 | | | | Dean Kleinsorge Returns from Official Delegation to Uzhgorod, UkraineJon Nelson, Corvallis City Manager and Dr. Ilene K. Kleinsorge, Dean of the College of Business at Oregon State University returned on Sunday, May 23rd from an official Corvallis Sister City Association (CSCA) delegation visit to Corvallis' sister city, Uzhgorod, Ukraine.
The City of Uzhgorod and the Uzhgorod Sister City Association hosted the delegation. Activities included numerous meetings with various officials, groups and organizations including government, business and industry and higher education. The delegation also attended several cultural events and toured the local area's many historical sites and museums.
Nelson spent a great deal of time learning about the operations of the City of Uzhgorod, how it interacts with regional and state governments and the role of citizens in Uzhgorod government. Kliensorge, met with Uzhgorod State University faculty and administrators, made contact with local business development organizations and toured several Uzhgorod companies.
While in Uzhgorod the also delegation conducted an assessment related to "transparency in local government and business" as part of a $5,000 grant CSCA is receiving from Sister City International. The assessment looked at three potential project areas: 1.) Activities to encourage citizen involvement and participation in Uzhgorod City Government 2.) Creation of a Western business ethics course for business management students. 3.) Development of a voluntary business code of conduct to administered by local business organizations in Uzhgorod.
The majority of the $5,000 in grant funds would be used for transportation costs to bring a three-member Uzhgorod team to Corvallis to study transparency issues. The team would include a representative from the City of Uzhgorod, a business management educator and a business development official.
When asked to comment on the trip, Nelson thanked the Corvallis Sister Cities Association for the opportunity to represent Corvallis, along with Dr. Ilene Kleinsorge, on the Transparency Project Grant visit to Uzhgorod. Nelson said, "After 11 years of receiving Uzhgorod visitors in Corvallis, the trip put into context for me the challenges the citizens and elected officials face in their City. Uzhgorod's city government, business community, and non-profits are especially appreciative of the good works of the Corvallis Sister Cities Association and all that they do for Uzhgorod." Nelson also stated that he looks forward to exploring continuing partnerships with Uzhgorod on city related issues and services.
Kleinsorge also offered her observations on the trip. "It was a privilege to be part of the Sister City exchange with Uzhgorod that focused on business transparency. As I visited Uzhgorod businesses and listened to Ukrainian business people and educators, I was impressed by their level of interest to understand European and American business models, while struggling with a new democracy and the notion of free enterprise. People in both government and the business community agreed on the important role education plays in their efforts for economic development and citizen participation. Through the Sister City Association, Uzhgorod citizens benefit from exploring ways other countries do business. As they bring back ideas, it helps them further develop their own business systems."
Corvallis Sister Cities Association is a volunteer operated, non-profit organization whose mission is the development and enrichment of relationships between the citizens and organizations of Corvallis, Oregon - USA and Uzhgorod, Ukraine. CSCA works to foster understanding and friendships, provide and expand cultural experiences, develop and support citizen leadership, and enhance social and economic conditions for the citizens, families, organizations, businesses, and the government of the two cities.
Previous activities between the two cities have included numerous adult and youth "citizen exchanges"; introduction of the concept of "family medicine" to the Transcarpathian region via a million dollar grant; development of an orphan sponsorship program that serves over 300 children; an ongoing disabilities program which created numerous sports, recreation, and education opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as equipment and training for therapists; a women's neighborhood networking project that created a city-wide emergency preparedness system; a project to begin replacement of the aging water infrastructure in the city; economic and tourism development and four major medical shipments to Uzhgorod.
Source:
Pete Bober, Corvallis Sister City Association, boberp@peak.org, http://www.sistercities.corvallis.or.us
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