The History of the Waupaca International Cultural Exchange Committee

In 1992, Nio Town drew-up guidelines to begin a program which would enable its citizens to take part

in international exchange. 0ur hopes were to help develop our education, culture, and industry through an exchange with other cultures. 

 

Dr. Bart and Colleen Blum’s daughter Jenny, a graduate of WHS, took a job in Japan and thought the city of Nio, on the island of Shikoku, might be interested in forming a sister city with a community of comparable size in the States.  John Gusmer had worked previously in support of Appleton’s sister city, and a committee was formed to look into the idea of creating a sister city for Waupaca. Mako Bice made the first contacts with city officials in Nio. 

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A group of Nio dignitaries (school superintendent, teachers, city administrators, business leaders) came first in the summer of 1994 to see if Waupaca would be conducive for a future exchange of students and adults. In August 1995, six students from Waupaca and two chaperones visited Nio.  (Nio merged with six other cities in 2006 to become Mitoyo City.) That same summer, students from Nio High School came to Waupaca with two teachers.  

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It was decided to have students and chaperones from Japan visit each summer after our Waupaca contingent returned from Nio. Our visitors usually went to Japan in July and the Nio kids came in August.  When the WICEC was formed it was imperative that the city of Waupaca recognize the importance of having a sister city to expand its cultural identity by making Nio the official sister city.

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"We feel that the hopes for the future rest in today's youth. This is why we chose to focus on promoting the idea of internationalization beginning with our junior high school students. They are more able to accept new ideas and are more open to establishing ties with other peoples, especially those of their same generation. This is how we strive to acquire an international sense within our community."
(From the Summary of Mr. Tsuji' s, the Deputy Mayor. speech)

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TIMELINE​

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August 1993 to July 1994

Ms. Jennifer Blum went from Waupaca to Japan to work as an assistant English teacher within Mitoyo County's Junior High SchooI District. During Jennifer's visits, she and Mr. Asano had a chance to discuss the possibility of conducting a homestay program with Jennifer's hometown, Waupaca. Nio Board of Education hoped to send a smaII group of Junior H.S. students to America in the near future.

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May 22th to May 25th 1994

Mr.Asano, Superintendent of Nio Board of Education, paid a visit to Waupaca in hopes of enacting the homestay program previously discussed.

 

July 20th-July 23rd, 1994

Ms. Jennifer BIum and her parents - Mr. Bart BIum and Mrs. CoIIeen Blum visited Nio for the first time. They brought a symbolic message of friendship from Mayor Lewinski.

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August 8th-17th, 1994

In the spirit of iinternational understanding and education, 5 Nio Junior high school students and 2 teachers were sent to Waupaca. This was the first time the homestay program was put into action.

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October 18th, 1994 (Resolution No. 906)

A resolution for a sister-city agreement between Waupaca and Nio was adopted by the Waupaca
Common CounciI.

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November 4th-6th, 1994

Mr. John Gusmer, the first president of Waupaca City's Rotary C1ub, came to Nio with Mrs. Mako who is originally from Kanonji. They brought a second symbolic message of friendship from Mayor Lewinski.

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November 16th, 1994

Waupaca International Exchange Committee was established to promote interchange between itself and foreign countries. Nio, Japan was one of its special concerns. This committee decided to dispatch a group of Waupaca students to Nio in the summer of 1995.

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February 19th, 1995

Nio International Commun icat ion Committee was established to actively promote
the friendship between foreign countries such as Waupaca.

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July 25th - August 4th, 1995

Six Waupaca people (4 students and 2 chaperones) came to Nio to participate in the homestay.

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August 4th - 14, 1995

Eight Nio people (7 Nio Junior high school students and 1 teacher) were sent to Waupaca to participate in the homestay
program for a second time.

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August 29th-31st, 1995

Mayor Yamaji and Mr.Asano, Chairman of Nio Town Congress, made an official visit to Waupaca to show their respect
and affirm their sincere wishes for further exchange.

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July 25th - August 5th, 1996

A second group of people arrived from Waupaca to take advantage of the homestay program. The group consisted of nine people (6 students and 3 chaperones).

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August 3rd - 13th, 1996

Nine Nio people (7 Nio Junior high school students and 2 teachers) were dispatched to Waupaca to do the homestay for
the third consecutive year. ​

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September 30th, 1996

A resolution for a sister-city agreement between Waupaca and Nio was adopted by the Nio Common Council.

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January 28th, 1997

The Sister-city Affiliation Ceremony takes place in Nio. The ceremony celebrates the culmination of three years of
history and friendship between the cities of Waupaca and Nio.

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