro and its environs were subject to widespread flooding during March of 1997. During July of 1997 the Olomouc area was also hit with devastating floods. In answer to a direct appeal from Olomouc City Hall, all of her Sister Cities responded by raising flood relief funds focusing on relief of the aged homeless population. The citizens of the Owensboro area raised $10,200.00 for this effort, this was a sizable response especially in light of flood recovery demands in response to our own area.

Olomouc Exchange Student, KWC, Academic Year 1997 - 1998

Beginning in August 1997, Kentucky Wesleyan College enrolled Mr. Robin Joska, a fourth year English and Physical Science Major from Palacky University in Olomouc. Robin, who is an outstanding academic student and plays soccer in the third best league in the Czech Republic was given a soccer and an academic scholarship for the year by KWC. Additionally, a homestay was arranged with an Owensboro Community College professor and the tuition difference, as well as, book funds for the Fall Semester was paid by Owensboro Sister Cities. For the Spring Semester a $500.00 Eisenhower Scholarship was awarded to our program by Sister Cities International. This will reduce the tuition subsidy amount taken directly from our budget in the fall semester.

We have asked each of the four institutions (Brescia, Kentucky Wesleyan, Owensboro Community College and Western Kentucky University in Owensboro) to discuss and plan to supply a scholarship to a student from our Sister City every other year and to provide a instructor for our summer study program on the same basis. This will take some planning and agreement on a fair distribution of resources along with equal benefits to the institutions and students but is vitally important if we are to provide our students exposure to the global community that touches every aspect of our lives from culture to business.

Sabbatical Leave Visit, October 1997

As planned for the sabbatical year, the Executive Director's first visit to Olomouc took place in October. While there, classes were taught in four of the area high schools having English language sections and lectures were given to two classes in the Philosophical Faculty at Palacky University. Lectures followed by questions were given concerning the Olomouc - Owensboro Sister Cities program, Kentucky and a focus was given to the area of their Sister City in Western Kentucky.

Both students and English language teachers were told of the opportunity to have exchanges with Owensboro. It was agreed with the Olomouc educators that we will attempt to provide an opportunity to have one or two high school students in Owensboro per year. As a result of expanding educational contacts, we are looking to develop high school student and English language educator summer exchanges. Additionally, continued work with the Palacky University faculty is hoped to allow for the development of collaborative efforts between Palacky and the Owensboro institutions of higher education.

Library Meetings, May and October 1997

Meetings in May and October took place with the Olomouc Regional Library to confirm a planned librarian exchange. Owensboro Sister Cities has already confirmed the interest of an Owensboro librarian to exchange with the Olomouc Library and the housing arrangements on both sides have been arranged. The exchange is tentatively projected for the winter of 1998 -1999. The Olomouc exchange librarian is enrolled studying English. It is planned that after the Olomouc librarian visits Owensboro for two to three weeks, both librarians would go to Olomouc for a similar time period. We have requested both the Olomouc and Owensboro libraries to fund the travel expense for their librarian and, of course, continue to pay them during the exchange. Each side would be responsible to host the guest librarian while a guest in the Sister City.

Medical Exchange Meeting, October 1997

Palacky University Medical Center has asked for an exploration of areas of potential medical collaboration. Upon return to Owensboro, a meeting with an Owensboro Mercy Health System representative was held, interest was expressed in going to Olomouc to look into the state of Czech health care and what areas the respective medical communities might work on jointly. The unit of the Palacky Medical Center to host the Owensboro guests is the center for all genetic and fetal medicine research in the Czech Republic.

As a result of this initiative, a medical visit to Olomouc is scheduled for February 1998. Dr. Ken Henderson, Senior Vice President for Medical Staff Services at Owensboro Mercy Health Systems will be briefed on the Palacky University Medical Center, Czech hospital administration, medical care and regional health delivery. As with each facet of potential Sister Cities cooperation, it is important to have someone knowledgeable in the particular field meet with colleagues either in Olomouc or here in Owensboro.

Police Meeting, October 1997

As a result of meeting with both the Municipal and Czech Regional Police and the follow- up action taken upon the return to Owensboro, a police exchange has been tentatively agreed to in May or June of 1998. The Olomouc Police representatives have requested that a City of Owensboro patrolman, a high ranking officer and a regional law enforcement officer come to Olomouc and collaborate. The Owensboro Chief of Police has expressed his interest in participating in this exchange and Mayor Morris is supportive of the exchange dependent only on adequate financial arrangements. A law enforcement agency having regional jurisdiction has been approached to support the sending on one of its officers to Olomouc as part of this law enforcement exchange.

