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.

 Comment

 For the Owensboro Sister Cities Executive Director, the Spring of 1998 saw a continuation of an academic year sabbatical leave at half pay from Owensboro Community College beginning in the fall of 1997. While no direct teaching duties at the college were assigned during the sabbatical, both direct and indirect teaching were engaged in during the period. Note that internationalizing the public education curriculum addresses both KERA goals and the needs of our citizenry as members of the globally dependent community. The City of Owensboro owes Owensboro Community College its appreciation for allowing me, as Owensboro Sister Cities Executive Director, to use sabbatical release time to forward the goals of our Sister Cities program.
     Our program grows in breadth and strength each year. While the work has been very rewarding, the program is endangered by its success. During 1998 we had seven exchange visits involving twenty four people. We are already safely forecasting a minimum of twenty five persons visiting Owensboro or Olomouc as part of our exchanges during 1999. We will need additional financial and manpower help if the program is to grow further.

Please take the time to review the report and reflect on its ability to project Owensboro positively on the international front. It is our belief that we have the most active of the seven U.S. - Czech Sister City relationships and that the breadth of our program will speak well for us as we apply for recognition this year at the Sister Cities International Conference at the end of July 1999.
     The Owensboro Sister Cities program, making connections across the breadth of our two Sister City communities touched the lives of several hundreds of people involved in our activities. The program does an exceptional job of carrying out its charged purpose. While this program is dependent on administrative financial support from the City of Owensboro, as an official international link with City Hall of the City of Olomouc, the overwhelming financial support for the program comes from individuals and donations from those institutions participating in the programs. Our thanks goes to the colleges: Kentucky Wesleyan for scholarship support allowing Robin to study in Owensboro, Brescia for funding student travel, Western Kentucky in Owensboro for telelinking Dr. Konecny’s presentation to other cities and my home institutiuon, Owensboro Community College for granting release time which allowed for the time required to direct this program, to the families who opened their homes and to the motels for assistance in housing our international visitors, to the three area school systems for support of our Rotary Exchange of students and teachers. There are just too many to mention but the program draws on that for which the community is known, a shared caring and sharing.
     As representatives of the populace we request your continued encouragement and active financial support.

The Executive Director’s February trip to Olomouc from February 12th to March 2nd was a continuation of work begun in October of 1997 with five Olomouc, Czech Republic Gymnasiums (upper division high school classes with equivalence to our first two years of college). Lessons were presented to English language classes concerning United States history, and background on both Kentucky and the Owensboro, Kentucky region. This instruction was successful both in teaching Czech students about their American Sister City and resulted in planning for a successful high school student summer exchange program.

Calendar in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

 Palacky University

Instruction during the February trip was also accomplished by presenting lectures to a Palacky University Political Science class and acting as a guest speaker for the local literary group at the facilities of the British Council in Olomouc.

During my Feb. 12^th — March 2^nd, 1998 visit to Olomouc, in addition to my teaching activities, there was a Medical Exchange. In the second week of the visit, Dr. Ken Henderson, Senior Vice President for Medical Staff Services for Owensboro Mercy Health System was guest of Dr. Jiri Santavy, Director of Genetic and Fetal Medicine at the Palacky University Medical Center, Olomouc. This visit is the first part of a two-way medical exchange; we are anticipating a visit by Dr. Santavy here in the future. The Genetic and Fetal Medicine Center at Palacky serves as the focal point for this work in the Czech Republic.

Schedule in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

 Fulbright Scholar

Between March 31^st and April 4^th, Dr. Karel Konecny from Palacky University and a Fulbright Scholar at Luther College in Iowa was guest of the four local institutions of higher education. Dr. Konecny delivered lectures at each college campus and was guest speaker of the Noon Rotary International Club. This is the second Fulbright Scholar we have been able to provide the academic community working cooperatively through the Sister Cities program.

Calendar in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

 College Student Exchange

We were active in planning activities to provide a summer study opportunity for area college students, as had been done in 1997. Unfortunately, we did not receive a strong response from the college students interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. Plans had to be cancelled for summer 1998.

Between May 14^th — May 30^th, 1998 I again visited Olomouc. In addition to my teaching activities, during the second week of my stay, two additional exchange activities were accomplished.

