Sister Cities News Vol. 24 Issue 1 Newsletter of the Uzhhorod-Corvallis Sister Cities Association Winter 2013 BOARD OF Presidents Message DIRECTORS 2011 Hello Members, Ken Trueba - President This past year was busy and productive and as an [email protected] organization we have lots to be proud of. Last summer we received the Sister Cities International Jack Peterson Award for Cities between 50,000 and 100,000! Els Lofgren Peggy Giles A TOUCH delegation of 19 people went to Uzhhorod and continued their good work there. Over the years and under Lynne Hindman the leadership of Alice Rampton and Sabra Killen, TOUCH has greatly Gary Meddaugh increased the quality of life for not just the orphans at Chaslivtsi, but for many other children in need in the community of Uzhhorod. Martin Vartanov Sue Trautwein This last fall OSU veterinary students put together a walk to increase the Marc Vomocil awareness of animals, in particular dogs, in Uzhhorod. They are planning both a human project focusing on tuberculosis and an animal welfare Robert Kokenyesi project this fall in Uzhhorod. Carla Francis Victoria Rosoha We hosted a Mayoral visit last spring and met with the Open World delegation from Ukraine, hosted by Umpqua College faculty and longtime Shelly Hunt CUSCA member Pete Bober. There is a new addition to the newsletter, Nandan Rao News From Uzhhorod, given to us by Maya Tarasova, to provide you with Peggy Peirson a bit more personal information about what your efforts mean to some of the children in Uzhhorod. Beverly Smith Finally, I would like to thank all of you who have renewed your membership. The number renewing is up quite a bit over past years. There LIAISONS was some confusion that a TOUCH membership was the same as CUSCA membership, but these are separate memberships and go to support each Julie Manning, Mayor organization, again thank you for renewing. Joel Hirsch, City Council Ken Trueba ADVISORS Corvallis-Uzhhorod Sister Cities Association wins Sister Cities International’s Sabra Killen Best Overall Program Award Alice Rampton Mark Rampton Corvallis-Uzhhorod Sister Cities Association won the Sister Cities International’s 2011 Best Overall Program Award for a city with a population between 50,001 and 100,000. The award recognizes sister city HONORED MEMBERS programs that demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in advancing the goals and mission of the sister cities movement. Carol Paulson Bob Stebbins CALENDAR Sister Cities Week - May 4th-11th Saturday Market Booth - May 4th Flower Sale, Central Park - May 5th Bogrash Dinner, Old World Deli - May 5th Annual Meeting, Library th - June 20 The Corvallis-Uzhhorod, Ukraine sister city relationship includes multi- faceted projects. In 2011, the program delivered projects in the following areas: SISTER CITY NEWS Increasing Breast Cancer awareness in Uzhhorod Published by C-USCA Maintaining support for children with unique needs in Uzhhorod PO Box 176 Sending humanitarian aid to Uzhhorod through Counterpart Corvallis, OR. 97339 International Promoting the prevention of child abuse in Uzhhorod through an www.sistercities.corvallis.or.us exchange of social service professionals The program brought together physicians, social service professionals, OUR SPONSORS donors, community volunteers, an international aid organization, and the local city government as well as the U.S. Department of State to Altrusa International, Inc. of Corvallis successfully implement the projects. Benton Co. Schools Credit Union In 2011, the Association also increased its membership, added diversity to Brooklane Specialty Apples the Board of Directors and improved their outreach efforts. Through the Citigroup – Smith Barney efforts of its members, the program has positively impacted citizens of Uzhhorod and Corvallis and strengthened the relationship between the two Core Communications cities. Corvallis Clinic Corvallis Country Club The Sister Cities International Annual Awards are awarded in several Corvallis Family Medicine, PC categories. Award winners were honored at a special luncheon ceremony Corvallis Sports Park on July 14 during the Sister Cities International 56th Annual Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Edward Jones (Kay Dee Cole) First Alternative Co-op Gracewinds Music About Sister Cities International Sister Cities International facilitates nearly 2,000 partnerships in 136 countries on six Jack Scoville Ltd. continents between 600 communities in the United States with similar municipalities abroad. Jazzy Looks (Sue Tetzker) Sister Cities International represents citizen diplomats who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and cultural understanding through economic La Mancha Ranch & Orchard and sustainable development programs, youth and education projects, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance. Michael's Jewelers New Morning Bakery Papa's Pizza Pathfinder Travel TOUCH Project Update ProPrint A nineteen member delegation returned from Uzhhorod, Ukraine after R-3 Engraving Signs participating in The TOUCH Project (Take One Ukrainian Child’s Hand) Rice's Pharmacy, Gifts & Wine in late September 2012. Law Offices of Ringo, Stuber, Ensor & Hadlock, P.C. The TOUCH Project is a program of the Corvallis-Uzhhorod Sister Cities Samaritan Health Services Association and was started in 2000 by co-founders Sabra Killen and Starker Forests, Inc. Alice Rampton. It links sponsors with over 300 children who have special needs in Corvallis’ sister city, Uzhhorod. The institutions supported by Teel's Travel Planners The TOUCH Project include a Roma school, an orphanage, a center for Timberhill Athletic Club children with disabilities, and two youth facilities. This was the twelfth TriAxis Engineering, Inc. delegation to travel to Ukraine with The TOUCH Project and all Valley Eye Care delegation members covered their own air fare, hotel expenses, food, and Wells Fargo Business Banking ground transportation. This year the delegation included a dental hygienist, a professional harpist from Denver, retired teachers and White's Electronics, Inc. professors, a Seattle fire fighter, librarians, a Philomath high school Woodstocks Pizza Parlor student, and a law enforcement counselor from Salem. Zonta Club of Corvallis Besides meeting with the children in The TOUCH Project during their visit, the delegation was able to ride in the newly purchased bus for the Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities in Ukraine. The purchase of the $57,000 bus was a cooperative effort between TOUCH sponsors and donors, the Corvallis-Uzhhorod Sister Cities Association, Cropper Medical, Corvallis Morning Rotary Club and the Rotary Foundation spearheaded by Carla Francis. The bright yellow 24- passenger bus is wheelchair accessible and replaces a dilapidated bus that was being rented by the Rehabilitation Center. Five delegation members also were asked to address the subject of volunteerism in presentations to an International Social Work Conference and at classes at Uzhhorod National University. Delegation members provided lectures for both medical and dental students. The delegation also met with Uzhhorod’s Mayor Viktor Pohorelov. Nearly 200 children were taken to an outdoor bazaar to shop for new clothing with delegation members. Lynne Abbey-Lee, a professional harpist from Denver, brought a small harp with her and performed for the children whenever possible. They enjoyed her music a great deal and the delegation was able to attend several musical performances by children in The TOUCH Project as well. Zita Bathori-Tartsi, professor of Social Work at Uzhhorod National University and the Ukrainian Coordinator of The TOUCH Project, commented, “The TOUCH delegation always give us energy, motivation, ideas, hope, trust, and optimism to carry on the work in behalf of these children in need.” The renewal process for 2012-2013 to sponsor a child in Uzhhorod is wrapping up. There are several new children that need sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact the TOUCH co-chairs, Sabra Killen at [email protected] or Alice Rampton at [email protected]. You may also renew or sponsor a child online at: http://www.sistercities.corvallis.or.us/uzhhorod-current/touch- sponsorship-donation-form. We are happy to send you their photo, if you would like more info. One Health, One World 2013 OSU Students from the Corvallis Division of International Veterinary Student’s Association held a fundraiser for the One Health One World cause, which was dedicated this year to benefit Ukraine. A 5K Fun Run/Walk and a “K9- 9K” were held on Sunday, October 14th on the OSU campus. Half the money raised benefited human health and half went to animal well-being. CUSCA Board members Alice Rampton and Peggy Giles spoke about Uzhhorod at one of the fundraising events. With a population of over 111,000 people, Uzhhorod has no animal shelter, poor animal control and periodically resorts to mass poisoning or bludgeoning of dogs. There is also currently a multi-drug resistant tuberculosis epidemic in Uzhhorod and a lack of sufficient TB medications and hospital care. Hopefully, the money raised by this fund-raiser will help alleviate some of these issues. Mayor’s Delegation from Uzhhorod The newly re-elected mayor of Uzhhorod brought a delegation to Corvallis last June. The delegation included mayor Viktor Pohorelov, his spouse (Lyubov Pohorelova), a city councilor (Anatoliy Synyshyn), and the interpreter, Kateryna Bizilya. The delegation visited with Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning and CARDV and attended a reception at the Corvallis Art’s Center. They were also hosted at a dinner party by C-USCA board member Bev Smith. News from Uzhhorod Our own Maya Tarasova, who is the Director of the Window on America Center at the Transcarpathian Regional Scientific Library and works with a lot of our children in Uzhhorod, sent in some current news on the children that we care so much about. She was recently here on a visit and upon returning was asked to share her perspective of America and Corvallis and her comments were featured in an article on the 16th of February. She also set up an interview for Alice Rampton and Sabra Killen to talk about the TOUCH project.