Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation
Summer 2013
2013—2014 Officers Hualien and Albuquerque Celebrate —————————
President 30th Anniversary of Twinning Richard Buckler To celebrate the Albu- 291-8175 querque-Hualien 30th [email protected] Anniversary of being 1st V. President sister cities, there was Robert Montoya an ASCF membership 352-6453 trip to Taiwan. ASCF [email protected] President Richard Buckler led the group 2nd V. President which consisted of Carol Dawley Hualien Chair Yu-Lin 883-9516 Shen, Hualien Co- [email protected] Chair Rubing Hsu (Shen), Angela Shen, 3rd V. President Alan Shen, Jose Luis Dave Bagley Cruz-Campa and his Mayor of Hualien (center between Richard Buckler and 771-3114 wifeTara McCune. The Dave Bagley) welcomes the ASCF delegation and Albu- [email protected] group was very well querque balloonists. received by the Secretary Hualien City as well as Mary Hope Buckler the Taiwan Ministry of 291-8175 foreign Affairs. In ad- wan officials and peo- Mayor Chen and the [email protected] dition to official meet- ple. I had collaborative Hualien city govern-
ings, there were a lot of agreements with the ment welcomed the op- Treasurer sightseeing and cul- Taiwanese scientists portunity. We had a Carl Londene sponsored by the Na- 877-1491 tural activities. Five very large celebration balloonists from Albu- tional Science Founda- at the Albuquerque [email protected] tion and visited Taiwan querque also joined the Convention Center in group while in quite frequently. Also the Fall of 1983 with —————————- at that time, I was one —————————- Hualien. ROC chief representa- of the elected members tive Honorable Mr. David Hsi provided of the APS Board of Newsletter Editor Chen representing Education. That was Carol Dawley the history of the af- Hualien and ROC at 883-9516 filiation. “Mayor Harry the reason why Mayor the signing.” [email protected] Kinney had just re- Kinney asked me to turned from a trip to explore the possibility Taiwan with mayors of a sister city relation- from other cities and ship with a city in Tai- [See other photos and he was greatly im- wan. At that time articles of the trip in- pressed by the friendli- Hualien did not have side the newsletter] ness and hospitalities any sister city in the extended by the Tai- USA and the then PAGE 2 ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION
From the President’s Desk...
Several congratulations are in or- Randy Trask will take place the der for three of our sister cities this first week of September. All of the year: Alburquerque, Spain (10 other activity—trips to Israel, years linked with us), Helmstedt, China, Mexico—help highlight the Germany (30 years), and Hualien, fact that being a sister city member Taiwan (30 years). To commemo- promotes friendship throughout the rate 3 decades of twinning, a Ger- world. Thank you for your partici- man delegation will visit us the pation. first week of October led by former
Mayor Eisermann. All members are invited to attend an early evening BBQ reception on October 8 given in their honor. See note on Upcom- ing Events for details.
