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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Student Exchange to Kazan: July, 2007
In July, 2007 eleven high school students along with their two sponsors traveled from B-Cs to Kazan, Russia. Kazan is located some 500 miles east of Moscow, in the state of Tatarstan. This group participated in many daily activities during their home stay including visits to art museums, the Kazan city hall which is closed to local residents, and the University of Kazan founded in 1804. Other highlights include visits to the Raifa Monastery, ancient Bulgar, the Kazan Kremlin and a river cruise on the Volga with multiple stops to ancient villages along the way. When in Moscow the group toured Red Square and St. Basil’s Church.
Our students served as outstanding ambassadors from B-CS, many of whom formed lasting friendships with their counterparts. Sponsors remarked with amazement with the numerous similarities among the students despite living half a world away.
The Russian brothers and sisters visited B-CS in October, 2007 for a two week stay. In addition to visiting Texas A&M University and local Brazos County sites the students experienced a Texas rodeo, a county fair, and a traveling circus. Several state parks were included to allow a flavor of the diverse landscape that we take for granted. Delightful fall weather provided a backdrop for visits to San Antonio and the River Walk, Austin, Fredricksburg, and Marble Falls. The Russian delegation left both happy and exhausted from this two week introduction to Texas and the USA!
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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bcssistercities@gmail.com
Zandy Pustay –979-696-8620 or zpustay@gmail.com
David Ruesink –druesink@cstx.gov
BCS Convention & Visitors Bureau– 979-260-9898
Posted by admin on December 9, 2008 under Uncategorized |
WAYS TO BE A GREAT GUEST
Bryan-College Station Sister Cities
Revised 1.7.10
- Taste everything you are offered by your host family and others associated with the exchange. If you don’t like it, be polite, keeping your opinion to yourself unless asked.
- Be willing to try each activity the host plans. You may opt out after giving it a try if necessary.
- Keep all phone calls and computer time very short. Your hosts may pay per minute of use and it generally is quite expensive compared to our costs. Take an international calling card with you for calls home and use an internet cafe for longer usage.
- Bring a gift for your host family and give it to them soon after your arrival. Also, take small gifts for the host student and any siblings.
- If you attend your host’s school you may be a curiosity and the center of attention. Pay close attention and be polite to all. Be prepared to respond when asked how your school compares to theirs.
- Keep all negative judgmental opinions to yourself. It is okay to comment that we do this and that differently, but don’t say that we do things better. No one wants to hear that! You may be shocked to learn that they may do some things better than we do!
- Keep your sleeping area orderly even if you don’t at home. If your host family is typical, they will have a neat, orderly home with less space that you are accustomed to. They will appreciate you following their lead.
- Follow any house rules. Remember, it’s their house.
- Don’t hog the bathroom. Most apartments/homes have a single bathroom that the entire family must share. Be thoughtful of the others. You will likely use the same towel on multiple days.
- Be ON TIME for everything. Punctuality is important to our hosts.
- Your host family may offer to do your laundry. Understand that their clothes washers are typically small and may take 1.5 hour per load. Not all families will have dryers.
- Recycle, recycle, recycle!
- Ask how you may help around the house but don’t be surprised if they decline your offer. Get enough sleep so you have energy to fully participate in ALL ACTIVITIES.
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HOSTING GUIDELINES
Bryan-College Station Sister Cities
Revised 1.7.10
If you and your family have agreed to be the primary host for one of the students/adults from one of our Sister Cities, please consider the following to help make the exchange successful for all:
- 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. This includes mealtimes, bedtimes, computer usage.
- Obey the law – The legal drinking age is 21 years and the legal age for tobacco possession/use is 18 years.
- Act responsibly – Fulfill your obligations as a host and be a good sport regarding your guest’s interests.
- Show consideration – Allow your guest some private time according to his/her needs. It is possible that the guest will feel confused or bewildered with being many different people in an unfamiliar environment. Help your guest to get sufficient sleep to handle the challenges of each new and exciting day.
