Northern California Chapter of Sister Cities International

2024 1st Quarter NorCal Chapter Board meeting
2024-01-20 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda, 94563, United States

Concord Ambassadors General Meeting
2024-01-18 18:30 - 19:30, 2023-12-21 18:30 - 19:30, 2023-11-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Concord City Hall – Garden Conference Room, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, CA, 94519, United States

Oakland-Fukuoka Sister City Association general meeting
2024-01-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-12-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-11-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
General meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month. All are welcome to attend!
To receive the Zoom meeting link, email ofsca1962@gmail.com.
This is an open meeting using the free Zoom video/audio meeting platform. No subscription is required, and Zoom is free to download for your desktop or mobile device, can be used with your device’s built-in microphone/camera, or can be joined via telephone call (audio only).

Sonoma Sister Cities Association Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
2024-01-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-12-18 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-11-20 18:00 - 19:30 | TBA

Sonoma-Kaniv Committee Meeting
2024-01-10 18:00 - 19:45, 2023-12-13 18:00 - 19:45, 2023-11-08 18:00 - 19:45 | Sonoma Library Meeting Room, 755 West Napa, Sonoma, CA, 95476, United States

Stockton Sister Cities Association Board Meeting
2024-01-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-12-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-11-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Valley Brew, 157 W Adams St., Stockton, CA, 95204, United States
First Thursday of the Month

Sonoma-Penglai Committee Meeting
2024-01-01 11:00 - 12:30, 2023-12-04 11:00 - 12:30, 2023-11-06 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual

Sister Cities of Fresno General Board Meeting
2023-12-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Pacific Southwest Building, 3rd Fl meeting room, 1060 Fulton St, Fresno, CA, 93721, United States
This is a general board meeting. Board meetings are open to the public.

Walnut Creek Sister Cities International Annual Holiday Party
2023-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 | TBA

Lodi Sister City Committee meeting
2023-11-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Lodi Japanese Community Hall, 210 E Elm St., Lodi, CA, 95240, United States

Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee meeting
2023-11-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
The purpose of the Committee is to encourage the people of Santa Cruz and its Sister Cities to understand one another as individuals, as members of their community, as citizens of their country, and as part of the family of nations.
Agendas and minutes

Walnut Creek Sister Cities International Board Meeting
2023-11-06 19:00 - 20:00 | TBA

Sonoma-Tokaj Sister Cities Committee presents: The Music of Zoltan Kodaly
2023-11-04 16:00 - 18:00 | Burlingame Hall, 252 West Spain St., Sonoma, CA, 95476, United States
Join us for a celebration of the Kodaly Method of music instruction, with performances. Teachers & students free – please register.

Sonoma-Tokaj Sister Cities Committee Presents The Music of Hungary – Zoltan Kodaly
Join us for an incredible afternoon of music as we celebrate the works of the legendary composer Zoltan Kodaly.
Immerse yourself in the rich and vibrant melodies that have captivated audiences for generations. Experience the beauty and passion of Hungarian music firsthand. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be transported to the heart of Hungary through the incredible compositions of Zoltan Kodaly.
Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable musical journey!
Featuring:

Janos Horvath, Prof. Emeritus University of Calgary and Kodaly Foundation for Music Education
Marni Strome, Graduate and Teacher
Young Musicians Chorus, Berkeley – conductor-teacher Betsy Martvit
Hyunjoo Chung, pianist

$20 donation. Free for students and teachers!
We’ll have complimentary light refreshments. $5.00 donation for local wines.
For tickets or more info, please register below. For more info, call 707-938-0224 or email sonomatokajsistercities@gmail.com

2023 4th Quarter NorCal Chapter Board Meeting / Annual Business Meeting
2023-10-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Lodi Japanese Community Hall, 210 E Elm St., Lodi, CA, 95240, United States
Northern California Chapter Sister Cities International quarterly board meeting, annual business meeting and elections.

Neighbors Abroad 60th Anniversary Party
2023-10-27 18:00 - 21:00 | Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, United States
Please join Neighbors Abroad to celebrate our 60th anniversary of cultivating Palo Alto’s Sister and Sibling City relationships.
The festive fundraising event will include a sensational silent auction, delectable international cuisine, and lively entertainment.
Proceeds benefit our service projects in Mexico and the Philippines, youth exchange programs, and other initiatives around the world and here at home.
For questions about the event or to donate a silent auction item, please email Neighbors Abroad president Sarah Burgess.

