mi-sisterstate

Michigan Sister-state

see also Michigan-Shiga blog, overview,

40th anniversary celebration of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Relationship

Wednesday, August 20 at 1 p.m. (Michigan Historical Museum)

Special Welcome Ceremony for the 2008 Goodwill Mission, comprised of 50 people from Shiga

visiting Michigan for 8 days, including Shiga's Lt. Governor along with other officials.

Details: auditorium of the Michigan Historical Museum at 702 West Kalamazoo St. in Lansing.

The formal program is 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. But 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.local musician Jeff Kressler will play an electronic keyboard

The program begins with comments by officials of each state, along with other invited speakers.

Speakers include Uichiro Taguchi, Lt. Governor of Shiga and head of the Goodwill Delegation; Governor Granholm or a representative from her office; Tamotsu Shinotsuka, Consul-General of Japan in Detroit; Al Beamish, President of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Board; and a student speaker from each of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State student programs --the Japan Center for Michigan Universities, the Zeze Super Science High School Program, and the Michigan-Shiga High School Student Exchange Program. The public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, August 25, a Farewell Dinner and Program will be held for the Shiga delegation and their host families at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on Harrison Road. This will include a special Native American Dancing and Drumming Exposition, arranged through the Nokomis Learning Center of Okemos. Also commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Relationship will be performances by the Otsu Children's Choir. Otsu is Lansing's Sister City, and is the capital of Shiga Prefecture.

The choir gives a concert at 7:00 PM on July 24 at Pattengill Middle School, 626 Marshall St., Lansing. The Otsu Children's Choir will give a second concert in Manistee on July 27 at 7:00 PM in the First Congregational Church, 412 Fourth Street.

The public is invited to attend both these events. Refreshments will be served following the programs.