Brochure

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Bryan-College Station
Sister Cities Association
2011-2012
P.O. Box 4733
Bryan, Texas 77805
www.bcssistercities.org

PROMOTING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

The Bryan-College Station Sister Cities Association began in 1989 to promote cultural understanding, fellowship, and communications between our cities and our first sister city, Kazan, Russia. Today we have two additional sister cities: Greifswald, Germany and Salamanca, Mexico.
The Association is an affiliate of Sister Cities International. www.sister-cities.org
Representing nearly 1900 communities in 135 countries this citizen diplomacy network creates and strengthens partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for a people-to-people initiative, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grass roots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, education, arts, humanitarian assistance, municipal, business, professional, technical, and economic growth exchanges and programs. Local citizens gain a sense of pride from being involved in solutions to global challenges by learning about and connecting with people from other cultures.
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Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation—one individual, one community at a time.

PROGRAM DESIGN
A Sister Cities Exchange (youth and/or adult) program is a yearlong commitment for participants and their families. Approximately two weeks are spent in the exchange city and later our guests spend approximately two weeks in Bryan-College Station area and parts of Texas. In the fall of 2011, applications are available for Bryan and College Station citizens to apply. Ten high school students in grades 9& 10 along with two adult sponsors are selected for youth trips traveling the following summer. Ten adults compose the adult trips. It is intended that half of the participants represent each city.
Currently the cost to participate is $2400 per person which includes airfare to the foreign city and an activity budget for the following year when the foreign guests visit BCS.
After selection in the fall, deposits are paid and passports are secured or renewed for participants. Student participation in fund raisers and staffing of community events such as Worldfest are required and build friendships between participants. BCS Sister Cities arranges for airline tickets and travel details with the sister city.
Both students and adults act as  ambassadors representing Bryan and College station.  This unique opportunity fosters an understanding of global issues unlike any other.
PROGRAM GOALS
• BCS Sister Cities will provide quality youth & adult exchanges that promote cultural understanding and friendship among participants.

• The program will foster personal growth and self-confidence for students and adults while valuing & supporting each individual’s participation in the exchange program.

• The program will actively educate, support, and involve parents, students, and adults along with respective communities with the Sister Cities philosophy.

• BCS Sister Cities is a non-political, non-profit association.

SUMMER, 2012
GREIFSWALD, GERMANY
Ten student ambassadors and two sponsors will travel to Greifswald in late June for two weeks where they will actively participate in cultural events and educational activities. This is a home-stay where students will be paired with an English speaking student and a host family.

The German students and their sponsors will visit BCS in Spring, 2013 to stay with their American host families. Host families feed and house the guests for the two weeks and cover incidental expenses such as movie admissions, etc. Additionally, the host family helps to organize and actively participate in excursions in the area and around Texas to assist our guests the opportunity to experience our culture and history.

Questions ? Call Zandy Pustay at 979-696-8620.
MEMBERSHIP

Community members join BCS Sister Cities on an annual basis. Our membership year is October 1st through September 30th.
Please make checks out to: Bryan-College Station Sister Cities and mail to:
P.O. Box 4733, Bryan, TX. 77805

Annual Memberships:
Family $25
Individual $15
Student $10

Recognition Memberships:
Supporting $50
Contributing $100
Sustaining $250
Benefactor $1000

Funding for BCS Sister Cities is derived solely from memberships and local fund raising activities.