January 2018
Dear SSCA Friends:
Happy New Year! This time of year is always a great time to look back in reflection and to look forward in planning for the coming year.
Looking back, the Springfield Sister Cities Association enjoyed a banner year in 2017. We had a record-breaking number of people participate in our many activities – from student exchanges and cultural performances at local schools to our featured events like the Japanese Fall Festival and Taste of Tlaquepaque. A milestone highlight of the past year was the dedication of the Peace through People Pavilion at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, which will provide an attractive venue for community cultural events for many years to come.
We hope you had a chance to experience our mission of “Peace through People” in 2017, and we value your ongoing support. Looking ahead, 2018 promises to be another action-packed year of Sister Cities events and activities, and we are unveiling an exciting new sponsorship campaign which will give your business or organization visibility at all of our major events.
Here are a few dates to put on your calendar:
- Our annual meeting will be on March 23 in The Gallery at the Gillioz Center for Arts and Entertainment. Attendance at this fun and informative event is included in your Sister Cities membership.
- The annual Kite and Piñata Festival, which celebrates both of our colorful sister cities, will be held on April 7 at the Botanical Center at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park.
- The 23rd annual Japanese Fall Festival will be September 7, 8 and 9 in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park.
Even beyond these events, the cultural, educational, and economic benefits of Sister Cities are significant for our community. We are an organization that builds international relationships and cultural understanding – and we want you to be a part of that important mission.
I am asking you to do two things: 1) please join us or renew your Sister Cities membership; and 2) please get involved with Sister Cities in 2018 and bring others along with you in that involvement. We are focused on expanding our reach and involving the next generation of citizen ambassadors in our partnerships with Isesaki and Tlaquepaque. We need your help to do that!
Please follow us on social media to stay connected. Thank you for your support of Sister Cities and our mission of “Peace through People.”
Sincerely,
Brad Bodenhausen
President, SSCA Board of Directors
