H.R. No. 479
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, It gives the members of the Texas House of
    1-2  Representatives great pleasure to recognize as our guests a
    1-3  visiting delegation of students from Toyoma, Japan, who are
    1-4  visiting the State Capitol during their stay in Texas as part of
    1-5  the cultural exchange sponsored by Southlake Sister Cities,
    1-6  Incorporated; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Since 1956, when the sister cities concept was
    1-8  inaugurated by the president of the United States, communities
    1-9  across the globe have reaped the benefits of this international
   1-10  friendship and commerce program, and the success of this endeavor
   1-11  has spawned an increasing number of mutually rewarding
   1-12  relationships between participating cities; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Realizing the benefits to be derived from
   1-14  participating in the Sister Cities International program, members
   1-15  of the Southlake community came together to form a local chapter,
   1-16  Southlake Sister Cities, Incorporated, and on September 15, 1991,
   1-17  the organization signed its first pact, a friendship agreement with
   1-18  the people of Toyoma, Japan; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, The third Tarrant County city to participate in this
   1-20  worldwide movement, Southlake has embraced the international
   1-21  program's goals and actively pursued the meaningful exchange of
   1-22  ideas, culture, and traditions and the establishment of commercial
   1-23  ties with its Japanese friends; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, Delegates from Southlake Sister Cities,
    2-1  Incorporated, have travelled to Japan, where they have been exposed
    2-2  to many aspects of Japanese culture through tours of Toyoma and
    2-3  enjoyed the gracious hospitality of their Japanese hosts, who
    2-4  warmly welcomed the visiting Texans into their homes for the
    2-5  duration of the trip; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Now, in the spirit of generous reciprocity that is a
    2-7  cornerstone of the sister cities concept, it is the Southlake
    2-8  community's turn to host a delegation of Japanese students from
    2-9  Toyoma and to give these guests a taste of the Texas hospitality
   2-10  for which the Friendship State is renowned; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, Among the many activities planned for the week-long
   2-12  visit of these 11 Japanese students, who range from 13 to 18 years
   2-13  of age, is a special trip to the State Capitol and a firsthand look
   2-14  at our state government in action; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, Cognizant of the important role that sister cities
   2-16  exchanges play in promoting world peace and international goodwill,
   2-17  the members of this body are proud to salute the members of
   2-18  Southlake Sister Cities, Incorporated, and our visiting friends
   2-19  from across the Pacific Ocean for their exceptional efforts in this
   2-20  regard; now, therefore, be it
   2-21        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-22  Legislature hereby extend a warm welcome to the students from
   2-23  Toyoma, Japan, visiting Austin in conjunction with the Southlake
   2-24  Sister Cities, Incorporated, program and express heartfelt
   2-25  appreciation for the hospitality shown by their Tarrant County
   2-26  hosts; and, be it further
   2-27        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-1  prepared for the Japanese delegation as an expression of high
    3-2  esteem by the Texas House of Representatives.