A\u00a0delegation of three Scottsdale residents represented the local chapter of Sister Cities during an international conference last month.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOver 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,\u201d Max Rumbaugh said.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Attendees received closed door briefings by U.S. State Department officials on the diplomatic situations in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa.\u00a0 This was followed by discussions on the International Sister Cities program. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The people-to-people establishment of friendships allows individuals to experience the cultures, lifestyles, and warmth of people on both sides of the relationships,\u201d Rumbaugh said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe citizens who participate in Sister City activities reach the local citizens as compared to diplomat-to-diplomat relations established by the State Department.\u201d<\/p>\n
Student exchanges between cities prepare young people for an increasingly interconnected world, he noted, while sports diplomacy \u201cconnects communities through the universal language of sports.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAthletes and coaches form lasting international relationships and friendships,\u201d Rumbaugh said. \u201cCities 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, he stressed, \u201cIn 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.\u00a0 They also build goodwill.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Announcement of the new theme for the Sister Cities\u2019 popular Young Authors and Artists Showcase was announced.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
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 \u201cA Tapestry of Cultures and the Threads that Connect Us.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Assistant Secretary of State Cate Dillon summarized the essence of the gathering in Washington, D.C., Rumbaugh added, quoting her as saying:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThere will never be enough government official diplomats.\u00a0 Citizen diplomats are essential for America\u2019s building a friendly, peaceful relationship with other countries.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sister Cities program was initiated in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.\u00a0 Scottsdale began its program in 1969 with the city council selected Alamos, Sonora, Mexico as its first Sister City. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTurns out it was Arizona\u2019s first Sister City relationship with any city in Mexico,\u201d Rumbaugh noted. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Scottsdale now has eight sister cities: Alamos, Mexico; Cairns, Australia; Interlaken, Switzerland; Marrakech, Morocco; Haikou, China; Kingston, Canada; Uasin Gishu, Kenya; and Killarney, Ireland.<\/p>\n