• Office of the Secretary of State

• Subcabinet for International Affairs

• Mission: Encourages open communication and collaboration among Maryland State agencies, international coalitions and the Governor’s Office.

• Sister State Program

• Affiliated with Sister States International

• Volunteer-based citizen diplomacy network

• Promotes educational exchanges, fosters cultural awareness and maintains diplomatic connections

• Walloon Region, Belgium

• State of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

• Anhui Province, China

• Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

• Gyeongangnam Province, South Korea

• State of Jalisco, Mexico

• Lodz Region, Poland

• City of St. Petersburg/Leningrad Oblast, Russia

• Nord-Pas de Calais, France

• Liberia , Bong and Maryland Counties

• No State Tax Dollars

• Funded through fundraisers and corporate sponsorships

• More than 200 volunteers from institutions, businesses and organizations

• Membership is free and bipartisan

• Board of Directors meets quarterly

• Non-profit 501 (3) organization

• Host international delegations

• Medical /nursing exchange

• Guest worker program

• Environmental Training

• Support for rural libraries

• Rule of Law Program

• Youth Sailing Races

• Lacrosse coaching

• Sister States International Film Festival

• World Artists Experiences

• www.worldartists.org

• wae@comcast.net

• Betty McGinnis, President

• Mission: bridge international understanding using the universal language of the arts

• For more information:

• 410-974-5574• 1-888-974-0013 (toll free)

• Ms. Mendy Nitsch, Director,• International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State, The Jeffery Building 16 Francis Street Annapolis, Maryland 21401 U.S.A.

• mnitsch@sos.state.md.us

• www.marylandsos.gov

• Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

• www.choosemaryland.org

• International Operations Mission

• Foreign Direct Investment, Stimulate international marketplace activities , Attract new businesses, Provide state support for exporting goods and services