OPEN (Organization Promoting Everlasting Neighbors) has been a part of the Newton and Jasper County area for 25 years which we celebrated in October with a special community event. January is “Sister City Month,” and we have a display at the Newton Y in the first floor display cases, depicting activities. One of those projects has been our high school student program, an important aspect of our relationships with our sister cities in Wu Chi, Taiwan and Smila, Ukraine. Our current student, Yu-Tsen Kuo, from Taiwan, was hosted during the first semester by Sveta and Zach Miller. His second semester home is with the Marvin and Cindy Thurmond family.
The student program started in 1993 and we are proud that we have had 41 students take advantage of the opportunity to participate in area high schools since 1993. We appreciate the numerous host families that have welcomed our students. Without this support, it would not be possible to sustain this important program.
We have been privileged to have many dedicated OPEN Board members as well in the last 25 years. Our sincere thanks to all who have been a part of our successes. Our current Board members are: Sheri Benson, Warren Erickson, Jane Johnson, Debbie Knopf, Frederick Kramer, Mary Beth Lawson, John McNeer, Sveta Miller, Jeff Price, David Raymond, Tori Reynolds and Joan Tyler.
Jane Ann Cotton
Newton