President’s Address for Newsletter, June 2016

Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA) has been very busy with an assortment of events and

delegation visits since March 2016. I am excited about the transformations of NSCA as we move

toward an increasingly more visible, active and inclusive organization.

Our third annual PassPORT to Norfolk’s Sister Cities celebration on April 7, 2016 at the Sheraton

Norfolk Waterside Hotel was a wonderful way to hi ghlight the year that we are celebrating our

40th anniversary. During that celebration, we spotlighted our Asian sister cities with décor and

entertainment. This year’s internationally-inspired cuisine by celebrity chefs was especially

outstanding!

Our anniversary year is not over. We have a lot of exciting events planned ahead, including our

Summer Membership Social on June 26 at the Botanical Gardens, hosted by our Norfolk, England

sister city committee. Our Wilhelmshaven, Germany committee will celebrate the departure of

another student delegation who will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to that country

and to learn first-hand about its history, people, and culture. I know many of you are planning to

attend our annual Soiree en Blanc, hosted by our Toulon, France Committee on August 11. Be on

the lookout for that email informing you of registration and revealing the secret location the day

before.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing each of you at our upcoming programs.

Cassandra Newby-Alexander

3rd Annual PassPORT to Norfolk’s Sister Cities, April 7, 2016

Held at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside on April 7, world-class entertainment and celebrity chefs

at PassPORT 2016 entertained more than 370 guests with international cuisine and culture from

Norfolk’s ten Sister Cities. The chefs brought rave reviews for the third annual event.

Entertainment and décor focused on Asia to compliment the Lantern Asia exhibit at Norfolk

Botanical Gardens.

PassPORT raises awareness of Norfolk Sister City Association and its programs. As a

membership based organization, community support and connections enable us to provide student

and adult exchanges. We are expanding our education programs to Norfolk Public Schools grades

3-8. We share economic opportunities with the Development Department of the City of Norfolk.

We partner with our local institutions of higher education to address global environmental issues.

Please remember our fabulous restaurants as you make your dining reservations!

Chocollage Fin Seafood Restaurant

City Dock Restaurant, Sheraton Waterside Nawab

CP Shuckers Omar’s Carriage House

Croc’s 19th Street Bistro Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas

Cuisine & Company Supper Southern Morsels

Culinary Institute of Virginia Taste of Europe

The Green Onion

Our 2016 Award Winners:

Critics’ Choice – Fin Seafood Restaurant representing Toulon, France Menu: Sous Vide Bronzini: Bronzini prepared in the Sous Vide method with Uni Cream (sea urchin) Sauce, Green Garbanzo Beans, Sea Beans, Micro Fennel, and Oven Roasted Tomatoes & Fennel Ash

Best Country Interpretation – Still Worldly Eclectic Eats representing Norfolk, VA by the Sea

Menu: Crab Norfolk BLT: Local Crab Cake with House Smoked Local Pork Belly, Local

Lettuce, and Roasted Tomato Aioli on a Potato Roll

Chef’s Choice – Culinary Institute of Virginia representing Kitakuyshu, Japan Menu: Ebiyaki (Japanese style dumpling): with Dashi Batter, Shrimp, Tenkasu (tempura flakes),

Cabbage, Red Ginger and Green Onion. Garnishment: Japanese Mayonnaise, Tonkatsu and Hot

Sauces, Sesame Seed, Green Onion and Katsuobushi (dried tuna)

People’s Choice – Nawab representing Kochi, India Menu: Meen Molee: Fish Curry and Thalassery Biryani (a special rice dish)

Of course none of this would be possible without the support of our table sponsors!

Ed and Janis Weisberg and Ralph Nahra Enterprises

We extend a special thank you to George Culver, www.i-heart-food.com , for taking all of those

great photos of the food and the event!

YAYA Art Exhibit and Awards Reception, April 10, 2016 The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) encourages youth from around the globe to

express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, and film.

Showcasing their imagination, creativity, and passion for world peace, students interpret a

designated annual theme into works of art and literature. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sister

Cities International (and the 40th anniversary of Norfolk Sister City Association) this year’s theme

is Peace Through People. The work is sent from sister city member communities to Washington,

DC, where a panel of judges selects winners based on originality, composition, and theme

interpretation.

This program is a great opportunity to reach out to the community and engage local English and

art teachers, and reach a student audience that may not already be included in sister city

programming. After the finalists for art, literature, film, and photography have been announced,

their works embark on a yearlong tour hosted by local sister city programs on a monthly basis.

This year we had twenty-one entries from four high schools and one middle school in the Norfolk Public School system. Our first place winner was Kenan Love, a Jr. from Norview High School. Our second place winner was Nicholas Frank, a 7th grade student at the Academy for International Studies at Rosemont. Our 3rd place winner was Danielle Bertulfo, a Sr. from Norview High School.

Norfolk NATO Fest, April 23

Norfolk Sister City Association member Guia Caliwagan; Nora Dorsey; Liana Fleming; Robert

Kent; Cheryl McGarrigle and Edna Moll gave up part of a beautiful Saturday afternoon to man

Booth 47. They distributed NSCA materials to fifty interested individuals who dropped by our

booth.

