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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Councilman C. McMahon Campbell (top left), former Congressman Jerry Lewis and 13 others named to Leadership Circle in Washington D.C.
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Sister Cities International, inducted Grand Bahamian C. McMahon Campbell along with former congressmen, mayors, councilmen and city officials into its Leadership Circle during the organizations 60th Anniversary observations.
The award was established to recognize the role elected officials play in promoting and supporting Sister City programs and partnerships as government leaders worldwide.
The Leadership Circle will also be recognized in the Sister Cities International newsletter, annual membership directory, 60th Anniversary commemorative book, and the 60th anniversary conference program.
Campbell becomes the first Bahamian to be inducted into the Sister Cities Leadership Circle and for which he will be given the title Honourable within the organization.
Following his election to Freeport City Council in 2014, Campbell re-instated Freeport, Sister City’s membership—which was then 20-years old and delinquent. He vetoed a city’s Sister Cities relationship due to a lack of value and cooperation, renegotiated the city’s oldest proclamation with Newark, New Jersey (drafted by the late Sir Lynden O. Pindling), re-established diplomatic relationship with Freeport’s current cities Albany, New York and Broward, Florida, and adopted two new cities with council’s approval, Winston Salem and Concord, both located in North Carolina.
Campbell also pushed for the council’s removal from Freeport, Sister Cities internal affairs which freed up the organization to be a non-profit with an autonomous board which is made up of residents from Freeport.
To date, Freeport, Sister Cities has received a sum of $11,800.00 from the Freeport City Council which has been earmarked for youth development, education, and cultural exploration. Since the reestablishment of Freeport, Sister Cities there has been some impact in the youth sector. Some sporting organizations have received equipment; BMES re-launched its chess club lead by Mr. Shawn Sorsby who took the group to North Carolina where played against another sister city.
Since 2014, Grand Bahama has entered the youth art competition with the help of Mrs. Robinson of Jack Hayward with every art piece being sold.
In 2016, Freeport, Sister Cities was given the green light by Homeland Security of United States to take part in the Sister Cities Homestay Exchange program come 2017, where one Grand Bahamian under the age of 16 will have the opportunity to live in any partnering Sister City for 1 year with all-expenses paid. Today Campbell serves as the Honourary Chairman.
Other inductees include: former Congressman, Jerry Lewis; Congressman, Sam Farr; Mayor, William Bailey III; former Mayor, Bill Bogaard; former Mayor, Karl Dean, Councilman, Pete Festersen; former Councilman, Gilbert Garcia; Fire Chief, Bernie Kanger; Councilman, Marc Kraft; former Mayor, Ronald Loveridge; Mayor, Cynthia Mathews; former Mayor, William Purcell; Mayor, Jean Stothert; and Mayor, Marilyn Stickland.
Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit which serves as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, and states across the U.S. This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in 570 member communities with over 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries on six continents.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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