It is hoped that MPD will send our officers to Olomouc with one of their speed detection devices for demonstration. The Czech Republic has recently instituted a 50 kilometer per hour speed limit in the cities but does not possess mobile detection devices which are commonplace in the United States.

Fire Department Meeting, October 1997

A separate meeting was held with the Olomouc Fire Department and interest exists in having an exchange of officers. As we are pursuing a City of Owensboro Department exchange already, it is thought that this potential Fire prevention and fire fighting techniques exchange be pursued after the police exchange takes place.

Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Meeting, October 1997

The Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra has offered an exchange of conductors. This Olomouc based symphony, drawing on regional talent as is the case with Owensboro's Symphony, has recently named a new conductor. As Owensboro is in the process of naming its new conductor, this offer has been explained to the new Owensboro Symphony General Manager and individual members of their Board of Directors. We anticipate future exchanges of both conductors and guest musicians. It is our hope that we will be able to offer other Kentucky communities the opportunity to see these outstanding musicians.

Scouting Meeting, October 1997

A meeting was held with the Olomouc District Scout Executive to investigate interest in potential exchanges between out Scouting organizations. The Olomouc District in having more international exchanges and are already in correspondence with scouts from Los Angeles they met at a Jamboree in Europe. Explorers from Louisville have made a canoeing trip with their Sister City Scouts in Perm, Russia and similar activities could be promoted here among those seeking an international perspective.

Fulbright Scholar Invitation, November 1997

Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Karel Konecny, from Palacky University who is in residence at Luther college in Decorah, Iowa has been invited to visit Owensboro during the Spring Semester 1998. This invitation was arranged by Owensboro Sister Cities through the support of Brescia College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro Community College and Western Kentucky University in Owensboro . Dr. Konecny will visit each of the campuses and give a general presentation to the Owensboro community in April 1998.

Business

We continue searching for mutually beneficial trade between the Sister Cities. There are continuing explorations involving soybeans and specialty seeds, soy oil, steel products, bourbon, vending, etc. The only contract coming into fruition to date has been the export of medical equipment by an Evansville firm that we introduced to the Development Director for Central Moravia during his visit to Owensboro during summer 1996. The search continues in spite of the recent devaluation of the Czech and the detrimental effects of the flood recovery on the Czech national economy. Long term projections for the Czech Republic remain positive as the nation moves toward joining NATO and the European Common Community.

During the October visit the "Flora Exhibition" was visited. This is a fall exhibition of agricultural products from the rich agricultural Hana region surrounding Olomouc. Not only were Czech goods exhibited but there were Dutch products on display as well, a result of the Dutch Twinned City relationship with Olomouc. An American Peace Corps Volunteer working in Olomouc was surprised that there were no American agricultural goods since he knew that Olomouc had an American Sister City with a rich agricultural history. We obviously still have work to do in this area.

We were visited during the year by Rick Harned of the Kentucky World Trade Center and Marty Snyder both involved with the Louisville Sister Cities program. Both men have been working with Louisville's Russian Sister City of Perm. Mr. Snyder brought the Director for Regional Development of the Rostov District with him to Owensboro. Both men counseled patience stating that they had been working for years before business began to develop between the Sister Cities.

During the Mayor's visit to Veenendaal we had arranged to be met by our Kentucky State Trade Representative based in Belgium. Unfortunately, a late breaking business appointment made it impossible for him to join us in the Netherlands.

Other participation of Owensboro Sister Cities

The Owensboro Sister Cities Executive Director continues to serve on the Kentucky Sister Cities State Management Team and to make a presentation at the Kentucky League of Cities annual meetings. The Kentucky League of Cities has shown interest in stimulating Sister Cities programs in Kentucky cities because it views the idea as an excellent way to promote our state around the globe.

A presentation was made to the Franklin (KY) City Commission concerning beginning a Sister City program in that community.

In a related role to increase the community's and state's awareness of a global perspective, the Owensboro Sister Cities Executive Director was elected to the National Board of Directors of the U.S. - China Peoples Friendship Association. This organization is accorded respect as an old friend to the Peoples Republic of China. Planning is beginning which would bring programs to Owensboro raising citizen awareness of this country where twenty percent of the world's population lives.

The Owensboro Sister Cities Homepage is listed on the Sister Cities International wide world web homepage. Not all Sister Cities have their own WWW Homepage and we are fortunate in having Owensboro Community College supply us with the ability to have this promotional space on their server. Both Owensboro and Olomouc are now readily accessible globally through this additional computer link. Locally, public media coverage of the program was seen on WBKR, WVJS and in the Messenger - Inquirer.