April 2009, Vol. 1, Issue 4
Savoring
Sister Cities Event Has Record Turnout
TGA had a
record turnout at the 3rd Annual Savoring Sister Cities event. Nearly 300 Tulsans
attended the global tasting tour, with numerous guests being first time visitors
to a TGA event. The event collected $1,985 in new/renewed memberships and eight
brand new TGA members. Highlights of the evening included delicious samples of
international cuisine provided by Royal Dragon, Panda Express, Asian Chef,
Garibaldi's Mexican Restaurant, Siegi's Sausage Factory & Deli, Fuji at Brookside,
Lambrusco'z to Go and volunteers of the Tiberias and Zelenograd Sister City
partnerships. Live music was performed by the Celle Der Junge Chor (German
choir), who visited T-town April 1-11. Congratulations to Kathy Henry,
a new TGA member, who won the Grand Prize $1500 travel voucher toward a Sister
City trip. During the event, TGA made a special presentation, revealing eight
new Sister City banners. The banners were presented to Suanne Wymer and Laurie
Sundborg from the Tulsa City-County Library, where the banners will be on
semi-permanent display. The banners were funded by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman
Family Foundation, represented by Alana Hughes.
A special thanks to our Sister City partnership chairs for collecting Sister City souvenirs to give away as door prizes. Sample prizes were French wine, a Chinese silk scarf, Japanese Gekas (ornate shoes worn by Geisha), and Russian chocolates. Tulsa's eight volunteer Sister City partnership chairs are Clark Frayser (San Luis Potosi, Mexico), Dr. Stephen and Sharon Hwang (Kaohsiung, Taiwan), Joy Chang Betz (Beihai, China), Pam Edwards (Tiberias, Israel), Dr. Debbie Landry (Utsunomiya, Japan), Olga Randolph (Zelenograd, Russia), Doris Gallagher (Celle, Germany) and Judy Glenn (Amiens, France). Also, a big thanks to the committee "who did such a tremendous job, making the event successful in every way," said TGA President Becky Collins. The committee chair was Judy Glenn and committee members were Wolfgang Becker, Pat Kroblin, Julia Moore and Myra Trahern. Event sponsors were ConocoPhillips and Radisson Tulsa Hotel. Additional thanks goes to Mark Collins, emcee, and Steve Eberle for helping in the kitchen.
TGA would also like to thank the City of Tulsa, Susan Neal and horticulturist Maureen Turner for researching the current status of the Sister Cities Grove, which was planted in Central Park (now Centennial Park) in 1992 during the Sister Cities International Summit. Susan Neal, who was honorary chair of the 1992 Summit, has informed TGA that one cherry tree from a Sister City, a plaque and bricks were relocated from the Sister Cities Grove during renovations to the Gilcrease grounds. Maureen Turner says they are in good condition.
Doing
Business With
7:30 - 10:30am -
On April 21, Tulsa Global Alliance and The University of Tulsa Center for Executive and Professional Development host the final meeting of the 2008-2009 International Business Breakfast Series, which will focus on "Doing Business with Vietnam". Companies currently doing business with Vietnam or wanting to reach into this market will want to hear keynote speaker Le Cong Phung, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States. A panel of professionals from local companies, including Barry Clark of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, will share their experiences with business in this new and expanding market.
"Vietnam
represents an increasingly important market for Oklahoma companies," said
Clark. "In 2008, Oklahoma’s exports to Vietnam surpassed the $10 million
mark for the first time." He also added that educational initiatives are
helping to open doors for Oklahoma companies in numerous sectors.
Oklahoma is currently the only U.S. state represented in Vietnam with a full-time representative at its trade office in Hanoi since 1996. Oklahoma also launched its first educational initiative with Vietnam in 1996 when PetroVietnam, the country's national oil and gas company, sent its first students to the University of Oklahoma. Today, Oklahoma is ranked among the top three U.S. destination choices for higher education by Vietnamese students and is home to nearly 250 students. For the 2007-2008 school year, OSU was listed with the most Vietnamese students by the Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam.
Early Bird Fee: $40 includes breakfast buffet. Register Now. Click on http://www.tulsaglobalalliance.org/BusinessEvents.htm#viet for more information about TGA's international business series.
Event sponsors are Tulsa Global Alliance, The University of Tulsa Center for Executive and Professional Development, The TU Collins College of Business, OSU-Tulsa, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Bank of Oklahoma and Tulsa Metro Chamber.
