Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - delegates of HBSCA attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Raindrop Turkish House where key note speaker Hon. Charles Foster, Consul General of Thailand gave a speech about U.S. Immigration Policy and the Need for Reform Now.  In his speech, Charles Foster shared a brief history of US Immigration law and highlighted the most important points of the current immigration problems with an estimated 12,000,000 undocumented workers in the US and how these issues should be addressed with rationale and structured policy.  Charles C. Foster currently serves as the chairman of the Partnership's Immigration Task Force. He heads up Tindall & Foster’s immigration law practice group. A founding member of his firm, Foster has been recognized in Texas Monthly and Texas Lawyer as one of Texas' top lawyers.

Houstonian families visiting the new Bellaire Town Square Family Aquatic Center at 7008 S. Rice Ave can now see a special Azerbaijan tile on the pool wall marking the relationship between Houston and Baku as Sister Cities.

The decorative tile which has been designed by US/Azerbaijani artist Saida Fagala was inserted in a colorful tile wall placed near the pool in an aquatic park featuring a big play area for families with water slides and waterfalls. The idea to place the Azerbaijan/Baku tile into the wall was conceived during the visit of a delegation from Azerbaijan graciously hosted by the city of Bellaire upon invitation of the Open World Program leaders in May 2007.

The evening of May 28, 2008, the Houston-Baku Sister City Association hosted a reception at the Houston City Hall to celebrate Azerbaijan's 90 years of Independence.  

The celebration was attended by more than 100 guests, including Mr. Atilla Uzer, Ambassador of Turkey and Mr. Ali Findik, Turkish Consul, as well as members of other Houston-based consulates and the City officials, representatives of Houston's business, cultural, educational, non-profit and Azeri communities. During the evening the guests had an opportunity to learn about Azerbaijan, meet old friends, make new friends and enjoy the typical Azerbaijani cuisine and hospitality. 

    Houston-Baku Sister Cities Association  represented Baku/Azerbaijan at the Houston International Festival (iFest-2008), which took place during the weekends of April 19-20 and April 26-27 in Downtown Houston. This year, Azerbaijan was represented by two young dancers, 8 and 9-graders, Maya Aliyeva and Togrul Sharifov (students of Sabina Gasimova from School of Choreography). Their performances were on Saturday, April 26 at 12 noon and 6.30 pm and on Sunday, April 27 at 12 noon. 

    The Azerbaijan booth was open on Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 pm, and on Sundays from 4 to 8 pm.

Azerbaijan ceramist, Saida Fagala and American potter, Judy Adams join together for this two-person show Thank you/Спасибо.
    Ms. Fagala works with porcelain and other fine clays to create strong, figurative sculptures. Her surface design is reminiscent of European/Russian faïence brushwork to which she incorporates her own individual style.
     Judy Adams is pushing the limits of pottery and the idea of a “vessel” by deconstructing and reassembling “pots” to create unique, contemporary forms.

HBSCA President Irada Akhoundova and Board members Maud Bech and Saida Fagala met Ms. Andrea White, wife of Houston Mayor Bill White, and Mayor's Protocol Allience personnel at a luncheon hosted by Raindrop Turkish House. The event was called "Turkish Cultural Day" and featured delicious food, desserts along with the Turkish folk dance and songs.

Alejandro Morales, a student of HBSCA member Narmin Backus from Clear Lake Christian School, has won the 2^nd place in this year's Sister Cities art competition. 

    The purpose of this competition was to encourage youth (ages 13 to 18) from all parts of the world to express, through original artwork, their concept of the Sister Cities mission and the 2008 theme A Reflection of Your Community. All art works will be displayed in the Visitors Center inside City Hall.