Lakeland Sister Cities
International (LSCI)228 S. Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, Florida 33803

2012 Summer Newsletter
Editor: Carol Hoffman rosycaroL1@juno.com

IMABARI EXCHANGE SUCCESSFUL
With spectacular views of beautiful islands, thestately bridge and the Seto Inland Sea, not even therainy season could diminish the glorious experienceof Imabari to four Lakelanders who visited Shikoku
Island ten days in late June and early July.

Authorized by Sister Cities International in DC andfunded through the Japan Foundation Center for
Global Partnerships, this trip allowed the delegates tospend time in Imabari learning about traditional arts,
the Japanese language, teaching English and examining potential areas for future economic interests. The
two cities have had a revered high school exchange
fifteen years; this project was designed to add newlayers to the relationship. Lakeland was one of 7 US
cities selected by the national office to participate.
Participating were: Dana Kelly, a 35 year teacher
and 21 year LSCI member, Rocky Bridges, 19 year
high school arts teacher & Polk Museum of Arts
board member, Beatty Raymond, Polk Museum ofArt docent and master gardener, and Richard Garzarelli, a Japanese Studies graduate of GW University
working on a masters in business/tourism.
Thanks to the tremendous talent, support, generosity, and care by ICIEA, eight host families, manyteachers and tour guides, and all the citizens of Imabari, their goals were exceeded. Long-lasting memories will be cherished and Lakeland citizens will beenriched as a result of the team’s learning.
They were immersed in the arts with hands-on les-sons in oshie, haiga,
ikebana, kawara
pottery, sushi making and towel handweaving fromgifted artists. They
traveled to breathtaking museums on
nearby islands where they were enthralled with contemporary art & architecture and immersed in traditional and historical famous works. They enjoyed acalligraphy exhibit at the Kono Museum of Art.
They were enchanted with a sumo wrestler act withan invisible opponent, enjoyed school children sharing
music and dance, were hypnotized by the many andvaried delicious dishes and eating experiences and enjoyed a karaoke evening. They went fishing on the seaand ate their fresh catch. They learned at every turn.
Host family experiences allowed further art ventures, from a Sunday Market and Puppet Theatre toBuddhist Temples & Shinto Shrines. Some tried karate, went caving, practiced origami, observed a teaceremony, kimono shopped or enjoyed sounds of theshimasen and the taiko. They enjoyed quiet walks on
beautiful rice field-lined streets and admired manygardens. Even the grocery stores provided art to appreciate and photo shots. They toured a towel company,a seasoning factory, antique shops and 100 yen stores
to learn more about the culture from everyday life.
As always, the most treasured memories come in theform of touches to the hearts offered by the manythoughtful and gracious people of Imabari. Newfriendships were born. Inspired, they are now busy
“translating” their experiences into tangible action for
Lakeland citizens.
Staytuned!

JOIN OUR SISTER CITIES ACTIVITIES! Lakeland Sister
JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE BALL
50th ANNIVERSARY PARTY!
Please join the Jamaican-American Association andLSCI, Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm at St.Joseph’s
Academy Hall for the Jamaican Independence Ball. Tickets
are $50. Dress is “festive formal”. The Azwon Reggae
Band will provide the music. A buffet dinner of traditional
Jamaican dishes like curried goat, oxtail stew and festival
bread will be served. Door prizes include a Weekend forTwo at a Montego Bay, Jamaica hotel.
Lakeland is helping Jamaica celebrate their 50th year ofIndependence, emancipated from the UK in 1962.
Special Jamaican guest Mayor George Lee and his wife
Aneita will attend. Mayor Lee is newly elected to the Council of Portmore, our sister city, since March 2012. It is hissecond term, having been mayor there when it first incorporated, 2003-2007. (He will tour Lakeland while here.)
Dundee’s new mayor, of Jamaican heritage, also plans toattend, along with many other special guests. Warren Robinson, LSCI and the Jamaican-American Society have had
wonderful sponsor support and have been working very hard
to make the annual Jamaican Independence Ball a special
memorable experience. Profits will serve educational purposes between Portmore and Lakeland. Thank you for supporting this work with our sister city and enjoying the Jamaican culture. Contact Warren's phone 327-2034, e-mailwrobinson62@tampabay.rr.com if you need more information. It promises to be a very special evening.