Mollie
Williford and The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation honored at the 2009 Global
Vision Awards May 21
6:00pm
- Crowne Plaza Hotel - Downtown Tulsa
Tulsan philanthropist and business woman Mollie Williford is a citizen diplomat, having contributed to the quality of life throughout Oklahoma by supporting an extensive gamut of culture, wildlife, health, academics, community, civic and service causes that touch countless lives. She was a board member of the International Council of Tulsa and Sister Cities International (which merged to form Tulsa Global Alliance in 1995). Williford chaired the 1992 Sister Cities International Conference held in Tulsa, and served as honorary chair of the 2005 Sister Cities Summit, “Connecting Cultures.” She has also served as honorary chair of the Kids’ World International Festival. Mollie is currently chairman of the board of The Williford Companies.
The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation has an exceptionally strong reputation for generosity. The Foundation has provided sponsorships for Tulsa students to participate in School Year Abroad programs in Beijing and Tulsa’s Sister City Beihai, China, and has been a supporter of the Kids' World International Festival. Henry Zarrow is a trustee and founder of The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, which has given millions of dollars over the years to "Jewish causes, the indigent, the disenfranchised and the homeless," as well as college scholarships to Oklahoma students.
The 2009 Global Vision Awards and Dinner will feature international cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Gary D. Lange of the Crowne Plaza. Table sponsorships are available. As of April 2009, current Global Vision sponsors areThe Williford Companies, The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and Helmrich & Payne, Inc.
Please reserve your seat by May 12, 2009. Look for your invitation in the mail or download an RSVP card at www.tulsaglobalalliance.org/GV.htm and send to info@tulsaglobalallince.
Upcoming International Visitors
Upcoming
2009 U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program Delegations
April 8-11 – “Jury System in the U.S.” - 8 visitors
from China interested in Early Settlement Program, Tulsa County Courts, District
Attorney's Office, Tulsa Police Department and Native American law.
April 12-15 – One visitor from Chile, Ms. Marcela Patricia
Fajardo Rojas, interested in transparency and accountabiity in the judiciary and
public defense issues.
April 19-22 – "Ethnic and
Religious Diversity in the U.S." - 4 visitors from Thailand interested
in Native American culture, customs, religion and Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
April 26-30 – “Climate Change and Renewable Energy”
– 2 visitors from Turkmenistan interested in technology and commerical development,
algae biofuels, solid waste recovery, regulatory frameworks for the U.S. petroleum
industry and wind energy. TGA is looking for volunteer drivers on April
27, 28 and 29.
April 29-May 2 - "Responsible
Management of Natural Energy Resources" - 5 visitors from Uganda
interested in oil and gas drilling, rights of indigenous peoples, drilling and
public health, drilling and environmental protection and environmental justice.
May 16-20 - "Managing Diversity in a Multi-Ethnic Society"
- 5 visitors from Europe. TGA is looking for a driver on May
17, 18 and 19 (Van is provided).
May 20-25- "Religious
Freedom and Interfaith Dialogue" - 7 visitors from Africa. TGA
is looking for dinner hosts on either Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evening,
May 21, 22, 23 or 24.
Confirmed 2009
Fee for Service Programs
April 22-May 13 - Community Connections
Program, funded by USAID, administered by World Learning - 10 visitors
from Ukraine in Tulsa for three-week home-stay and professional programming focused
on "Public Monitoring of Government Assistance Programs." Volunteer
Needs: Host families are needed to provide lodging, food, some transportation,
and to share their homes and lives from April 22 to May 13. TGA
encourages families to host two visitors at a time, and families may host for
the entire three-week period or for ten-day periods.
June 5-13 - Open World Program, funded by Library of Congress, administered by Academy for Educational Development and World Services of La Crosse, Inc. - 5 visitors from Russia in Tulsa for one-week home stays and professional programming focused on "Accountable Governance." Volunteer Needs: Host families are needed to provide lodging, food, some transportation, and to share their homes and lives from June 5-13.
If you are interested in assisting with one or more of these programs as an airport greeter, driver, home hospitality host or professional appointment, contact Bob Lieser at blieser@tulsaglobalalliance.org, 918-591-4750.
Annual Sister Cities International
Young Artist Competition
It is not too late to enter the Sister
Cities Young Artist Competition, open to students age 13-18. Deadline for Tulsa
entries has been extended to April 17. The 2009 theme "Your Path to Peace"
is an opportunity for you to express your personal vision of peace. Life is a
journey and it is characterized by what you feel, see, hear, think, and most importantly
defined by you. Judges do not expect to see streets and walking paths, although
some may appear as creative elements of your artwork - but rather the theme is
intended to allow you to share your vision of peace through your artistic abilities...
think outside the globe.
