Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee TASCC Fund Raiser,April 3, 2007,
Casablanca Bar and Grill, 283 S. Stone, Tucson

Over 50 friends, family, committee members and individuals supporting sister cities gathered at
Casablanca Bar and Grill, April 3, from 6 to almost 9 p.m., for a fund raising event which
celebrated TASCC’s twentieth birthday and a start towards bringing the Isker Boys Chorus from
Almaty to Tucson, in January, 2008, in partnership with Dr. Julian Ackerley and the Tucson
Boys Chorus. Members of the fundraiser committee were: Chair Barbara Chinworth; Chair
Emeritus Jerry Gary; Vice Chair, Sally Allison; Secretary, Sally Gary; Culture Chair, Judy

Orlinsky; Community Life Chair, Michael Charton. Treasurer Fred Dotton kept track of the
monetary activity, member Gary Sawyer took photos of the evening, member Marilyn Civer
helped with decorations and set-up.
The evening started with a no-host bar, and background piano music by University of Arizona
bolashaker student, Gizzat Tazabekov, followed by traditional music from Turkey and
Kazakhstan performed by Seyyah, a four-member University of Arizona ensemble led by Paul
Amiel Stewart, university professor.
Vice Chair Sally Allison, the emcee, introduced guests, encouraged silent auction participation,
and pointed out winners of table decorations. Chair Barbara Chinworth welcomed guests,
thanked the committee and acknowledged the initial resolutions of November, 1987, and
January and March 1988, which explored and negotiated the sister city relationship. She then
read from the original agreement, signed June 2, 1989, by Tucson Mayor Tom Volgy, and
Alma-Ata Chairman of the Executive Committee Nurkadilev Zamanbek Casabaevich. Sister
cities relationships are developed after a successful ‘courtship’ of two years. TASCC is just into
its 20-year courtship and subsequent finalization of a very strong relationship. Chair Emeritus,
Jerry Gary presented a power point of photographs, worth thousands of words, of many events
and people over those twenty years of TASCC activity, spiced up by his insight, tremendous
amount of work and affection for the citizens of Almaty.
Children’s art from Almaty was on display, having been sent to the committee by Barbara Hawk,
a member of the Friendship club in the 90's , partnered with the Miller School PTA, which
established a relationship with Alma-Ata. The paintings will be on display at Ward II Council
Office, which was very excited to extend its interest in children’s art, from June through
August.
Guests participated generously in the attractive and diverse silent auction. Acknowledgments go
to: Mane Street Hair, Congress Street Hair, Rosa’s Cantina, Mid City Auto, Tucson Racquet
Club, Mi Casa, Tucson Museum of Art, Gaslight Theater, Historic Train Depot, the Treasure
Chest, Golden Gate Healing, Rug Resource, MIR Corporation, Golden Gate Healing, Rug
Resource, MIR Corporation, Hogan School of Real Estate, White Hat Elevator, Russian-
American Consulting Group, KXCI Radio, Tucson Boys Chorus, Dan Martin and Jennifer
Sprung, Randy Cox, Dain Rauscher, Bill and Barbara Chinworth, Sally Allison, Julian Ackerley,
Ron and Nancy Vynalek, Connie Myren, Judy Orlinsky, Jerry and Sally Gary, Patricia Holmes,
Amy, Adam and Sterling Smith, Kirk Simmons, Jean James, Jim Click, Irene Olson, Barbara
McCauley, Michael Charton, Yerbolat Zhumakmetov, Burl Vreeland, Kathy Lauer, Karen
Salgado, Susan Hergenhan, Chuck and Stacey Yungkurth, Mia Hansen, Judy Dare.
TASCC is grateful to its supporters who share not just their items for silent auction and their
monetary donations, but who share the concept of people-to-people diplomacy. With each
event, the committee and its growing base of support raises its profile of positive energy with the
city of Tucson and Almaty, keeping the lines of communication up and running.
As the Chair of Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee, I salute this strong bond and am
humbled by the goodwill it has generated..
Respectfully,
Barbara L. Chinworth, Chair
Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee
April, 2007