Tempe Sister Cities is celebrating 50 years of “Bringing the World Together – One Friendship at a Time” by having a big party. The Gala will be a fabulous opportunity to reconnect and share your TSC memories with delegates from our student, educator, and professional exchange programs, as well as current and former board members.
Please help TSC by donating to the student summer activities programs. Each year the 32 Tempe student delegates raise funds to support the many summer activities they enjoy with the 32 international student visitors from our sister cities. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.
Tempe Sister Cities as a 501(c)3 compliant non-profit organization. You donation is 100% tax deductible.
Oberburgermeister Hans Schaidinger has been a friend of Tempe Sister Cities for 16 years, hosting elaborate receptions for the delegations that visit Regensburg time and time again. He was honored as the Oktoberfest King, and this year he will tap the keg to begin Oktoberfest 2011. As we mark the 51st anniversary of Oktoberfest, Tempe Sister Cities is proud to celebrate the rededication of the Sister City Garden—now thoughtfully redesigned and relocated at the Tempe Public Library through a collaborative effort with the City of Tempe and Arizona State University. The Ring of Honor at the Dick and Jane Neuheisel Sister City Garden in Kiwanis Park stands as a testament to individuals whose exceptional support has significantly advanced our mission. Established as a historical landmark, it highlights those whose generosity and dedication have fostered the growth and success of our organization.
This year, we are thrilled to induct ten outstanding supporters into the Ring of Honor. Their commitment and contributions have been instrumental in “Bringing the World Together One Friendship at a Time.”
Forty years ago, Mark and Teresa began their journey with Tempe Sister Cities when their daughter was in kindergarten. Teresa became deeply involved in children’s multicultural programming, chairing Sixth Grade School Tours and Passport to the World. Mark has been invaluable as the Technical Manager at Hackett House and as longtime Membership Chair. Together, they’ve hosted numerous international delegates, turning strangers into lifelong friends and even discovering unexpected family ties.
Lesa joined Tempe Sister Cities during the 2008 recession, bringing her design skills and passion for baking to the Hackett House kitchen. Alongside her mother, Rosemary, she volunteered tirelessly, eventually co-directing the kitchen with her “baking buddy” Cheryl Moritz. Over 16 years, Lesa has contributed to the financial stability and high-quality culinary events of the organization, finding a new purpose and forging lasting friendships.
Since their daughter became a delegate to New Zealand in 1998, Ron and Lynn have been pillars of Tempe Sister Cities. Lynn has served in various roles at Hackett House, including Co-Director since 2018. Ron has supported in numerous capacities, from organizing international band connections to serving as the first Director of the Police and Fire Exchange Program. Their dedication was recognized in 2016 when they were honored as Oktoberfest King and Queen.
A member since 2002, Bobbi has worn many hats—from Food Chair of Oktoberfest to Hackett House Rental Manager. She has home-hosted international delegates and was crowned 2019 Oktoberfest Queen with her husband, Mark. Bobbi’s journey began with a simple day of volunteering, leading to deep friendships and unforgettable experiences that have enriched her life immeasurably.
John’s involvement began when his daughter became a delegate to Cuenca, Ecuador, in 2012. He served on the Student Selection Committee for over 11 years, eventually becoming its chair. John has been an active volunteer at Hackett House and Oktoberfest, finding joy in witnessing the transformative impact of cross-cultural experiences on delegates and their families.
The late Duane Moore was the charismatic lead singer of the band Mogollon, which he founded in 1979. A master performer and volunteer, Duane served on the Tempe Sister Cities board and participated in cultural exchanges, notably at Regensburg’s Bürgerfest in Germany. He composed a song embracing our motto, “Making a World of Difference, One Friendship at a Time,” a credo he lived by, touching countless lives with his friendship and music.
Cheryl’s 38-year journey with Tempe Sister Cities began with a cooking class at Hackett House. After retiring from Motorola, she became a dedicated volunteer, eventually co-directing the kitchen with Lesa Emery-Mazzacavallo. Cheryl has spearheaded numerous culinary events, bringing international flavors and cultures to our community. Her contributions have fostered friendships and enhanced our programs’ quality and reach.
Since 2005, when her first child became a student delegate, Angie has been an integral part of our family. She managed summer programs, chaired the host committee for the Regensburg Domspatzen Boys Choir in 2013, and has led student groups to Germany and India. From serving beers at Oktoberfest to managing the Hackett House rentals, Angie’s versatile contributions have enriched our organization and deepened international relationships.
