Board members serve three year terms, during which time members are expected to attend monthly meetings and help perform those tasks associated with sending and hosting students and their chaperones to and from Kakuda, Miyagi, Japan. In addition to this, there is also the opportunity to attend state and national meetings of the Sister Cities International organization, which is based in Washington, D.C. Their website can be found at http://www.sister-cities.org.
Any member(s) of the community who are interested in speaking to the board, must contact the President at least two weeks in advance to request that they be added to the agenda. Depending on the information/topic being discussed the community member may be asked to give a formal presentation or submit a proposal to the board.
Please meet the current Board of directors:
Tony Campbell - President Tony and his wife Joy live in Greenfield, and their daughter Elizabeth made the visit to Kakuda as a sister city representative in June 2005. He
works for Erie Insurance as a Corporate Claims Property Reinspector, and a member of Erie's emergency response unit. Tony is also a past president of the local Rotary Club, and remains an
active Rotarian. He accepted the position of president in September 2005.
"I look forward to serving on the Sister City Board and helping any way I can," he says. In his free time, Tony enjoys gardening, tennis, fishing and shelling. |
Sandy Davis - Vice President I started on the Greenfield Sister Cities Board in 2003 and I am serving as the Vice-President. I enjoy fully the interaction between Board Members
and interviewing the children that want to be travelers to Japan.
My parents traveled Japan in the late 1970's and I was just as anxious to visit in June of 2004. My experiences will never be forgotten and my memories of the gracious people. The Hanzawa family was my Host Family in Japan and their hospitality was beyond measure! Keihin IPT, Mfg., Inc. in Greenfield, Indiana has been a supporter of the Sister City Program since its' beginning. I work in the Quality Assurance Department and received my Masters Degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2004. Mr. Hanzawa was my Japanese mentor for five years, when I started working here in 1989 at Keihin IPT, Mfg., Inc. I became friends with him and his family until they had to return to Japan. The amazing part, I had given "Teddy Bears" to both of their daughters and his wife as a "going home" gift from the United States. I was in shock when they invited me to stay with them, while I was in Japan in 2004. I was really amazed; when I walked into their living room and up on shelves was all the Teddy Bears I had given them 10 years ago. I felt at home and they made me feel like part of the family! Since I have no sisters or brothers, I now have a Japanese Sister with family. We keep in touch monthly or more and send presents on Special Holidays and Birthdays. Keihin IPT, Mfg., Inc. in Greenfield, Indiana has been a supporter of the Sister City Program since its' beginning. In the photo gallery section of this site, I have included some of the pictures from the trip in 2004 and my new Japanese family. |
Sara Houston - Secretary Sara Houston
joined the Sister Cities of Greenfield Board in 2005. In June of
2004, she was a chaperone for the group of students traveling to
Kakuda. "My trip was wonderful and I wanted to continue my service
in this great program," Sara says. "I look forward to any
contributions I can make as a board member for the Sister Cities of
Greenfield."Sara was born and raised in Greenfield, and attended Greenfield schools from kindergarten through high school. She graduated from Ball State University with her Bachelors Degree in 1999, and Masters Degree in 2002. Currently, Sara teaches kindergarten at Harris Elementary School in Greenfield. |
Susan Geesa - Treasurer Susan's visit to Kakuda, as a chaperone of the 2005 Greenfield Wing, added another dimension to her life. She became aware of
the Sister City Program, early in her career, as a teacher of elementary students with special needs, in Greenfield Schools.
While somewhat apprehensive about traveling to Japan, as a chaperone, she was encouraged by her colleagues, who had previously
been involved.
