www.seattle.gov Seattle is a centre of trade, culture and advanced technologies on the north-western coast of Pacific Ocean. Situated in the state of Washington, 182 kilometres from the American-Canadian border, the city was founded in 1869. Seattle numbers 572 000 citizens. The port of Seattle, being an American port situated in the closest vicinity of Asian areas, is an important link between Asia, America and Europe. Surrounded by mountains and water, the city of Seattle offers a tourist unforgettable views and possibilities of taking advantage of many recreation forms all year round. It is the 605-feet-high Space Needle that is the symbol of Seattle. The remains of the old Seattle destroyed during the fire in 1889 may be admired by visitors to Pioneer Square National Historic District. Pacific Centre presents dozens of interactive shows, among others a 3-D cinema, Tropical Butterfly House, dinosaur exhibits, Planetarium and laser theatre. Also the Seattle Aquarium is one of the greatest attractions of the city, where visitors can watch marine creatures form underwater level. Seattle Centre is an amazing park where festivals and other events are organised. In Seattle one can also admire Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks - a system of locks and canals enabling ships to pass from Puget Sound to Salmon Bay and Lake Washington. In the ratings Seattle is mentioned as one of the best US cities as far as business location is concerned. It is Boeing concern, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer that is the most important employer in Seattle. As far as other industries of the city are concerned, Seattle is a centre of food industry, electronics, timber and paper industry, shipbuilding, machine and metal industry, telecommunication and production of medical equipment. Seattle is also a centre of technologies of the future such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, environmental engineering as well as aerospace industry. The agreement on twinning cooperation was signed on 22nd April 1994 and it provides for a wide range of cooperation of both cities, not only in the field of sport and culture, but also in the economic one. The effects of the cooperation: visit to Gdynia of the representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and the Director of Polish Film Festival in Seattle. The aim of the visit was among other things to establish co-operation with the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - September 2004 a present for the Centre of English Book in Gdynia High School No. 3 and other school libraries in Gdynia: English language course books and English literature presents for Orphanage in Demptowo: regular financial aid (approximately twice a year): clothes, toys, sweets, stationery (paper, crayons), medicines, cosmetics, chemical agents, sports equipment (e.g. 42 pairs of roller- skates, tents), regular financial aid (e.g. to buy some equipment and to renovate bathrooms) participation of six persons from secondary schools in a one-month stay in Seattle (at the expense of Seattle) an exhibition about Seattle in Gdynia - 1994 American Trade Mission in Gdynia - 1995 assistance of Seattle in organizing of the bank of eye tissue for Gdynia Municipal Hospital speech of Mayor of Gdynia at the North-West Conference of the Amalgamated Transit Union in Seattle - June 1996 a study visit and participation of an officer of Gdynia City Hall in the Polish Film Festival in Seattle- November 1997 consultations of City Treasurer of Gdynia with an economist from Seattle, Glen Lee, on tax system held during the visit to Gdynia of Seattle City Hall representatives and Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association - June 1998 modern dance workshops in Musical Theatre in Gdynia run by Mr. Rip Parker, a professor of modern dance at Washington University in Seattle - August 1998 providing information on Seattle facilities for the disabled exchange of experience between the police from Seattle and from Gdynia; proposition of organizing a training in Seattle for Gdynia's policemen a visit of the President of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association, Ms. Elisabeth McDowell, in Gdynia; during her stay Ms. McDowell visited the Orphanage in Gdynia and the summer camp in the Kashubian Region. She provided additional funds for the renovation of the bathrooms - August 1999 participation of a modern dance professor from Washington University in Seattle in 4th Gdansk Baltic Dancing Festival - August 1999 providing information on the developing of water resources and road management - August/September 1999 preparation of artistic works by children from "Bęc Gallery" in Gdynia Orphanage for an auction in Seattle - October 1999 providing on clothes and school materials for the orphanage in Demptowo - May 2000 in May 2000 Gdynia City Hall received 121 computers (servers) from Seattle - Gdynia Sister City Association. According to the benefactors' wish, some of the computers (47) were given (free of charge) to scientific institutions outside Gdynia, e.g. in Gdansk, Kartuzy, Wejherowo, Tarnów, Poznan, Wroclaw. The rest of the computers were given (free of charge) to self-governmental schools and educational institutions. These computers could be used to create intranet and internet in the above mentioned institutions. on 16th of March 2000, Mayor's of Gdynia competition entitled "From Gdynia �to Seattle" was held. The main task was to write an essay in English on one of three given topics. Out of 190 works the competition committee chose 20 best ones that were later sent to Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association. The Association selected the winners of the competition. Five students from Gdynia secondary schools and one girl from the Orphanage in Gdynia-Demptowo were rewarded language courses in Seattle founded by American Cultural Exchange and Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association - July/ September 2000 the second edition of the Mayor's of Gdynia competition "From Gdynia� to Seattle" was organised in April 2001. The competition committee chose 20 best works that were later sent to Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association. The Association selected 4 winners, who were rewarded summer language courses in Seattle - July/ August 2001 complex training of Gdynia's policemen in Seattle on the organizational structure of police in the USA, range of duties of police in each of departments, prevention programmes and programmes supporting violence victims and their families. Policemen from Gdynia also took part in American policemen's routine patrols - September 2001 in May 2002 the third edition of Mayor's of Gdynia competition "From Gdynia� to Seattle" was held. Two winners were rewarded 3 weeks' English courses in Seattle. During this year's scholarships the students from Gdynia assisted teachers in running the classes visit of the President of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association in Gdynia in order to discuss the plans of further cooperation - May 2002 participation of the representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association in the Europe Prize celebrations planting of a symbolic tree by the representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association in Gdynia Twin Cities Avenue a benefit concert of Katherine Griffin, all the proceeds from the concerts were offered to the Orphanage in Gdynia-Demptowo participation of Seattle representatives in the UBC "Without Limits" Conference which was held in Gdynia - September 2002 organization of a charity concert of Katherine Griffin, an American pianist in Gdynia. The concert was held in aid of Children's Home in Gdynia Demptowo - September 2002 participation of Seattle representatives in the ceremony of presenting Gdynia with Europe Prize - September 2002 concert of the pianist Katherine Griffin in the Polish Home in Seattle held in aid of Children's Home in Gdynia Demptowo - June 2003 visit of basketball players from VBV Clima GTK Gdynia club to Seattle where they had one match with local team Seattle Storm - July 2003 ceramic sculptures exhibition of Kazimierz Kalkowski, an artist from Gdynia in Seattle - July/August 2003 visit of Seattle - Gdynia Sister City Association to Gdynia. The aim of the visit was to present Children's Home in Gdynia Demptowo with the money obtained as a result of organizing charity concert of Katherine Griffin, an American pianist in Seattle - August 2003 cooperation with Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association in preparation of the Polish Film Festival in Seattle - October 2003 study visit of the President of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association to Gdynia concerning new projects proposed by the Association - May 2004 visit to Gdynia of the representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and the Director of Polish Film Festival in Seattle. The aim of the visit was among other things to establish co-operation with the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - September 2004 visit of Seattle Business Executives, Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and US Embassy in Warsaw as well as Seattle authorities within an economic mission. During the visit a solemn unveiling of a sculpture, "Coming home - a gift from Seattle" took place - May 2005. "August strikes" exhibition - August 2005 presenting Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association with medal on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of NSZZ "Solidarność" Kolejarzy (NSZZ "Solidarność" of Railwaymen Rolling Stock Company) - August 2005 participation of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association representatives in the 30th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - September 2005. participation of the representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association and those of Seattle Polish Film Festival, as well as Los Angeles Polish Film Festival in the 30th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Seattle Polish Film Festival sponsored an award for the best film in the independent cinema competition. The award was presented to a film director Tomasz Szafrański, for the film entitled "Devil". The director of the prize-winning film was invited to take part in the 2006 Seattle Polish Film Festival - September 2005study visit of Port of Gdynia Authority and Maritime Office representatives to the Port of Seattle - November 2005participation of Seattle representative in the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of granting Gdynia city rights - February 2006participation of Seattle representative in the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - September 2006visit of Stellar Holding Company representatives from Seattle - September 2006visit to Gdynia of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association representative aimed at discussing joint projects - June 2007 participation of Seattle representative in the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - September 2007working visit of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association representatives concerning the organisation of Gdynia Business Week - May 2008visit of Seattle police in the Gdynia Police Headquarters - September 2008visit of a Seattle representative connected with "The Tall Ships' Races 2009" - July 2009visit of business representatives of the State of Washington concerning the organisation of Gdynia Business Week 2009 - August 2009visit of representatives of Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association aimed at discussing the organisational details of Gdynia Business Week 2010 - March 2010visit of business representatives of the State of Washington concerning the organisation of Gdynia Business Week 2010 - August 2010visit of Seattle representatives in Gdynia; the aim of the visit was to discuss details concerning Gdynia Business Week 2011 - May 2011visit of business representatives of the State of Washington concerning the organisation of Gdynia Business Week 2012 - August 2012visit of business representatives of the State of Washington concerning the organisation of the 5th edition of Gdynia Business Week - August 2013 Opublikowano: 14.11.2006 00:00 Autor: Małgorzata Aleksiak