Anacortes Sister Cities Association

From the President

By Duane Clark

An ASCA Sensational Summer

I keep thinking that this ASCA stuff just can't get any better. Then I find out that it does.

The summer of 2005 will no doubt go down as the most stimulating, rewarding, challenging and meaningful ASCA summer yet. Think of it, we enjoyed major events with all four of our Sister Cities within a period of two and one-half months. Is it any wonder we are exhausted?

And if all we did was to have a great time, that would be one thing. In addition to that, during that time we did just what ASCA was designed to do. We were brought closer to these various cultures and to the people that we've come to love. We've opened our homes and hearts (and pocketbooks) because we really do believe that folks who eat at the same table and sleep in the same home cannot help but have love and respect for each other. And we've learned, as our Mayor, Dean Maxwell, has said on several occasions that we are really all very much alike and want the same things, most importantly, peace.

In a nutshell (a large one), the summer of 2005 was made up of:

1. 2005 ASCA Golf Tournament— Thanks to the hard work of a number of folks, on the Golf Tournament Committee and other volunteers, ASCA realized a profit of over $10,000. That was not unexpected (it was, after all, our goal), but was very rewarding nonetheless. We have already done a great deal of the groundwork for next year and we expect an even higher return on our efforts.

2. Sidney and Anacortes Parades— The exchange of Sister Cities folks to the parades of Sidney and Anacortes is developing into quite a tradition. Add to that the Town Crier competition and the renewed energy in the Sidney organi­zation and you have every reason to believe that our relationship will continue to grow and thrive. Judy and her gang are to be commended.

3.  Kisakata Students and Adults— Who will forget all of the enjoyment that these folks brought our way, including arts festival demon­strations of the traditional tea ceremony and calli­graphy. The unique hospitality that our Japanese guests bring with them is a marvelous thing. I'm always amazed by (and usually a step or two behind) the friendliness and talent that is shared with us. Cora, Anne and their gang are to be commended.

4.  Vela Luka Students— Like our other visitors, Anita and Petra were wonderful ambas­sadors for their home country. And like our other visitors, we have fond memories of their visit that will last a good while, and we look forward to visiting them in their homes, in their land. Nikki and her gang are to be commended.

5. Ten Adult Guests from Lomonosov — full of delightful events and visits and dinners and dances and gifts. The fact that nine of the ten Russian guests had never been to Anacortes only made their visit more special. Dealing with the various levels of proficiency with the English language just added to the delight of this visit. Suzanne and her gang are to be commended.

6. ASCA Cookbook— This fundraiser has turned out to be much more than that. Aside from the fact that the artwork is beautiful and extra information is included, the collection of menus is just as culturally diverse, and their gang is to be commended.

Like I said, it's been busy, it's been exhausting, it's been challenging, and we've loved every minute of it. Oh my, some of us have already started thinking about 2006.   

Duane Clark

From the Vice President

By John Lovric

It's been a busy summer this year. I had the birth of my little boy, then the Japanese visitors arrived, followed by the Croatian students, and we finished the summer with our friends from Russia. It was great to have so much activity and so many people involved in all of what we took on.

The arts and crafts festival was a great way to kick off the events to come. So many new and different things to see and experience. I wasn't able to participate in the Japanese activities, but I did have the opportunity to show around the girls from Vela Luka and spend just a bit of time with the Russians. I had the chance to listen to them sing and likewise sing a tune for them, with a little dance lesson on the side. I was able to communi­cate just a bit due to our Slavic backgrounds but I wouldn't say I can speak Russian just yet. All in all it was a big success and I have to say a job well done to all of the organizing chairs.

On to other business, we have a great new sign on both ends of the island to acknowledge our Sister Cities, and additional projects are in the works thanks to our energetic Don Lapworth. We are always taking steps to make our organization more widely seen and appreciated. We will be updating our display in city hall soon and hopefully on channel 10 as well. Keep up the good work everybody and I look forward to any upcoming events or projects.

Lomonosov

By Suzanne Harris

The Lomonosov Committee is proud of the accomplishments we have made through the summer and early fall. We have experienced many successes which have resulted in wonderful feelings of accomplishment and much satisfaction. Our cup runneth over, indeed! These successes have enhanced our knowledge and understanding of our relationship with Lomonosov. Together we have learned more history of our relationship, contributed to maintaining it, and we are now planning for the future.

My heartfelt thanks go out to Willy Evans for assuming the role as Chair of our Cookbook Project. With the help of her proofreaders, Joyce Lapworth and Theda Morton, we now are in possession of a fine, and truly beautiful, finished product whose proceeds will support our com­mittee. Thank you!

Again, our sincerest appreciation goes out to Anne Martin McCool. Thank you for possessing a heart with love enough for international goodwill and understanding. The donation of your artwork for our cookbook will ensure its sales! We ap­preciate your gift to ASCA and to the people of Lomonosov. Thank you, Anne.

The visit of the very first full delegation of Lomonosov Kalinka members to Anacortes was nothing less than a resounding success!! The parti­cipation of our committee members, association officers, members, host families, and our commu­nity was unlike anything I have ever seen. I am indebted to many and bursting with pride that I am so fortunate to be a citizen of this exceptional community. Life in Anacortes is a wonderful thing!

