Summary of Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee, 2006-07

by

Chair, Barbara Chinworth

This fiscal year shows that TASCC events took members hither and yon while keeping the center of things in Tucson. TASCC, a vibrant community entity, is newly interfacing with the University of Arizona, i.e., the Bolashakers and with the planning of a Kazakh Culture Class at the UA. The committee is in sync as one among several Tucson partnerships with the UA, and will further its understanding of higher education, having previously developed elementary and high school liaisons. TASCC will partner with Tucson Parks and Rec again for a program in the fall at Udall Park. It is partnered with the Tucson Boys Chorus for a January 08, exchange with the Isker (Almaty) Boys Chorus. It has sent volunteers to KUAT radio and TV for their fundraisers. It will seek at least one location for volunteers of teachers of English in Almaty and/or Kazakhstan.

The four areas of sister cities programming, i.e., culture, education, economic and community development for mutual and beneficial understanding, are fully defined by on-going activities, and greatly in need of more volunteers! "Ask not what your committee can do for you, but what you can do for your committee." Monthly meetings are announced on the web and posted in Tucson, as a clear strategy for greater attendance.

Pages flying off the calendar!

•  Late September,2006, Chairman Emeritus Jerry Gary and his wife, Sally, TASCC secretary, traveled to Washington , D.C., saw the unveiling of the Golden Warrior and Snow Leopard statue at the Embassy, and met President Nazarbayev. 

•  October, 2006, a reception at the University of Arizona Student Union, on behalf of the Bolashakers from Kazakhstan studying at the University of Arizona, with honored guest, Robert Shelton, new president of the University of Arizona.

• November, 2006, members of American Councils met with Vice Chair Sally Allison, Secretary, Sally Gary, and Chair Emeritus Jerry Gary, at UA Marriot to assess Bolashaker activity and successes early in the school year. 

• November,2006, newly elected chair Barbara Chinworth, traveled to Washington D.C., to the Embassy, to help celebrate Kazakhstan’s Day of Independence and to meet Ambassador Kanat Saudabayev. 

•  December, 2006, in Tucson, a social gathering at the home of member, Marilyn Civer, combined festivities with those of three proclamations of the celebration of Kazakhstan Independence Day, one from Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup, one from Governor Janet Napolitano, and one from the Bolashakers, who signed their names and were given a copy of the document.

• Late December, several Bolashakers went on vacation between the fall and spring semesters, with a trip to the Los Angeles area, and a side trip to see the Mingei Museum, in Balboa Park in San Diego, hosted personally by Directors Rob Sidner and Martha Ehringer and its beautiful arrangement of the Kazakh Exhibit: Of Gold and Grass. 

• January, 2007, TASCC participated in the seventh annual Family Arts Festival in downtown Tucson, with extremely cold temperatures dampening the numbers of festival goers. TASCC showed off its displays of camels and a live Borat impersonator, ran its food booth, heard the performance by the Old Pueblo Brass Band and the students from Kazakhstan play and sing the new national anthem, and heard the performance in Leo Rich Theater, of Merey Yerdauletov, high school classical pianist, from Almaty.

• February, Serzhan Bashirov came to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, hosted by TASCC friend, Judy Dare, and helped out by TASCC members, Bibigul and Tatyana  in his booth.

• Beginning of April, TASCC held a fundraiser to celebrate TASCC’s twentieth birthday and to kickoff the visit by the Isker Boys Chorus from Almaty for next January, partnered with the Tucson Boys Chorus. Bolashaker, Gizzat Tazabekov, played background American popular music. Seyyah, a Turkish ensemble from the UA performed, led Paul Amiel Stewart.

• Middle of April TASCC joined with the other Tucson sister cities for a traveling public library display, at which TASCC members will volunteer for one Saturday each month the display moves. 

• Second week of April, Chair Barbara and husband, Bill, took a quick trip to the Mingei Museum, to see the wonderful display Of Gold and Grass: Nomads of Kazakhstan. Director Rob Sidner was greatly pleased by the response of the public to the display. 

• Chairman Emeritus Jerry presented a talk and powerpoint about Kazakhstan

• Late April, Barbara presented Scholars on the Silk Road to the Omicron State Convention of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Women Educators, with the help of Bolashakers, Veronica Syrlybayeva, and Ainur Smailova. 

• Later in April the Bolashakers were feted to a farewell party at the Udall Senior Center at Udall Park, with the showing of The Nomads, the giving of small tokens of our friendship and acknowledgment of their participation in many of TASCC’s activities.

The second week of May, the Bolashakers finished a very successful academic year (there are some 4.0 averages!), packed up several boxes for storage and took the long flight back to Kazakhstan for some much-needed rest and recreation.

A big round of applause to Ali Yuldaushev and to Yerbolat Zhumakhmetov, UA students from Almaty, on their own plan, and cramming extra course work in at the end of the spring semester before returning to Almaty for a break. Ali and Yerbolat have been constant supporters of TASCC and have helped the Bolashakers with many details. Yerbolat received a certificate from the Eller School of Business for a stunning grade average.

Ending this fiscal year, TASCC will: 1)vote on up-dated bylaws, the committee of Fred Dotton, Gary Sawyer, Chuck Yungkurth, Michael Charton working for over three months; 2)initiate plans for bringing the Isker Boys Chorus to Tucson, partnering with the Tucson Boys Chorus; 3)continue plans with member Dan Davidson and Teach for Friendship, to encourage volunteer teachers of English to Kazakhstan; 4) continue work with the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies for the development of a Kazakh Culture class, for the spring semester at the UA; 5)set an orientation for the Bolashakers return in August, and 6) plan a joint gathering at Udall with the seniors for the next month.