1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 90 1-3 WHEREAS, The Sister Cities International (SCI) program 1-4 was established in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower with the 1-5 intention of fostering friendship and understanding between the 1-6 people of the United States and other nations from around the 1-7 globe through direct personal contact; and 1-8 WHEREAS, In addition to developing a sense of fellowship 1-9 among people of different nations, Sister Cities International 1-10 creates opportunities for participants to experience foreign 1-11 cultures and to form cooperative and mutually beneficial 1-12 partnerships; two cities that hope to establish such a lasting 1-13 association via this outstanding program are Benbrook, Texas, 1-14 and Bled, Slovenia; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The relationship between the two towns was 1-16 initially forged by Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dunn and Bled 1-17 Mayor Vinko Golc; during a visit to Slovenia in September, 1998, 1-18 Mayor Dunn and Pamela Brandenberg, a member of the Benbrook City 1-19 Council, extended to their Slovenian hosts an invitation to visit 1-20 Benbrook, and on February 3, 1999, new Bled Mayor Boris Malej and 1-21 his delegation, including Janez Fajfar, manager of Vila Bled, and 1-22 Eva Stravs, public relations and marketing manager of the Bled 1-23 Tourism Board, will be enthusiastically welcomed to Texas; and 1-24 WHEREAS, During the Bled delegation's visit to Benbrook, 2-1 leaders of the two cities will sign an agreement that establishes 2-2 a formal Sister Cities arrangement; members of Benbrook's Sister 2-3 Cities Committee have volunteered to lead excursions throughout 2-4 Benbrook and Tarrant County, at which time the foreign delegation 2-5 will learn about the heritage, history, and culture of Benbrook; 2-6 and 2-7 WHEREAS, The efforts of Benbrook and Bled to develop an 2-8 enduring bond through the SCI program are truly commendable, 2-9 and with the impending arrival of the Slovenian delegation, 2-10 it is indeed fitting that both of these notable cities be 2-11 recognized at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-13 76th Legislature, hereby honor the cities of Benbrook, Texas, 2-14 and Bled, Slovenia, for their participation in the Sister Cities 2-15 International program and extend to their citizens sincere best 2-16 wishes for success in this worthy venture; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution 2-18 be prepared for prominent display in Benbrook, Texas, and 2-19 Bled, Slovenia, as an expression of high regard by the 2-20 Texas Senate. 2-21 Harris 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 President of the Senate 2-24 I hereby certify that the above 2-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-26 on January 27, 1999. 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Secretary of the Senate 2-29 ______________________________________ 2-30 Member, Texas Senate