Calendar in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

During the May visit, Mr. Chris Boling, previously an Owensboro Community College student and now a Social Work major at Brescia worked with Caritas, the Catholic charity in Olomouc. We are hoping to make a solid ongoing connection between the two year Caritas Social Work Institute program and Brescia’s Social Work program. Chris was able to visit several locally supported social work areas and deliver a lecture on American Social Work and Training.

 Law Enforcement Exchange

The second week of the May visit also witnessed a Law Enforcement Exchange. The Owensboro Chief of Police, Alan Dixon and Owensboro Patrolman Michael Walker along with Captain Ken Hardin, Kentucky State Police Post Commander from Bowling Green were guests of the Olomouc Municipal Police and the Czech National Police of the Olomouc District. As far as we can determine, this was an historic first visit between Law Enforcement in the Czech Republic and Kentucky. Secretary Cherry of the Justice Cabinet and Police Commissioner Rose have been very supportive of this exchange. As an aside, let me note that MPD was able to send one of their radar guns with our officers to be demonstrated for the Czech officers. This law enforcement visit will be reciprocated during May 1999.

Another facet of the May visit was the pursuit of a Federal Grant offered through the American Association of Community Colleges. The Grant would have dealt with international workforce development. This proposal was dependent on the two Sister Cities working in collaboration. Involved with the Grant collaboration was: Green River Area Development District, Palacky University Center for European Studies, Owensboro Community College and the Regional Development agency for Central Moravia. The Grant, while receiving high regard, was unsuccessful due to federal government focus on the Newly Independent States (old Soviet Union regions). We hope to pursue other such Grants in the future.

We were able to arrange another invitation for an outstanding Olomouc string instrument student to attend Music at Maple Mount during June. The Maple Mount program offered aid in making arrangements for the Sister City student feeling that both the Czech musician and the American students would benefit from the cross cultural exposure. Unfortunately, the student selected by the Olomouc educators was unable to attend due to lack of funds for airfare.

As a result of the extensive groundwork with the Olomouc secondary schools and the assistance of the Owensboro Noon Rotary Club, Owensboro Breakfast Rotary Club and the Olomouc Rotary Club we were able to sponsor an exchange between the four Olomouc gymnasiums and our four community high schools in Owensboro.
     The major effort and acclaim for this exchange goes to the high school teacher committees in Owensboro and Olomouc. Mr. John Wooley, Ms. Jill Mueller and Mr. Nick Brake headed the Owensboro Committee drawn from interested teachers at Owensboro High, Owensboro Catholic High, Apollo High and Daviess County High Schools.
     A total of nine participants took part in the exchanges. Three Owensboro students, Robin Bryant, Kendra Patterson and Nicki Blakesley, were able to travel to Olomouc, live with Czech families and experience the Czech culture for three weeks during July. During August, four Olomouc students from Gymnazium Hejcin, Gymnazium Cajkovskeho, Gymnazium Slovanske and Obchodni akademie and two Olomouc teachers of the English language, Ilona Tecova of Gymnazium Hecjin and Helena Sedlackova of Gymnazium Cajkovskeho. traveled to the U.S. for the first time and lived with Owensboro families for a period of three weeks. The Olomouc and Owensboro Rotary International Clubs supplemented support for the exchange.

Calendar and Report to USIS in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

From September 20^th — 28^th, Owensboro Sister Cities sponsored two simultaneous exchanges. The Owensboro — Daviess County Tourism Commission, hosted two representatives of the City of Olomouc Tourism Office. In addition, the President and Vice President of Komercni Banka in Olomouc were guests of National City Bank of Owensboro. Komercni Banka is the largest bank in the Czech Republic and the tenth largest in Europe.
     Mr. Burley Phelan, Director of Owensboro - Daviess County Tourism, handled much planning responsibility for this combined visit. Mr. Larry Mayfield, President of National City Bank in Owensboro and an Owensboro Sister Cities Board Member hosted the bankers.
     All four visitors engaged in activities here, as well as, in Louisville and Frankfort. While visiting, our guests traveled together for some experiences and we arranged separate schedules focusing on tourism or commercial dealings. Appointments were arranged to meet with tourism and economic development officials at the state capital.

