We will publish a newsletter every three months and will include publicity for the Lynchburg Alliance Francaise and the Lynchburg Dante Alighieri Society. Please submit information for the next issue (Summer 2002) to Craig Hove ( chove@framatech.com )

How Many Sister Cities Do We Have?

NO. 1. Officially (since July 3, 1996 in Rueil and September 22, 1996 in Lynchburg for the Proclamation signings), only Rueil-Malmaison, a Lynchburg-size community just outside of Paris and a former home of Napoleon and Josephine. Population is 65,000.

NO. 2. But we are working on a sister city in Italy -- Vicenza. With about 100,000 people, Vicenza, near Venice, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Treasure. Vicenza is noted for its Renaissance architecture. Its most famous architect, Andrea Palladio (1508 - 1580), influenced Thomas Jefferson who used the "Palladian" architectural style in his designs of Monticello and Poplar Forest. Lynchburg received a delegation of businessmen in October 2000 and Mayor Hutcherson invited the city to join Lynchburg in a sister city relationship. Board member Bert BERTOLOTTI is the sister city board liaison for Vicenza.

NO. 3. We are also working on a German sister city - Erlangen, in Bavaria, not far from Munich. This is a perfect fit for us since Siemens/Erlangen is a part of the Framatome ANP company here in Lynchburg. A delegation of businessmen from the Erlangen Rotary Club is scheduled to visit Lynchburg this summer. Board member Manfred Mibus is the board liaison for Erlangen.

Purposes of Our Sister City Program

Calling All Volunteers

We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers, so please tell us if you would like to be a member of the Hospitality, HOMESTAYS, Membership, Fine Arts, Business, Education, Sports, Cultural or Fundraising committee. If you would like more information about the rewarding experience of providing a homestay for visitors from our Sister Cities, please call Joan Sydnor at 384-7494.

Visitors From Rueil-Malmaison

In April, sixteen French visitors from our French sister city Rueil-Malmaison spent a week in Lynchburg. Many thanks to Adgie Dirom who coordinated the events for the week with the skillful planning of homestays and events of Joan Sydnor and Ann Hill Echols.

Ellen Rowlson-Hall coordinated the educational meetings for the teachers who came from Rueil: Armel Aubreton and Jacques Apchie. The teachers who participated on Ellen's committee were Sue Raymond, Michelle Gabathuler, Glenda Cash, Betsy Jones, Jocelyn Frazier and Julia Campbell). Merci to all of you and we look forward to seeing some educational exchanges on the high school level in the very near future.

American Style Cookout at Home of Bob and Joan Sydnor/ Sunday April 15
Board member Joan Sydnor and long time friend and supporter of the sister city program, Ann Hill Echols hosted (along with Bob Sydnor and Gordon Echols) a wonderful luncheon for the French guest and their home stay hosts at Joan and Bob's home. Afterwards may of the visitors went to the Celtic Festival at Sedalia Center as guests of the Center.

Garden Dinner at Bill and Martha Goodman's Monday April 16
Thanks also to Board Vice President David and Carol Bowen and Martha and Bill Goodman (past Vice President) for hosting a dinner for the visitors on Monday April 15.

Reception honoring Educators from Rueil and Lynchburg/ Tuesday April 16
The Sister City Board hosted a reception for the teachers and the "Friends of Sister City " from Rueil-Malmaison at the home of Board President Frank Britt. Guests included Mayor Carl Hutcherson, Honorary Chair of Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus; Ellen Rowlson-Hall, chairman of the committee of area French teachers for the French visit; all the home stay host families, and Sister City Board members. Mayor Hutcherson praised the works of the Sister City program for working so hard on this exchange of teacher and friend form our sister city.

French Feast ( Bonne Soiree ) at Main Street Eatery/ Tuesday April 16
Two excellent chefs, Jean-Pierre Marton and Yann Rouzeval (son of Claudie Rouzeval, the head of the sister city programs in the Rueil city government) were among the visitors in April. They exhibited their talents and helped the Charles Church Scholarship Fund (see below) by cooking an elegant four course French dinner at Main Street Eatery in downtown Lynchburg. [Editor's note: I am not a fan of liver, but the "terrine de foies de volailles" course was especially excellent!] Thanks to Board member Michelle Gabathuler and her husband Urs, owners of The Main Street Eatery

Here are some comments about the visit from the host families:

Ginny Haskins:
"Our visitor Arnel Aubreton was fascinated by the stretch limousine that took our daughter and her date to the prom. She took many pictures of it. [Imagine trying to park it in Europe! - Editor]. Arnel, an English teacher in Rueil, fit in like a member of our family. Arnel was a godsend to our daughter who is interested in everything French."

Bernie Davis:
"Jacques Apchie is the equivalent of a high school principal, and he and his wife visited my wife's 'English as a Second Language' class at Tomahawk. The kids ranged from pre-school to 4th grade and are mostly Koreans. My wife had asked the kids to think about words in French that they would like to learn from the visitors. The visitors pronounced and wrote the words for the kids, some of whom had not forgotten them several days later."

Bev Hopkins:
"Madame Baumel [wife of the mayor of Rueil] stayed with us. She is an elegant lady who nevertheless appreciates a bargain in clothing. We took her shopping at Goody's and she got her summer wardrobe there. She also appreciates the clean air here."

Therese Namenek:
"My guests, Andre and Madeleine Pelvet, fit in so well that they forgot that I am French myself !