Newsleter 2-1

SISTER CITY OF LYNCHBURG-PLUS NEWSLETTER INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF AMHERST, APPOMATTOX, BEDFORD AND CAMPBELL P.O. BOX 3140, LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24503
Volume 5, Issue 1	Winter, 2005
Riverviews to exhibit Sister Cities International Young Artist 2004 Competition winners.
Since 1988, the Sister Cities International Annual Young Artists Competition has engaged youth with the sister city mission to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. Young artists from around the world, ages 13 through 18, use their imagination to express their concept of the sister city mission through the competition’s yearly theme. The theme for the 2004 Young Artists Competition is "Coming Together to Build a Better World." Communities who are members of Sister Cities International may submit one piece of artwork by a local young artist and another from each sister city abroad. A panel of judges selects the winners based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation. Each year ten winners are selected and awarded a cash prize. The winning artwork goes on a one-year tour, with the tour kicking off at the Sister Cities International Annual Conference in July. Riverviews Artspace will be exhibiting the artwork in their gallery in downtown Lynchburg from January 27 through February 11, 2005. A special opening event is scheduled at Riverviews Artspace for February 4. All Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus members are invited.
Join us at Riverviews, Feb. 4 for a reception. This is a wonderful opportunity to support Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus and the Young Artists exhibit.

A November visit to Lynchburg's French Sister City. By Thérèse Namenek Late November, Maryvonne LaParliere, Adgie and Alex Dirom visited our sister city of Rueil-Malmaison. Their visit was short and filled with an amazing variety of activities. Among the highlights the "banquet des Auvergnats" with its delicious and abundant food followed by a lively dance performance, visit of many of the Rueil landmarks- the Chateau de Malmaison, the American cemetery, the old church and the banks of the Seine river, made famous by the turn of the century impressionists painters. Most importantly and beyond these interesting site visits, it was the friends they met- or met again-, the hospitality they received from Andre and Madeleine Pelvet, their hosts, the home cooked meal at Claudie and Jo Rouzeval's (Claudie has the deserved reputation of being a great chef), the sister city banquet "arrose de champagne", etc... And they were honored to meet Rueil-Malmaison's new mayor, Monsieur Patrick Ollier, who expressed his hope for a future visit to Lynchburg. They returned from their visit feeling blessed and excited to have had the opportunity to do so much in so little time, and to have met so many friends that feel like family. They look forward to the next year with the hope that they be able to host our sister city visitors with the same warmth and generosity offered them. And we know how to do that!
From left: Alex Dirom, Adgie Dirom, Maryvonne Laparlière, Patrick Ollier (Mayor of Rueil-Malmaison), and Claudie Rouzeval enjoy an evening together.

Sister City French Christmas tree is decorated for benefit. Sister City Lynchburg - Plus contributed a decorated tree to the 2nd annual Festival of Trees held at the Villa Maria from November 19 through 21. Maryvonne Laparlière, SCL-P board member, chose the decorations to create a traditional French Christmas tree. Maryvonne decorated the tree with the help of Angela Mibus and Mary Babbitt. The Sister City tree, along with others contributed to the event, were auctioned off with the procedes benefiting Amazement Square and the Rotary Club of Forest. Plans are already underway to contribute a tree again next year with German style decorations to honor our new friends in Glauchau, Germany.

Our very own Maryvonne is honored by the U.S. Capitol for her artistic talent. by Christine Kennedy Board member of Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus, Maryvonne Laparlière, has brought Virginia some national recognition. The U.S. Capitol's Christmas Tree on the lawn of the White House will be adorned with a hand painted ornament crafted by Laparliere. Organized by the Department of Tourism in Orange County, the theme for this year's tree is the History of Virginia. Laparlière, who owns an art gallery in Charlottesville and is a native of our Sister City Rueil-Malmaison, France created a colonial Williamsburg fruits cone ornament for the tree. Laparlière's father was Mayor or Rueil-Malmaison following WWII and her mother was head of social services. She says that since then "I have always been involved with the sister city, directly and indirectly." She has served on the Lynchburg board since 2003.

Board Members gather for state-wide meeting. by Christine Kennedy Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus and its regional program has been represented on both the state and national levels in the past month. Board members Mary Babbitt and Frank Britt traveled to Richmond on Saturday, November 13 to share and learn best practices with over 10 other Sister City programs across the state as well as with the president of Sister City International, Tim Honey. Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus was formed in 1996 to create strong relationships and promote and coordinate international exchanges to bring about cultural awareness and business development. Sister Cities International provides opportunities for people of different cultures to learn about each other - at a time when learning to live together has never been more crucial. Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus has enriched the lives of people in the region through exchanges in business, education, the arts and sports.

Best wishes to the Smallshaw family! Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus Vice-President, Mari Smallshaw welcomes a new addition to the family. James Bowers Smallshaw was born Wednesday, November 3rd, 2004.	IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR IN-KIND DONATIONS: Britt Marketing MSS Digital Print Randolph-Macon Woman's College Rose Computer Tom Sparhawk Webb Graphics Robert & Diane Garber

Calendar of Events January 27 - February 11 Sister Cities International Young Artists Annual Competition Exhibit of 2004 winners. Riverviews Artspace, 52 Ninth Street - Lynchburg The work of young artists from all over the world will be featured as part of this traveling exhibit. The theme of the 2004 competition is "Coming Together To Build A Better World". We hope someday to see the work of Lynchburg artists included in the winners' exhibit! Friday, February 4, 5:00-7:00 PM RIVERVIEWS' EXHIBIT OPENING EVENT Let's turn out in force to support and enjoy this special exhibit done in honor of Sister Cities across the world. TUESDAY, February 8 MARDI GRAS Home of Terry and Mary Babbitt Alliance Francaise will celebrate Mardi Gras with traditional King Cake, crepes, & other French delights. For more info, contact Angela Mibus, mmibus@aol.com. Monday, February 21, 5:30 PM BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING Fitzgerald Room, Main Hall Randolph-Macon Woman's College SATURDAY, March 5, evening DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY WINE TASTING Vine Wine Merchants, 3225 Old Forest Rd., Lynchburg REMEMBER TO RENEW YOUR SISTER CITY OF LYNCHBURG-PLUS MEMBERSHIP! We count on your continued support.

We publish quarterly and will include publicity for the Lynchburg Alliance Francaise and the Lynchburg Dante Alighieri Society. Please submit information for the next issue to Craig Hove ( chove@framatech.com )