SCI: About Sister Cities - Press Releases

COUNCILLOR ALAN CHAMBERS ELECTED TO SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Media Contact: Amandra Straub/Ami Neiberger-Miller, 202.347.8630
Source: Lindsay Wilson, 202.347.8630

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Councillor Alan Chambers of Bangor, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom was elected to the Sister Cities International Board of Directors during the Annual Board Meeting on July 15, 2006. The meeting was part of the Sister Cities International 50th Anniversary Conference held in Washington, D.C.

This will be his second term on the Board of Directors. Councillor Chambers has been a member of the Sister Cities International Board for three years and was the first international member elected. He lives in Bangor and operates a family run grocery business in Groomsport. For the past fourteen years, he has served as an elected Councillor on the North Down Borough Council. Previously, Chambers served as Mayor of North Down and Deputy Mayor of North Down.

"I am very proud of my connections with the United States of America, through my eight year connection with Sister Cities International, and I believe passionately in the ideal and vision of world peace as promoted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower," Chambers said.

Initially, Councillor Chambers was skeptical of the purpose and mission of Sister Cities International. However, after attending the 1997 Sister Cities International conference in San Diego because of the late withdrawal of a colleague, he soon changed his opinion. "The experience changed my life, but more importantly it removed all my small town parochial thinking. It put everything into perspective and made me a better and more broad-minded public representative," Chambers said.

Along with six other candidates, Councillor Chambers was elected to a three-year term to the Sister Cities International Board of Directors. A State Coordinator Representative, a Young Professional Ambassador Association Representative and a Youth Representative were also elected to one-year terms.

About Sister Cities International
Representing more than 2,500 communities in 134 countries, Sister Cities International (www.sister-cities.org) is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and communities abroad. Begun in 1956 after a White House summit where U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for people-to-people exchanges, sister city partnerships are tailored to local interests and increase global cooperation at the grassroots level. Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing on sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture, humanitarian assistance and economic growth programs.

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