Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation Winter 2013 ASCF Hosts International Tea On Sunday, January 27, Door prizes were given 2013, Albuquerque Sister Cit- and each committee chair ies Foundation hosted an In- gave a short talk. ternational Tea and Cookies open house. Held at the Jew- At the conclusion of the ish Community Center from 2 event, Dr. Hakim Zamir to 4 PM, the event was free released his doves of and open to everyone. peace. More photos page 5 Each of Albuquerque’s nine sister cities had a special ta- ble where they welcomed visi- Alma Solis, Chihuahua Chair tors with special drinks from serves a special hot chocolate their country as well as tasty drink to Tuty Quinton. treats. Displays colorfully gave information about what activities have occurred and Kathy Hsi checks in with will be happening this coming Rehovot, Israel chair year. Many exchanges are Janice Moranz, taking place, with folks trav- eling here and New Mexicans traveling there. Yu-Lin Shen, Chair and his wife Rubing Hsu welcome Chair Eva Gonzales hosts guests to the Hualien display. the Alburquerque table. Tara McCune and Jose Luis Cruz-Campo, Chair, greet folks at the Guadalajara table. Chair Nathan Young welcomes Hedy Harwell and Ray Heidfeld to the Helmstedt table. Chair Kazumi Kawa- David Hsi and Lin Ye, kubo-Todman pours Lanzhou Chairs demon- tea at the Sasebo table strate Chinese calligraphy From the President’s Desk... PAGE 2 Thumbs Up! That’s how former ASCF Presi- friendship to the world. dent Donna Londene was described in her re- Coming March 9 we are trying another cent eulogy relating her smile and ―can do‖ first for us—Folk Tales from our various positive approach to life. From the dust bowl of sister cities. A picture may be worth a Kansas to the Land of Enchantment, Donna thousand words, but words can paint a lived life to the fullest and left a legacy for all of picture. And, that’s what our sister cities us to follow. Over the past few years I had committees are excited to share—classic, many occasions to visit the Londene Farm down romantic, funny, beautiful, charming, in the South Valley, as her husband Carl (the exotic stories told in various ways. Should ASCF treasurer) and I met on sister cities busi- be a fun way to learn more about our ness. But, then came my favorite part: drinking wonderful nine sister cities. If you have a coffee, snacking on baked goodies, and sitting favorite related to a particular city, why down with both of them listening to some of the not give the Chair for that committee a good old times that there have been in our sister call to share it. We’ll see you at the event. cities organization. Check out our Coming Events to see Some of you, for example, still remember the what’s planned already. first Sister Cities International Conference Some important milestones are being hosted in Albuquerque (1990). MaryHope and I reached this year. Congratulations to Al- had just moved to Albuquerque with our young burquerque, Spain for 10 years of twining family and wouldn’t discover ASCF until 4 with our City. And, both Helmstedt, Ger- more years. But, Donna relayed stories of how many and Hualien, Taiwan celebrate 30 they invited hundreds of conference delegates years of partnership with us. Special down to the Farm that year to enjoy food and thanks to all those Chairs and members beverage and to share the good old times—since over the years from both cities who have after-all, that’s what Donna lived for. If you helped keep these relationships alive and want more great stories, and somehow feel you well. If interested, there are opportunities missed the opportunity, check out Donna and to visit Alburquerque and Hualien this Carl’s recently published book at June, while in October during Balloon www.CallTheVetBook.com. Thanks, Donna, Fiesta we will receive a large delegation for the memories. Two thumbs way up! of around 20 people from Helmstedt Did you miss an opportunity to meet your (including their mayor). Start making fellow members and our great committee Chairs your own stories by volunteering to host a a few weeks ago at the International Tea? As visitor. I’m sure Donna Londene would you can see from Carol Dawley’s front page give you all a big thumbs up, too! article, it was a great time. Once again, the re- curring theme of drinks, sweets, and conversa- tion, continues to work its charm as we become closer friends and family and spread that Richard Buckler September 2012 IN MEMORIAM ASCF trip to Helmstedt, It is with deep regret that we announce Germany. the death of Donna Londene on Febru- ary 1, 2013. She was a past president of L. to R. Carl Londene, the Albuquerque Sister Cities Founda- Donna tion and past co-chair for the Helmstedt, Londene, Rolf Germany