2015 Annual Meeting Dec 9 2015

You are cordially invited to join us for a very special evening as we celebrate 30 years of history in the founding of the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Relationship and the development of its friendship project, the Lan Su Chinese Garden.We will pay tribute to the original founding group, many gathered in Portland this past summer to mark this very special milestone.Below are two pictures from their gathering in the Lan Su Chinese Garden with representatives from our association and the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

We are very honored to have as our keynote speaker, Mr. Patrick LaCrosse, one of the very few people that was involved from the beginning with this long and beautiful history 30 years ago.The title of Pat’s talk is “Suzhou, 1985.A Chance Encounter.”Pat is the former Director of the Portland Development Commission and first Director of the Lan Su Chinese Garden. 

PSSCA Founders in Garden

Pat was a member of the first Portland group to travel to Suzhou in 1985 that began the Portland Suzhou Sister City Relationship, was active for many years with PSU--Suzhou student relations, and was asked by Mayor Katz to take over the management of the Lan Su Chinese Garden 6 months prior to its grand opening in 2001.  Using anecdotes,  he will describe in detail some of the more colorful experiences.

Please join us to help celebrate these very special achievements.We look forward to greeting new and old friends, to thank our sponsors and supporters and to hold a short annual business meeting.

Date: Wednesday, Dec 9, 2015 6:00pm - Networking 6:30pm - Welcome 6:35pm - 10-course Chinese Dinner 7:30pm - Suzhou, 1985.  A Chance Encounter by Mr. Patrick LaCrosse 8:10pm - PSSCA Business Meeting/Election of 2016 Board and Officers 8:30 - 9:00pm - Networking

Location: Szechuan Chef Chinese Restaurant 5331 SW Macadam Ave, #115, Portland (Ground floor in John’s Landing)

PLEASE JOIN US!

2015 Evening Under the Stars Gala - June 12, 2015

We thank all of our guests for joining the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association in the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden for our annual signature fundraising event - the Evening Under the Stars Gala:

• To commemorate 27 years of friendship and cooperation in culture, education and business between the citizens of Portland and Suzhou, China

• To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Lan Su Chinese Garden, a friendship project between Portland and Suzhou.

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Group picture - Med

There were numerous highlights for the evening including, but not limited to, the keynote remarks by Consul General Luo; the gift presentation to City of Suzhou by Mayor Hales; the group toast and the group pictures to mark this special occasion; and the presentations of the 2015 Leadership Awards and the Newcombe Wang Memorial Scholarship.

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Group Toast

We were very much honored by the presence of the many VIP guests including Consul General of PRC Luo Linquan, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and Mrs. Nancy Hales, Former Mayor Bud Clark, Senate President Pro Tempore Ginny Burdick, Rep. Brian Clem, Rep. Paul Evans, Rep. Jennifer Williamson, Governor's Senior Policy Director Vice Porter, Portland Director of Government Relations Martha Pellegrino, Portland Director of International Relations Hector Miramontes, Travel Portland's Billie Moser and Jeff Hammerly, Portland Development Commission Representatives, our honored sponsors and the many other VIP guests in attendance. Last but not least are our partners from Lan Su Chinese Garden for this celebration - Executive Director Jane DeMarco and Board President Kathy MacNaughton.

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Mayor and Mrs. Hales, CG Luo

It gives us great pleasure to recognize the winners for the 2015 Leadership Awards:

(1) Business Leadership Award: Great Cheer (America), Inc.

(2) Education Leadership Awards: Hosford Middle School and Cascade Heights Public Charter School

(3) Cultural Leadership Award: Lan Su Chinese Garden

We would also like to congratulate our 2015 Newcombe Wang Memorial Scholarship Award winner: Ms. Kelly Huang.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Our most sincere appreciations to our sponsors, board directors, members and volunteers to make this all possible.   A very big THANK YOU to everyone.

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Award Business Leadership to Great Cheer (America) Inc

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Award Education Leadership to Hosford Middle School

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Award Education Leadership to Cascade Heights Public Charter School

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Award Cultural Leadership to Lan Su Chinese Garden

6-12-15 PSSCA Gala - Scholarship Winner Kelly Huang 1

2014 Annual Meeting Dec 3 2014

The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association held the 2014 Annual Meeting to celebrate our accomplishments during the year. We greeted new and old friends, thanked our sponsors and supporters, and elected our 2015 Board and Officers.

To add to the festivities of the evening and our understanding of Suzhou and China, the video “Beautiful Suzhou” by the Suzhou Information Office was shown, a short China travelogue was present by our Board member, Jim Mockford, and a wonderful around-the-world trip was briefly highlighted by our Past-President and long time Board member, Jim Mei.

Our President, Cathy Chinn, welcome our guests, reviewed 2014's accomplishments and handed out appreciations certificates.  A 10-course Chinese dinner was served and enjoyed by everyone.

PSSCA-2014-Mockford-talk-medium

Suzhou Delegation Visit to Portland Fall 2014

In October 2014, we extended Portland’s warmest welcome to a very high level delegation from our Sister City Suzhou. The delegation members included: Mr. Zhou, Yulong - Vice Director of Suzhou People’s Congress. Head of delegation. In charge of Agriculture, Economy & Industry for Suzhou.

Mr. Wang, Genwei - Director of Suzhou Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Working Committee, Suzhou People’s Congress

Mr. Zhao, Dexing - Section Chief of Suzhou Culture, Broadcasting, News and Publication Bureau

Mr. Chen, Weijun - Section Chief of Suzhou Reform and Development Commission, & Director of Suzhou Municipal Government to Beijing Liaison Office

Ms. Dorathy Lu - Advisor in Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office

The highlights of their visit included an official meeting with Mayor Charlie Hales in Portland City Hall, a presentation on Portland's "We Build Green Cities" initiatives by Michael Gurton of the Portland Development Commission, and a banquet hosted by the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association at the University Club.

The delegation also was very warmly welcomed at Nike Campus with a presentation and a walking tour of the campus. They were also able to take in other highlights in Portland and Oregon area.

Their visit was very productive and they expressed interests in the "We Build Green Cities" program and invited the Portland Development Commission for follow-up visits to Suzhou. Our organization helped to make arrangements for the Portland Development Commission's China trip to Suzhou in June 2015.