Posted by admin on December 17, 2008 under Uncategorized | 
Celebrating Tatarstan’s Anniversary
In August, 1998 the Kazan city government invited Bryan and College Station to send representatives to join them in celebrating the anniversary of Tatarstan’s Declaration of Sovereignty. On August 27,1998, Dr. Morris Gelber, acting as a representative of the Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association, departed for a 12-day trip to Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia.
Morris reports that he was met in Moscow by Alexander (Sasha) Kasatkin and Ilia Gershikov. Morris and Sasha traveled from Moscow to Kazan on the overnight train Krasnoyarsk, arriving in Kazan on Saturday, August 29. On the next day Morris and his hosts, the Kasatkins, visited Baumann Street, the main commercial street in Kazan. It is now closed to traffic and made a perfect setting for the festivities that were taking place.
Kazan really looks quite nice with much new building and renovation taking place. Sunday evening, Morris and his hosts attended the culmination celebration at the Stadium. There they enjoyed folk songs and dancing and Mayor Ishkakov’s greeting to the people. Later in the week, Morris visited Vice-Mayor Andreevna at the mayor’s office. Gifts were exchanged and agreements were made regarding future visits.
During the week, Morris visited School #18, one of our sister schools, from which have come many of our high school visitors. Since it was the first day of school, a nice program was held in the commons area and Morris was asked to say a few words, which he did - both in English and in Russian. Then he visited many classrooms and spoke with students of every grade. Other sites that Morris visited included the new Concert Hall, which is quite beautiful, and the Chamber of Commerce. He met with the directors of both organizations and discussed the possibilities of cooperation between those groups and their counterparts here in Bryan-College Station.
One of the highlights of the trip for Morris, was a gathering of students and teachers who have visited Bryan-College Station. So many of the students told him how much their visit to our cities had changed their lives. Morris returned to Moscow Monday morning, September 7, accompanied by Azaliya Urazmetova, the teacher who had spend nine months as an exchange teacher in Bryan, and flew out of Moscow very early on Tuesday morning. It was a wonderful trip for Morris, and he would like to thank the Association for making it possible. He has many pictures of his “adventure,” and will be happy to show them to anyone who’s interested.
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Students travel to Russia Teenagers notice many similarities By ARENA WELCH Eagle Staff Writer Kyndal Henicke said Wednesday that one thing stood out about her trip to Kazan, Russia - teenagers are mostly the same whether they live in the United States or across the Pacific Ocean.
“There were way more similarities in the way we live than differences,” Henicke said, explaining that Russian teenagers like to do the same things that she and her friends do every day. “We’re all the same.” The 16-year-old A&M Consolidated High School junior was among 11 local high school students who recently traveled to Kazan, Bryan-College Station’s Russian sister city. The group returned Sunday after spending two weeks abroad. Each year, local students take part in the exchange program, which is sponsored by the Bryan and College Station city councils. Each council pays $5,000 annually to support the program. Bryan and College Station share three sister cities - Kazan; Greifswald, Germany, and Zuazua, Mexico. The program was developed under President Dwight Eisenhower to promote cooperation among international cities. Next summer, students will travel to Greifswald for two weeks. The students spent $1,000 each to travel to Russia. Each was assigned to a Russian high school student and stayed with that student’s family. In October, the Russian students will come to Bryan-College Station to experience two weeks in the life of an American teenager. While in Russia, the group toured museums, churches, mosques, Kremlin buildings and even Kazan City Hall - a building most Russians are not allowed to enter. The American students applied for the program and were selected after being interviewed by a committee from the Sister Cities program. Other participants were Stephen Nock, Kyle Kenerley, Harrison Balog, Laura Brown, Emily Morgan, Jane McKenzie, Natalie Clark, Jessica Tinker, Dyle Hobson and Dayly Dickinson. Dickinson, a junior at A&M Consolidated High School, said Russia was much more modern than she had imagined it to be. “In history, we learn about Soviet times and how bad it was,” the 16-year-old said. “But it was a mixture of that. On the outside, buildings would not be kept up as well, but on the inside, they were always really nice.” Nock, also a Consol junior, said the hard work of Russian citizens was evident in their efforts to modernize the country. “Russia is probably one of the greatest places I’ve ever been,” he said. “Everywhere you look, you see development and how the country is growing. People are always busy working and trying to get things done to improve the country.” McKenzie, a 16-year-old Consol junior, said she had always wanted to travel abroad, and the program offered the perfect opportunity. McKenzie, who is 3 feet,6 inches tall, said her host family had never seen a little person before. “I learned a lot of new things about their culture, and it was an eye-opener for me,” McKenzie said. “If I hadn’t had this opportunity, I know I wouldn’t have gone. Now I want to go back.” Most of the students, like Henicke, said the most valuable aspect of the trip was the interaction with teenagers just like them. “[It wasn't] just going on vacation and seeing all the tourist spots,” Henicke said. “We got to do that but at the same time, we got to make 12 new friends and see how they lived. Instead of having an outsider’s view, we got an insider’s view to how families lived in Russia.”
