Sister City

Sister Cities International (SCI) is a citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities to increase global cooperation at the local level.  SCI promotes cultural understanding, social development and economic growth. As an international membership organization officially certifies links between U.S. communities and those abroad to ensure their sustained commitment and success in this mission.

The City of Hollister is a member of Sister Cities International, whose objectives are to learn about, share ideas with and engage in exchanges of people, culture, business and education.

There are over 1200 U.S. cities with more than 1800 sister cities in about 130 countries.  California has almost one third of all the sister cities in the U.S.A. S.C.I.'s Northern California chapter has over sixty cities with nearly 150 sister cities.  There are over 250,000 S.C.I. volunteers in the U.S.A.  Hollister Sister City Association, founded in 1989, is a member of the SCI Northern California (NorCal) Chapter of Sister Cities International and our own Ruth Erickson is President of that Chapter.

For more information, visit the Sister Cities International web site:

www.sister-cities.org

Hollister Sister City Association

Contact:  Geri Johnson                   Telephone:  (831) 636-4304

375 Fifth Street                             Facsimile:   (831) 636-4310

Hollister, CA  95023

Our Story

In the spring of 1989 the City Council of the City of Hollister received a letter from Takino Town, Japan, wondering if our city would be interested in a sister city relationship.  Our City Council members at that time thought it would be a wonderful idea and responded affirmatively.  Takino Town sent a delegation of five to Hollister in August of 1989 to meet us and set future events in motion.  A 12-member delegation from the City of Hollister went to Takino in November of 1989, just a month after the Loma Prieta earthquake.  A beautiful signing ceremony took place finalizing the friendship agreement.  The first formal delegation came to Hollister from Takino in June of 1990.  Included in the delegation was the Taiko Drum group, who gave a public concert for the community.  The delegation also participated in the Horse Show Parade adding much excitement as the drummers played the entire parade route.

We mention the Loma Prieta earthquake because a couple of days after the earthquake a limousine pulled up in front of Hollister's City Hall.  Takino Town could not reach City Hall so they had representatives from the Japanese Consulates office in San Francisco drive down to check on us.  They offered blankets, sleeping bags, or whatever they might do to help us.  The City of Hollister did receive some large earth moving equipment as a result of our sister city friends.

After a couple of years the Assistant English Teacher program was started.  A recent college graduate from the community goes to Takino Junior High School to help them with their English classes.  We have sent eleven - Robin Bridwell is in Takino now to spend the next year in Takino as their Assistant English Teacher.

Hollister receives a student delegation from Takino Junior High School in the spring of odd numbered years.  The students usually come for 4 to 5 days.  This is a very popular trip from Takino Junior High School; they have a lottery to determine who comes because so many students apply.

The Sister City program was established so that delegations from Takino come to Hollister in even numbered years and delegations from Hollister go to Takino in odd numbered years.  It is important to note that Hollister delegates pay their own way.  The Hollister Sister City Association is a volunteer group that deals with the exchanges, requests, gifts, programs, events, tours, host families, Assistant English Teachers, student delegations, etc.  Ruth Erickson and Geri Johnson are Co-Presidents.