A delegation of three Scottsdale residents represented the local chapter of Sister Cities during an international conference last month.
Dr. Freda Hartman, vice president of Scottsdale Sister Cities, and Max Rumbaugh and Annette Rumbaugh joined the 70th anniversary celebration of the international Sister Cities program.
“Over 275 US and international delegates gathered in Washington D.C. to not only celebrate these years of Sister City activity success, but also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation,” Max Rumbaugh said.
Attendees received closed door briefings by U.S. State Department officials on the diplomatic situations in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. This was followed by discussions on the International Sister Cities program.
State Department representatives told the assembly that citizens have a huge role in the establishment and maintenance of U.S. efforts to develop friendly diplomatic relations with other countries.
The people-to-people establishment of friendships allows individuals to experience the cultures, lifestyles, and warmth of people on both sides of the relationships,” Rumbaugh said.
“The citizens who participate in Sister City activities reach the local citizens as compared to diplomat-to-diplomat relations established by the State Department.”
Student exchanges between cities prepare young people for an increasingly interconnected world, he noted, while sports diplomacy “connects communities through the universal language of sports.”
“Athletes and coaches form lasting international relationships and friendships,” Rumbaugh said. “Cities with retired professional athletes as citizens, find that well-known American sports figures are especially welcomed by international cities and help build a greater understanding of Americans.”
And, he stressed, “In these times of droughts, fires, floods, and violence, exchanges by first responders efficiently and quickly allow for the sharing of best practices to successfully deal with these challenges. They also build goodwill.”
Announcement of the new theme for the Sister Cities’ popular Young Authors and Artists Showcase was announced.
This spring young people between the ages of 12 and 18 will be invited to submit art, essays, poems or photographs representing their interpretations of “A Tapestry of Cultures and the Threads that Connect Us.”
Assistant Secretary of State Cate Dillon summarized the essence of the gathering in Washington, D.C., Rumbaugh added, quoting her as saying:
“There will never be enough government official diplomats. Citizen diplomats are essential for America’s building a friendly, peaceful relationship with other countries.”
The Sister Cities program was initiated in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Scottsdale began its program in 1969 with the city council selected Alamos, Sonora, Mexico as its first Sister City.
“Turns out it was Arizona’s first Sister City relationship with any city in Mexico,” Rumbaugh noted.
Scottsdale now has eight sister cities: Alamos, Mexico; Cairns, Australia; Interlaken, Switzerland; Marrakech, Morocco; Haikou, China; Kingston, Canada; Uasin Gishu, Kenya; and Killarney, Ireland.
Students and adults with an interest in becoming a citizen diplomat should contact info@scottsdalesistercities.org.