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| Press Release 11-10-04 |
St. Louis-San Luis Potosi Friendship Committee Appointments
ST. LOUIS, Missouri—November 10, 2004— The St. Louis-San Luis
Friendship Committee announced two new appointments to their
board of directors. John Freeborn and Rafael Barron accepted
their nominations during the board’s Annual Meeting held at the
Hacienda restaurant on November 8th.
The St. Luis-San Luis Friendship Committee is one of the many
Sister City organizations working with the St. Louis Center for
International Relations. “As part of the St. Louis Sister Cities
organization, our mission is to develop cultural, education and
business exchange between the two sister cities”, say Mr. Guillermo
Friendship Committee announced two new appointments to their
board of directors. John Freeborn and Rafael Barron accepted
their nominations during the board’s Annual Meeting held at the
Hacienda restaurant on November 8th.
The St. Luis-San Luis Friendship Committee is one of the many
Sister City organizations working with the St. Louis Center for
International Relations. “As part of the St. Louis Sister Cities
organization, our mission is to develop cultural, education and
business exchange between the two sister cities”, say Mr. Guillermo
Guilermo Roadriguez, Board
President [left], Rafael Barron
[middle] and John Freeborn
[right]
President [left], Rafael Barron
[middle] and John Freeborn
[right]
Rodriguez, Board President.
“Mr. Freeborn has demonstrated that small businesses can successfully enter into several
diverse markets. His business skills will be an asset to the board’s mission toward developing a
sound business exchange strategy for our organization”, says Ms. Wilma Prifti, Board Vice-
President. She continues, “Mr. Barron has been an active member of the organization and was
the organization’s sponsored athlete in the 2004 marathon held in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. We
are delighted he has accepted nomination to the board”.
The St. Louis – San Luis Potosí Friendship Committee, Inc. is a nonprofit Missouri corporation
whose main purpose is to foster exchanges in the areas of economics, commerce, education,
technology, culture, and the arts between St. Louis and San Luis Potosí, Mexico while
showcasing St. Louis as an international city. The Committee is affiliated with the St. Louis
Center for International Relations and Sister Cities International.
The Sister City program was established in 1956 at the suggestion of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Underlying this was the conviction that contacts among individuals serve to promote
peace and world understanding. Today, more than 1,200 U.S. cities are paired with 1,900 cities
in 120 different countries worldwide. The Sister City Program provides an opportunity for local
citizens to expand their cultural, educational, civic and economic horizons, while showcasing St.
Louis as an international city.
“Mr. Freeborn has demonstrated that small businesses can successfully enter into several
diverse markets. His business skills will be an asset to the board’s mission toward developing a
sound business exchange strategy for our organization”, says Ms. Wilma Prifti, Board Vice-
President. She continues, “Mr. Barron has been an active member of the organization and was
the organization’s sponsored athlete in the 2004 marathon held in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. We
are delighted he has accepted nomination to the board”.
The St. Louis – San Luis Potosí Friendship Committee, Inc. is a nonprofit Missouri corporation
whose main purpose is to foster exchanges in the areas of economics, commerce, education,
technology, culture, and the arts between St. Louis and San Luis Potosí, Mexico while
showcasing St. Louis as an international city. The Committee is affiliated with the St. Louis
Center for International Relations and Sister Cities International.
The Sister City program was established in 1956 at the suggestion of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Underlying this was the conviction that contacts among individuals serve to promote
peace and world understanding. Today, more than 1,200 U.S. cities are paired with 1,900 cities
in 120 different countries worldwide. The Sister City Program provides an opportunity for local
citizens to expand their cultural, educational, civic and economic horizons, while showcasing St.
Louis as an international city.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE STL-SLP COMMITTEE
In the early part of 1998, the mayor of San Luis Potosí, who had a
daughter studying at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles,
was conceiving a sister city relationship with St. Louis. During the
summer months of 1998 a new impetus was gaining strength. The
intent was to establish formal ties between St. Louis and a city in
Mexico. San Luis Potosí would become the first ever “sister” city
relationship with a Spanish-speaking city as well as the first with
another North American country.
A St. Louis delegation traveled to Mexico in the fall of 1998. In the city
In the early part of 1998, the mayor of San Luis Potosí, who had a
daughter studying at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles,
was conceiving a sister city relationship with St. Louis. During the
summer months of 1998 a new impetus was gaining strength. The
intent was to establish formal ties between St. Louis and a city in
Mexico. San Luis Potosí would become the first ever “sister” city
relationship with a Spanish-speaking city as well as the first with
another North American country.
