The board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of most months at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Library-Maddy Room, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.
A Sister City relationship was initiated with Anjo, Japan in 1982 and the program officially incorporated in 1992. The Sister City Association of Huntington Beach is a nonprofit citizen-run organization, which successfully operates annual programs of international goodwill between Huntington Beach and Anjo, Japan. The sister city movement is an outgrowth of then President Dwight Eisenhower's People to People concept created in 1956.
The idea is that it is the interaction of people--not governments--of different countries and diverse cultures that can put the world on the path to enduring peace. The local Sister City Association has been involved in a variety of capacities, including the selection of Assistant English Teachers to teach in Japan, and exchanges of art and music. Recent program from Anjo include koto players, a dance group and taiko drum performers. Many Anjo adult delegations have visited Huntington Beach and a number of Huntington Beach individuals and several organized groups of local citizens have visited Anjo.
Annually, four high school students and a chaperone have participated in a 2-week reciprocal exchange with students in Anjo. Cultural and fun activities are enjoyed; a number of lifetime friendships have been formed, and the experience has made a dramatic impact on some of our students' lives. High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who either live in Huntington Beach or attend one of the five Huntington Beach Union High School District schools are eligible.
The Manly local government area is a unique location. Bounded by both an ocean beach and Sydney Harbour. It is located on Sydney's Northern Beaches between 8 and 17 kilometers north-east of Sydney. Manly is named after Manly Cove, which was named by Captain Arthur Phillip who was impressed by the confident and manly behavior of the male Aborigines he saw when he first visited the area in January 1788.
At the time of the 2006 Census, Manly was the 57th largest local government area in New South Wales, with some 37,112 usual residents.
Huntington Beach is Surf City, USA and is home to the US Open of Surfing. Likewise, Manly is known as Surf City, Australia and is home to the Australian Open of Surfing. Both cities became Sister Cities in 2012, and are deeply rooted in the surfing culture.
The Surfing Walk of Fame will be the primary interface with Manly. Our goals are to foster the surfing culture in our two Surf Cities.
Contact: 714-960-2892
www.surfingwalkoffame.com
Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
This annual festival in March, is a major fund raising effort for students exchange and international good will activities. In 2013, the Huntington Beach Cherry Blossom Festival was created by one of the student ambassadors as her Girl Scout Gold Award project after realizing the program was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding. The Huntington Beach Cherry Blossom Festival features Japanese dance, music, food, cultural exhibits, arts, crafts and games. The festival is advertised throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County and on social media and had attendance well over 5,000 with a delegation coming all the way from Japan for the event! For more information, please visit the Cherry Blossom Festival website at www.occbfest.com.
For information about the Sister City Program, contact Carmen Erber, [email protected] or 714-846-7685.
Board Members
Maureen Anzivino
Debbie Chiya, Treasurer
Dan Donati
Carmen Erber
Coco Hatano
Saundy Hill
Carol Hoke, Secretary
Kate Miller
Diane Mundo
Frank Nakabayashi, President
Sachiko Nakabayashi
Margaret Nerio
LeJarie Nogouchi
Council Liaisons
Casey McKeon
Gracey Van Der Mark
Staff Liaisons
Chris Cole
[email protected]
Molly Uemura
[email protected]