Also, in this newsletter we report on our visits to both Alburquerque and Hualien. Adam Trujillo, for- mer Hispano Chamber Board member, represented us in a visit to Alburquerque, Spain. I was able to visit Hualien for the first time (hopefully not my last). I was quite impressed with the hospitality we received, the culture and history, and the beautiful island of Taiwan. Special thanks to Chair Yu-Lin Shen and his wife Rubing who did a great job of creating a unique ex- perience. Check out Dave Bagley’s report to find out how Hualien County shares our passion for bal- looning. A return trade-mission Taipei 101—World’s tallest trip to Taiwan, led by Commis- skyscraper in 2004 sioner Hart-Stebbins and coordi- nated by ASCF board member Convention Center Cabinets Removed
Mayor’s Appointee to ASCF Board: rd Randy Trask— By Dave Bagley: gust 3 and they are now in Manager of Albuquerque-Bernalillo The eight cabinets that Albu- storage. The cabinets were querque Sister Cities pur- distributed to the city Biopark Trade Alliance and Encuentro presi- chased in the 1980s to display and DRB Electric. dent. cultural items from our vari- Planning for the future is to ous sister cities have been have a large digital display in removed from the Convention the Convention Center that Center. The cabinets were in will show more of the culture a hallway in the basement of of our sister cities, and the the building. ability to update each display The Chairs for each city quickly and effortlessly. packed our displays on Au- ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION PAGE 3
Albuquerque Sister Cities Trip to Rehovot
By: Shira Greenberg tary school students at Albuquer- kling and the views were breath- que’s Jewish Academy of Arts and taking. We hope many of you will In May 2013, Albuquerque’s Sis- Sciences to initiate a pen pal rela- join us on our next trip to Israel. ter City of Rehovot, Israel greeted tionship with Rehovot children. visitors from the Albuquerque She will be returning to Rehovot Bernalillo County International in the summer of 2014 with her Trade Alliance with warm, open company—Keshet Dance Com- arms. Mayor Malul and Deputy pany—to perform in the newly Mayor Blum welcomed the full remodeled arts center as a con- delegation led by County Commis- tinuation of the cultural exchange sioner Wayne Johnson and organ- between our two cities. Rehovot’;s ized by ASCF Board Member, internationally renowned Weiz- Randy Trask. Deputy Mayor mann Institute of Science hosted Blum spent the day with the the delegation and provided an group, personally leading a tour informative tour of the dynamic through the city including Reho- research facility. In addition to vot’s historic performing arts cen- Rehovot, the group spent time in From L to R: Susan Keith, Mayor ter, currently undergoing an ex- neighboring cities of Tel Aviv, Ris- Malul, Commissioner Johnson, Dep- tensive remodel to be completed in hon Le Tzion and Jerusalem. As uty Mayor Blum, Shira Greenberg. early 2014. ASCF Rehovot Co- is usual in Israel, the people were Chair, Shira Greenberg, delivered amazing, the food was unbelieva- letters hand-written by elemen- bly delicious, the sea was spar-
NM Office of African American Affairs Honors ASCF Member
On June 8, 2013, the 10th an- nual outstanding service awards ies in forming twin- were presented by the NM Office nings between Santa of African American Affairs. Fe, NM and Livingston, ASCF was one of the sponsors of Zambia and between the event with eight members Clovis, NM and Ka- attending the special luncheon. sama, Zambia. He is Patrick Mapalo from Zambia, also working with Albu- ASCF member, now living in querque to form a Albuquerque was one of the 18 friendship relationship award recipients. He was hon- with Lusaka, the capi- ored for his work with sister cit- tal of Zambia.
L to R: ASCF member Linda Gregg and Presi- ASCF Member Linda Gregg Visits Mayor of dent Richard Buckler, join Patrick and Martha Lusaka, Zambia on Behalf of Albuquerque Mapalo at the award ceremony.
