Eugene weekly., May 14, 2015, Page 9, Image 9

EUGENE SISTER CITY PROGRAM
SUFFERS FROM BUDGET CUTS
UPCOMING
TRAININGS:
The April 25 earthquake that struck near Kathmandu, Nepal, followed by a second earth-
quake near Mount Everest on May 12, brought the tiny South Asian country to the forefront
of the national conscience and brought out Eugene’s generous donors.
Eugene has had special ties to Kathmandu since 1975, when the two cities partnered
through Sister Cities International. Recent confusion over the nonprofit status of Eugene-
Kathmandu Sister City Association, which was accepting donations through the Kathmandu
Relief website, has called attention to the sister city program and its lack of funding.
Although the Eugene City Council recently voted to donate $50,000 for disaster relief to
Kathmandu, the sister city program itself has witnessed a series of budget cuts since 2002,
when Eugene “drastically” reduced funding for the program, according to Ki-Won Rhew,
president of the Eugene Sister City Organization. Since that time, the program has relied on
fundraising to supplement the costs of travel and communication.
Eugene has three other sister cities: Kakegawa, Japan; Jinju, South Korea; and Irkutsk,
Russia. Every sister city has a committee, comprised of volunteers, that facilitates exchanges
of delegates between the cities.
According to a 2015 report from the Eugene Kakegawa Sister City Committee, the city
allocated $2,500 for the 2014-15 year. In past years, the report says, the city has allocated
$7,000 per year, and the committee had set a budget of $4,865 for 2014-15.
“Our budget for the normal year predicts $2,750 in costs to host the Inbound Adult Del-
egation,” the report says. “So total funding of $2,500 isn’t adequate to act as official hosts
during the normal year.”
But this isn’t a normal year. On May 27, the mayor of Kakegawa and his wife are sched-
uled to visit Eugene in a tour of the city, including a visit to Shasta Middle School, which has
a sister school relationship with Japan’s Kakegawa North.
Because sister city mayors rarely
visit, “this visit with the mayor is a
special occasion,” says James Kne-
pler, president of the Eugene Kakeg-
awa Sister City Committee.
The visit also necessitates greater
funding, according to the 2015 report:
“We do need to offer this group a fit-
ting level of courtesy. Those who have
been delegates to Japan will attest that
the Eugene delegates are treated royal-
ly. We should, as a city, try to sincerely
— JAMES KNEPLER, PRESIDENT OF
reciprocate if at all possible.”
THE EUGENE KAKEGAWA
Generally, the delegates are just
SISTER CITY COMMITTEE
people interested in experiencing a
different culture firsthand. “This may-
or is really interested in cross-cultural
education and wants to send kids to
Eugene for immersion,” Knepler says.
He adds that those involved in the sister city program are making do and appreciate Eu-
gene’s ongoing support of the program.
The Eugene Kathmandu Sister City Association (EKSCA) has also felt the impact of
funding reduction, which was tied to the temporary loss of tax-exempt status. Delegates vis-
ited Kathmandu in 2000 but didn’t visit again until 2014, says Dennis Ramsey, president of
EKSCA.
Kathmandu Relief reports on its website that the sister city organization’s tax-exempt
status is being reinstated and all donations will go directly to Kathmandu relief efforts. It has
raised more than $20,000 and has a goal of $100,000. — Mike Bivins
Because sister
city mayors rarely
visit, ‘this visit with
the mayor is a
special occasion.’
Eugene
Mon., May 18 th - 5 :30 pm
Eugene Public Library
~ Singer Rm ~
100 W 10th Ave.
Strategies for Working with
Opioid Users
May 15,* 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
White Stag Block, Portland, OR
Peer Support Specialist
(Adult Mental Health)
May 8-10 and 16-17, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Baker Downtown Center, Eugene, OR
Cross-Cultural Communication
May 29,* 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bend Center, Bend, OR
Vicarious Trauma, Burnout,
and the Need for Self-Care
June 4,* 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Baker Downtown Center, Eugene, OR
SAPP Professional Development
offers learner-centered,
outcomes-focused education
for today’s behavioral health
professionals.
For more information and
schedule, please visit:
http://sapppro.uoregon.edu
or call 800-824-2714.
Integration Skills for
Behavioral Health Providers
June 10,* 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
White Stag Block, Portland, OR
Youth Mental Health First Aid
June 19, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Baker Downtown Center, Eugene, OR
* Save $$ with early bird registration.
See website for details.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
EUGENE • PORTLAND • BEND
EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity. © 2015 University of Oregon. AE 10265
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