2017 Annual Conference Agenda
Agenda is subject to change.
Thursday, July 13
7:00am – 7:00pm
Early On-site Registration
8:00am – 5:00pm
US – Russia Mayors’ Conference
10:00am – 12:00pm
Mayor Sessoms’ Virginia Regional Mayoral summit
12:00pm-6:00pm
Norfolk Sister Cities Pre-Conference City Tour (pre-registration required)
1:30pm-3:30pm
SCI Leadership Meetings (For SCI leadership only)
3:00pm-4:30pm
SCI Board Meeting
5:30pm-7:00pm
Global Leaders Circle VIP Reception
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
7:30pm
Conference Attendees Open Dinner
Military Aviation Museum
Friday, July 14
(First official day of the conference)
7:00am – 5:00pm
Registration
7:00am – 8:00am
International/1st Time Attendee Orientation
8:00am – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am
Cities Seeking Cities Networking Coffee
9:45am – 10:00am
Parade of Flags
From DoubleTree to Convention Center
10:00 am – 11:30am
Opening Ceremony
Virginia Beach Convention Center
12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Keynote Luncheon Speaker
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1:30pm – 2:30pm: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
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SESSION 1: Diplomacy at the Local Level: Mayors & Elected Officials Panel Whether it’s signing a new relationship, welcoming delegations, or garnering support in your community, elected officials play a critical role in sister city programs. Come listen to mayors and other elected officials talk about which aspects of sister city programs are important to them and how you can better engage your officials to make the most of your partnerships.
Moderator
Speakers
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SESSION 2: Sister Ports – Gateways to Friendship and Prosperity Ports can provide an advantageous opportunity for community development. Sister cities have a long history of both developing new port-to-port relationships and expanding existing port linkages into new areas of exchange. Hear from members who have successfully facilitated sister port partnerships on how you can turn your community’s port into an engine for trade and peace.
Moderator
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3:00pm – 4:00pm: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
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SESSION 1: The Importance of a Digital Infrastructure Discuss incredible new opportunities to boost tourism in your community through sister city exchanges including medical tourism, eco-focused missions, service opportunities, brewery exchanges, art festivals, and food-focused trips. Moderator
Speakers
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SESSION 2: Your Mayor’s First Question: What is the Return on Investment (ROI) of You Sister City Partnership? Did you know that sister city programs contribute over $525 million to the U.S. economy each year? Gathering information on the economic impact of sister city relationships has always been difficult, but it’s now easier than ever to show how you and your partners generate economic development. Learn how you can articulate the importance and value of your sister city relationships and garner support from your local officials.
Moderator
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3:00pm-4:00pm
SCI: Candidates Forum
4:15pm – 5:30pm
6:00pm – 8:30pm
Virginia Beach Hosts SCI Beach Bash
Neptune’s Park
Saturday, July 15
8:00am – 3:00pm
Registration
8:00am – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast
8:00am – 9:00am
SCI: New Board Member Orientation (For SCI leadership only)
8:00am – 9:00am
Africa Sister Cities Meeting
9:00am – 10:00am
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Breakfast Keynote: Foreign Diplomatic Corps Panel A panel of official Diplomatic Representatives will give remarks on the importance of sister city relationships for their respective country’s bilateral ties with the U.S., and will discuss opportunities for stronger, more impactful sister city relationships for the future. The representatives will touch on the importance of all exchange sectors, including business, culture, technology, and youth and education. Moderator
Speakers
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10:30am – 11:30am: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
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SESSION 1: What Does the Future Look Like? Virtual Exchanges and Virtual Internships Whether it’s because it’s too expensive to travel, or because continued relationship building is key to development and success, more and more programs are looking to virtual exchanges as part of their regular sister city activities. Learn about new ways to keep your sister city connections alive without traveling around the world.
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SESSION 2: Peer-to-Peer Fundraising with the Home Office
Join SCI Director of Development Ryan Newcomb for a chance to discuss fundraising options to support your program like peer-to-peer and mobile fundraising.
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SESSION 3: Growing Your Influence: Building Partnerships with Organizations in Your City Successful sister city programs don’t just build relationships abroad—they build them in their respective communities. Learn how can you work with organizations in your community, including civic organizations, private business, and other nonprofits, to strengthen your sister city program and local community.
Moderator
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12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Keynote Luncheon Speaker
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1:30pm – 2:30pm: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
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SESSION 1: Reinventing the Classics: Art and Cultural Exchanges Arts and cultural programs are some of the oldest and most robust in the sister
cities network and continue to be one of the first ways we engage people from other communities. In this session learn what the U.S. Department of State, local city governments, and other exchange organizations are doing to keep this classic area of exchange fresh and new.
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SESSION 2: Building Technology-Forward Cities Technology has changed almost everything about how we live and work. From smart phones to smart houses, consumer products are increasingly designed to facilitate decision-making and make decisions on our behalf. In order to keep up with these changes and continually improve the lives of citizens, city officials need to plan innovative ways to implement and adapt automated technology on a city-wide scale. In this session, attendees will gain new insight into how we can lay the foundations to build technology-forward cities.
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2:45pm – 3:45pm: CONCURRENT SESSIONS
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SESSION 1: Sister Cities in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology to Engage Your Community Does your sister city program have a website? When was the last time you updated it? The way we share information in the digital age is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. Join Bob Zhang to discover how you can leverage online channels to proactively engage your local and global communities. This session will cover basic concepts of online marketing as well as a few tips on getting started and managing your online resources. We
recommend that you come in with a basic understanding of website/social media/search engine/internet technology concepts.
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SESSION 2: Beyond Mayors – Exchanges with Municipal Departments Elected officials may start sister city relationships by signing agreements, but often it’s municipal employees who often bring them to life. Throughout its history, the sister cities network has excelled at expanding excellence in municipal administration. Whether it’s fire department chiefs, public health officials, sanitation workers, or any other city administrator, sister cities can provide access to innovation and management techniques that can help your city better serve its citizens.
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SESSION 3: Expanding Opportunities by Partnering with Community Colleges and Universities Getting young adults interested in the mission of sister cities takes more effort than posting on social media. Explore ways you can increase interest in your sister cities program among students through effective outreach to your local community colleges and universities.
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4:15pm – 5:00pm
Open Session – Youth Leadership Summit Final Simulation
5:00pm – 5:30pm
CCID Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony
6:00pm – 11:00pm
Lou Wozar Diplomatic Awards Dinner
Sunday, July 16
9:00am – 12:00pm
SCI: Board of Directors Meeting (For SCI leadership only)