January 2022, FHSC elected its new officers: President-Christine Colley, Vice President-Elizabeth Horchem, Treasurer-Chandra Merica, Secretary-Lisa Ristuccia along with numerous other director positions.
April 2022, FHSC and the City of Fountain Hills co-hosted the annual Arizona Sister Cities Conference in the newly renovated FH Community Center. 54 Sister City representatives from around the state experienced a day of interesting and educational presentations about the many valuable Sister City relationships in Arizona. More than $4400 was contributed by generous conference attendees to the FHSC Ukraine-Zamosc Refugee Aid Program. In all, the 13 Arizona Sister City Chapters around the state maintain partner city agreements with 57 international Sister Cities and the list grows every year.
November 2022, FHSC and the city of FH severed the partnership agreement with former Sister City Kasterlee, Belgium due to inactivity and a loss of bi-lateral commitment. 2023 will see FHSC explore new options for a replacement to Kasterlee. Our other Sister City relationships remain strong due the commitments of FH residents and FHSC participants like Enrique Melendez for Ataco (Honorary Consul to El Salvador), Christine Colley for Dierdorf (President of FHSC), and Bogumil Horchem for Zamosc (Honorary Consul to Poland), whose wife Elizabeth was born in Zamosc.
December 2022, FHSC released its new website, with new information and tools, FountainHillsSisterCities.Org
February 2022, FHSC sent $3000 in donations to Sister City Ataco, El Salvador to provide disaster relief for severe flooding that damaged their municipal water and sewer systems.
March 2022, FHSC sent $13,450 in donations to Sister City Zamosc, Poland to provide humanitarian relief for the thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Poland from the Russian invasion. The funds went directly to help with food, shelter, clothing, medical supplies, and educational assistance for the displaced families.
April 2022, FHSC sent another $14,200 in donations to Zamosc to help with the ever-growing Ukranian refugee crisis. Our efforts were achieved with the generous support of the greater Fountain Hills community. FHSC gives special thanks to Merita with Euro Pizza Cafe who sponsored a public fund-raising event to enhance local awareness of the situation in Ukraine and the help given by Sister City Zamosc .
July 2022, FHSC maintained a steady community outreach program on the worsening Ukranian refugee situation in Zamosc, and sent yet another $11,525 in donations to assist.
September 2022, FHSC participated in Oktoberfest at the Fountain which celebrated German culture, history, and cuisine. German Strudel, made right here in FH by Jennifer with Mountain View Kitchen, was sold by FHSC at the event and was a resounding success thanks to our incredible community of volunteers assisted by student members of The Inspiration Academy. FHSC netted nearly $1000 in profits on Strudel sales. In addition, a private collection of artisanal beer mugs donated by FHSC member Jackie Miles, was sold during the festival with nearly $900 in proceeds going directly to our Ukraine-Zamosc refugee relief program. The FHSC team were fortunate again this year to share tent space with our gracious host Phil with Phil’s Filling Station. We look forward to participating again in next year’s celebration.
January 2022, FHSC Student Exchange Representative Michal Suchanek completed a US State Department internship resulting from his connections and guidance from previous years of FHSC participation.
May 2022, FHSC Student Exchange Representative Michal Suchanek completed a NASA internship, which solidified his interest in International Finance and Diplomacy. He now attends coursework at ASU Barrett Honors College with an expected graduation date of May 2023. FHSC is proud to have been part of propelling Michal toward a life of international participation. We look forward to great things from Michal!
July 2022, FHSC began plans with Fountain Hills High School educators to rekindle participation in student exchanges after a long hiatus due to Covid. In 2023, Fountain Hills students will depart in the spring for Dierdorf Germany, and the German students will arrive here in Fountain Hills in the fall. Student exchanges to and from Zamosc Poland will take place in 2024. The schools themselves manage and coordinate the exchanges themselves but FHSC maintains a commitment to help finance the programs that make the visits a memorable experience or students, parents, and educators alike.
November 2022, FHSC donated $1000 to The Inspiration Academy for their educational trip to Washington DC. FHSC members also contributed. The students returned excited and thankful for the opportunity and the experience to see key elements of our nation’s system of civics in action.
November 2022, FHSC donated $1000 to the Fountain Hills Parent-Teacher Organization to help support and promote the Fountain High School Student Exchange experience.
Richard Nueheisel, John and Linda Kavanaugh, Jean Linzer, Jackie Miles, Grady Miller, Gerald and Mary Comeau, Fred and Barb Hansen, Estelle Mackey, Bogumil Horchem and Elizabeth Matej-Horchem, James L and Wendy Wilson, Christine Colley, Chandra Merica
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High school students can apply by April 17 for the Global Ties Arizona 2023 Summer Young Diplomats Program, to be held June 12 to June 16.
Fountain Hills Sister Cities wraps up another quarter of successful international activities here locally and with its partner cities.
The competition among Sister City Zamosc students, aims to showcase detailed knowledge of the U.S. and promote English language proficiency among Poland’s youth.