In May, ASCF Member, Linda received her and the letter and him as it will help him receive the necessary Gregg was in Zambia. While gifts she brought from Mayor support from his City Council to make the trip there she stopped by Lusaka City Berry. Mayor Chisenga stated to Albuquerque early next year. At the end of Hall. Mayor Chisenga graciously that the letter was important to the meeting, several photographers showed up and took photos. PAGE 4 ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION
Public relations Officer from SCI Conference US Embassy in Turkmenistan visits Albuquerque
Sister Cities International business buyers and sellers Brian Stimmler, Public Relations held its annual international to find each other on the Officer from the US Embassy in Turk- conference this year in July website. He has now regis- menistan was briefly in town to visit in San Antonio, Texas. Lin tered the ABQ-Bernalillo his mother (who lives in Rio Rancho). Ye, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Trade Alliance on the web- He and his family (wife ands 2 young Randy Trask and Richard site as a partner. San An- girls) met with Oguljan and Nathan Buckler represented Albu- tonio is also a sister to Gua- Young and their girls and Richard and querque. Lin, Randy and dalajara and its mayor was Mary Hope Buckler on June 25. Brian Jose were first time partici- at the conference. Jose Luis was amazed that our organization is pants and felt they had was able to spend quite run by volunteers. learned a lot. Lin Ye said some time with him talking the message from the open- about future plans for joint ing remarks was poignant— activities between Guadala- L. to R: Mr & local people and government jara and Albuquerque. Mrs Brian do the real work for the rela- Richard Buckler liked the Stimmler, tionship. Randy Trask at- practical suggestion of us- Mary Hope & tended the international ing Skype to stay more fre- Richard Buck- trade session where he quently connected to our ler; Oguljan & learned about SBDC Global sister cities. Nathan Young (a program that allows small Reaching out to China: Economic Friendship Cities
After Visiting Hualien and Taiwan, Richard Buckler met Jian Zhu— ASCF member and CEO of the American Chinese Civic Exchange— in mainland China. The two visited three different city/county govern- ments in three days—Luogang, Guangzhou; Changsha County and Lin’an, Hangzhou. In each city/ Enjoying dinner with Vice Mayor county Richard and Jian met with Tan Haoran of Changsha County the respective Vice Mayors along Luogang, Guangzhou representa- with several department directors. tives meet with Richard and Jian For Jian, such interest showed that the cities took the meetings seri- ously. Jian presented a translated power-point that Randy Trask had provided on Albuquerque opportuni- ties. Richard was asked to introduce and/or comment on the presentation, describing possible mutually benefi- cial projects. Lunch or dinner fol- Richard and Jian crack hickory nuts lowed in the traditional “Lazy in the traditional way at Linan’s fa- Susan” buffet service style. Nambe mous Hickory Nut Museum gifts, Navajo dream-catchers and Lin’an officials pose for pictures ASCF coasters were given as gifts to the officials/businessmen, while the Other China news: Jian Zhu expects a visit in early October by a large cities reciprocated with local special- group from Shenzhen, China coming here to tour Albuquerque and other ties, such as tea and hickory nuts. Southwest destinations. David Hsi reports that Lanzhou officials are ex- pected to visit Albuquerque in late October or early November. ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION PAGE 5 Albuquerque Balloons in Hualien
By Dave Bagley friendly people and a nearby 7-11 by “Roy,” our volunteer park guide. store that carried everything from Early the following day, we were I looked at the email twice. It cold beer to mosquito repellent. back on the express train to Taipei read “Do you want to go as a crew Motor scooters are the preferred where we enjoyed the afternoon and chief for this?” and had a brief de- form of transportation and have last morning of sightseeing, includ- scription of the 2013 Hualien In- their own lane on most Taiwan ing the famous Taipei 101, the ternational Hot Air Balloon Fi- highways. We enjoyed local food, world’s tallest skyscraper when it esta. Well, why not? So I called ate with chopsticks, and wilted was built in 2004. On the long flight the organizer and said, “Yes.” under the hot and humid