| And we were rewarded
with honors and commendations! FoM applied to Sister Cities International
(SCI) in the “Best Overall Program” category for cities
with populations between 25,000 and 50,000. We are proud to report
we were named the second best sister city program in the United
States! SCI, in conjunction with the US Department of Education,
offered grants to more than 75 communities in the US who had a sister
city relationship with an Islamic nation. Once again, FoM triumphed
by being one of only five national winners of the $7500 grant for
a "Secondary School Exchange with an Islamic Community."
Tim Honey, former Executive Director of
SCI, complimented FoM by proclaiming it one of the best sister city
organizations in the country. Chris Lewis, the Director of Public
Education/Development for the Wheelchair Foundation and a member
of its Board of Directors, told us that the way in which FoM handled
its wheelchair delivery to Merzifon was a model that all other organizations
should emulate.
Why, then, the word "Farewell"
in the title to this essay?
Over the past two years, our sister city
relationship with Merzifon has withered. Much to our dismay—because
we are not at all sure why—the Merzifon bureaucracy has decided
to distance itself from our offer of mutual friendship and cultural
exchange. Factors that we think may play a part in this decision
are America's foreign policy, especially regarding Turkey's neighbor
Iraq, and/or a totally unfounded suspicion that we may be religious
missionaries. All efforts to resolve this issue and to reestablish
a relationship have been for naught. The Governor (Vali) of the
province, the County Administrator (Kaymakam), and the Mayor (Belediye
Baskani), all members of the AKP, the Islamic political party currently
governing Turkey, have been non-responsive to our inquiries.
Consequently, the FoM Board of Directors
has voted with great regret to cease our association with Merzifon
and to end our sister city relationship. Our treasury ($7800) has
been donated to a very fine organization in our city, the Pleasant
Hill Community Foundation, which does outstanding work with deserving
people, clubs, and projects.
Each of us involved with the establishment
of FoM and with its many undertakings still has unbounded respect
for Turkey and its people. It is a magnificent country, with a history
richer perhaps than any other. Its citizens are exceedingly friendly
and hospitable; its scenery is second-to-none. It is a place we
believe all should visit if they possibly can. We promise an unforgettable
experience! It is simply too bad that current world tensions have
made it impossible for those of us involved with sister city activities
to continue the highly valuable interaction that made FoM the huge
success it was.
This outstanding website, created and maintained
by FoM Vice President Bob Skapura, is scheduled to be closed down
at the end of this year.
To all our dear friends and loyal supporters
we bid a fond, appreciative, and grateful farewell. It was great
while it lasted!
John Blake, Founder
Friends of Merzifon
2000-2008 |
