First Annual Sister City Photographic ContestThe contest ran from May 10, 2010 through June 21, 2010
A panel of judges in Casey, Australia, selected these photographs from a group of 36 entries in the first Sister City "Culture of Springfield" Photography Competition. The judges were so pleased with the entries, and reportedly had such a difficult time choosing, that it was decided to add an additional award. The winners were announced for the Fourth of July holiday.
Springfield's Sister Cities | |
Casey, Australia
Kragujevac,Yugoslavia |
Pitesti, Romania
Wittenberg, Germany |
Springfield's Sister City Program | |
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Springfield's involvement in the sister Cities program began in 1985 at the Australia Convention of the Sister City Association where the City of Springfield announced its interest in establishing a relationship with an Australian city. In 1986, Berwick, Australia -the site of an International Harvester manufacturing location- became Springfield's first Sister City. Springfield's second Sister City relationship began with a visit by Wittenberg University's former president to Wittenberg, Germany for its 700th anniversary in 1993. Finalized in 1995, the Sister City arrangement involves a three-part agreement between the Springfield Area Chamber and Wittenberg, Germany's economic development group; between Wittenberg University and Wittenberg's educational foundation, and between the two cities. The Springfield Sister City program is supported by the City of Springfield and donations from local businesses and organizations. Its policies and business decisions are the responsibility of the board of trustees and committee who plan and oversee activities. |
In July 2000 Mayor Warren Copeland and City staff members traveled to Romania to begin working with the cities of Pitesti, Romania and Kragujevac, Yugoslavia as part of the Serbia International Resource Cities Program. On July 13, 2000 the Mayors of the three cities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU outlines a plan to develop a technical exchange program to explore options to improve service delivery and increase the understanding and support for democratic local government in Kragujevac. This cooperative is formed under the auspice of the International Resource Cities Program (IRCP), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). |
Sister Cities International
The Sister Cities Program is an international effort to encourage understanding and cooperation by promoting communication and exchanges between ordinary citizens from different nationalities and cultures. President Dwight D. Eisenhower originated the program in 1956. The national association, Sister Cities International (SCI), helps initiate relationships between cities. SCI acts as a clearinghouse for information and matches cities across the globe that share common geographic, demographic and economic characteristics. SCI works with local Sister City Committees, volunteers and city officials. Through them, people-to-people links are created in a wide variety of areas including: education, culture, art, government, science, technology, and business. The growing Sister Cities Program includes over 900 U.S. cities linked with more than 1400 Sister Cities around the world. SCI is a non-profit organization funded by membership, private contributions, the United States Information Agency and the United States Agency for Internation Development.