Arena Welch’s e-mail address is arena.welch@theeagle.com.
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Bryan/College Station Sister Cities Association
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Organizational Chart
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(revised 2.3.09)
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President or/
Co-Presidents
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VICE-PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
BOARD MEMBERS
YOUTH + ADULT AMBASSADORS
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
MEMBERSHIP
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Posted by admin on under Uncategorized |
Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association
Greifswald , Germany Kazan , Russia Zuazua , Mexico
P.O. Box 4733 Bryan , TX 77805
www.bcssistercities.org
BY-LAWS Revised 1.12.09
I. NAME: Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association
II. PURPOSE: The Association is organized for charitable and educational purposes, consistent with section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall accrue to the benefit of its members, directors or officers. The Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color or national origin.
III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:A. The Board of Directors (”Board”) may have as few as nine and as many as twenty members, and the term of office shall be three years. The members of the Board of Directors shall be qualified for their positions by reason of their interest in encouraging, establishing, and causing to flourish sister city relationships between Bryan and College Station, Texas and cities in foreign countries.
B. The Board shall elect its successors yearly at its annual meeting, with one-third of the Directors being elected each year. Directors may serve consecutive terms.
C. Absence from three or more consecutive Board meetings shall constitute resignation from the Board unless otherwise determined by the Board.
D. Vacancies on the Board may be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote at any meeting of the Board.
E. The Board shall meet monthly. Meetings shall be open to members of the Association.
F. A majority of the Directors present at a duly called meeting, but not less than five, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business of the Association.
G. Members of the Board agree to serve on committees of the Board as described below:
IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Association. The Executive Committee shall set the agenda for monthly meetings and make recommendations for specific actions of the Board.
B. The Executive Committee shall present an annual plan of activities and an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors the month following election of officers at the annual meeting.
C. The Executive Committee may be empowered to act on behalf of the Board in negotiation of contracts and agreements.
V. OFFICERS:
A. Officers of the Association must also be Directors. The Officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Officers shall be elected by the Board at its annual meeting or when vacancies arise.
B. The President shall serve as chief officer of the Association. The President shall preside officially at all meetings of the Executive Committee and Board. The president may serve continuously for no more than two years.
C. The Vice-President is the second officer of the Association and may carry out the duties of the President when she/he is unable to participate in Association activities.
D. The Treasurer shall collect and disburse funds as authorized by the Executive Committee, keep full and accurate accounts, prepare a yearly financial report, and comply with reasonable requests for financial information by the Board. The Treasurer shall file yearly tax returns to both Federal and State governments. The Treasurer shall also serve on the Finance Committee.
E. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Executive Committee and Board and report the activities of the Association. The Secretary shall also keep current records of the names and addresses of the Board and notify them of annual meeting and other official meetings.
VI. COMMITTEES:
Each of the following committees shall be chaired by a Director of the Association appointed by the President of the Association.
A. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for fund raising and preparation of an annual budget in conjunction with the Executive Committee.
B. The Membership Committee shall develop membership programs and recruit new members. The Membership Committee shall coordinate its activities with the other committees.
