H.J.R. 3 Enrolled

             1     

JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SISTER CITY

             2     
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAGNA, UTAH, AND YUZAWA,

             3     
NIIGATA, JAPAN

             4     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Chief Sponsor: Susan Duckworth

             7     
Senate Sponsor: Daniel W. Thatcher

             8     
             9      LONG TITLE
             10      General Description:
             11          This joint resolution of the Legislature expresses support for the Magna-Yuzawa Sister
             12      City Program on the 10th anniversary of the educational and cultural exchanges
             13      between Magna, Utah, and Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan.
             14      Highlighted Provisions:
             15          This resolution:
             16          .    recognizes the 10th anniversary of the student exchange between Magna, Utah, and
             17      Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan, which created a framework for the relationship between the
             18      two communities; and
             19          .    recognizes the benefits of the sister city relationship between Magna and Yuzawa.
             20      Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22     
             23      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          WHEREAS, in early August 2003, the Magna Township, assisted by Salt Lake County,
             25      hosted a sister city search committee from Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan, which came to the United
             26      States to find an American community with which to begin a short-stay educational and
             27      cultural exchange;
             28          WHEREAS, during its time in the United States, the Yuzawa Committee also visited
             29      cities in Washington and California as a part of its sister city search;


             30          WHEREAS, after returning to Japan, the Yuzawa Committee reported its findings and
             31      recommendation to local government officials;
             32          WHEREAS, on September 25, 2003, based on the Yuzawa Committee's report and
             33      recommendation, the Yuzawa Mayor and Town Council chose Magna, Utah, to be the
             34      community with which to begin the journey of conducting an annual educational and cultural
             35      exchange;
             36          WHEREAS, in July 2004, Yuzawa's Mayor, Takayuki Murayama, came to Magna with
             37      the first group of students and their adult escorts to see Magna, observe the programs and
             38      activities Magna had prepared for the exchange, and formally invite Magna to annually send
             39      students to Yuzawa;
             40          WHEREAS, in July 2005, Magna sent its first group of students to Yuzawa to learn
             41      about Japanese culture and life;
             42          WHEREAS, over the years, Magna has sent 60 students to visit and learn more about
             43      Yuzawa and Japan;
             44          WHEREAS, these students were housed in Yuzawa by volunteer host families;
             45          WHEREAS, the 96 students Yuzawa sent to Magna since 2005 were housed by
             46      volunteer host families while learning about Magna, the state of Utah, and the United States;
             47          WHEREAS, in July 2010, Yuzawa sent a delegation to Magna requesting that it be
             48      allowed to take part in helping Magna celebrate its 100-year anniversary during its 4th of July
             49      parade and 4th of July celebration;
             50          WHEREAS, on July 7, 2012, Yuzawa and Magna formalized their sister city
             51      relationship by resolution in a ceremony in Yuzawa, Japan;
             52          WHEREAS, on August 9, 2013, in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the
             53      signing of the Magna-Yuzawa Sister City Resolution and the 100-year anniversary of the
             54      Japanese "Gift of Trees" to Washington, D.C., Yuzawa gave 30 Akebono flowering cherry
             55      trees to Magna to solemnize the friendship between the two communities;
             56          WHEREAS, in 2011, Brigham Young University (BYU) was considering expanding its
             57      International Study Program in Japan to the Niigata Prefecture;


             58          WHEREAS, due to the relationship and friendship developed between Magna and
             59      Yuzawa, BYU found a community receptive to working with the university to bring its
             60      educational, cultural, and community service program to Yuzawa and Niigata; and
             61          WHEREAS, in the spring of 2014, BYU will begin working with Yuzawa to develop
             62      the infrastructure for the kickoff of its Study Abroad relationship, which is scheduled to begin
             63      in 2015:
             64          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
             65      recognizes the 10th anniversary of the commencement of educational and cultural exchanges
             66      between the sister cities of Magna and Yuzawa.
             67          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes the benefits of the sister
             68      city relationship to both Magna and Yuzawa.
             69          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the city of
             70      Magna and the city of Yuzawa, Niigata, Japan.


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