IMABARI STUDENTS COMING SOON!
High school students from seven Imabari high schools
competed for the honor to visit Lakeland in August and will
arrive with chaperones August 14-24 to live and learn theAmerican culture. The ten day experience is choreographedby Imabari Chair, Pam Garzarelli and her committee.
The 13 students will live with host families, tour Lakeland, visit DisneyWorld, the Kennedy Center and other activities. The adult chaperones are City Officials Hiroshi Yamamoto and Sawako Sasama and English teacher NobukoKamimura.
More help isneeded! Pleasevolunteer withthis wonderfulexperience.
Contact Pam
soon! You’ll
remember thisforever…..

PRESIDENT VERPLANCK SAYS….
It seems that the Imabari exchange is our biggest news thissummer. Coming up we have more Imabari activity with theAugust visit by Imabari students & chaperones.
On another front, the Board of Directors held a special meeting June 11, 2012 to consider a request from Eddie Hall, a retired Publix employee, to consider pursuing a Sister City relationship with Babahoyo, Ecuador. Eddie's spouse is from Ecuador and he owns a home in Babahoyo, located at the foot of
the Andes Mountains. The city’s population is about 150,000
and is the center of a fertile agricultural region 50 miles east of
Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. The area exports large quantities of fruits, vegetables and seafood to the United States.
Eddie has been communicating with Babahoyo officials andofficials of the Federal government and he reports that they areinterested in establishing a relationship with Lakeland. Eddie also reports that he has discussed this subject with several Lakeland area residents who have an interest in serving
on a local committee.
The Board authorized Eddie tocontinue discussions with Babahoyo
officials and assuming they remaininterested it is anticipated that a delegation from Lakeland will visit Babahoyo in the fall.

Sincerely, Jim
KIDS’ BIKE MURAL SHIPPED TO IMABARIThe Imabari Exchange Association has informed usthat the Lakeland “Bike Safety” mural has arrived safely,
looks great and is ready for display. The mural was a project
directed by Platform Art with Lakeland students, and hung inLakeland City Hall prior to going to Imabari, Japan.
BELOW. Lakeland delegates Rocky Bridges, Richard Garzarelli,Beatty Raymond & Dana Kelly met with the Imabari exchange students at a BBQ and during an English class they provided in July.

TWO EXCITING INVITATIONS FOR YOU—NATIONAL, STATEWANT TO ATTENDINAUGURAL BALL?
Sister Cities International
is hosting its first Inaugural
Ball in Washington, DC onJanuary 17, 2013 for $250 aticket. They were the firstorganization to go on the inaugural calendar of the newly elected president! Thisis an organization fundraiser. Please see their website
to purchase tickets and keep us posted if you go!
This is a great opportunity to meet the President
and represent Sister Cities.

Think globally
Act locally

YOU’RE INVITED SEPTEMBER 21
The Foreign Service Retirees Association will holdtheir annual Florida state conference in Lakeland in
September and have invited LSCI members to join
their September 21 International Day of Peace lunch
at Eaglebrooke Country Club by RSVP only. Please
let Carol Hoffman (rosycaroL1@juno.com) know ofyour interest in attending so that you can be placedon their guest list.
Retired marine colonel and current city commissioner Don Selvage will keynote the luncheon.
The US Foreign Service began in 1924 and ismade up of four major agencies: USAID, Departments of State, Commerce & Agriculture (thoughCIA, United Nations, Peace Corp, the Military andothers play a part).

(The new national Sister Cities motto.)