C. The Educational Exchange Committee shall function in two areas:
Citizen Exchange - Plans exchanges of official delegations between Bryan/College Station and its designated sister cities.
Educational Exchange - Coordinates high school educational exchange programs between Bryan/College Station and its designated sister cities.
D. A Publicity Committee shall publicize and help plan activities and events of the Association. Additionally, this committee shall prepare and distribute a regular newsletter for members and interested individuals in the community at large.
E. Membership in the committees is not limited to members of the Board.
F. The Board may appoint ad hoc committees as needed.
VII. ANNUAL MEETING:A. An annual meeting shall be held between August 15 and October 15 of each year.
B. A nominating committee, appointed by the President of the Association, shall nominate both Officers and new members of the Board. These nominations shall be distributed to the Board at least two weeks before the annual meeting. Nominations may also be accepted from the floor. Nominations must be made with the consent of the person nominated. Voting shall be by acclamation, or, if requested by any Director present, by secret ballot.
VIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS:
A. The fiscal year shall be October 1 September 30 for purposes of state and federal reporting.
B. The Treasurer, President, and Vice-President are authorized to sign checks. Two signatures are required on all checks. Prior approval is needed for checks greater than $500.
C. The Board is authorized to accept both restricted and unrestricted gifts.
D. Directors may be removed for just cause by a two-thirds vote of the full Board.
X. AMENDMENT PROCEDURES:
The power to amend the by-laws is vested in the Board. A majority of the full Board is required. Such vote may be by proxy.
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Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association
2008-2009 Brochure
P. O. Box 4733
Bryan, Texas 77805
Web site: www.bcssistercities.org
PROMOTING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
The Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association was formed in 1989 to promote understanding, fellowship, and communications between our cities and our first sister city, Kazan, Russia. Today we have two additional sister cities: Greifswald, Germany and Zuazua, Mexico.
The Association is an affiliate of Sister Cities International. Representing more than 2,400 communities in 123 countries, Sister Cities International (www.sister-cities.org) is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs.
Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation - one individual, one community at a time.
PROGRAM DESIGN
A Sister Cities Youth Exchange program is a four-week commitment for participants and their families. Two weeks are spent in the exchange city while two weeks are spent with our guests in the Bryan/College Station area and parts of Texas. Typically in the fall of each year, applications are available for Bryan and College Station high school students to apply. Ten students and two adult sponsors are selected. It is intended that half of the participants represent each city.
Additionally, adult exchanges are organized in a similar way.
After selection, deposits are paid and passports are secured or updated by participants. The Association makes arrangements for airline tickets and travel arrangements with the Sister City.
Youth exchanges with Kazan, Russia and Greifswald, Germany alternate each summer. Then student delegations typically travel to Bryan-College Station the following fall or spring. Exchanges with Zuazua, Mexico are more flexible due to proximity.
The youth exchange program has afforded many students an opportunity to visit youth their own age in their homes and get to know their families and friends. Our youth experience life first-hand in Russia, Germany or Mexico for approximately two weeks. The host students from our Sister Cities have return visits in which they get to see what real life is like in Bryan-College Station and Texas.
PROGRAM GOALS
Our Sister Cities Association will provide quality youth and adult exchanges that promote cultural understanding and friendship among participants. Person to person ambassadorships foster greater understanding for international peace.
The program will encourage personal growth and self-confidence for its students and adults while valuing and supporting each individuals participation in the exchange program.
The program will actively educate, support and involve parents, students and adults as well as the communities in the Sister Cities International philosophy.
GOVERNANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
The governing board is comprised of four officers (president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) and 9-11 board members from Bryan & College Station. They represent both communities, both school districts and both City Councils. The Board oversees all activities of the Association. All board members are unpaid volunteers.
Community members may join the Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association on an annual basis. Newsletters are made available to our members.
Annual Membership Categories:
Student $10
Individual $15
Family $25
Recognition Memberships:
Supporting $50
Contributing $100
Sustaining $250
Benefactor $1000
Funding for Sister City activities comes from several sources. Currently the cities of Bryan and College Station each support the Association with grant funding annually. Membership dues and fund raising events such as raffles, home tours and car washes help reduce costs of travel.
