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Shaoxing delegation visits Jacksonville
A special thanks is extended to China Committee Vice President Diane Yao for organizing the March 2 delegation of visitors from Shaoxing, China. The visit went very well and helps to continue JSCA's strong relationship with this Friendship City in China. |
| WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! |
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Mr. Gerald Marterer and family |
| JSCA's Port Elizabeth Committee seeks grant
JSCA extends its best wishes to the PE Committee, which is submitting a grant application to be funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Grant Foundation.
The multi-million dollar grant program is offered by Sister Cities International's Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP), a three-year project to alleviate poverty in 25 African cities through water, health and sanitation
initiatives led by U.S. and African sister city programs.
Grant awards will be announced on April 1, so we'll know soon if the PE application is accepted.
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JSCA celebrates Nantes' 25th anniversary
 During a reception held in March to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Nantes and Jacksonville, Mayor John Peyton (above, left) watches as JSCA Nantes Co-Chair Francis Boyer translates for Rachel Bocher, Deputy Mayor for Tourism in Nantes (France). JSCA President Lad Daniels (right) watches the proceedings.
JSCA celebrated the anniversary with a host of activities in Jacksonville shared by JSCA members, special guests and a delegation from Nantes. In addition to Deputy Mayor Bocher, the Nantes delegation included members of the Nantes' cultural community, as well as eight high school students who were on an exchange program. On the business and maritime aspects of the visit, the delegation was jointly organized with the overseas economic liaison of the Committee in Nantes, Annick Scott.
The visitors toured Kingsley Plantation, Ft. Caroline National Memorial, UNF, the Cummer Museum and Gardens, and the La Villa Museum; met with representatives of the City of Jacksonville, Visit Jacksonville, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and JAXPORT; attended a City Hall ceremony where several Jacksonville WWII veterans were presented the Legion of Honor medal; and enjoyed a reception and dinner at Epping Forest Yacht Club, where Mayor John Peyton helped to commemorate the twinning. The group pledged to continue its strong relationship with Jacksonville - and to look for new business opportunities, particularly those presented by our respective ports.
Special thanks to Tim Robinson, and Nantes Co-Chairs Francis Boyer and Joanne Davis for arranging details of the visit. |
Masan students enjoy Jacksonville
Fifteen middle school students and two chaperones from Masan recently visited Jacksonville for two weeks, enjoying a rich immersion into the area.
The group enjoyed visits to the Jacksonville Mayor's office, Florida State College, St. Augustine, local malls, Disney World and Kennedy Space Center, and classroom time at Stanton High School, Beauclerc Elementary School, Douglas Anderson High School, Manadarin Elementary School, Rufus Payne Elemetnary School, LaVilla Middle School, Peterson Academy, and James Weldon Middle School.
Special thanks to Masan Commitee VP Shung Kim for working hard to make this special visit a success!
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Bahia Blanca students visit Jacksonville 
The Bahia Blanca (Argentina) Committee recently hosted two student exchange groups from Bahia Blanca: one group of students visited Jacksonville for two weeks and the other group stayed for three weeks. This continues a long tradition, as the two cities have enjoyed student exchanges for some 40 years.
One group of 10 students and a chaperone arrived on January 30th and departed on February 19th. While here, the students attended classes at Fletcher Senior High School with their host brother or sister; visited Sally Industries, gave several presentations at middle schools; visited the School Board where they discussed educational differences with the Superintendent; and presented Mayor John Peyton's representative with a gift from their Mayor.
They also visited St. Augustine and area outlet malls and traveled to Crystal Rver to swim with the manatees. Ice skating and bowling were also enjoyed by all. After a tearful farewell party, the students left for a week at Disney before returning to Argentina.
Another group of 10 students visited Jacksonville for about two weeks in Jacksonville, visiting Mandarin High School and enjoying all that Jacksonville has to offer. Both groups had a wonderful time.
A special thanks to Alice Hill, a Spanish teacher at Fletcher High School and long-time Bahia Blanca Committee Member. She has been in charge of the Bahia Blanca Student Exchange for more than 20 years, and she has been instrumental in continuous improvement and success of this exchange program. |
Jacksonville City Council recognizes Nancy Olson
 Jacksonville City Council Member Stephen Joost presents a City Council resolution honoring Nancy Olson to Pauli Kirby, a local cousin of Nancy.
The resolution honors Nancy and her many years of dedicated service to the City of Jacksonville, including her work to foster positive diplomatic relations between Jacksonville and people around the world.
Nancy, who died in September after suffering a stroke, was a strong advocate of JSCA. Her many friends remember her with great fondness. | |
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Ideas for the newsletter?
If you have any comments about the newsletter or would like to see a photo or story in a future edition, please contact Robert Peek at [email protected] or phone (904) 357-3047.
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