We extend our deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to all the 2024 Ring of Honor inductees. Your unwavering commitment and passion have not only advanced the mission of Tempe Sister Cities but have also touched lives across the globe. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable achievements and looking forward to many more years of friendship and cultural exchange.
In 2024-25, Tempe Public Library’s Reading Global Book Club will read fiction and non-fiction focusing on Tempe’s Sister Cities. Each book is either written by an author from one of Tempe’s Sister Cities, or focuses on those cities, and each book club meeting will include discussions led by individuals with deep experience in the diverse and compelling histories and cultures of these communities.
All Reading Global Book Club meetings will be held at Tempe Public Library, 6:00pm-7:30pm.
Mr. Pip, Lloyd Jones (2006)
Lloyd Jones was born and raised in Lower Hutt, Tempe’s sister city in New Zealand. Mr. Pip, his tenth novel, won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 2007. Set in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea during that country’s civil war, it traces the power of words and the imagination as a source of hope, as a makeshift teacher shares Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations with his students. The book was adapted for the screen, starring Hugh Laurie (2012).
Discussion will be led by Dede Carrera, Country Director, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, Tempe’s sister city since 1981.
Jawbone, Monica Ohayda (2017, translation 2022 by Sarah Booker)
Ecuadorian writer Monica Ohayda is one of Latin America’s most daring new voices. She draws on classic horror as well as the internet phenomenon of “creepypastas” in what she calls “Andean Gothic.” Jawbone has won wide recognition, most recently as a finalist for the 2023 Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Fiction. Framed as a coming-of-age story of a group of teens, Jawbone has been described as “a hair-raising novel about the horrors of adolescence.”
Discussion will be led by Jill Glickman, Country Director for Cuenca, Ecuador, Tempe’s Sister City since 2008.
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts, Joshua Hammer (2016)
Situated on the trans-Saharan caravan route, Timbuktu was for centuries a center of Islamic scholarship, and home to thousands of precious Arabic- language manuscripts. Award-winning journalist Joshua Hammer first visited the city in 2006. His book describes how Timbuktu citizens responded when their city’s historic legacy was threatened during Mali’s 2012-13 Islamist insurgency.
Discussion will be led by Beth Berlage, Country Director for Timbuktu, Mali, Tempe’s Sister City since 1991.
February: The Time of the Goats, Luan Starova (1993, translation 2012 by Christina Kramer)
Discussion will be led by Jean Rusen, Country Director for Skopje, North Macedonia; and Christina Kramer, translator.
March: Making Paradise: Art, Modernity, and the Myth of the French Riviera, Kenneth Silver (2001)
Discussion will be led by Burke Files, Country Director for Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, France.
April: The Murder Farm, Andrea Maria Schenkel (2008, translation 2014 by Anthea Bell)
Discussion will be led by TBD.
Since the early 1970s, Tempe AZ has been a leading participant in the United States’ Sister Cities’ Association, which aims to bring people together across the boundaries of nation, race, creed and ideology, “One Friendship at a Time.”
Tempe has eleven sister cities on four continents, and for over 50 years students, teachers and professionals have traveled to and from Arizona as citizen-diplomats, advancing mutual understanding and building relationships across the world.
For more information on Tempe Sister Cities, including the high school youth exchange and other programs, please visit https://tempesistercities.org/
For up-to-date information on Tempe Public Library’s book clubs, including Reading Global, please visit https://www.tempepubliclibrary.org/event-calendar/book-clubs
To see past titles and reading guides from the Reading Global Book Club, please visit https://melikian.asu.edu/research-and-partnerships/projects-and-initiatives/reading-group
WASHINGTON, DC – Tempe, Arizona Sister Cities has been named as one of three recipients of the U.S. State Department’s annual 2020 Citizen Diplomacy award. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the organization was selected out of a record 22 nomination this year. Awards are presented to one winner and two runner up positions.
“Sister Cities has been one of our nominating partners since day one. Tempe Sister Cities stood out for their creative youth programs and teacher exchanges,” said a State Department spokesperson.
The Citizen Diplomacy Award was created to celebrate the significant, beneficial contributions of U.S. citizens and organizations to furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives and strengthening relationships around the world.
