SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9
INTRODUCED BY V. COCCHIARELLA, DOHERTY, BALES, BARRETT, BECK, BERRY, BISHOP, BIXBY, BOHLINGER, BOOKOUT-REINICKE, BRANAE, R. BROWN, BRUEGGEMAN, BUZZAS, CALLAHAN, CARNEY, CHRISTIAENS, CLANCY, E. CLARK, P. CLARK, COBB, COLE, CRISMORE, CURTISS, CYR, DAVIES, DELL, DEPRATU, DEVLIN, EGGERS, EKEGREN, ELLINGSON, ELLIOTT, ELLIS, ERICKSON, FISHER, FORRESTER, FRANKLIN, FRITZ, FUCHS, GALLIK, GALLUS, GLASER, GRIMES, GROSFIELD, GUTSCHE, HAINES, HALLIGAN, HARGROVE, HARRINGTON, HEDGES, HIMMELBERGER, L. HOLDEN, JACKSON, JACOBSON, JAYNE, JERGESON, JUNEAU, KASTEN, KAUFMANN, KEANE, KITZENBERG, LASLOVICH, LEE, LEHMAN, LINDEEN, MAHLUM, MASOLO, MATTHEWS, MCCANN, MCCARTHY, MCGEE, MCNUTT, MUSGROVE, NELSON, NEWMAN, NOENNIG, O'NEIL, OLSON, PATTISON, PEASE, A. PETERSON, K. PETERSON, PRICE, RASER, RICE, RIPLEY, ROUSH, RYAN, SCHMIDT, SHEA, SHOCKLEY, SOMERVILLE, SPRAGUE, STAPLETON, STORY, TASH, TESTER, B. THOMAS, F. THOMAS, TOOLE, TRAMELLI, TROPILA, WADDILL, WAITSCHIES, WALTERS, WATERMAN, WHITAKER, WOLERY, YOUNKIN, ZOOK
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA COMMEMORATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MONTANA AND THE JAPANESE PREFECTURE OF KUMAMOTO ON JULY 22, 2002.
WHEREAS, in 1979, Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield and his wife Maureen began discussions between the State of Montana and the Japanese Prefecture of Kumamoto, eventually leading to the signing of a sister state agreement between Montana and Kumamoto on July 22, 1982; and
WHEREAS, the governments of Montana and Kumamoto have participated in a staff exchange program since 1984, leading to the establishment of a Montana trade representative office in Kumamoto in 1990 and the establishment of Kumamoto Plaza, a Japanese cultural resource center, in Helena in 1992; and
WHEREAS, formal agreements have been created between institutions of higher education, including The University of Montana-Missoula, Montana State University-Bozeman, and Carroll College, numerous public schools, and radio and television stations in Kumamoto and Montana; and
WHEREAS, delegations traveling between Montana and Kumamoto since 1982 have included citizens, government leaders, legislators, Native Americans, people with disabilities, college professors and students, public school teachers and students, business and medical professionals, environmental specialists, artists, performers, and journalists in the print and broadcast media; and
WHEREAS, private nonprofit and community service entities in Montana, including Rotary International District 5390, the Japan Friendship Club, the Missoula Children's Theater, the Helena Youth Choir, the Dillon Fiddlers, and the Helena Babe Ruth Baseball program, have sent delegations to Kumamoto and, in return, welcomed Kumamoto delegations to Montana; and
WHEREAS, citizens in Montana and Kumamoto have opened their homes to visitors, housed students, and otherwise demonstrated their friendship and generosity to people from their sister state; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Kumamoto, especially those of the Montana Club, have made extraordinary contributions to the sister state relationship by raising money for Montana forest fire relief, by helping commission a statue of Mike Mansfield for the Capitol in Helena, and by facilitating the decoration of Kumamoto city buses with images by Montana artist Monte Dolack; and
WHEREAS, Kumamoto has helped Montana broaden its presence in Asia by hosting the 2000 Mansfield Retreat, by promoting Montana-made products, and by facilitating Montana's new sister state relationship with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China; and
WHEREAS, it is important that the Montana Legislature act to commemorate the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Montana-Kumamoto sister state relationship on July 22, 2002.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the Montana Legislature sends its warm greetings and a message of sincere appreciation to the people of Kumamoto Prefecture for the generosity, international assistance, and many other acts of kindness they have extended to the people of Montana since the beginning of the sister state relationship.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the people of Kumamoto are encouraged to continue their participation in exchanges, visits, and other communications with the government and the people of Montana in order to foster an even greater appreciation and understanding of our cultures and people and the natural beauty of our respective lands.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, by the passage of this resolution, the creation of the Montana-Kumamoto sister state relationship in 1982 is celebrated by the Montana Legislature as Montana and Kumamoto Prefecture approach the 20th anniversary of that relationship on July 22, 2002.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send an original copy of this resolution to the Honorable Tsuyoshi Kurashige, Chairman of the Prefectural Assembly of Kumamoto Prefecture, with a request that this resolution be brought to the attention of the Assembly, Governor Yoshiko Shiotani, and the people of Kumamoto.
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