climate. home, I thought about the people Three weeks later I landed in We quickly learned some phrases that we met, worked with and en- Taipei, Taiwan with two other in Chinese, but many times simply joyed, and hopefully will see again: balloon pilots from Albuquerque pointed to what we needed. Our The mountains; Pacific Ocean and and the next day we were on the translators were vital and, in re- black sandy beaches; green tropical express train to Guangfu Town- turn, we trained them on every gardens; rice paddies; fresh fruits ship in Hualien County. Here we aspect of ballooning so they could and vegetables that really tasted met the rest of our group of pilots help manage our crews. The eve- fresh; trains that were on time, com- from Illinois, Idaho, Florida and ning before we departed, we re- fortable and affordable and Taiwan France, Thailand and India. turned to our hotel at 8 PM tired, Choppers (motor scooters) every- Crews had been hired locally and hot and drenched with sweat. A where. Maybe next year? each team included a translator van pulled up with a tall stack of and truck driver. We got right to Pizza Hut boxes, and a chest of work unpacking the air-freighted beer and soda for our going-away balloons. The following afternoon party. Since there was no Pizza was the opening ceremony which Hut in Guangfu, the van was sent included the county magistrate, an hour north to Hualien City and officials, news media, and a huge brought back the first “western” Below: Balloons launch at Guangfu, crowd of people who all wanted to meal during our stay. What a Hualien County, Taiwan. see their first hot air balloons. great send-off, with many of our My job was to work with pilot Tom crew and the remaining pilots and Gough from Bliss, Idaho and help support staff there to enjoy our him fly his balloon around the lo- party. cal community each morning along The day we finished our 6-day with four other free-fly balloons commitment, the two other Albu- from our launch site in nearby querque pilots and their wives met Danongdafu Forest Park. Every the Albuquerque Sister Cities con- afternoon, Tom and I changed to a tingent of seven in Hualien City to larger balloon and provided tether celebrate the 30th anniversary of rides with five other balloons for the signing of our relationship. the local population. The morning Hualien Chair, Yu-Lin Shen had free flights lasted only for six days, carefully arranged for our partici- then we returned to Albuquerque. pation with their group. Mayor The Tether balloons, pilots and Chih-Hsuan Tien greeted the Al- crews remained and continued to buquerque delegation and we ex- provide daily rides during the changed gifts. Then we were off to summer festival until the end of a spectacular lunch and an after- August. noon of sightseeing. While eating We made the most of our short breakfast the following morning, I stay, and tried to see as much of felt like I was swaying. Interest- the sparsely populated east coast ingly, I was. I felt my first earth- of Taiwan as we could during our quake, a light magnitude 5.6. In off hours. Hualien County is lo- an hour or so, our party was cated on the coastline about 2 1/2 headed to Taroko national Park hours south of the capital of for a full day of wonderful sights Taipei. Guangfu is mostly rural, in Taiwan’s finest park, escorted with endless rice paddies, warm, PAGE 6 ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION ASCF Holds its Annual Meeting
On Sunday, June 9, 2013, ASCF held its annual meeting at the National Hispanic Cultural Cen- ter. The focus was on our two Mexican sister cities—Guadalajara and Chihuahua. Attendees enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch while being en- tertained by live Mexican music. Alma Solis, Chair of Chihuahua committee spoke of a planned member trip to Chihuahua in Septem- ber and Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Chair of Guada- lajara committee told of a member trip to Gua- dalajara in October. Elections were held and ASCF board members for 2013 - 2014 are listed L to R: Chuy Martinez and on the front page of this newsletter. Carol Otilio Ruiz entertain at the Robertson-Lopez, New Mexico state coordinator ASCF annual meeting. and Sister Cities Int’l board member spoke of upcoming SCI activities. All enjoyed the pleas- Carol Robertson-Lopez wel- ant gathering and time of sharing with fellow coming the ASCF annual members. Thank you Alma and Jose for your meeting attendees. hard work and the wonderful table decorations.
