1-1 ****** NEED TWO-PAGE HEADER ****** 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 782 1-3 WHEREAS, Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1-4 Sister Cities International is a nonprofit diplomacy network 1-5 committed to creating and strengthening partnerships and cultural 1-6 understanding between the United States and international 1-7 communities; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Throughout the nation and across the world, 1-9 Sister Cities International has been invaluable in fostering 1-10 cooperation between approximately 3,500 cities in 156 countries; 1-11 moreover, it has led local community development and volunteer 1-12 action by motivating and empowering private citizens, municipal 1-13 officials, and business leaders to conduct long-term programs of 1-14 mutual benefit; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Adroitly led by chair Mary Palko and vice chair 1-16 Gary Fickes, the Texas Sister Cities International program and its 1-17 many dedicated volunteers have contributed greatly to establishing 1-18 these global relationships; currently there are 72 cities in the 1-19 Lone Star State linked to 32 foreign countries and 113 foreign 1-20 cities; and 2-1 WHEREAS, All those associated with the Sister Cities 2-2 International initiative have shown an impressive commitment to 2-3 strengthening international understanding and goodwill, and it is 2-4 a privilege to commend them at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-6 77th Legislature, hereby commend the significant efforts of 2-7 the Sister Cities International program and applaud all those 2-8 associated with the Texas Sister Cities International program for 2-9 establishing and furthering rewarding relationships between cities 2-10 in the Lone Star State and foreign communities. 2-11 Moncrief 2-12 Harris 2-13 ______________________________________ 2-14 President of the Senate 2-15 I hereby certify that the above 2-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-17 on April 25, 2001. 2-18 ______________________________________ 2-19 Secretary of the Senate 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 Member, Texas Senate 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 Member, Texas Senate