Welcome to the Bloomington Sister City Blog where you will find the most up-to-date information on BSCO events and highlights. Sign-up for RSS feed updates with the button below. |
posted Jun 17, 2011 9:44 AM by Pete Hage
The delegation left Minneapolis on June 15th. This is the first posting: Today (6/16/11), we visited Ikegami
Sone Yayoi Cultural Workshop and the students made their own necklaces
there.
According
the staff there, this is one of the very rare groups who are so talented to
finish the project in such a short time with high quality.
For lunch the group went to Kaiten Sushi; sushi floats
on a river by and you pick the ones you like):
After the lunch, we divided into 3 groups and visited
high schools in Izumi. Most participated in the Japanese class at
each school and interacted with the students there. They got back in the
bus with huge smiles and told me how fun it was to talk to them and spend time
together doing some activities.
The meeting with Izumi Mayor Tsuji was scheduled
after the high school visits. Everybody has been introducing themselves
using only Japanese; their Japanese skill has improved so much already.
Finally, Izumi hosted a very nice welcome dinner and
the students from last year’s Izumi delegation were there and enjoyed
reconnecting with the BSCO delegates.
It was a full first day but the students enjoyed
every moment despite the jetlag! Please
stop back for further updates and pictures from the delegation. (Thanks to Yukari, the chaperone for the delegation
for this and future updates). |
posted Apr 11, 2011 12:37 PM by tracy smith
The Minnesota Sister Cities International Conference is being held in Shoreview this year. Keynotes are Mary Jean Eisenhower, President of People to People International and youngest granddaughter of U.S. President Dwight David Eisenhower.
All registrations and payments are required in advance and should be made to Minnesota Sister Cities Internationa. See more information in the attachments below including conference information and registration form. RSVP Deadline is April 23rd. |
posted Mar 30, 2011 1:27 PM by tracy smith
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updated Jun 1, 2011 9:45 AM by Pete Hage
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posted Mar 15, 2011 9:03 AM by tracy smith
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updated Mar 30, 2011 1:41 PM
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The situation in Izumi City
Bloomington Sister City Organization (BSCO) has received several inquires regarding the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We have been in contact with the officials at the City of Izumi, our sister city. We have been assured that all is well. The disaster did not affect the region surrounding Izumi City. We join our friends in Izumi City in hoping for the best for their fellow countrymen affected by the catastrophe.
How you can help the greater devastation in Japan
BSCO has also received several questions on how individuals can help support the relief effort in Japan. In order to direct interested individuals to the most up-to-date resources BSCO is linking up with the Japan American Society of Minnesota (JASM) who lists several organizations accepting donations. JASM also lists information for several fund raisers.
Thank you.
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posted Jan 14, 2011 8:14 AM by tracy smith
The
mission of the Donaldson Foundation is to positively impact the communities in
which they live and work by supporting education. In support of their mission,
the foundation awarded BSCO a grant in the amount of $8,500 to support the BSCO
sponsored Japanese language teaching assistant program and an additional $10,000
to support the High School/College Student Delegation Exchange
Program.
The
Japanese language teaching assistant interns with the Bloomington school
district Japanese language classes adding authenticity to the students learning.
Without the assistant, the number of students’ learning the language and culture
of Japan would likely have to be limited. The teaching assistant arrives at his
or her own expense and volunteers with no pay to provide a valuable learning
experience. The Donaldson Foundation grant will greatly help the BSCO to be able
to support the program.
The
Donaldson Foundation also allocated $10,000 in grant funds to support the
student delegation exchange program. The BSCO program gives Bloomington students
the opportunity to visit Izumi schools and be immersed in Japanese
culture.
Thanks
to the Donaldson Foundation grants, BSCO will
be able to continue providing two important and worthwhile educational
programs. |
posted Jan 13, 2011 2:03 PM by tracy smith
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updated Apr 20, 2011 10:38 AM
]
 Mayor Winstead visited with 5th grade students at Valley View Elementary on Monday, January 10 to share information about his recent trip to Izumi City, Japan. Valley View 5th grade students have been exchanging emails with Izumi City 5th grade students at Komyodai Kita Elementary School which was one of the sites visited by Mayor Winstead and the delegation.