SUMMER, 2006 GREIFSWALD , GERMANY
Ten Bryan-College Station students traveled to Greifswald, Germany where they actively participated in cultural and educational events and activities. The trip lasted two weeks.
The German youth and their adult sponsors traveled to Bryan-College Station in Spring, 2007 staying with their host families for two weeks. The B-CS host families helped organize and actively participated in excursions in the area and around the state to show guests Texas culture and history.
Host families feed and house our guests while they are here and pay for incidental expenses like movie tickets, etc.
For more information, please visit our web site (www.bcssistercities.org) or call Judy Bradford, co-president. 764-2100 ext. 135 or 775-5448.
QUOTES FROM YOUTH PARTICIPANTS
We went to school with the German students and it was very different from American schools. They only go half day and at noon participate in sports. Sports of all kinds were very common in Greifswald After about two days you get settled in. The family I stayed with was a single mother and two daughters. They were very kind. - Crystal S. (College Station)
Greifswald was a great experience. I got a chance to learn about the people there and a chance to use the German I had learned in school. I am still in contact with some of them via email. Blake B. (Bryan)
My trip to Germany was a chance of a lifetime. I was nervous. I was a little afraid after 9/11 but I finally just chilled out. When I came back I was really excited and I could not wait to tell my friends! - Cassandra K. (Bryan)
I had the best summer of my life when I went to Greifswald, Germany. Although I had been to Europe before, this was my first time to go without my parents. What amazed me the most was how much like me everyone there was. We all liked music, sports and hanging out. I cant wait to go back on my own to see my new friends again. David S. (College Station)
Im a shy person and so I didnt know what it would be like, I didnt know what to expect. Thirteen hours on the plane and I landed in Berlin. The family I stayed with was wonderful. Lyn M. (Bryan)
OFFICERS
- Dave Ruesink President
- Glenn Harmon Vice President
- Holley Mohr Secretary
- Mike Southerland Treasurer
Revised 2.3.09
Posted by admin on under Uncategorized |
Judy Bradford — judy@century21bcs.com
(979)764-2100 x135 (979)764-5448
Zandy Pustay –979-696-8620
David Ruesink –druesink@cstx.gov
Posted by admin on December 9, 2008 under Uncategorized |
Ways to be a Great Guest
Bryan-College Station Sister Cities
Revised 11.6.05
- Taste everything you are offered by your host family and others associated with the exchange. If you dont like it, keep your opinion to yourself unless asked.
- Be willing to try each activity the hosts plan.
- Keep all phone calls (even local) and computer time very short. The hosts may pay for every minute of phone time and it is expensive compared to our phone costs. Take an international phone card with you.
- Take a gift for the host family and give it to them soon after you arrive. Also take small gifts for the host students.
- The host students may still be in school when we arrive. On the day(s) you go to school you may be the center of attention. Pay attention. Be polite. Be prepared to respond when asked how your school compares to this school.
- Keep all negative judgmental opinions to yourself. It is okay to comment that we do this and that differently, but dont say the way we do things is better. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that sometimes the German way is better.
- Keep your sleeping area orderly. If your host family is typical, they will have a neat and organized home and will appreciate you doing likewise.
- Follow the house rules.
- Dont hog the bathroom. Most apartments/homes have only one bathroom that the whole family must share, so be thoughtful. Likely you will use the same towel multiple days.
- Be on time for everything! Punctuality is important to our hosts.
- Your host family will probably offer to do your laundry. Understand that the hosts washers may be small and may take 1.5 hours to wash a load. Few families have driers.
- Recycle, recycle, recycle
- Ask how you can help around the house but dont be surprised if your hosts decline your offer.
- Get regular rest so that you have energy to fully participate in all activities.
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Hosting Guidelines
Bryan-College Station Sister Cities
Revised 11.6.05
If you and your family have agreed to be the primary host for one of the students/adults from one of our Sister Cities, consider the following to help make the exchange successful:
- Discuss family rules early in the visit - The guest who knows what to expect early in the visit will have a better chance of living up to expectations.
