International Relations History
|
The Florida League of Cities (FLC) began its international effort through establishment of an International Relations Committee (IRC) in March 1999. As part of the formation of this program, the Board of Directors adopted an International Statement that included a vision statement and goals.
Effective January 1, 2000, a consulting agreement between the League and Nat M. Turnbull, Jr., a former director of the Florida Office of International Affairs, was approved. Mr. Turnbull, the committee and FLC staff prepared a 5-year action plan for the program. This plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in April 2000.
Key aspects of the plan include:
development of international training for city officials from a Florida perspective,
implementation of international pages on the League’s Web site,
outreach to local municipal leagues regarding the international program, and
networking to identify and enhance the resources available to Florida cities to augment their international programs.
To implement these aspects of the plan, several methods were employed. In the international training component, three successful International Academies, Basic Course, were held. The first of these was held August 25 - 26, 2000, in Orlando; the second on October 5 - 6, 2001, in Tampa; and a third was held April 24 - 26, 2003, in Orlando. An Advanced Course is being planned.
Inception of the International Round Tables in 2001 added a more localized and informal means of learning about municipal international involvement. These Round Tables were each held with the cooperation and involvement of the local and regional municipal leagues.
The International segment of the FLC Web site was established in 2000, and continues to grow as cities, villages and towns report their international success stories for posting and sharing.
International activities in which committee members and FLC staff have been involved include:
the Florida Department of State’s International Days
the Metro Orlando International Summit
the Inter-American Conference of Mayors
a partnership with COMURES (Corporation of Municipalities of the Republic of El Salvador), an El Salvadoran equivalent of a national league of cities
attendance at the International Union of Local Authorities’ annual conferences in Merida and Guadalajara, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Turin, Italy, and Rome, Italy; as well as the strategic planning meeting of the Gulf of Mexico States Accord in Orlando
articulation of a partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and cooperation with the North Florida International Visitors Council at Florida A & M University in hosting visiting federal and municipal officials from several countries at the League offices
Other organizations with which the International Relations Program continues to work include The Gulf of Mexico States Accord, Sister Cities International, Enterprise Florida, the National League of Cities’ International Task Force, and Florida Department of State’s Office of International Affairs.
|
|