“It is with genuine appreciation that Tempe Sister City accepts runner up for the 2020 Citizen Diplomacy Award. It is gratifying to know that our hard work and efforts ‘in bringing the world together, one friendship at a time’ has been noticed and appreciated. We are very honored and thrilled to receive this award – our sincere thanks for this important recognition”, said Dean R. Gambino, 1st Vice President of Tempe Sister Cities.
In the past, the annual award ceremony was held in the State Department’s Harry S. Truman building in Washington, D.C. This year, however, the ceremony will take place on September 30th, 2pm-3pm EDT. The award ceremony will be streamed live on the State Department
Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/EngageStateDept and will also be shared on the Sister Cities International Facebook page.
For more information, please contact Irina Karmanova (Bureau of Global Public Affairs) at [email protected]. To find out more about the U.S. Department of State’s Citizen Diplomacy Award, visit https://www.state.gov/citizen-diplomacy-award.
Founded as a Presidential Initiative by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 400 member communities with over 1,800 partnerships in more than 138 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomat volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community development.
Facebook: Sister Cities International; Twitter: @SisterCitieslnt; Website: www.sistercities.org
In the photo, from left to right: First Emeritus member: Honorable Harry Mitchell, Treasurer: Pete Ewen, Parliamentarian: Paul Sheard, Assistant Treasurer: Zak Scott, President: David Carrera, Secretary: Kathy Schreiner, 2nd Vice President: Larry West, 1st Vice President: Dean Gambino
Ten years ago I became involved in Tempe Sister Cities when we made a donation to a delegate going to Carlow, Ireland. Two years later we were preparing our oldest daughter, Milena, for her experience in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Three years after that we were packing our youngest daughter, Eliana, for the trip of her life also to Lower Hutt. This was life changing not only for our daughters, but also for our family. We have met dedicated board members, incredible volunteers and made friends that have enriched our lives. I have remained involved in Tempe Sister Cities because I see how it can change lives and I wanted to share my skills with an organization that I believe in.
I am honored to be President of Tempe Sister Cities. I am looking forward to working with the new Executive Committee and Board to foster new ideas and bring change that will benefit our organization, membership and stakeholders. Tempe Sister Cities needs your skill sets and ideas to enrich our programs. There are many committees and programs that you would enjoy, and need your participation and leadership. We will be kicking off the 50th Anniversary of Tempe Sister Cities this year. We could use your time and ideas to celebrate 50 years of “Bringing The World Together One Friendship At A Time” and recognizing one of the best Sister City Exchange Programs in the country and the world.
Please contact any of the Executive Committee members with any questions or comments.
Traveling to New Zealand this past summer was a life changing experience that I will never forget. New Zealand is a beautiful and unique country filled with some of the nicest people I have ever met. I met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing experiences there that it is hard for me to choose only a few to write about! However, as a social studies teacher, I was most interested in just experiencing the culture of the country and the history of the islands. I wanted to experience the food, the language, the customs, the history, politics, music, and anything else I could squeeze in! And I think I was able to accomplish that as I toured schools and museums and participated in other local activities while I was there. But what stuck out to me the most was how much New Zealanders seemed to appreciate their own history, heritage and culture and also embraced and promoted the diversity within their country today.
As a history teacher, I am very familiar with how some countries, like the United States and Australia, have dealt with and interacted with their Native populations over the course of their history, and I was very interested to learn more about what this relationship looked like in New Zealand.
At all of the schools I visited there were high populations of native Maori students, along with other Polynesian students, and at each of the schools, I saw clear and deliberate efforts to allow students to not only learn about but proudly share and promote their native heritage. This includes Maori culture and also the other diverse Polynesian cultures. This was reflected in the offering of Maori language classes at schools, allowing elements of Maori dress in the school dress codes, and clubs and festivals where students participated in native dances and performances.
I attended an event called Hutt Fest. This was an event that lasted several nights and consisted of performances by kids of all ages from different schools all over Lower and Upper Hutt. They performed native dances and songs to celebrate their culture and heritage, and it was absolutely amazing to see! Each show was sold out and jam packed, as the entire community came out to support this event. This was just one of the events I saw celebrating their diversity. I saw other performances at schools and met with several teachers who all were filling roles that involved teaching and preserving Maori and other Polynesian cultures on the islands.