If you can't participate this year, please mark
your calendar for April 2010. Since 1988, the Sister Cities International Young
Artists Showcase has encouraged youth from around the globe to consider the honorable
mission of Sister Cities International and express their interpretation of that
mission promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, cooperation through
one individual, one community at a time. Hundreds of artists have shared their
talent with the sister cities community over the past 20 years. See the official
Sister Cities International website for past winners. http://www.sister-cities.org/programs/yap.cfm
For details on the 2009 contest and to enter, visit
http://www.tulsaglobalalliance.org/youngartists.htm
Kaohsiung
Partnership
April 11 - The 2008 hottest
movie in Taiwan "Cape No. 7" will show at the Circle Cinema,
2:00-4:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public (adults only). Light refreshments
provided.
July 13-25 - The Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chou invites Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and Tulsans to attend the 2009 World Games hosted by Kaohsiung. If you are interested in joining the delegation, which currently consists of TGA President Becky Collins, Kaohsiung Partnership Chairs Dr. Stephen and Sharon Hwang and TGA board members Jana Boyd, Dr. J. Markham Collins and Hillary Parkhurst, please contact TGA at 918-591-4750 or bcollins@tulsaglobalalliance.org. Air fare is now in the $1100 to $1200 range, hotel rooms are approximately $100 for a double room and tickets/transportation to the games are at no charge.
Zelenograd
Partnership
April 30 - May Day Celebration - 6:30pm at Harwelden
- The Zelenograd Partnership is celebrating the coming of beautiful spring with
Russian food, live music, dancing, contests, games and more. It is a major holiday
in Russia, being an annual day devoted to the recognition of working people's
contribution to society. May Day, until recently officially termed International
Workers' Solidarity Day, is now known as Spring and Labor Day. For details, contact
Zelenograd Partnership Chair Olga Randolph at Doshlygina@gmail.com
Celle Partnership
April 15-21 -Celle Rowers Compete
in Route 66 Regata
A team of three rowers and
one Coxswain will arrive from Celle, Germany, on Wednesday, April 15 to compete
in the men's "Masters Four" event at the Route 66 Regata, hosted by
the Tulsa Rowing Club, on April 18. Most of the American participants will be
from high schools around the Midwest. However, the "Masters" races will
involve people over the age of 27. These races require a crew of four rowers.
The Celle group will "borrow" a rower from the Tulsa Rowing Club to
complete their crew. The "borrowed" crew member was born in Germany
and will allow the Celle group to retain its German flavor. The boathouse is located
in the same park as Octoberfest (2100 S. Jackson Avenue, Tulsa OK 7410), and spectators
are welcome. Check out http://www.route66regatta.com/
for details and directions.
Amiens Partnership
April 11-May 9 - More than 50 exchange students and teachers
from Amiens will be welcomed by four Tulsa schools (Eisenhower, Thoreau, Holland
Hall, Union High).
April 15 - Cine-Club will show "Le Prix
à payer" – French film - 7:00pm Circle Cinema.
April
25 - Bienvenue Event - 2:00-3:15pm - Join the Amiens
partnership as they welcome all the French exchange students and host families
at Oilers Ice Center, 6413 S Mingo Road. They would be happy to introduce Tulsans
to our guests during this event.
May 29-July 24 - TU Student
Solange O’Brien interns in Amiens.
June 13 - Quentin
Langlois of Amiens, age 16, would like to visit Tulsa for three weeks to practice
his English, sightsee and practice tennis. The partnership is still seeking a
host family. Quentin's brother, Guillaume, age 17, will arrive July 3 for a three
week stay and will be hosted by the Woodard family.
June 14-17
- TU Business Law class will visit Amiens and meet with Amiens Bar Association
and University (UPJV).
July 3-10 - Four representatives
from Amiens-Metropole visit Tulsa to review film & music and economic opportunities.
July or early August - Arthur Feder of Amiens, age 17,
would like to visit Tulsa to practice his English and experience American life.
His father is a manager in Goodyear Company and his mother works in Amiens Chamber
of Commerce. The partnership is seeking a host family.
August
- Francois Derruau of Amiens, ISAM Finance Management student is seeking an internship
oppportunity in Tulsa.
For more details on the above Amiens partnership
events or if you are interested in volunteering/hosting, please contact Partnership
Chair Judy Glenn for more details: rsvp@aftulsa.org
or (918) 625-8376.
A Story Told in
Many Languages
TGA would like to thank Tulsa author
Billie Letts who donated 83 of her books published in 13 different languages
to the organization, and thank you to Barbara Santee for thinking of us.
These books will be used in local schools teaching one of the languages and will
be given to international visitors to Tulsa. When people of other cultures read
Billie Letts' books about the United States, its people and its culture, we will
Bridge Cultures through Education, through Understanding and through People.