EXCHANGESJapanese Sister CityCommission
Fall 2008
Inside this issue:

A Memorial Cameria Tree isMayor, Tree Killips

130th Anniversary Trip

2Sharing Japan in Japan

3

Sushi Hour & Social Hour

4

planted in honor of Lana White’s Students, Sales & Garden
30 years of service to both Sister

Glendale at Fall FestivalCities. It Blooms White Flowers

5
6in the Spring toremind us of all that
she has done forworld peace & love.
MAYOR REIMAL MADE HONORARY CITIZEN

Thank you Sister City Committee for allowing us to join the 30th Anniversary Delegation to Higashimurayama. It is always a great time
when we can renew friendships and make new ones with our kind andwonderful counterparts in Japan. We were greeted with warmth andcheers as we arrived at the civic center. The committee had prepareda nice snack for us after that long airplane ride. After many hugs andhello’s we were on our way, with our many bags to our homes for theweek. What a treat to be able to share the homes and everyday lives
with our friends.
They had planned full days and nights for us. We toured a Sake Bottling Company. We almost lost Lana here. We have pictures forblackmail purposes. We witnessed beautiful glassware being madeand saw really dark chocolate being made and packaged. That was
just on the first day. Don and I were privileged to accompany theMayor of Higashimurayama on Sunday as he and Don gave the opening speeches for two celebrations. Several of our group attended thefirst celebration. Glendale, ask to see your principal in his full costume. The next festival was a more traditional one where the adults
and children pulled a wooden temple wagon through the streets of thisparticular district. It was a beautifully carved antique wooden wagon
with large wheels and two very large ropes attached. It really washeavy. Every child that helped pull the wagon was given a bag ofcandy after we had pulled the wagon to the location of the celebration.
The back of the wagon opened and formed a stage where there werevarious dancing and singing presentations. Of course the visit to ourSister School was the highlight of the visit. The children greeted us
with flags and cheers. Each class performed for us in the gym andthen we visited their classrooms and ate lunch with them. They wereso cute and friendly. That evening we were invited to a banquet attheir beautiful Country Club. We were all showered with gifts. (Somany that several of us had to purchase another suitcase.) Don wasmade an honorary citizen of Higashimurayama and Lana White washonored for her years of dedication. The next day they treated us to atrip through their wine and fruit country. We were fortunate that Mt.
Fuji allowed us to see her top for a short time. Some of us took thetram ride up and took
pictures with Mt. Fuji
in the background.
We toured a company that preparedand packaged a typeof rice dessert. Itwas very tasty. We
had an outstanding
lunch at a famous hotel overlooking this beautiful valley and then on topick grapes in one of the vineyards. The City of Higashimurayama
placed a special tree at the Civic Center in honor of our own Lana
White. We all join them in expressing our appreciation to Lana for allof the hard work and dedication she has given to the Sister City Program for 30 years. Unfortunately, time passed all too quickly and itwas time to leave our new and lifetime friends for another 5 years.
We’ve all found that e-mail makes us closer now. Thanks again toeveryone who accompanied us. You made this a trip of a lifetime. We
all have a lot of pictures. If anyone has a time, we would be glad toshare this wonderful experience with you.
Mayor and Mrs. Don Reimal

Kathy and John Killip are honored by Mr. Ono for
their many artistic gifts and personal contributions.

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Page FourIn America Richard Gephard
receives GoodCitizen Award
given annually at
Truman Libraryand JSCC members are there.
Below withMayor Reimal.

Jackson Co Historical Society 50th Anniversary and Kemper Art Event for the Jackson Co Cultural Art Coalition had a few JSCC faces attending in support of their events. Left to Right: Lana
White, Mary & Gerald Hancock, Emily Collins, Susan Peoples, Ann and Joe Gall. At the art gala,
Left to Right: Gerald Hancock, Sandy Peoples, Joe Gall and Lana White. Sandy Peoples is thenew JSCC member, responsible for the website & learning newsletter skills. Sandy has participated several years in JSCC events. Hosting adult & student as well as sending Susan to Japan.

Rosie Smith,Sharon and Ray
Wilson withGephardt, former
Congressional
Representative.

Four of the 2009 Students and their parents are
introduced at the October meeting ! Have fun!

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Page Five

2009
Exchange
Students & Jana Waits
Securing tickets andpassports have been thetop two activities on thedelegations’ minds as they
prepare for their trip thiscoming summe r. In
alphabetical order: Jessica
Barszcak, Brooke Baslee,Moses Daniel, Landrin
Faiva, Anna Price, Matilyn
Salva, Austin Snethen,Emily Tanner, Steven
Todorovich, and SallyWaldman . Congrats!

Lana White, Debbie Lovewell,Susan & Sandy Peoples, Andrea
Anderson, & Rosie Smith worked
the Fall Festival with great sales !

ABOVE LEFT: KC Japanese Fall Festival Sales were very successful with the work of Rosie Smith (top) Andrea Anderson, Lana White, Debbie Lovewell, Susan Peoples and Sandy Peoples (not pictured) Thanks for
all the donations. ABOVE RIGHT: Look at that beautiful, clean and well taken care of Garden! On Oct 18thMembers and Friends turned out in full force to aid Buck Buchan in beautifying the Garden! Student Alumni Emily
Collins is responsible for finding this talented & helpful Japanese Gardner. Thank you Buck!!

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Glendale Sister School Students are GREAT!
One of the best things at the KC Fall Festival~Thanks Jeannae for your leadership!
Independence Japanese Sister City
www.ci.indep.mo.us/sistercity/816-373-8385 jsg@hfmlegal.com

DON’T MISS….
Save the Date!
April 26, 2009
Spring Cherry Blossom Festival will be
Sunday, April 26th atthe Sermon Center.
Spread the word andbring your friends!
For a Good Time!
Annual AnniversaryCelebration
Truman Memorial
Building
Sat., January 24th
2-4 PM
Everyone associated withSister City is invited tocome and celebrate
30 years of Friendship

CherryBlossom
Festival:Kimono Saleto add to themany
activities!

We Want To
See YOU!