However, it was not just Maori heritage being celebrated. I was also able to attend a retirement party for a beloved principal at the school I was touring, and the principal had Scottish heritage. To celebrate this, a whole Scottish celebration of the haggis was performed by the teachers of the school, performed in a school on the other side of the planet from Scotland.
Additionally, I was asked multiple times about my own heritage and found that most people were a little unhappy with my response, as I said I was simply “American.” My family has been in the States for too long and too many generations for me to actually consider myself “German,” but there in New Zealand that connection was important and emphasized. I was extremely impressed with how important and celebrated diversity was in this small country.
I had many other memorable experiences while visiting New Zealand, including “tramping” through some beautiful hills and some of the most breathtaking scenery I have ever witnessed, visiting museums, visiting a real Maori village, going for a swing off the side of a mountain (at a theme park, safely strapped in!), touring a bird sanctuary, and even running a 10k through the city of Wellington. But I also enjoyed simply interacting with people on a daily basis, learning about how they lived their lives and what was important to them. These are the experiences I will treasure most from my trip.
In July 2019, I had the privilege of being selected to go to New Zealand for the Educator Exchange program with Tempe Sister Cities. When I first considered applying for this opportunity, I have to admit that I was apprehensive, as it sounded too good to be true.
After being notified that I would be traveling overseas during the summer, I had a mixture of feelings: excitement and nervousness. I was excited, as I would be able to participate in this amazing opportunity and truly be emerged in another culture and lifestyle, something, I had never been able to do up until this point. I was nervous, because I was scared and worried. I wondered if I would be homesick for my friends and family during my stay for almost a month, and I even wondered if I would get along with my host family. After many pep talks from past delegates and my family and friends and after months of planning later. my fears were put to rest. I was set to leave for NZ with my exchange partner.
Going to New Zealand was by far the best professional development and learning experience I have had as an educator. I would recommend it to anyone who is offered this opportunity. None of my previous travel experiences, which are extensive, can compare to the teacher exchange program. As I lived and worked side by side with a teacher from Lower Hutt, I was able to go to over eight schools and see a variety of teaching strategies, some of which I absolutely loved and am currently using. For example, I observed a primary school teacher relating events that interested her students while they were engaged in learning stations and interacting with their peers. I noticed that the students did more talking than she did. The students were constantly moving and engaging with one another, which I thought was wonderful, as lectures were not her “go-to” in teaching.
Among schools I visited were Fernlea, Wainuiomata Primary School, Hutt Secondary, The University, and an alternative placement for 9-12 students. Most of these resembled schools here in the states. Something that surprised me and that everyone seemed to respect, was tea time. It was comparable to recess, but the students played and went outside with limited adult supervision. In the states, we never leave all of our kids without the supervision of an adult. However, during the 15-20 minute tea time, the staff got together collectively and was able to team and chat while the students played outside with few disagreements. To me, it was amazing to see students play without needing an adult to intervene.
My stay in New Zealand was amazing, and many of my experiences are hard to put into words. In Taupo, I went on a luge, a ski lift and did bungee jumping. Meeting with the mayor of Lower Hutt was an honor, and shopping and dining were enjoyable. My stay at the home of my Kiwi partner teacher couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Kasey Bircham and her parents, brother and nephew welcomed me warmly and also introduced me to other extended family.
The educator exchange enabled me to be fully immersed in a cultural experience, something I had never done before. If you have a passion for education, learning, and traveling, this program is something I strongly encourage you to consider. I have made life long friends and family from this exchange and truly had a great time!
This experience showed me that regardless of where you are, kids are kids and want to learn and be taught. Other teachers experience many of the same struggles and questions I have as an educator as well. It was refreshing to be able to talk to students and teachers from a different background and to collaborate with them, as this is something we don’t always have time for in our home setting.
Being a part of the 2019 Educator Exchange program, I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but looking back, I see that it was much more than I had ever expected it would be. It all began the moment Jeffrey Shores and I arrived in Sweden, as my host Jessica Olofsson and Jeffrey’s host Johanna Soderblom were waiting for us in the airport with huge smiles. When I arrived at Jessica’s house, her husband Erick and son Love were ready to welcome me and gave me the tour of what would be my home for the following three weeks. Upstairs was where I would be staying, and it was absolutely perfect. Not to mention, they had a welcome basket full of goodies on my bed. It definitely felt like home.