Our Russian friends had a wonderful ex­perience here. Upon arrival from the airport they were greeted by their host families and captured on film by Annie and John, our photographers for the next ten days. Their first full day included lunch at Cap Sante Court Retirement Community followed by a boat ride around Fidalgo Island with Rae Kozloff and Yuliya Wilson as translators. Duane Clark and Cliff Harris piloted the boats. John and Annie began their new careers as full-time ASCA photographers.

The days followed with island land tours and lunch at the home of Tom and Willy Evans, a welcome dinner with ASCA and Mayor Dean Maxwell, a day on San Juan Island at the Whale Museum with a tour led by Professor Eugene Kozloff, a tour of KLKI radio station, Lovric's Sea-Carft, Island Hospital, the Senior Center, the Library, the Museum, the W. T. Preston, Marine Supply and Hardware, Dakota Creek, an evening Soroptimist meeting, shopping, shopping, and more shopping, the Jazz Festival, the Depot, our Farmer's Market, a visit to Mayor Maxwell's office, a morning Rotary club meeting, the Newhalem Visitor Information Center, a drive to Washington Pass, Seattle, folk dancing, the Soroptimist Thrift Shop, and much, much more.

Our guests returned to Lomonosov on the 21st with warm and full hearts. Having finally been able to visit the place they have only heard about for so many years, they went home understanding the beauty of our area, the friendliness of our citizens, and a deep appreciation for our life here.

We will now set our sights at arranging an Anacortes delegation to visit Lomonosov in June. We also will begin discussions on presenting a photographic exhibit at the next Arts Festival of the "people" of our four Sister Cities. Discussions have also begun regarding an "informal" student exchange during summer breaks.

We thank the Anacortes Sister Cities Associ­ation members for the great turnout at the Welcome Dinner. It was a wonderful evening due to your presence and participation!

The Lomonosov Committee is a dedicated group of motivated members with fabulous ideas, leadership, and follow-through. It has been an honor to work with this group. We will now be taking a much deserved "Fall Sabbatical." We will return in late winter and/or early spring, refresh­ed and ready for another venture as we strive to sustain, support, and enrich our friendships with the people of Lomonosov.   Suzanne Harris

Vela Luka

By Nikki Lovric

What an eventful summer!! Just as we did last year, we invited two students, Anita Padovan and Petra Radic, to spend three weeks in Anacortes. They were to arrive at the end of July and we were so excited. Johnny and I were looking hard for homestays, but our plans were delayed, as I went into labor on July 14 at 6 a.m. and we welcomed Kasimir Anton Lovric into the world July 16 at 8:38 p.m. So ASCA's youngest member was born and had to get to work finding home-stays for Anita and Petra. I was so happy when we received a great response from members of St. Mary's Catholic Church for homestays. Diane and Dave Greene and Ann and Robert Thatcher jumped at the chance to homestay. Bret Lunsford and Denise Crowe of the American Croatian Club of Anacortes (ACCA) were very exited to host again and they even asked to throw a farewell party for the girls at the club!!

So the girls arrived and off they went... camping, to-the Birch Bay water slides, ice skating, Mount Baker, Croatian picnic, Woodland Park Zoo, shopping, shopping and more shopping, movies, and hanging out!! Your name it, they did it! Thank you to all who helped with their trip and with getting Anita's things back! You are amazing: Dave and Diane Greene, Bret Lunsford, Denise Crowe, Alma and John Plancich, Kristen LeMieux, Violet Zuvela, Sam Gebala, Kathy Ives, Vela Luka Dancers, ACCA, Beverly Read, Eleanor Dolan, Joyce and Don Lapworth, Duane Clark, Suzanne Harris, Diane Davidson, Willy Evans, Jo Fuqua, Mayor Dean Maxwell, Theda Morton, Jane Albee and Maria Kesovija. I know that this trip will make a lasting impression on the students and we will enjoy more student visits from Vela Luka, and speaking of...Lena Marinovic is working on some more students for next year!

CroatiaFest is this coming weekend!! We are very excited, busy and at the moment working HARD! Johnny and I are doing interviews with some families in the Croatian community to find out how -they arrived in Anacortes, their family names, where they came from, etc. We will put these interviews onto a poster with pictures of their families and hang it in our booth at Croatia-Fest. We are trying to create a timeline of the Croatians and Croatian clubs and organizations in Anacortes. The ASCA will have its own poster of how we started the Vela Luka Sister City, with pictures and all. Johnny and I will also be dancing with the Vela Luka Dancers and we will be in the costume show. This should be lots of fun!!

I am currently on the lookout for students who would like to spend three weeks in Vela Luka in the summer of 2006. They should be 16-17 years of age by 2006. I will e-mail applications to those families who are interested. My committee and I will be interviewing and making decisions in November. I have a lot of fund-raising ideas that we need to get started for these students to go. Please e-mail me at Lovric@comcast.net. That is all for now...more updates in the next issue.    Nikki Lovric

Kisakata and Sidney

No reports this issue

Next Membership Meeting
Thursday, November 3
7 p.m., Anacortes Library

Program to be announced.

ANACORTES SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER

2005 ASCA Officers

Duane Clark, President
John Lovric, Vice-President
Jo Fuqua, Secretary
Mark Lijek, Treasurer

Anacortes Sister Cities Association

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