Delegation from Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, May 13-29

Thanks to Cheryl McGarrigle, Chair of the Cagayan de Oro Sister City Committee, a ten-

member delegation from Cagayan spent two active weeks in Norfolk. Six of the members were

educators – three from private schools and three from public schools. K-12 education was the

focus of the visit. The group included a journalist; a college student; an architect and two city

officials. The visit began with a welcome reception hosted by Joseph Solinap

There was a full day of activities with Norfolk Public Schools

administration that included tours of Child Nutrition and Transportation.

The group had a day and a half at St. Patrick’s Catholic School

and they delivered a Young Global Citizens program to

sixty 7th and 8th grade students at the Academy of International Studies at Rosemont.

Other activities included tours of the MacArthur Memorial; MacArthur Center; an audience with

the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines; luncheon at St. Pious X Church; tour of ODU

and a tour of the USS Arlington.

We thank our Cagayan de Oro Committee members, Raylene Baumgart; Guia Caliwagan; Nora

Dorsey; Cheryl McGarrigle; Edna Moll; Dr. Juan Montero; Joseph Solinap and Araceli Suzara.

We also acknowledge our gracious host families Yolanda Blair; Catherine Bernardo; Rhyss and

Jean Hizon; Kim Kurtz; Cheryl McGarrigle; Jennifer Priest; Raylene Baumgart and Jamie

Soriano. Last of all we express our gratitude to community volunteers Junie Ocampo and Jojo

Orencia.

We Welcome Our Newest Board Member Sarah Peoples-Perry

An active Norfolk Sister City Association member and retired educator, Sarah is assuming the

post of Tema, Ghana Sister City Committee Chair. Sarah has served on the Annual International

Luncheon Committee for several years as well as being a member of the Tema Committee.

Old Dominion University Graduate Student Joins the Team as an Intern

Nevin Mapp will provide an assortment of services for the office and our committees beginning

June 27, She will work as an intern through mid-August. A 2008 graduate of Tennessee State

University with a degree in Business Administration, Nevin is currently working on a MA in

International Studies at ODU. She will be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please be

sure to extend her a hearty welcome!

PassPORT Wins the Sister Cities International

Arts & Culture Award for Cities with a Population between 100,001 – 500,000

Congratulations to Janis Weisberg and the entire PassPORT Committee. The award will be

presented at the Sister Cities International Conference in Washington, DC on July 16.

Wilhelmshaven Outbound Delegation Departs June 29

Lisa Schulenburg will accompany our delegation of nine students from schools in Chesapeake,

Norfolk and Virginia Beach (Sean Ennis; Shannon Ennis; Sean Everett; Analyssa Keller; Devin

Thompson; Daisy Wegener; Carly Wells; Jelanie Williams and Kari Wilson) for a three week

trip to Germany. We look forward to their return on July 22.

Community Corner

Montero Medical Missions Summer Event

Alliance Francaise Bastille Day Celebration www.afnorfolk.org

Upcoming Events

Join Us for the Fourth Annual

Soiree en Blanc

no neize-

medi228"August 11, 2016 – 5:30 – 8:30 pm (rain or shine)

To be held at a secret (and beautiful) outdoor location in Norfolk! We will reveal the location by email 24

hours prior to the event.

Bring everything you need for an elegant dinner en plein air or order a delightful box supper from

< Two offerings are available.

Box 1 – Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto; Herb Marinated Chicken; Roasted Yukon Gold Potato Salad;

Green Beans Gremolata; Brownie Square – $30

Box 2 – Citrus Marinated Shrimp; Sesame Steak Salad; Red Quinoa Salad; Sugar Snap and Roasted Corn

Salad; Peach Pie Bar – $35

Napery, tableware, flowers, candles, wine should be wine. Also for your convenience you can arrange to have

your centerpiece designed and delivered by Leaf-call

them directly at 757-627-6028 to make the arrangements.

We provide the tables, chairs, tablecloths, ambience and music. You may bring alcoholic drinks for your

consumption and to share with dining partners age 21 and over.

Norfolk Sister City Association members may reserve a table for of ten seats for $150 or purchase individual

seats for $15. Non-members will pay $200 for a table of ten seats and $20 for individual seats.

http://www.norfolksistercities.org/events/2016-soiree-en-blanc/ or call the office, 757-627-0530

Save the Date!

Sunday, October 2, 2016 is our Annual International Luncheon. This event will be at Norfolk

Yacht & Country Club from Noon – 1:30 pm and will include our fabulous silent auction. Tickets

will go on sale in August. Watch our website for details. www.norfolksistercities.org

Welcome to our new and returning members!

Brandan Adams Ashley & Gregor McLeod

Linwood Beckner Betty Myers

Barbara Boslego & Tom Horsch Rosemarie Moorhead

Bridget Browne Honorable Henry Morgan

Shannon Ennis Igor Musatov

George Everett Michael Myers

Sandra Fewell Tim Persons

Annette Finely-Croswhite LaWada Poarch

Charles Ford Warren Richard & Lynn Cobb

Stephanie Iles Dan Ryan

Ann & Jack Kavanaugh Lisa Schulenburg

Barbara Keller Jaclyn Spainhour

Jean Lamkin Lise & Wayne Thomas

Selma Lindsey Sheryl Thompson

Leslie Lipscomb Vasil Tsiskarishvili

Linda McCluney Cypress Utley

Ardell McCoy Samantha Wegener

Jeleanie Williams