Calendar in Mayor’s Copy Appendix

At this year’s meeting of the Kentucky League of Cities, our Executive Director was one of the presenters at a session on the Sister Cities International program. There are now nineteen Kentucky cities involved in the program and the Kentucky League of Cities wishes to encourage more Kentucky Cities in becoming involved. The reasoning behind this encouragement is recognition of the need of our citizens and businesses that we are economically globally dependent. Our Executive Director serve on the Kentucky Sister Cities State Management Team.

Owensboro Sister Cities continues to help with arrangements allowing our Sister City Exchange Student, Robin Joska, to study another year at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Robin is a student at Palacky University in Olomouc majoring in English and Physical Education. We could have found no better a student to represent our program, Olomouc, the Czech Republic, and Palacky University.

     In support of the Sister Cities program, public speaking engagements were made to the Olomouc and both Owensboro Rotary Clubs, the No Name Club, First Presbyterian Church Sunday School Group, and each of the local high schools. News articles were generated both in Owensboro and Olomouc print media and by respective radio and TV station coverage. Articles covered student exchanges, the medical exchange in March and the police Exchange in May. Each is addressed in chronological order in this report.
     Owensboro Sister Cities is not moving toward looking for additional Sister Cities at this time, however, our direction is inclined to found an Owensboro International Center which will serve as an umbrella to work internationally with more than just our one Sister City. Hopefully, the City of Owensboro and the new Daviess County Commissioners will support a growing role in promoting both our city on the international scene and encouraging our citizens to be more knowledgeable about other world cultures.

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.

The Owensboro Community College TV station produced a show on Olomouc and our Sister Cities program for viewing over cable TV.

Another new major area of international commitment is reflected in the OSC Executive Director having been elected as Midwest Region Representative to the National Board of Directors of the United States — China Peoples Friendship Association. The area of assigned responsibility on the Board is Educational Outreach. In this regard, we developed and arranged the printing of some 4400 color folders describing the services available to teachers throughout the country from the organization’s Center for Teaching About China. Printing was done here in Owensboro.
     Our Executive Director attended the annual U.S. — China annual Washington Seminar on U.S.- China relations during April. This seminar attracts nationally renowned speakers addressing current diplomatic, economic, medical, education and government affairs. A briefing was delivered at the U.S. State Department. A number of students from throughout the nation, interested in studying about China, were sponsored by the U.S. - China Peoples Friendship Association to attend the Seminar.
     From July 21^st — August 7^th the OSC Executive Director traveled to the Peoples Republic of China as part of a Leadership Tour sponsored by the U.S. — China Peoples Friendship Association and the China Association for Friendship with Foreign Peoples. Accompanying the President of the USCPFA as a National Board Member allowed the opportunity to meet local government leaders, as well as, gain an insight unavailable as a general visitor to China. We were able to visit Shanghai, Nanchang, the Lushan Mountains, Xian and Beijing. Special attention was given in Nanchang, capital city of Jiangshi Province, the Chinese Sister State to Kentucky.
     The Executive Director attended a USCPFA National Board Meeting in Houston and a USCPFA Midwest Conference in DeKalb, IL. Service on a National Board is without a doubt a leadership development experience and the seminars and conferences sponsored by this organization always add to my historical and cross-cultural knowledge. It should be noted that Mr. Morton Holbrook III, serves as Political Officer at our Embassy in Beijing.
     A Continuing Education program was presented on December 4th and 5th, 1998. On Friday, Crane House from Louisville made presentations at Foust Elementary School, Deer Park Elementary School and Owensboro Catholic Middle School, representing one school from each local school system. The program taught the students about China, its people and culture. On Saturday, a public program was presented on the Owensboro Community College campus. OCC and USCPFA were the official sponsors of these activities.

Mayor Waymond Morris, Honorary Chair
Mayor, as highest elected official of the City of Owensboro

Mr. Jiten Shah, President

Mr. Burley Phelan, Vice President / President Elect

Ms. Cyndi Sturgeon, Treasurer

Ms. Lynda Bebrowsky, Secretary
(resigned due to moving from community - position vacant)

Dr. Dan Bradshaw

Dr. Michael Conkright

Ms. Ondra Edds

Mr. Larry Mayfield

Mr. Jesse Mountjoy

Ms. Tammy Rice

Mr. William R. West, Executive Director

Mr. Jim White