"What a wonderful opportunity for the students and adults in the Greenfield community!" she says. "It truly is a life-changing experience. My host family, the Takahashi's and their friends, are very special to me. I will always enjoy sharing my experiences." "After 25 years in teaching, the opportunity to experience a completely new culture and environment, has helped me renew my enthusiasm for teaching and I look forward to visiting my new family and friends from Kakuda in the future. As a board member, I hope to contribute as much as I can to the Sister City Program." Born in Richmond, Indiana, Susan earned degrees in elementary and special education from Taylor University and IUPUI. Susan and her husband, Roy, have 2 children. Traveling has always been a favorite activity of their family. |
Kurt Bringerud
Kurt has served on the board of directors since 2000, and teaches Japanese at Greenfield Central High School. "I'm in a unique position both to advise the board as well as personally and professionally benefit from our sister city relationship," Kurt says. |
Kazuha Whiteman
Kaz joined the Board of Directors in 2008 after supporting the organization with translating and helping the Japanese students during their visits to Greenfield "I had so much fun doing that," Kaz says. "So when I was asked to be a board member of Sister Cities, I felt so honored." Kaz adds that she's excited for the opportunity to work with the Board of Directors. |
Lyndi G. Lyndi is in her
first year as a member of the board of directors. A 1997 graduate
of Greenfield Central High School, she made the trip to Kakuda in
1994. She received a bachelors degree from the University of
Evansville in the spring of 2001, and a master's degree in art
therapy from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in May
2003.About her experience with the sister city program, Lyndi says that she had "a wonderful time in Japan, meeting new people and learning a different culture", and looks forward to possibly returning some day. In her spare time, Lyndi enjoys working on artwork and displaying it at art shows around the area, including Greenfield's own Riley Festival each October. She has a website displaying her work at lyndiland.com. |
Dawn Hanson Dawn Hanson joined the Sister Cities board in 2004. Her family has
hosted students from Kakuda three times, and her oldest son visited
Kakuda as part of the Greenfield Wing in June 2005. The Hanson
family has maintained relationships with all the students that they
have hosted, but Dawn has formed a friendship with the mother of
the first student they hosted. Through their e-mail exchanges, they
are helping each other understand the cultural differences between
their lives, but also the similarities that parents all over the
world experience.Dawn hopes to help Sister Cities of Greenfield strengthen their global relationship with Kakuda, and hopes to travel to Kakuda soon herself. |
Donna Knecht Donna Knecht
joined the board of directors in 2003, and has been the travel
coordinator for the organization since 2004. Donna is a Greenfield
resident, a graduate from Greenfield-Central, and teaches within
the Greenfield-Central School Corporation. She earned both her
bachelors degree in elementary education and her masters degree in
special education from Ball State University.Donna made the trip to Kakuda in 1999. "I had an unforgettable experience in Japan. Each year about the time the Kakuda students visit Greenfield, I love to share my pictures and souvenirs with my students. They learn about the Japanese culture and get excited about looking forward to applying to travel when they are in middle school. As the travel coordinator, it is rewarding to see the benefits from all the travelers we send and to learn about what they have gained from their own experience from each trip." |
Kim Kile Kim Kile joined the Sister Board in 2007. She and her son, Erik, had the honor of traveling to Kakuda as part of the Sister City program in the
summer of 2007. Her daughter, Emily, has also been to Kakuda as a student ambassador in 2005. The Kile family has hosted several students and
they all love the experience of learning more about the Japanese culture and language.
"Being a part of the Sister City exchange program, through traveling and hosting, has opened our family's eyes to the wonderful world in which we live. We all look forward to meeting our student and learning a little bit more about Kakuda and Japanese culture each year." Kim is originally from Shelbyville, Indiana and graduated from Shelbyville High School. She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Butler University. Kim is the school counselor at Greenfield Middle School where she works with all of the students in grades six through eight. Prior to working at Greenfield Middle School, she was the director of admission at Butler University. She had her husband, Nick, have four children; Emily, Erik, Erin Kate, and Ethan. Spending time with her family, watching all types of athletic events, and reading are just a few of things she enjoys doing in her spare time. |
Marilyn LeveringMore information coming. |
Amanda Leiber Amanda Leiber joined the Sister Cities of Greenfield Board in 2006, and served as a chaperone
on the 2005 trip to Kakuda, Japan."My trip to Japan opened my eyes to Japanese culture, and made me want to keep traveling," Amanda says. Amanda is a graduate of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. She earned her bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University. Amanda is currently teaching kindergarten at Weston Elementary in the Greenfield Central School Corporation. |
Jeff Myers Jeff Myers joined the Sister Cities board of directors in 2007. He traveled to Kakuda City in
June 2007, along with his son Evan, as part of the Greenfield Wing's visit."What an incredible opportunity it was to not only visit Japan and experience the culture, but to be able to go with my son made it that much more special," Jeff says. Jeff is Vice President of Engineering & Operations at Central Indiana Power in Greenfield, and he has bachelors and masters degrees in engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He is married to Kelly Myers, who is a 7th grade teacher at Mt. Vernon Middle School, and they have three children. Jeff enjoys music, sports and he plays keyboards in the Park Chapel Christian Church praise band. |
Joy Stouder Joy Stouder has been a Sister City Board member since January 1999."My family became involved as a hosting family in 1993," Joy says. "In 1995, my daughter Andrea traveled to Japan with the Greenfield group. In 1997, my daughter Chrissy traveled to Japan and I went as a chaperone for the group. "In 2002, I again had the privilege of serving as a chaperone of this exchange. My involvement in this organization has been a vital part of my life. My hope is that this youth exchange will continue to cultivate peace and understanding between nations." |