Title: La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association Records
Date: 1996-2009

Creator:

• La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association, Inc..

Unique Identifier: MSS 077

Quantity: 1.2 cubic feet

Physical Description: 1 archives box, 1 flat box

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

The La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association, formed in 1996, is an organization developed to support the sister-city relationship between La Crosse, Wis., and Luoyang, China. Records include background on Luoyang (1997), articles of incorporation (1996-1997), and board of director's minutes (1996-2009). Committee materials are made up of committee membership lists (1996-1997). Minutes and other materials from the China Delegation committee (1996), education committee (1997), environment committee (1996) and youth committee (1996-1997) are also included. Other items found in the collection include correspondence (1996-2000); materials pertaining to general events (1998-2000), and China Delegation visit materials (1996). Financial information (1996-1997) is limited to two financial statements. Other materials include La Crosse City Council Legislation (1996), organization membership lists (1996-1997), other miscellaneous papers (1996-2000) and memorabilia (undated) which includes a machine-embroidered doily from Luoyang.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss077

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

54054858

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association Records, MSS 077, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processed by Christine Stolz, 2005; updated by ATD, 2009

Records of the La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association include background information (1997), articles of incorporation (1996-1997), and minutes from the board of directors (1996-2009). There are some gaps in the minutes.

Committee materials include lists showing committee membership (1996-1997). The most complete set of committee materials including minutes, memos, and schedules, is from the China Delegation Committee (1996), a committee that made preparations for the first visit of delegates from Luoyang to La Crosse in July 1996. Fewer materials are available for the education committee (1997), the environment committee (1996), and the youth committee (1996-1997).

Other materials include correspondence (1996-2000), general events information (1998-2000), and China Delegation visit materials which includes several photographs, lists of delegates, and other materials (1996). Financial information (1996-1997) is limited and includes two financial statements. La Crosse City Council legislation (1996) pertaining to adopting Luoyang as a sister city is included. A membership list (1996-1997) and other miscellaneous information (1996-2000) is also part of this collection.

Memorabilia (undated) includes a machine-embroidered doily from Luoyang.

In 1994, La Crosse attorney Chuck Hanson was contacted by the Wisconsin Department of Development and was asked to begin to explore the possibility of a sister city relationship with Luoyang, China. Luoyang is a city in north-central China, about 350 miles south of Beijing, on the Yellow River. More than five million people live in the city and the surrounding area.

At the time, La Crosse already had sister city relationships with Dubna, Russia, and Epinal, France. Hanson had been an influential member of the La Crosse/Dubna Friendship Association.

In January 1996, the city of La Crosse received a request from officials in Luoyang, China, requesting permission to send a delegation to La Crosse. The first delegation of five men and a woman arrived in La Crosse on July 18, 1996. The delegates met with La Crosse city council president, Roger Plesha, and signed letters of intent to become sister cities. In addition, the group took a tour of the city and several local businesses.

After the Luoyang delegates visited in July 1996, local residents formed the La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association to support the sister-city relationship. Articles of incorporation were drawn up in December 1996. A formal La Crosse City Council resolution was adopted on September 12, 1996, making Luoyang a sister city of La Crosse.

More visits from Luoyang delegates soon followed. In September 1997, agricultural officials spent five days in the area touring a variety of agriculture related businesses. Two Chinese doctors visited La Crosse's medical facilities in 1998. A delegation of five visited Viterbo College focusing on education in 1999. During another visit in November 2002, delegates were given the opportunity to explore agriculture, schools, and medical facilities in the area.

Delegates from La Crosse also visited Luoyang. In October 1997, sixteen delegates toured Luoyang and a formal agreement between the two cities was signed. Tod Edwards, a La Crosse business owner, visited Luoyang in January 2001 to offer condolences to residents after a fire broke out in a shopping center that killed over 300 people. During another visit in April 2002, sixteen delegates toured schools, hospitals, and businesses.

Other programs include a teacher exchange program. Each year two teachers come to La Crosse from Luoyang to teach Chinese and a La Crosse teacher travels to Luoyang to teach English. The program began during the 1998-1999 school year when La Crosse high school teacher Thom Sandvick taught English in Luoyang while Bai Fan and Zhi Guanjun came to La Crosse to teach Chinese and international business. The program has continued with more teachers from Luoyang coming to teach in La Crosse schools.

Beginning in 2002, through a U.S. China Youth Exchange Program, an exchange program was started for small groups of La Crosse high school students and students in China. Students were able to attend school and compare life in each other's countries.

(Clipping file)

Organizations--La Crosse Luoyang Friendship Association

(Ephemera file)

Organizations--La Crosse Luoyang Friendship Association

(LP 0174)

La Crosse/Luoyang Peony: The Newsletter of the La Crosse/Luoyang Friendship Association, Inc.

• La Crosse-Luoyang Friendship Association, Inc..
• La Crosse (Wis.)--Social life and customs
• La Crosse (Wis.)--Societies, etc.
• Luoyang (China)
• Sister cities--China--Luoyang
• Sister cities--Wisconsin--La Crosse

Box 1   Folder 1	Background, 1997
Box 1   Folder 2	Articles of Incorporation, 1996-1997
Box 1   Folder 3-4	Board of Directors Minutes, 1996-2009
	Committees
Box 1   Folder 5	General, 1996-1997
Box 1   Folder 6	China Delegation, 1996
Box 1   Folder 7	Education, 1997
Box 1   Folder 8	Environment, 1996
Box 1   Folder 9	Youth, 1996-1997
Box 1   Folder 10	Correspondence, 1996-2000
	Events
Box 1   Folder 11	General, 1998-2000
Box 1   Folder 12	China Delegation visit, 1996
Box 1   Folder 13	Financial materials, 1996-1997
Box 1   Folder 14	La Crosse City Council Legislation, 1996
Box 1   Folder 15	Membership lists, 1996-1997
Box 1   Folder 16	Miscellaneous, 1996-2000
Box 2	Memorabilia, undated