My biggest take-away from this experience was the amount of freedom given to Swedish students. During recess they were able to play freely, including climbing trees and hiking in the forest, rain or shine. In addition, during lunch, students served themselves what they wanted along with what portion size they would like. After eating, students were responsible for taking their own tray, placing leftover food in the compost bag, putting dishes in their designated area to be washed, and finally grabbing a hand towel to clean their table. Although this doesn’t sound like a big deal, these types of things allow students to grow independently and take on situations without having to immediately look for adult support.
While staying in Sweden, I had the opportunity to celebrate their National Day. We attended a festival at a park where we listened to ABBA music played by a local high school band. Back at home, Jessica made us a Swedish meal with salmon, potatoes, caviar, and a homemade Swedish strawberry sponge cake. The meal was absolutely delicious.
Another event I greatly enjoyed was the graduation of Johanna’s sixth graders. This experience was very special. Each grade level was allotted an hour in their neighborhood church. Jeff and I walked with Johanna’s class from the school to the church where parents and other family members awaited the arrival of their children and followed them inside the church. In the church, the teachers gave each child a gift along with an award only after the students sang a variety of songs they had practiced all school year. The performances were very heart warming and you could really see the love between the teachers and their students.
Through this experience, I understand that kids are kids no matter where they are in the world, but I also see that giving students more opportunities to do things on their own expands their life skills as succeeding adults. Since being back in my classroom, I have learned to give my students more opportunities to be independent. Subsequently, I have noticed changes. Students tend to make the right choices the first time and seem more caring towards others while holding themselves responsible for all of their actions.
Not only did I learn a lot in the classrooms and from my traveling experiences in the various cities, but I also gained a loving family in Sweden. Jessica, Erick, and Love were more than welcoming and treated me as though I was part of their family. They took me to many family activities, including Fjallbacka where we enjoyed pastries from their family bakery, fished for mackerel, and hiked the top of the mountain to view the beautiful archipelago. I will never forget the views we saw at the top of the mountain. I look forward to the many other experiences that await my Swedish family and myself.
My host family consisted of Johanna, the teacher, and her husband, a computer programmer. Johanna had a higher salary. At the end of every year, teachers are required to sit down with their principal and negotiate their salary for the following year. When teachers are told they will make $45,000. They take home $45,000. The other items are worked out in addition to the actual salary. When it comes to Special Education services, the US is by far more supportive than Sweden for students with ADHD, students receiving resource services, and other less severe disabilities.
Other noticeable differences included small class sizes. Many classes were 15 students or less. In more populated areas class sizes were closer to 25. Students called teachers by their first name. Students cursed frequently. The cursing occurred in English.
The end of the school year includes a special ceremony in a large meeting area…often a church. Students are able to give speeches, tributes, showcase musical talents, and be recognized by their teachers and vice versa.
Sports are highly encouraged for youth. Sweden overall, appears to be a very active society. Fresh fruits and vegetables were available in all restaurants, school cafeterias, and at our family dinner table. Fast food was a rare sight. There were several McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Subways. However, there were pizza shops on every corner.
When in a different country, I try to eat their food and drink their drinks. High school students recommended Kabob Pizza. I ate it several times and also tried to recreate it at home. We also were treated to an early Mid-Summer’s Day lunch. This lunch consisted of a salad, tomato pie, pickled herring topped with potato, egg, chive, caviar, sour cream, and pickled onion. A strawberry shortcake was for desert. Schnapps, a chilled 40% alcohol spirit was the traditional drink.
I was asked how I felt about Donald Trump in every classroom. Many adults made comments as well. I was reminded by several Swedes that President Trump had made several false statements about their country.
We went on a day trip to the Western Coast of Sweden. We went to Fjällbacka to Jessica’s parents’ home. We went out on the boat and caught over 20 fish. Her father cleaned the fish and we had them for lunch.
We were in Stockholm and went to Mama Mia: the Party (an extension of Mama Mia). It was their 700th show and Bjorn the original member of Abba came out to celebrate the milestone.
Spending time with my family was a favorite. We went to the kids’ soccer games, ate meals together, watched world cup matches, went to festivals, witnessed my family vote in an election, and so many other things. My family lived near a picturesque, large lake. During my free time I would walk along the lake and the little town of Vänersborg.
We also took a day trip to Oslo, Norway (beautiful, but expensive), took a day trip and a canal cruise in Gothenburg, celebrated Sweden’s National Day, ate our first moose dinner (very tasty), went for a hike and fishing on the King’s mountain, attended a school play of Greece, and so much more.