committee. Reineman. PAGE 3 Sasebo Mayoral Delegation Visits Albuquerque On Friday, November 9, 2012, Albu- Albuquerque youth who had traveled to Sasebo in July. querque Sister Cities helped host a din- After a sumptuous meal, the seven ASCF youth who had visited Sasebo, sang (in ner honoring the Mayor of Sasebo, Ja- Japanese) for those present. One of the members of Sasebo’s city council later pan and his delegation. The group was remarked that the song was one of his favorites and that the youth’s singing of it visiting Albuquerque for two days. was quite emotional for him. Richard Buckler, ASCF President gave a short They had also stopped at Honolulu and speech and introduced ASCF board members present. He then gave gifts to the San Diego, their sister ports. The visi- Mayor and the rest of the delegation. Mayor Tomonaga presented special gifts to tors included Mayor Norio Tomonaga, the youth, as well as Albuquerque dignitaries and ASCF board members. Every- his wife Takako, City Council President one received a Sasebo pin and a packet of tea. The highlights were the two spe- Mr. Nagayama, and several Sasebo city cial banners from Sasebo—most colorful, separately showing our City’s logo and council members and businessmen. ASCF’s logo, respectively, with Sasebo’s city seal and geographical imprint. Rentaro Toda, the Mayor’s aide was the group’s tour conductor and translator. While in the city, the group visited Casa L. to R: Ikuko Begay; Rodena Winery, the Japanese garden at Mrs. Tomonaga; Davis the Biopark and the Albuquerque Mu- Begay, Honorary Con- seum where Mayor Berry hosted a sul of Japan; Mayor luncheon for the guests. Tomonaga; Satoki Mit- The dinner was held at the Shark Tank suno, Sasebo Chamber restaurant at the Biopark. Representing of Commerce; and the City of Albuquerque were Economic Richard Buckler, ASCF Development Director John Garcia, Cul- President. tural Affairs Director Beatrice Rivera, and Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Business Alliance Manager Randy Trask. Trudy Jones, then President of Albuquerque City Council, and her hus- band came as well as did several area business persons. The event began with appetizers in the foyer. Here displays L. to R: Randy Trask, Albu- made by ASCF youth representing their querque-Bernalillo County trip to Sasebo could be viewed. After Business Alliance Manager; moving into the restaurant itself for the John Garcia, Albuquerque main meal, speeches were given. As the Economic Development Direc- M.C. for the evening, Director Rivera tor and Albuquerque City welcomed the Japanese visitors. Ka- Councilor Trudy Jones. zumi Kawakubo-Todman, chair of the Sasebo committee did the translation. Ms. Rivera acknowledged the dignitar- ies present, including the Biopark Direc- tor and Mr. Tanaka, the designer of the Biopark’s Japanese Garden. Trudy Mayor Tomonaga and Jones also extended a warm welcome to the seven students from the delegation. Mayor Tomonaga, using Albuquerque who vis- his own translator, talked about the great ited Sasebo July hospitality of Albuquerque and also 2012.L. to R: Renata mentioned that he felt the evening’s Bonney, Ryan Suazo, dinner was held in a unique location. Shellie Chacon, Mayor He said that in Japan, most fish are not Tomonaga, Allison for observation but for eating! Talking Merrell, Joshua Toon, about his early morning walk that day, Averill Nolte and he commented on the beautiful sunrise Kaitlin Dotson and how uplifting it was. Sasebo City Council President Mr. Nagayama also mentioned the colorful sunrise and ex- pressed his delight in seeing the PAGE 4 Trade Mission to Guadalajara Mayor Berry lead a trade mission to tural Center on the campus. Guadalajara, Mexico October 28— This building, costing one November 2, 2012. The fifteen-person billion dollars, has the larg- delegation included Mayor Berry, his est library in Latin America wife Marie and son James; Randy Trask; and a huge auditorium. The Jose-Luis Campo, ASCF Chair of Guada- group was able to see the lajara Committee; an international pat- archives and 500 year-old ent attorney; and representatives from books. In the 12,000-seat an engineering company, a plastic manu- auditorium, there was an- facturing company and a water filter other reception in the company. group’s honor. One last tour before heading home was En route, the group stopped at Mexico the Corona brewery. All felt City. Here they met the mayor, the that the trip was successful Chamber of Commerce and several fed- in sparking more activities Mayor Berry and Jose-Luis eral government officials. They also had between the two cities. Cruz-Campa, ASCF Guadala- time to tour the Fine Arts Palace. jara Committee Chair On arrival in Guadalajara, they were greeted by a mariachi band and tradi- tional dancers.