Second of two parts
Re “Sister City Turns a New Page All Day on Saturday”
One of the major changes in the day-to-day life of the Culver City Sister City Committee, freshly turned 50 years old, is that “we are much more community based now,” says President Barbara Honig.
The committee was formed in the early 1960s by the City Council, “and we still are very close to our Council,” she says.
“We go to them for approval of the things that we do.
“The organic change in Culver City Sister City is that we are more community based now than government based.”
What does that mean?
Ms. Honig explained: “The city government of 50 years ago really ran the organization.
“The change is that now it is people who are running the organization with the support of city government.
“This kind of change is not exclusive to Culver City. It is happening all over the United States and internationally.
“In learning more about our Sister Cities,” said Ms. Honig, a two-term former member of the School Board, “those in South Korea, Mexico and Japan are still much more government based than Lethbridge and Culver City.
“It is interesting that this struggle is going on throughout the world:
“How much to involve the individual communities? And how much should be from the government itself?”
Sister City probably is best known for its worldwide student exchange programs, which Culver City members participate in annually.
Ms. Honig, the wife of former City Councilman Gary Silbiger and mother of School Board member Karlo Silbiger, said she joined the Culver City Sister City Committee so long ago that she cannot recall the year.
“I just know that I joined ‘way before I became active,” she said. “One does not have to be an active member to belong to Sister City and recognize its importance.
“We encourage everyone to join.
“Now that I think back, I know that I joined Sister City before Gary and I were elected to office many, many years ago.”
The Culver City Sister City Committee meets monthly, and the public is invited.
See culvercitysistercitycommittee.org
