2004 Press Releases
Perm delegation in Louisville with Mayor Abramson at Sister Cities Summit-2004
September 12, 2004
39 participants from Perm took part in it (it was the largest delegation). All in all 7 Louisville’s Sister Cities participated (Montpellier, Meinz, Quito, Tamale, Jujang, Leeds)
The program was organized for 5 sessions (tracks):
- City Administration
- Economic Development
- Education
- Health and Medicine
- Arts and Culture, Tourism
The most successful sessions for the Perm group were: City Administration, Arts and Culture, Education.
In general: people learnt a lot, discussed a lot, made good friends with their hosts. Round table talk with the Mayors was very useful, as well as Mayor Abramson’s “questions and answers” talk on city management and finance. Deputy Mayor Malyshev had extra-itinerary meetings on Public Works, Waste Management, city finance. His department is now studying the materials got from this Cabinet.
Educators of Perm (4 people) were literally happy. They discussed really significant issues on reforming education system and made a lot of useful conclusions, established good contacts for the future.
Arts and Culture session have discussed the directions of further cooperation (exchange of watercolor exhibitions, participation in St James Court Art Show etc. and are working on them now.
The presentation of Louisville made by Mayor Abramson was a real sample of a perfect presentation. It was obvious that the Mayor in Louisville is a political “engine” of Sister Cities Link.
Tim Honey, executive director of Sister Cities International made the best report on working with international mayors and municipalities I ever heard. It was very well theoretically based, with a very deep concept, clear objectives and vivid examples.
Ceremony of Remembrance on the 11th of September was very touching and solemn. Being very formal on the one hand, it definitely reached the hearts of the participants, especially those form Russia.
Louisville unveiled Sister Cities’ sign where all the Sister Cities are marked with the mileage of the distance from Louisville.
Of course a lot of opportunities were given to the participants to visit the sights of Louisville and cultural events. (Fanfara Festival, Perm Sister City Reception, Kentucky Derby Museum, evening cruise up the Ohio river on the Belle of Louisville, birthday party for King Louis XIV, walking history tours, City tour, etc)
Perm presented an exhibition of photos, of children’s artwork, exhibition of collection dolls made by Perm artist Natalia Minayeva.)
Half of the Perm group stayed with host families and it was another opportunity to strengthen friendship. Most of the delegates financed their trip to Louisville themselves.
Regrets: Mayor Kamenev and Mrs. Kamenev had to cancel their visit because of the known events in the beginning of September in Russia but the Mayor received a full report on the Summit
