Nuccia McCormick proceeded to introduce Marvin T. Chaney.
Marvin Chaney stated that it was with pride that they appeared today before the City Commission asking for support of their newest Sister City, Agogo, Ghana. He stated they had worked on this relationship with the cooperation of Citric Systems, US Department of State, and Sister Cities International. He stated that the Sister City organization had become a template for successful economic development for the United States. He stated that their economic development successes under the Sister City umbrella had been honored by the International Conference of Mayors, the Organization of American States, and Sister Cities International. He stated that a series of joint ventures had taken place between various entities. Mr. Chaney advised that another of their successful projects was the Youth Scholarship Program, the Thomas McCormick Scholarship. He stated that all of their Sister Cities had an efficient County Chair where they were required to be actively involved in promoting their countries with the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Mr. Chaney proceeded to distribute invitations to the Mayor and Commissioners to the Golf Challenge, which was to be held during the first week of May, 2004. Nuccia McCormick stated that today they wanted to introduce a new future Sister City Agogo, Ghana. She added this had become an important project for them because Citrix Systems was to be involved, and she was honored to be Chairman of this project. Mr. Kennedy, Citrix Systems, stated that a brochure had been distributed concerning this company?s community outreach. He stated that on the back of such brochure was a photograph of the Chief of Agogo, Ghana, who was the 32nd generation of his family to serve in the management of this city. He stated they had begun this relationship because they had done other projects in various cities and had learned that the technology built by their company was used by 50 million business people around the world. He stated that it could be very effective in improving the development of developing countries around the world. He stated they were asked to partner to proliferate their technology in such countries.
Mr. Kennedy further explained they wanted to create cyber sister cities where technology access centers were created. He stated they had built the first one in Collier City in northern Broward County, and were presently working on one at South Plantation High School. He also stated they were working on a third one in Downtown at the Institute for Community Empowerment (ICE). He advised they were building one of these centers in Agogo, Ghana, to create the first cyber sister cities in the world.
Mr. Kennedy continued stating they were not just embarking on another sister city relationship, but it would be about developing neighborhoods and helping to develop countries abroad. He explained this was about creating opportunity by using technology at both ends of the wire. Mayor Naugle stated that Citrix was one of the top companies in the United States and one of the best known local companies.
Commissioner Teel remarked that this was a wonderful opportunity. Mayor Naugle further stated that the policy of the Commission was for them to approve after the Board of Directors of the Sister City organization put the City forward for approval.
Ms. McCormick announced that the organization had already approved Agogo, Ghana, and they were waiting on the Commission?s approval.
ACTION: Commission gave their consensus for approval of Agogo, Ghana as a Sister City.