- Obey the law - Remember that the legal drinking age is 21 years and that the legal age for possession/use of tobacco is 18 years in Texas .
- Be responsible Fulfill your obligations as a host and be a good sport about your guests interests.
- Show consideration - Allow your guest some private time according to his/her needs. Consider possible feelings of confusion and bewilderment at his being among many new people faced with many new expressions and customs. Help your guest to get sufficient rest daily so that he can enjoy all the new and exciting opportunities on this trip.
- Make sure your guest knows what is about to take place - Give him a verbal description of what is to take place. Turn a potentially embarrassing situation for your guest into a humorous one or remind him of something you have done which embarrassed you.
- Be tolerant - There may be marked differences in ideas and beliefs between your guest and your family. Your job is not to change your guests beliefs or ideas. Listen to differences without passing judgment.
- Use your coping ability - In a tense or stressful situation, be mature and show that you can cope with humor without always having to have things your way.
- Show enthusiasm - Things that seem simple and ordinary to you may be exciting to your guest. Try to enjoy his new discoveries and think ahead about things you want to do with him and show him that are enjoyable and dont necessarily have a price tag attached.
- Provide meals Your visitor will need to eat with you and the rest of your family whether at home or out on the town. Provide a sack lunch or cafeteria lunch at school as customary in your family.
- Provide tickets/entry fees - Whether to games, movies, or other activities your guest is dependent on you unless another host or co-host takes responsibility for the cost.
- Provide transportation - Remember that your guest has no other transportation and is not permitted to drive a familys/friends vehicle.
- Phone use Budget for one overseas telephone call by your guest to notify his family of arrival.
- Provide computer time If you have a computer available, allow your guest to use it periodically to contact his family via email.
- Give small/inexpensive/thoughtful Bryan-College Station or Texas related gifts These will be appreciated by your guest and his family. The best memories will not have price tags attached but will be remembrances of our cities, your family, Texas and the USA .
- Provide small amounts of spending money - Assume that your guest may have little or no spending money. Provide money for his activities if the activity is one that requires a fee/admission price. Consider how visitors from Bryan-College Station were hosted and treat your guest as a member of your family to be included in all activities that are affordable.
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Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association
P. O. Box 4733 , Bryan , TX 77805
November 12, 2005
Dear Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Supporter:
Remember Sister Cities? We are the organization that sponsors international understanding, one person at a time, through student and adult exchanges with Russia, Germany, and Mexico. Several years ago, you supported the Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association through your membership and encouragement. Since that time, we have continued to send students and adults to our Sister Cities around the world and to welcome their students and adults to our community. What we havent been doing, however, is asking for support. We are hoping that you still feel strongly about the good that can be done by exposing our young people and adults, and theirs, to life outside our own borders. And we are asking once again for your help.
In April 2005, students from Greifswald, Germany, came to visit B/CS. During the time they were here, in addition to experiences in Bryan and College Station, they visited Galveston, a ranch near Fredericksburg as well as Fiesta Texas and the Riverwalk in San Antonio. While they were here, they experienced Texas daily life and enjoyed the beautiful April flowers. Many of these German students have kept in contact with their American families. One student, some of his friends and members of his family returned for a visit to B/CS. The Bryan and College Station students going to Greifswald, Germany in June, 2006 are in the process of being interviewed for the exchange. We are very excited. We had 20 applicants and only 10 slots so the word about Sister Cities is getting out in a very positive way!
The Germans will have a wonderful agenda planned for our visit, exposing us to German life and history, and giving us a better idea of what Germany is. What better way to overcome the power of the images they see in the media and on TV?
We have an aggressive outreach program to identify adventurous young people (with adventurous families!) who would be good candidates for future trips. Perhaps you know someone who fits that description? In the future we will be interviewing candidates to go to Kazan, Russia, for a trip in summer, 2007.
To continue your support, please return the attached membership form with your check for $25, a fairly small sum to give for these worthy efforts. Checks should be made out to B-CS Sister Cities. Thank you for being a part of our organization!
Sincerely,
Judy Bradford, Co-President 979-774-0660
Leslie Schueckler, Co-President 979-690-8540
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