In 1986, Tempe Sister Cities took possession of the Hackett House which was restored and is owned by the City of Tempe. Tempe Sister Cities, under the guidance of Jane Neuheisel, won a bid to the city for a plan to use the original bakery, and later home of Estelle Hackett, as a cooking school, gathering place, and educational venue. Preparation began for repurposing Tempe’s former bakery with a new paint job, wallpaper, sanded floors, and new cupboards.
Around 1988, in honor of the former bakery and of our new Sister City in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, the Hackett House team decided to institute High Tea in the 4 Friendship rooms (previously known as the “bake house” as that is where the original ovens for the bakery were located). Tables and chairs were purchased second hand and the same bentwood chairs and little square tables are still in use today. One of the first teas was attended by a group of Virginia Cresswell’s friends with a loan of her beautiful English bone china teacups. The set was later donated to the Hackett House by Virginia. Past chairs and important “tea personnel” are Barbara Colleary, the first chair; Jane’s mom – Verna Hagen – who laundered the linens into her 90’s; Sue Searcy – whose family recently donated cups, saucers and tea pots treasured by Sue; Donna Allen who ran the tea kitchen; Carol Walsh, Mary Thielemeier, Lois Standish, Mary Evans and many others. Currently our tea “force” consists of Cheryl Moritz and Lesa Emery-Mazzacavallo who work with various kitchen volunteers to create the wonderful delicacies enjoyed at the teas. Gail Ewen leads up the volunteers who organize the tables and tea cups. Marney Glancy, Piot Mudry, Roxanne Pazul, and Jean Peters set beautiful tables and centerpieces. Gwen Davis works with the National Charity League Mother/Daughter teams who volunteer the days of our teas.
Since the beginning, generations of “tea goers” have enjoyed delectable scones, dainty finger sandwiches, and desserts prepared by the in-house team of volunteers.
Meet two of the generations:
Heidi Ostroff’s Grandmother, Betty Parker, her daughters, Jana Ruth and Chris Rhees and her daughter-in-law, Donna Parker came to tea at the Hackett House shortly after the tea parties started. Betty was also a volunteer with Hackett House in the late 80’s and early 90’s. When granddaughter, Heidi, turned 9 or 10, she and her cousin, Erin Lillo were added to the party. Since that time, the family has lost Betty, Jana, and Chris. However, the tradition continues with Donna and the grandchildren and now great-grandchildren of Betty.
Sue Lofgren is a long-time member of Tempe Sister Cities. Sue was the country director for Timbuktu in Mali, West Africa for a number of years coordinating efforts for the humanitarian outreach such as digging wells, sending school and medical supplies. It was December 1997 that a Christmas tradition was born…the Lofgren Women’s Christmas Tea. Three daughters, a daughter-in-law, a mother-in-law, a granddaughter and Sue were the nucleus of the event. Over the years, the number expanded. There were new granddaughters-in law and more granddaughters who reached 18 years, the magic number when they are included at the tea. By 2019 the number had grown to 15 attending. It is the event of the year for the women, the real beginning of the Christmas season to which they all look forward to and make sure to attend.
HACKETT House continues with “Taking Tea” at the Hackett with its annual Nutcracker Children’s Tea, Christmas Tea, Valentine Tea, Spring Tea and Mother’s Day tea. In addition, a new tea was scheduled this year. In partnership with the Tempe Historical Society, Hackett House was set to host the Hayden’s Ferry Days Tea before it had to be cancelled (in addition to our Spring and Mother’s Day teas) due to concern over the corona virus. The Hackett House team will continue its now 32 year old tradition as it looks forward to next fall and a another year of new beginnings and honoring our past!
An international exchange organization that promotes understanding and education between Tempe and cities around the globe is under new leadership after nearly five decades.
Tempe Sister Cities, led by Dick Neuheisel for the last 49 years, is one of the city’s hallmark organizations. Tempe sends and/or receives ambassadors to 10 cities including Skopje, North Macedonia; Regensburg, Germany; Lower Hutt, New Zealand; Zhenjiang, China; Beaulieu Sur Mer, France; Carlow, Ireland; Cuenca, Ecuador; Trollhatten, Sweden; Cusco, Peru, and Timbuktu, Mali (receives only).