Advance tickets required: $100 per person (members) $125 per person (non-members)

Fresno International Transportation Innovations Summit: PEDAL 2023
2023-10-27 - 2023-10-28 | The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center, 848 M St, Fresno, CA, 93721, United States
The Fresno International Transportation Innovations Summit / PEDAL 2023 is a regional and international conference aimed at gathering transportation professionals, policymakers, and other active and multi-modal transportation proponents around the world to promote safe and sustainable transportation design, planning, and policy through urban diplomacy and continued partnership.
PEDAL 2023 Summit is sponsored by the City of Fresno, the Fresno State Transportation Institute, and the Fresno Sister Cities project in collaboration with the City of Münster (the “bicycle capital” of Germany) and other local community-based organizations such as the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition and US Green Building Council.
“PEDAL” was dubbed as this year’s focus, representing the region and international partners’ advancement of active transportation development through Planning, Education, Design, Advocacy, and Lifestyle (P.E.D.A.L.).

Discuss US – Vietnam Programs and Initiatives
2023-10-26 17:30 - 20:30 | Le Colonial Restaurant, 20 Cosmo Place, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States
For almost 30 years the San Francisco – Ho Chi Minh City Sister City Committee has been engaged in programs that have bought the peoples of the United States and Vietnam closer together in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation. These programs have been responsible for improving the quality of life for ordinary citizens of the city that was once named Saigon. Some of the forums and convention/trade shows have involved healthcare, economic and trade forums, biotechnology art, culture, transportation, urban planning and more.
At the present time the Committee is exploring the design, construction and operation of facilities related to the care of senior citizens and children. Another program that is being explored with a major international “donor”, is the examination and treatment of the vision of primary school children.
The Committee has been responsible for promoting the improvement of the air quality of Vietnam, and specially in in Ho Chi Minh City, assisting in the modernization and building the General Sciences Library in its Sister City, in cooperation with the San Francisco public library.
We are thankful to the citizens of the US, and in particular people from the San Francisco Bay Area for supporting these efforts. We are looking for more ideas as to how we can help the people of our Sister City and in general, the people of Vietnam to improve their lives.
Bring your ideas and suggestions to the meetup and share your ideas with people of like mind.
After the meeting enjoy exquisite Vietnamese cuisine prepared by Executive Chef, Geoffrey Deetz.
You may win a door prize
RSVP to sfhcmcscc@aol.com or by phone to 415-240-1551

54th Annual Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival
2023-10-22 17:30 - 20:30 | Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, CA, 94610, United States
Join Oaklanders under the moonlight for a traditional Japanese celebration of the Harvest Moon.
The Harvest moon is a symbol of blessing and abundance for many cultures. Similar to tea parties, these moon viewing parties are occasions for sharing food and stories while enjoying what is considered the most beautiful moon of the year.
Annually, several hundred people gather at Lake Merritt’s Lakeside Park Garden Center for the annual Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival. After an indoor program that typically includes martial arts demonstrations and Japanese drums, festival-goers walk to the lake to join astronomers and observe the powerful October new moon.
The Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association, whose mission is to promote “cultural awareness, understanding, and friendship” between Oakland and Fukuoka, Japan, organizes the annual festival.
Program
5:30 p.m. – Bonsai Garden & Bento Dinner*

Open House by the Golden State Bonsai Collection North 5:30-6:30 pm
Japanese “Bento” box dinners (sushi & skewered meats/fish) created by Musashi! of Berkeley. Vegetarian Bentos available upon request*
Come see our 60th anniversary mosaic mural (dedicated in 2022), the magnificent Torii Gate (dedicated in the Memory of the late Oakland Council Member Frank Ogawa 1917-1994) and 10 Japanese stone lanterns dedicated in honor of our 50th anniversary in 2012.

6:30 p.m. Entertainment

Diablo Taiko (Japanese drums)
Summer High School Exchange Ambassadors
Las Lomas High School Japanese language class

7:30 p.m. – Moon Viewing

Telescopic Viewing of the Moon and other celestial points of interest provided by the Eastbay Astronomical Society

*Pre-order your bento dinner
Regular (meat/fish included) or Vegetarian Bento are available. All dinners may contain or be exposed to egg, gluten, soy, or other allergens. We are not able to customize dinners beyond regular (contains meat/fish) and vegetarian (no meat/fish).
To reserve your Japanese bento dinner, you can pay by personal check (discounted) or PayPal (PayPal fee included in price).

Pay via personal check (by mail): Please send a $20 check for non-members ($17.00 for current members of OFSCA) payable to: OFSCA P.O. Box 13022, Oakland, CA 94661-3022.
Pay via Eventbrite (online): Pre-order your bento dinners using Eventbrite. Please note that Eventbrite charges an additional transaction fee for each order.

Deadline to reserve a dinner is Monday, October 16, 2023. Dinners will not be available for purchase at the event – pre-orders only!
The pickup time for bento dinners is 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the event. If you or your designated representative do not pick up your dinner(s) by 7 p.m., in person at the event, you may forfeit your meal. We are unable to offer on-site orders.
The deadline to order your bento dinner is October 16, 2023.
