YONEZAWA Reader seeks support for program

The Moses Lake Sister City Committee is considering canceling the student exchange program with Yonezawa, Japan after a 30 year run. The committee needs input from the Moses Lake community before a decision is reached this fall. If interest and support is not forthcoming, the Committee will end the student exchange program on a high note of 30 successful years.

The committee needs to know if people in the community, school officials, or local industry leaders think a student exchange with a Japanese city is worthy of support and continuation. A small, dedicated (and aging) group of committee members has carried the load for too many years. The committee needs new blood and a fresh start.

In 30 years more than 270 Moses Lake high school students and chaperones lived with Yonezawa families. The same number of Yonezawa students lived with Moses Lake families. Add family members of the individual participants, and it is clear the program has touched a significant portion of the populations of both small cities.

The committee, chaperones and students raise approximately $18,000 annually from private donations to finance the exchange of five students and two chaperones. The program has other costs for hosting Yonezawa visitors, special events, local travel, and insurance. Fundraising is more difficult while expenses have increased.

The committee is considering two options: downsizing the exchange to three students and one chaperone; or canceling the student exchange.

If the student exchange is canceled, Yonezawa will still be Moses Lake's sister city. Other options for cultural exchange and cooperation can be pursued.

If you are interested in preserving the student exchange program with Yonezawa, let us know. You can e-mail [email protected], or send a letter to Moses Lake Sister City Committee, P.O. Box 875, Moses Lake, 98837.

Doug Sly

Chair

Moses Lake Sister City Committee