Neuheisel has experienced health issues over the past year and Tempe Sister Cities has elected a new president.
Through the years, Dick has traveled to each of the sister cities to witness firsthand the development of international friendships.
In a recent post, he said he believes in the hope of peace between nations that the organization promotes.
The U.S. Sister Cities organization was founded in 1956 as a response to the request of then- President Dwight D. Eisenhower for a people-to-people program that would help build peace between nations.
Tempe Sister Cities established its first international relationship in 1971 with Skopje, North Macedonia which in those days belonged to Yugoslavia, a communist city in Eastern Europe.
“This had never been done before,” Neuheisel said adding that the partnership between the two cities received national headlines and led to shock and disbelief.
“Looking back, it was this partnership that opened Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to the Sister City idea, and today there are scores of American cities twinned with cities in these areas,” Neuheisel said.
Doug Royse, who has served on the board of Tempe Sister Cities for the past 12 years and has volunteered at the organization’s signature fundraiser, Oktoberfest, for 20 years, said Neuheisel’s leadership was “innovative and outside-the-box,” among other accolades.
“He’s been a true leader in the community for many, many years,” Royse said, and past president of the National Sister Cities program in Washington DC.
Both Dick and his wife Jane were honored with Tempe’s prestigious Don Carlos Award in 2005 for their work.
Dick served on the Tempe City Council and has led the Tempe Sister Cities program alongside his longtime friend, Harry Mitchell, who helped him establish the organization.
Mitchell, a former U.S. congressman and Tempe mayor, still serves as vice president of Tempe Sister Cities. Dick has also been a longtime member of Tempe Kiwanis.
Tempe native Paul Sheard, a Corona del Sol High School grad, has been elected the new president of Tempe Sister Cities.
Presidents are elected for one year terms and may be re-elected. Sheard lauded Dick’s leadership and service through the years.
“Without his vision and leadership this organization wouldn’t be where it is today,” Sheard said.
“This year we will be at 971 students who we’ve sent abroad to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Without Dick’s leadership and his wife Jane and all of their volunteer hours, even people like myself wouldn’t have been able to travel.”
Sheard was a Tempe Sister Cities delegate to Zhenjiang, China in 2002.
“I think the biggest thing is it isn’t really a change in leadership as it is a continuing on a great tradition that he started,” Sheard said.
Tempe Sister Cities will celebrate its 50th year this coming December and Sheard says the Neuheisels will be honored for their leadership and service to the organization.
Additional information about Tempe Sister Cities can be found at: tempesistercities.org
Written by Joyce Coronel, Wrangler News
The TSC student exchange program is open to residents of the city of Tempe who are juniors during the 2018-2019 academic year. Learn more about whether or not you qualify for the program toward the bottom of this page.
Each student is matched with a family who is enthusiastic about cultural exchange and friendship-building.
Participants will move in with their new host sister or brother and experience all aspects of the culture first hand: family meals, chores, outings, traditions, parties, activities, responsibilities—You name it!
Tempe Sister Cities organization covers all of the travel expenses, and host families will provide housing. Students need to furnish their own spending money for their time abroad, and families should budget to host an extra teenager for five weeks in July and August.
Tempe Sister Cities will host fundraising events in collaboration with selected students’ parents to reduce the cost of hosting.
The second half of the summer is when our student delegates get to host their brother or sister in Arizona. The task is easier than it sounds because Arizona is like no place else on earth! Arizona is an international destination as evidence by the 43 million yearly visitors and healthy $21 billion dollar tourism industry. Your foreign brother or sister are excited to experience the United States, the southwest, and to experience everything that you show them.
The 2018/2019 Applications are due by December 28, 2018 at 5:00pm
The application process is straightforward and we encourage all interested and eligible high school juniors to apply. Application time periods are updated each Fall to allow students to plan for the process and submit their information timely.
Your first step will be to fill out the 2018/2019 Tempe Sister Cities Student Exchange Application and Information Forms.
Click here for the 2019 Student Selection Information & Application.
After reviewing your submission, we will contact you with information on participating in our group and one-on-one interview sessions.
Decisions are finalized by the Tempe Sister Cities Student Exchange Selection Committee and the students notified in March.
For more information, please contact our Tempe Sister Cities Summer Coordinator at [email protected] with any questions you may have or fill out the form below.
We look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions, please contact the TSC Selection Committee at the email address listed below:
