RTC3

Our Story

The Rockville Sister Cities Corporation (RSCC) is a non-profit, all-volunteer, people-to-people organization, affiliated with Sister Cities International, Inc.  Our organization is dedicated to conducting Rockville’s Sister City relationships.  RSCC also conducts robust local initiatives, which include all of Rockville’s citizens in Rockville’s Sister Cities Program.

Incorporated on June 24, 1986, the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation formed to plan and support exchange programs and other intercultural activities between Rockville and its Sister Cities: Pinneberg, Germany and Yilan City, Taiwan. In addition to international exchanges and numerous local events, we publish a newsletter iperiodically detailing Rockville Sister Cities Program activities, and host a website with ongoing information. The RSCC Board of Directors meets each month. Membership is open to any individual, family, or corporation, which upholds Rockville Sister Cities Corporation values, affirms the Corporation Bylaws and advocates for the continuation of the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation and its programs.

Sister Cities members come from many backgrounds, while share a common interest in making our world a little smaller, a little friendlier, and a little more understanding, through partnership with cities in other countries and in our own local communities. We enjoy getting to know our own neighbors, whom share our common interests and working together on projects to support our exchanges and local programs.

If you enjoy international travel, hosting foreign guests in your home, helping high school students realize the dream of a trip to another country, and meeting other people with similar interests, Rockville Sister Cities is for you!

More information about the Rockville Sister Cities programs, is in this website.  Or click here for contact information.

What are sister cities?

A sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities.

A city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement ranging from a half dozen to hundreds of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, sister city organizations can include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private sector, and other civic organizations.

Each sister city organization is independent and pursues the activities and thematic areas that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges, pursuing projects with their sister city.

Affiliations between cities in the United States and other countries began shortly after 1945. The national focus was realized in 1956 by the People-to-People program initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Sister Cities International, incorporated in 1957, grew out of the “Civic Committee of People-to-People” program. This organization is dedicated to providing the catalyst, assisting the formation of new relationships, and acting as coordinator for communities to develop and further their sister city relationships. By 1996, Sister Cities International has assisted millions of people in more than 1,100 cities and towns across the United States in establishing links with over 2,000 communities in over 120 nations of the world.

[click link for a PDF slide show, from the RSCC Glenview Lecture, Jan. 2022]

ROCKVILLE SISTER CITIES CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS - As of September 2023

David Hill
David Hill*

President

MarikaBrown2
Marika Brown*

Director

Mao
Chaiyee Mao

Director

 

Adjoua sm
Adjoua Silue

Director

 

GilbertSantiago2
Gilbert Santiago

Vice President

XiChen
Xi Chen

Director

 

Photo-of-Melissa-McKenna cropped
Melissa McKenna

Director

 

David_Tang
David Tang

Director

John_McKenzie
John McKenzie

Treasurer

 

ding
Hung-Bin Din

Director

Drew_Powell
Drew Powell

Director

Liz von Kaenal*

Liz von Kaenal*

Director

SteveFisher2
Steve Fisher

Secretary

 

Kuan_Lee2
Kuan Lee

Director

BlankHeadShot

Hannelore Quigley

Director

 

 

* Rockville Mayor and Council Appointee

ROCKVILLE SISTER CITIES CORPORATION
Rockville City Liaisons - As of October 2021

Paige_Janzen
Paige Janzen

Rockville City Liaison: Superintendent of Community Facilities

Adam Van Grack
Adam Van Grack

Rockville Mayor and Council Liaison:
Councilmember

Board Information

Board Meeting Dates, 2024

Board Meeting: Oct. 22, Tue., 7:00pm,     hybrid: City Hall & WebEx

Board Meeting: Nov. 19, Tue., 7:00pm,     hybrid: City Hall & WebEx

Further dates: Dec. TBD

Reimbursements:

Policy:  RSCC_ExpenseReimbursementPolicy2.pdf

Form:  RSCC_ExpenseReimbForm.docx

         Categories List:  RSCC_BudgetCategories2.pdf

Terms

David Hill* President July 1,2025
Gilbert Santiago Vice President April 2026
John McKenzie Treasurer September 2025
Steve Fisher Secretary September 2025
Marika Brown* Director September 1, 2026
Xi Chen Director September 2025
Hung-bin Ding Director September 2026
Kuan Lee Director April 2026

 

Chaiyee Mao Director September  2026
Melissa McKenna Director September 2026
Drew Powell Director September 2026
Hannelore Quigley Director September 2025
Adjoua Silue Director April 2026
David Tang Director April 2026
Liz von Kaenal* Director April 1, 2027

* Rockville Mayor & Council appointee