Albuquerque, New Mexico and ASCF Dues Are Due! Alburquerque, Spain Celebrate 10 Years It’s time to renew our An- nual membership Dues. ASCF recognizes ten years of twin- Please check the mailing la- ing with Alburquerque, Spain. bel on the front of this news- ASCF member, Adam Trujillo was letter and renew your mem- in Spain and spent 2 days in Al- bership. By mail, fill out the burquerque. In addition to present- application on the last page ing a Nambe plaque and Mayor of this newsletter and mail it Berry’s letter to Mayor Vadillo, dis- with your payment. For cussions were held on future col- Castle landmark in online renewal, simply ac- Alburquerque, Spain cess our membership page at http://albuquerque-sister- cities.org/membership.php. Opportunity for Hosting: The process is easy, takes just a few minutes and pay- Home Hosts are needed for visit- ment is through PayPal. ing Turkmen dancers/artisans Note that you do not have to Dec 5—8. If you can help, call belong to PayPal; and there Ashgabat Chair Oguljan Young is no service charge to you. (917-4326) or email her at ata- Questions or comments, Adam Trujillo (3rd from rt) poses for please contact Dave Bagley, picture with Alburquerque officials, [email protected]. Save including Mayor Vadillo (2nd from rt). the evening of Dec 7 for their Membership Chair at 771- performance. 3114 email: membership/ albuquerque-sister-cities.org ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION PAGE 7 UPCOMING EVENTS SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER
Sept 1-9 — Trade mission to Taiwan. Call Randy Trask for info: On May 19 several members 231-0677. enjoyed burgers and brew at Sept. 19—ASCF Board Meeting—5:45 PM—Sandia Lab Federal B2B Bistronomy (Nob Hill). Credit Union - 3707 Juan Tabo NE—all welcome. The restaurant donated part of Sept.20-29—ASCF Membership trip to Chihuahua, Mexico— the days sales, totaling $381.79. Contact Alma Solis 417-0525 or [email protected]. Thank you to all who partici- pated and came out. The mon- Sept. 29—Japanese Aki Matsuri 2013—National Hispanic Cul- tural Center—4th St. SW and Avenida Cesar Chavez. Stop by ies raised will be used to help our Sasebo sister city booth. further performing arts with our sister cities. Oct. 3 - 9—Delegation here from Helmstedt, Germany. If inter- ested in participating in this visit, contact Nathan Young at 977 -6033 or [email protected]. Save the date: Oct 8. SAVE THE DATE: Oct. 26—Nov. 3—ASCF Membership trip to Guadalajara, Mex- October 8 —from 4 to 8 PM; farewell recep- ico—Contact Jose Luis Cruz –Campa at [email protected] tion for our Helmstedt delegation. Location: or 915-760-3291 for info. Londene Farm 2155 Londene Lane SW, Alb, 87105. Contact Nathan Young for more de- Late Oct or Early Nov. —Lanzhou officials to visit Albuquerque. tails: 977-6033. Come at 4 to swim and relax. Dec. 7—Possible performance by Turkmen dancers/musicians/ BBQ starts by 6 PM. All members invited. artisans. Location and time TBD. Stay tuned! RSVPs appreciated by Oct 5.
ASCF Members Trip to Hualien
By Richard Buckler National Dong Hwa University professor Chun-Chieh Chi and We thank Yu-Lin and Rubing, our his wife Shu-Chun, who took us Hualien chair and co-chair for their to dinner. He heads up the In- attention to detail. They made sure digenous Languages and Commu- we all felt comfortable. Their choice nication department and had a 6 of venues and tour spots were month plus visit in Albuquerque greatly satisfying: from ascending a few years back. Taipei 101 to the National Palace to the local “crafts” store to New Taipei Harbor and the north-east shoreline Our delegation poses together at and parks. I loved the long street Yehlin Geopark on the Pacific Ocean “mall” where you can buy anything north east of Taipei, Taiwan. as you walk down the street. I par- ticularly enjoyed meeting the people: Ambassador Bruce Linghu (who will be assigned as Consul General to the Los Angeles TECO office) and his staff; Michelle Keng (New Mexico’s representative assigned to Taiwan); Mayor Tien of Hualien City; Hualien Taroko Gorge, Hualien City Council Chair Su Mei Chu and all the city staff who took us around Hualien; ”Roy” our tour guide of the Right: Hualien Mayor Tien and Taroko Gorge who had an excellent ASCF President Richard Buckler, grasp of English colloquialisms and who is wearing a indigenous-styled necklace received as gift. ALBUQUERQUE SISTER CITIES FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 26533 Albuquerque, NM 87125-6533
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Hualien and Alburquerque Anniver- sary Trips; Trade Mission to Israel, ASCF Annual Meeting.
Website: WWW.ALBUQUERQUE-SISTER-CITIES.ORG