Students viewed several photos and videos of the visit to Komyodai Minami Elementary School and were presented with banners made by the students that included a picture of each student and information about their interests. Students also had an opportunity to view gifts given to the Mayor and to ask questions about his visit.
Mayor Winstead was joined by council member Karen Nordstrom, school board member Arlene Bush and his daughter Rebecca Waldock who were part of the Mayor’s delegation. Doug Langefels, President of Bloomington Sister City, Les Fujitake, Superintendent, Nancy Allen-Mastro, Assistant Superintendent and Beth Anderson, Director of Elementary Teaching & Learning were also in attendance.
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posted Jan 12, 2011 7:51 AM by tracy smith
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BSCO board members Luminita Vollmer and Corinne Shepherd have turned their volunteer hours into cash donations to BSCO through their employers’ corporate giving programs.
United Health Group’s Campaign Match and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Dollars for Doers donated $200 and $250 respectively in recognition of the employee’s volunteer commitment to the organization.
Corporate Giving
Many companies have corporate giving programs. Some programs match volunteer hours while others match donations made by the employee. Some programs provide grants to the employee’s selected 501(3)c organization.
Please consider choosing BSCO to be the recipient of your corporate giving dollars. Funds received will be used to support BSCO programs.
What else can I do?
BSCO welcomes donations from individuals, businesses and other organizations. BSCO is a 501(3)c organization so your donation is tax-deductible.
Donations of funds, items or time are used to support programs including Taste of Japan, Kite Day, and delegation exchanges and to fulfill the BSCO mission to promote international understanding through the exchange of people, information and ideas. |
posted Jan 12, 2011 7:40 AM by tracy smith
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BSCO board member Kodo Kawamura and his wife, Irene, were recently honored at the City of Bloomington Human Services Volunteer Recognition Lunch held December 13, 2010, at Creekside Community Center.
Mr. Kawamura is a founding member of BSCO. He served on the board when the organization was founded and returned years later to serve on the board again.
Mr. and Mrs. Kawamura traveled with Mayor Winstead’s delegation to Izumi City in October 2010. This was Mr. Kawamura’s third trip as a BSCO delegate.
The Kawamura’s donate countless hours to BCSCO activities. They welcome delegations to Bloomington, staff the BSCO booth at events and make generous financial donations to the organization. Mr. Kawamura is a skilled photographer who documents many BSCO events.
BSCO and the City of Bloomington thank the Kawamuras for their volunteerism. |
posted May 5, 2010 12:34 PM by tracy smith
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updated May 5, 2010 12:35 PM
]
The Bloomington Sister City Organization held its annual Kite Day event on Saturday, May 1st at Valley View Play Fields from 1 – 4 p.m. with an estimated 1800 people in attendance. Tom Thomas and Pat Reichert started this event in 2000 as way to celebrate Children’s Day in Japan and to bring the Japanese culture to Bloomington youth.
This year’s event included a warm welcome to kite flyers by Mayor Gene Winstead and a singing of the National Anthem by Angelica Cantanti’s Con Brio Choir. The winds were very strong and kites took off easily as music was provided by CODA, a saxophone and keyboard duet followed by a taiko drumming performance by Mu Daiko. Mr. Kite and the Minnesota Kite Society displayed their beautiful kites and interacted with attendees. Special guests included Hennepin County Commissioner, Randy Johnson who assisted with prize drawings, Council member and BSCO board member Karen Nordstrom and school board members Tim Culver and Arlene Bush. There were several sponsors who helped to make this event a success including the Walser Foundation, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ziegler Power Systems, Breakfast Optimist Club of Bloomington and the City of Bloomington. |
posted Apr 21, 2010 1:13 PM by tracy smith
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updated Apr 21, 2010 2:25 PM
]
Check it out! BSCO Board member Adam DeGonda entered the 2010 Chen and Tsui SuperStar Third National Karaoke contest. View DeGonda's entry by clicking here or view below.
To enter, individuals must be enrolled in or teaching a Japanese language class. DeGonda is a Senior at Jefferson High School in Bloomington and was named one of the Solo Finalists. Cheng & Tsui is an independent publisher and distributor of English and multilingual educational materials about Asia.
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