What is the Sister City Program?
The Sister City Program was established by President Eisenhower to improve
communications, cultural, and business relations between the people of the
United States and the rest of the world community. Said Ike, “Sister
City relationships can turn nations into people and contribute as no other
form of communications to the humanizing of international relations”.
What is the Houston/Galveston-Stavanger Sister City Program, and why is it
so successful?
Houston and Stavanger formed a sister city relationship in 1980 as a result
of strong business ties between the two cities and the significant investments
made by Norwegians in commercial activities in Houston and vice versa. The
support for the organization by business, civic, and cultural leaders was a
prime contributor in recognizing Houston as having the best Sister City program
in 1983. During Stavanger’s visit in April 1988, Galveston took part
in many of the activities and expressed a wish to join the Sister City organization.
On September 26, 1988, the mayors of Houston, Galveston, and Stavanger formally
signed a document joining the three cities in the program named “Houston/Galveston-Stavanger
Sister City Society”.
What other recognition has been made of the ties between the three cities?
Ministers from Norway are regular visitors to Houston. Houston has been selected
to have a Royal Norwegian Consulate General, a Norwegian Trade Council, a
Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, and a Norwegian Seamen’s Church.
Four Houstonians have been decorated by the king of Norway, whereas one of
them, Mr. Jay Medley, received one of the highest awards ever given by the
king to a foreign individual.
Tax Status:
FEDERAL: HGSSCS holds recognition as a tax-exempt cultural and educational
organization under Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. For more
information, see www.guidestar.org for copies of recent Form 990 tax filings.
STATE: HGSSCS holds Texas limited sales, excise, and use tax exemptions
as a nonprofit charitable and educational organization with activities and
programs as described in Title 34, Part 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter O, §3.322
Exempt Organizations of the Texas Administrative Code.