A St. Louis delegation traveled to Mexico in the fall of 1998. In the city
PURPOSE
The committee enhances world peace by maintaining strong
relationships with similar units and governments in San Luis
Potosí by developing closer understanding and cooperation
between the people of Mexico and those of the USA. The
committee promotes international understanding and creates
opportunities for the citizens of the St. Louis region to
experience and explore the diverse Mexican cultures through
long-term affiliations and stimulates environments through
which St. Louis and San Luis Potosí can creatively learn to
work and solve problems together.
relationships with similar units and governments in San Luis
Potosí by developing closer understanding and cooperation
between the people of Mexico and those of the USA. The
committee promotes international understanding and creates
opportunities for the citizens of the St. Louis region to
experience and explore the diverse Mexican cultures through
long-term affiliations and stimulates environments through
which St. Louis and San Luis Potosí can creatively learn to
work and solve problems together.
SAN LUIS POTOSI
San Luis Potosí is in the center of Mexico much like St. Louis is at the crossroad of the country. It
located in the north with fertile soil and is an industrial center, owing its existence and
architectural splendor to rich mining deposits. The city is considered one of the colonial
treasures of northern Mexico and has a most important historical center.
San Luis Potosí was founded as a Franciscan mission in 1592, but it wasn’t until its gold and
silver deposits were discovered that the development of the urban zones started. The name San
Luis was given in honor of Louis IX of France and Potosí because it was compared with the rich
gold mines in Bolivia. Much of the gold and silver has gone, but zinc and lead mines commingle
with a modern industrial base situated in the road corridor of the North America Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA). The city preserves its colonial enchantment and also enjoys many
attributes of a modern city, such as hotel infrastructure, highways, airport, tourist and cultural
attractions. The railroad and highway system makes San Luis Potosí the neuralgic
communications center of the country. Its geographic location puts it equidistant from the three
main cities of the country, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
The St. Louis-San Luis Potosi Friendship Committee sponsors several events throughout the
year to develop the awareness of the cultural partnership exchange with our neighbors in
Mexico. To learn more about events and participation with the Sister Cities organizations, log
onto their website at www.stcir.org or call 314.863.6777.
located in the north with fertile soil and is an industrial center, owing its existence and
architectural splendor to rich mining deposits. The city is considered one of the colonial
treasures of northern Mexico and has a most important historical center.
San Luis Potosí was founded as a Franciscan mission in 1592, but it wasn’t until its gold and
silver deposits were discovered that the development of the urban zones started. The name San
Luis was given in honor of Louis IX of France and Potosí because it was compared with the rich
gold mines in Bolivia. Much of the gold and silver has gone, but zinc and lead mines commingle
with a modern industrial base situated in the road corridor of the North America Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA). The city preserves its colonial enchantment and also enjoys many
attributes of a modern city, such as hotel infrastructure, highways, airport, tourist and cultural
attractions. The railroad and highway system makes San Luis Potosí the neuralgic
communications center of the country. Its geographic location puts it equidistant from the three
main cities of the country, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
The St. Louis-San Luis Potosi Friendship Committee sponsors several events throughout the
year to develop the awareness of the cultural partnership exchange with our neighbors in
Mexico. To learn more about events and participation with the Sister Cities organizations, log
onto their website at www.stcir.org or call 314.863.6777.
of San Luis Potosí, on November 10, 1998, Clarence Harmon, Mayor of the City of St. Louis, and
Licenciado Alejandro Zapata Perogordo, Mayor of San Luis Potosí signed a Letter of Intent
expressing their will to pursue a formal friendship between the cities they represent. In the
ensuing years an ad hoc committee was formed and developed the relationship and cooperation
between St. Louis and San Luis Potosí. On December 10, 2001, the Saint Louis – San Luis
Potosí Friendship Committee, Inc. was incorporated as a Missouri not-for-profit corporation.
Licenciado Alejandro Zapata Perogordo, Mayor of San Luis Potosí signed a Letter of Intent
expressing their will to pursue a formal friendship between the cities they represent. In the
ensuing years an ad hoc committee was formed and developed the relationship and cooperation
between St. Louis and San Luis Potosí. On December 10, 2001, the Saint Louis – San Luis
Potosí Friendship Committee, Inc. was incorporated as a Missouri not-for-profit corporation.
Freeborn Development Group
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