MEETINGS:
The Committee meets quarterly in March, June, September and December unless otherwise announced.
Next Quarterly Meeting: To be announced
Projects
"Our Beautiful Water"
Past Meetings:
December 2010 Quarterly Meeting
The Sonoma-Aswan committee quarterly meeting was held at the Sonoma Community Center. Everyone enjoyed wine and hors d'oeuvres. "Garbage Dreams", a most interesting film was shown and report on our Egypt trip and "Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program" grant activities.
June 2010 Quarterly Meeting
The Sonoma-Aswan committee quarterly meeting was held at the home of Farrel Beddome. Two new members gave reports with wonderful insights into their recent travels to Egypt. A special article with photos appeared in the “Washington Report on Middle East Affairs”.
City councilwoman Laurie Gallian and her husband Ray offered some terrific ideas including the importance of joining Facebook. It was suggested that the July 4th parade post the website on the signage so that potential members would know how to join SSCA.
Annual dues are now due. Invoices will be sent to all members. Membership levels: Sponsors $2500, Active $200, Associate $100, Advisory $20. Honorary members are the only members who do not pay dues. Sub-committee chairs must be active members. Sue Bartlett, a registered nurse, was appointed the new Sub-committee Chair for Medicine and Health.
Plans are being finalized for a small delegation to travel to Egypt for 3 weeks in October for the initial phase of implementing the Sister Cities Intl. grant to alleviate poverty in Africa. Dr. Amer El-Ahraf of the Egyptian Scholars Assn. in Los Angeles will serve as an advisory member as he is a well-known environmentalist with important ties to Aswan. The delegation will be joined in Luxor and Alexandria by the Baltimore-Alexandria/Luxor Sister City Committee. The Aswan-Sonoma committee will host the delegation in Abu Simbel at the Intl. Sun Festival honoring Ramses II and a Nubian festival in Aswan. During the visit, the delegation will have a ceremony at the Movenpick Hotel on Elephantine Island to award prizes to the children and teachers who participated in the "Our Beautiful Water" project. City Historian George McKale acknowledged the important work of Arlene Sukolsky to develop and implement this program.
All members of the Sonoma-Aswan committee are cordially invited to the Sonoma
Sister Cities Assn. July 4th, 6:30pm potluck BBQ at the Sister Cities House,
205 First St. West, Sonoma 95476. The July 4th festivities will include a float called, "Our Shared Heritage - Our Shared World", featuring the "Three Sisters" belly dance troupe. Special thanks to Cline Cellars for providing the truck for the Sonoma Sister Cities float.
March 2010 Quarterly Meeting
The March 2010 Quarterly Meeting was helf at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa Street.
Details from the meeting:
- Special guest speaker, Consul Haba Zaki, Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt, spoke on "Egyptian Culture - Insights and Reflections"
- Guests enjoyed a presentation of drawings regarding "Our Beautiful Water" project, created by middle school aged students in Aswan, Egypt. They focused on preserving the Nile River. This exciting project was our first successful project with the Aswan-Sonoma committee and was designed and implemented by our sub-committee Chair, Arlene Sukolsky.
- Sonoma historian and education sub-committee chair, George McKale, implemented this project with the Sonoma Girls & Boys Club. Further exchanges are planned between the Aswan and Sonoma students in order to promote cross-cultural understanding and efforts to preserve the environment. Winners of the art project were announced, as determined by a distinguished panel of judges: The Hon. Heba Zaki, Consul from the Egyptian Consulate General in San Francisco; renowned artist, Mr. Chester Arnold and Environment Chair, Mr. Ted Chenoweth, who helped to build the Aswan Dam.
