Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association
2009 Annual Report
This document describes the most important activities for the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association (SGSCA) in 2009.
Washington Business Week Programs:
SGSCA sponsored four high school students from Gdynia who attended the Washington Business Week (WBW) program. WBW is sponsored by the Association of Washington Business and provides high school students with an intense hands-on learning experience regarding the free enterprise economic system. The program ran for one-week intervals from June through August and was followed by home stays with SGSCA member families.
SGSCA will again sponsor four or six students for 2010’s program. In addition we are pleased to announce the formation of a similar program in Gdynia. We have worked closely with WBW and various governmental figures in Poland to establish a week-long program beginning in August 2009.
Gdynia Business Week Program:
Based on the success and student demand for Washington Business Week, SGSCA partnered with WBW and the City of Gdynia to present Gdynia Business Week. After working with the Chamber of Commerce and Embassy, SGSCA launched the inaugural Gdynia Business Week program in August 2009. The City of Gdynia hosted 100 students (including 5 from Seattle schools) and 12 Seattle-area business professionals, who converged on Gdynia’s International Baccalaureate High School for a week-long session. The students were divided into teams, or companies, of 10 and assigned to a Seattle professional who acted as their advisor. The students learned about teamwork, innovation and best practices, in addition to participating in a business model simulation.
In addition to classroom activities, students attended lectures given by prominent Polish figures including: Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland and current President of the European Parliament; Victor Ashe, U.S. Ambassador to Poland; Michal Jaworski, Director of Strategic Development at Microsoft Poland; and Marcin Klammer, Country Manager at EC Harris.
This program proved so successful that it is being studied as a model for other Polish cities and other Sister Cities. The City of Gdynia has cleared the way for a 2010 installment, and SGSCA will be a continued partner and advisor.
The 17th Seattle Polish Film Festival:
SGSCA sponsored another successful Seattle Polish Film Festival. Completing its 17th year, SPFF is one of the longest running Polish film festivals in North America and is one of the premier Slavic cultural events in the Seattle area. The Festival was held at SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall, and featured a mix of feature and independent films, as well as personal appearances by Polish actors Leslaw Zurek and Szymon Bobrowski. Awards were presented to both audience and judges’ favorites.
This festival has allowed SGSCA to share Polish culture with a larger community, and to cultivate professional relationships. Our rapport with the Gdynia Film Festival allows SGSCA to preview films and potential guests for our Seattle festival, and our partnership with the Seattle International Film Festival allows our group access to increased marketing strategies.
Awards and Accolades:
In addition to the international praise and press received for Gdynia Business Week, the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association had 3 of its members personally recognized and thanked by the Consul General of Poland, Joanna Kozinska-Frybes. Paul Griffin, Janice Jaworski, and Glen Lee were presented with awards and plaques. Glen Lee, former president of SGSCA, was honored with the Amicus Poloniae award, a prestigious and official gift from Poland recognizing his leadership and involvement in sharing Polish culture with America.