Gdynia Business Week

September 29, 2010 gailannphotoLeave a comment

I had the opportunity to catch up with the students at Gdynia Business Week (Poland) this past August. Ninety students from Poland and ten American students participated in a fast paced week of international business! They formed ‘companies’; had to create a business plan; make a stockholders presentation; participate in a trade show to find capital to run their business and graduate with honors! Students actually met with local Polish businessmen and women including Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Union. The Mayor of Gdynia also made an appearance.

It is exciting for me to be part of the Seattle Gdynia Sister City organization that believes in promoting good will between Seattle and Gdynia and watch programs such as this grow each year. Feel free to look through the images captured during the week:

The Grand Assembly

Company Presentations

Talent Show

Trade Show

Graduation

Tour of Gdansk and Kashubian Village

Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Seattle Sister City Reception

May 1, 2010May 1, 2010 gailannphotoLeave a comment

As a member of the Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association I attended the 14th Annual Sister City Awards Reception. It’s amazing to me what kind of good will the average American citizen can instill by working with these sister city groups. (I encourage you to find one!) This year the Seattle Gdynia group was awarded the 2009 Best Single Project – which was the Business Week program that we sponsored in Gdynia – the first international Business Week program ever! Debra Markert received the award from Mayor Mike McGinn and Council member Sally Clark.

Entertainment was beautiful! Performers included Bokreta – a dance troupe that performs village dances of Hungary and Transylvania;

Huaying Performing Arts Group – Chinese dancing and Taichi;

Bailadores de Bronce – the beautiful folkloric music and dance of Mexico!;

Sukutai Music & Dance Company – performers combine dance, music and storytelling to celebrate the heritage of indigenous peoples of Kenya and Zimbabwe.

To see all the images click here.

Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Poland’s tragic loss at Smolensk

April 12, 2010 gailannphotoLeave a comment

As the whole world mourns the loss of Poland’s President Kacynski, so does a small group of Seattle residents who are part of the Polish community and the Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association who gathered today for a moment of silence in his honor.

In Solidarity members of the SGSCA gathered to mourn the loss of Poland’s President Kacynski and many other high ranking officials when their plane crashed a few days ago in Smolensk.

Members recalled the fight for Solidarity of which several were part of; and to remember the lost souls of Katyn; and to grieve the loss of friends made in Poland over many years of friendship with the people of Poland.

The struggle for freedom and democracy in Poland is an evolving process and we honor those who continue to move forward.

Zbigniew Pietrzyk, an active member in the fight for Solidarity at it’s inception, speaks to the group.

See more photos here: http://www.gailannphotography.com/SGSCA-Kacynski2010/

Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association

Seattle Sister Cities Reception 2009

April 28, 2009July 30, 2009 gailannphotoLeave a comment

The 13th Annual Seattle Sister Cities Reception was held at City Hall on April 23rd. Hosting cites included Gdynia, Poland, Nantes, France, Surabaya, Indonesia and Sihanoukville, Cambodia. City officials including Mayor Nickels, Richard Conlin and Tay Yoshitani were on hand to welcome members of the Indonesian Consul General plus members of local area Sister City groups. To view all images click here.

Highlights include: Robam Jun Por, Blessing Dance from Cambodia

cambodiablessing