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This year, the Illinois Sister Cities Association is hosting the Midwest Regional Sister Cities Conference April 18-19, in Palatine. The purpose of the conference is to inform representatives from cities in a five state region of the opportunities to promote Dwight D. Eisenhower's "faith in the great promise of Sister City affiliations in helping build the solid structure of world peace." Created by Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities programs focus on four key themes: sustainable development, arts and culture, youth and education, and humanitarian assistance.
This first regional conference is at the request of Sister Cities International (SCI) to broaden the exchange of ideas and possibilities to wider audiences and to bridge the gap between state conferences and the annual International Conference, this year being held in Kansas City, Missouri, in July. The Midwest region includes Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri.
"Because the majority of partnerships in the Midwest are with European cities, the Regional Conference will focus on the current impact of the European Union, the Euro, and international trade," explained Margaret Duer, president of the Sister Cities Association of Palatine.
Saturday speakers include Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium Paul VanHalteren, Midwest Manager of the Small Business Administration Patrick Rea, Minister of the Swiss Business Hub Martin von Walterskerchen, , and Assistant Executive Director of SCI Jim Dumas. Special interest sessions will explain the process of establishing a Sister City relationship, highlights of various exchanges between cities, methods for involving members and youth, and overcoming challenges of third world partnerships.
The Conference begins Friday evening with opening ceremonies, the procession of flags, and keynote speaker, Dr. Thomas TenHoeve, past president of Oakton Community College and member of Sister Cities International. Honored guests will include ambassadors from various Consulates in Chicago, representatives from Midwest cities and guests from their foreign Sister Cities. "This will truly be an international affair promoting peace through friendship, as Eisenhower intended," said Duer.
Illinois state conventions have drawn 80-100 participants from the 43 Illinois cities with Sister Cities. The regional conference is expecting to double that number. The program begins Friday, April 18, with registration at Hotel Indigo in the afternoon, followed by a dinner Friday evening at Cotillion Banquets in Palatine. Saturday sessions will take place at the Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church in Palatine, beginning with Continental breakfast, welcome and opening remarks, workshops and plenary sessions, as well as mid-morning break, lunch, afternoon sessions, and state meetings.
There is a concerted effort to keep registration fees low to make the conference affordable. Local corporate sponsors have been generous in supporting the event. The conference facility has been underwritten by Racor Industries. Square D/Schneider International, involved in the establishment of the relationship between Palatine and Fontenay-le-Comte, France, has been a loyal corporate member since 1995.
For more information, email conf@palatinesistercities.org or visit www.palatinesistercities.org.