- Make sure your guest is informed about what the daily schedule will be – Give him a verbal description of what is to take place. Turn any potentially embarrassing situation for your guest into a humorous one. Or, remind him of something which you have done where you were embarrassed.
- Exercise tolerance – There may be marked differences in ideas or beliefs between your guest and your family. Your job is not to change your guest’s beliefs/ideas. Simply listen to differences without passing judgment.
- Use your coping ability – In any tense or stressful situation, be mature and show that you can cope with humor without always having 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. Think about things that you want to share with him that are enjoyable and don’t necessarily have a price attached.
- Provide meals – Your guest will need to eat with you and your family at home or out of town. Provide a sack lunch or cafeteria lunch in school as is your custom.
- Provide tickets/entry fees – Whether to games, movies, or other activities your guest is dependent on you unless another host takes responsibility for the cost.
- Provide transportation – Remember that your guest has no other transportation and is strictly forbidden to drive a family or friend’s vehicle.
- Telephone use – Budget for one overseas phone call by your guest to notify his family of his safe arrival. Check to cost of overseas calls prior to the visit since they can be exceedingly expensive.
- Computer usage – Be specific about time limits on the computer. Sending emails will keep him family updated.
- Provide small/inexpensive/thoughtful Bryan-College Station or Texas related gifts These will be appreciated by your guest and family. The best memories are often not expensive but revolve around the fun, activities, and experiences with you, your family and the group.
- Provide a small amount of spending money – Assume your guest may have little or no spending money. Provide all movie admissions and entry fees. Consider how visitors from BCS were hosted in their country and treat your guest to all affordable events.
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Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association
PO Box 4733, Bryan, TX 77805
www.bcssistercities.org
February 22, 2010
Dear Friends of Bryan-College Station Sister Cities,
Springtime greetings to you,
B-CS Sister Cities completed another amazing student and adult exchange program to Greifswald, Germany. Ten students and two adult sponsors traveled to Greifswald in July, 2008 acting as ambassadors from Brazos County. These students returned with wider perspectives on an ever-changing Germany. Most often students report that they view their daily lives and opportunities in the United States with much greater appreciation after experiencing the two-week home stay. Some students claim a life altering experience that will often influence their choice of college major and career paths.
Our German counterparts visited Bryan-College Station in April, 2009. Activities included visiting the Bush Presidential Library and local city councils, an Aggie baseball game, trips to Brenham, Austin and the Bob Bullock Museum, camping in the Hill Country, and seeing the Alamo along with San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Generous meal donations came from the Texas Road House, the Catalena Ranch and Jackie Littlefield of Abuelo’s Restaurant who provided an outstanding farewell dinner celebration for the group. While exhausting, our guests reported that they loved seeing the “real Texas”.
A new group of students and sponsors plan travel to Greifswald, Germany in July, 2010. Their German brothers and sisters will visit B-CS in Spring, 2011.
Funding for the Sister Cities program has become much more difficult to obtain in recent years. Currently, only the city of College Station provides a small grant. B-CS Sister Cities can only exist with local support. Each exchange participant pays fees to defray the cost of his/her airfare to the international cities.
We are asking for your support with local memberships so that we may continue to provide this unique, valuable, and enriching experience for local youth and adults.
B-CS Sister Cities is a non-political, non-profit association committed to Sister Cities International mission of promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation—one individual, one community at a time.
Annual Memberships —Student $10, Individual $15, Family $25
Recognition Memberships—Supporting $50, Contributing $100,
Sustaining $250, Benefactors $1000
We hope that you’ll join us once again in 2009-2010. Gracious thanks to you for your past support of Bryan-College Station Sister Cities and local youth.
Monthly meetings are open to all members and visitors. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, except July, at the B-CS Convention & Visitors Bureau, 715 University East Dr., College Station, TX. 260-9898
ANNUAL MEETING: October 4, 2010
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