2019-2021 ReFounding Steering Committee

Honoring the 21 members of the Charlotte Sister Cities Steering Committee who met monthly from April 6, 2020, to February 3, 2021, to re-establish the Charlotte Sister Cities Association.

Members: Sheila Bennett, Johnelle Causwell, Quanta Dawn Light, Ben DeSollar, Sam Farnham, Alexis Gordon, Doris Gyamfi, Stacey Hepp, Jessie Hermann, Carmen Hilton, David Lynn, Alina MacNichol, Manish Mittal, Nikki Mittal, Cameron Oliver, Shelley Pendleton, Leslie Sellers, Sean Smith, Diane St. John, Tracey Trimble, and Jane Zimmerman

Under the leadership of this team, the following was achieved:

• April 8, 2020 - After a half year of small group meetings, including a 58th Anniversary planning dinner on February 5, 2020, a Steering Committee was formed to pave the way for the re-establishment of Charlotte Sister Cities as a 501(c)(3) organization

• May 19, 2020 - A presentation was given to the Charlotte International Cabinet resulting in support for onward growth

• Summer 2020 - High school student, Sam Farnham, interns for the summer and created our website

• Summer & Fall 2020 - The 58+ year history of Charlotte Sister Cities was researched and photos gathered

• July 2020 - Six Committee members attended the virtual Sister Cities International Annual Convention

• August 8, 2020 - A new Mission Statement is draft at a four-hour retreat facilitated by Nicole Storey

• October 7, 2020 - New Bylaws are approved after five months of multiple drafts and revisions

• October 7, 2020 - A new logo was envisioned by Sean Smith and approved

• October 2020 - A monthly virtual forum series was launched with each month's forum featuring a different sister city

• November 2020 - Charlotte Sister Cities was re-chartered by the state of North Carolina

• November 2020 - College intern, Cameron Oliver, led the organization of the Krefeld Forum

• December 2021 - Paperwork was filed with the IRS, by Bridgehouse Law, to re-establish Charlotte Sister Cities as a 501(c)(3)

• January 2021 - A Nominating Committee was formed to research and organize a slate of nominees for a newly-formed Board of Directors and Officers. This slate was presented and approved on February 3, 2021

• A listserv of members was created that included over 350 names

• Relations were re-established and/or strengthened with five of the seven sister cities

• A Charlotte Sister Cities Scholars program was launched for community members who attend all seven monthly virtual forums

• 16 organizations, businesses, and schools in the Charlotte region joined as "Community Partners"

• A Re-Founders Circle was established, made up of 23 donors, who contributed $3175 to re-establishment efforts. This was matched by a $3000 donation by a team of matching contributors

• February 5, 2021 - The Charlotte Sister Cities Steering Committee dissolves as a Board of Directors assumes leadership of the Association