2012 LSCI Governing Board
OFFICERS

Jim Verplanck, President
Al Dotson, Vice-President
Carol Hoffman, Exec Director
Laura Verplanck, Treasurer

jimverplanck@aol.com
amdotson@hotmail.com
rosycaroL1@juno.com
laura.verplanck@polk-fl.net

CITY CHAIRPERSONSRichmond Hill Gordon Grove
Imabari
Pam GarzarelliPortmoreWarren Robinson
Chongming Robert Lee
Balti
Greg Spirakis &Steve Thomas

gvgrove@aol.com
pgarzarelli@santafecatholic.org
erobinson25@tampabay.rr.com
robertlee@tampabay.rr.com
gspirakis@aol.com
bede10@aol.com

AD HOC COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Maggie Miller, ScholarshipJohn Philbrook, Membership
Dana K. Kelly, Special Projects
Deanna Ashe, Youthmsm4peace@yahoo.com
packfan57002@tampabay.rr.com
kellyd8955@hotmail.com
esther_34208@yahoo.com

LIAISONS

J. Johnson, Chamber of Commerce jackiej@lakelandchamber.com
Justin Troller, City Commission
justin.troller@lakelandgov.net
Tom Shaw, Ambassadorinezshaw@aol.com

Board Meetings areopen to the membershipto observe.
The next General Meeting is in September. If
you’re a current paid
LSCI member you will receive notice of meetings
and activities via email.
This newsletter is distributed quarterly.
Please consider joining
a committee and participating actively with thegroup. We welcome yourefforts and ideas!

Page 4NATIONAL ORG NEWSJAX HOSTED NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 56th annual national conference was held July
12-14 in Jacksonville with Dana Kelly attending forLakeland. Her notes are available to the interested.
John McVay and Trae Holland from
ECON, and Jim Verplanck were special
panel guests in the Economic Development strand Thursday, sharing their experiences as a trade delegation withChongming Island, contracting to build East Bay Water World over 5 years for over a billion dollars.
Kelly met with SCI President/CEO Mary Kane andan officer of the Japan Foundation Center (RanayLoper) to share the benefits of and appreciation for theCenter’s funding of the recent Lakeland project travel
to Imabari. Next year’s conference is July 11-13 inSan Antonio and will include a Summit for the participating Japanese cities in the funding exchange.
THINK GLOBALLY, THRIVE LOCALLYNEW BRANDING FOR SCI
In order to better promote the work ofitsmembers, Sister Cities International
launched a new logo, tagline and website.
A fresh and modern brand will enhance communications outreach and increase the ability to share thepower of sister cities networks with the entire world.
The new logo symbolizes connectivity with thecrisscrossing lines on the globe representing the wide
spectrum of member connections. The tagline,“Connect Globally. Thrive Locally.” encapsulates theessence of the work of the members in connectingcommunities globally for beneficial relationships.
NATIONAL SISTER CITIES WEBSITE
http://www.sister-cities.org/“LIKE” them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter
Follow them on LinkedIn.com
Search them on Pinterest.com

FL STATE COORDINATOR RECOGNIZEDFlorida State Sister Cities Coordinator Cris
Boehler was recognized with the Dick Oakland
Award 2012 at the Sister Cities International Conference in July. This award is given by her peer state
coordinators across the nation for outstanding performance as a state coordinator. Congratulations,Cris! Cris has been the state coordinator five years.
This award has come to Florida twice, also earned
by Pat Buchanan of Lakeland when she was state
coordinator, in 2003.
LSCI PARTICIPATION CALENDAR

Aug 9-13, 2012 Portmore Mayor Lee in Lakeland
Aug 11, 2012 Jamaican Independence Ball, Lakeland
Aug 14-24
Imabari Students in LakelandSep 21
Foreign Service Lunch, Eaglebrooke
Fall 2012
Exploratory trip to Ecuador?
Jan 17, 2013 SCI Inaugural Ball, DC
Jul 11-13, 2013 National SCI Conference, San Antonio
TBD 2013
Florida State Conference, Sarasota

LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Jim Verplanck, President,899-4782 or 646-2426
http://www.lakelandgov.net/CityGovernment/SisterCities.aspx(from the city's home page click City Commission tab. SisterCities is on the left navigation on the Commission page.
BELOW. Yurii Lobeev, Moldova liaison. sent a photo of local children with their new ping pong table & supplies, provided by Santa Fe Catholic High School donations last year.