თქვენ გვჭირდებით, დოქტორ თრიშ!

ქალბატონმა ტრიშმა აღნიშნა იმ ალაჩვეულებრივი მეგობრობის შესახებ, რომელიც ქუთაისსა და ნიუპორტს შორის არის. მან დიდი სიყვარულითა და პატივისცემით მოიხსენია როზმარი და დერეკ ბატლერები, რომლებიც ამ მეგობრობის წამყვან ძალას წარმოადგენენ. მანვე წამოაყენა არაჩვეულებრივი იდეა სამ ქალაქს - ქუთაისს, კოლუმბიასა და ნიუპორტს - შორის ერთობლივი მეგობრული კავშირების გაღრმავებისა და გაძლიერების შესახებ.

ქუთაისის მერმა გიორგი თევდორაძემ გამოხატა დიდი იმედი, რომ კოლუმბიის დელეგაცია ორმაისობისათვის ქუთაისში ჩამოვა. დოქტორ ბლერის თქმით ქალაქ კოლუმბიის მთავრობის ისე როგორც მისურის უნივერსიტეტის ხელმღვანელობის საპასუხო ვიზიტი შესაძლოა დაიგეგმოს სექტემბერში, როცა ყველაზე ნაკლებდაძაბული პერიოდია ამერიკაში. აღსანიშნავია ის ფაქტიც, რომ მომავალ 2012 წელს ამ ორი ქალაქის ქუთაისისა და კოლუმბიის დამეგობრების 20 წელი სრულდება, რომელიც აუცილებლად ფართო მასშტაბით უნდა აღნიშნოს როგორც აქ, ქუთაისში, ისე იქ- კოლუმბიაში.
ამის შემდეგ ქალბატონი ბლერი ესტუმრა ქუთაისის მე-3 და მე-19 საჯარო სკოლებს და მათ საჩუქრად წიგნები გადასცა.
 

კობა ლომიძე, ფილოლოგიის დოქტორი
აკაკი წერეთლის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი

 

Dr. Trish Blair has been a friend of Georgia for a long time. This friendship started as far back as 1992 when Kutaisi, Georgia and Columbia, Missouri, USA became sister cities. Dr. Blair is the founder and president of “A Call To Serve International” (ACTS International) – an international relief agency. She is also an Honorary Citizen of Kutaisi and one of initiators of friendship between Columbia and Kutaisi. As part of ACTS International efforts there have been several relief projects implemented in Kutaisi and Georgia.



On a warm day of December Dr. Trish Blair visited Kutaisi to meet the Kutaisi city government officials, the Akaki Tsereteli State University leadership, English Philology Department academic personnel, Kutaisi Public Schools #3 and #19. Although Dr. Blair has many friends in Kutaisi, this visit was initiated by the Kutaisi Mayor’s Office to start the process of taking the friendship between Kutaisi and Columbia to the next level. This relationship used to be so active years ago and both parties agree that it need some resuscitation.

At the meeting with the ATSU rector George Gavtadze the relations between Akaki Tsereteli State University, Kutaisi and University of Missouri, Columbia were discussed. In 1998 ATSU rector Avtandil Nikoleishvili and then University of Missouri Provost Dr. Brady J. Deaton signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities, which was renewed in 2008. As part of this agreement students from Kutaisi are able to compete for an opportunity to study at the University of Missouri.

Dr. Blair presented some new ideas that are possible to accomplish now that the advent of new technologies makes long distance communication so simple. According to Dr. Blair the present leadership of the University of Missouri is very enthusiastic to enhance the cooperation between the two universities.

The meeting with the academic personnel of the English Philology Department was very warm. Madonna Megrelishvili the head of the department welcomed the honorary guest. Dr. Blair is very famous with the academic personnel of the English Philology Department which used to be the English Studies Department in the past and has special significance for developing friendship between the two cities. It was at this department that the idea of sisterhood between the cities of Kutaisi and Columbia and the two universities - Kutaisi and Missouri - was born. Warm words of welcome were said by the academic personnel of the university.

Lyalya Kobeshavidze, a senior teacher said:
Dear Trish, you were like a kin Santa Clause, when smiling and looking energetic in spite of a tiring long journey, you would land at the Kutaisi airport with humanitarian aid determined to help people in trouble. Thanks to your tireless efforts Kutaisi survived hard and bleak years of the 90s when it lived without electricity, gas, water and even in hunger. We will never forget it. Thank you very much.



Rusiko Gvilava, a senior teacher said:
It was 1992 when I first heard about you. You came to Georgia when our country was having hard times and the assistance you provided to our people was of paramount importance. You made the life of so many vulnerable people easier. For several years I used to work for IRC (International Rescue Committee) and I remember well how popular your name was. In the same 1992 year you visited our university, met with our students. It was on your initiative that Kutaisi and Columbia (Missouri) became twinned cities and friendly links were established between Kutaisi State University and Missouri University. You have done so much to strengthen these ties. We are very proud that you were one of the first persons to become an honorary citizen of Kutaisi.

We feel very sad about the fact that the tie between Kutaisi and Columbia are not as strong as they used to be. We hope you will do your utmost to promote its progress.

Thank you for everything you have done and you will do for us.



Maia Alavidze, senior teacher said:
Dear Ms. Blair, I remember I was a young teacher when I first met you. I remember that you were one of the first foreigners who came over and showed interest in our country. I am very glad to see you again and I’d like to tell you about a few things we’ve been doing during these years. As you are a doctor yourself you might want to know what Kutaisi doctors are doing.

A month ago Kutaisi doctors formed an international doctors club. It is called international because some of the members of the club are from Newport, Wales, UK. They endorsed the statute that gives detailed information who can become the member of the club. The aim of the club is to conduct trainings for doctors and nurses. They meet once a month and share the experience. At the beginning they plan to have on-line trainings from Newport but in the long term plan they intend to invite some of the doctors from the UK or send the staff there. So if you find it interesting they would be grateful if you have time to talk to them and tell them who professional unions in the USA work or co- operate with them in any way. Kutaisi doctors will be very happy if our sister city Columbia will also join the club and actively participate headed by you in this project. Thank you once again for what you did for Kutaisi and thank you in advance for your future work.

Natia Zviadadze, head of the Languages Center said:

We are really glad to see you here again. We remember your first visits at our university and the English Speaking Club. It was when we were students and happy to meet people from English speaking countries, that gave us a chance to practice our English. Many years have passed since then but you haven’t changed. I know you have done a lot for the twinning and a lot in organizing many programs and exchange visits contributed between our two cities and universities.

Kutaisi has changed a lot since 90s. Many new institutions have been opened. The parliament building is being built and it will soon have its first session in Kutaisi. Focus is being made on education, tourism and small business development. The reform influences all walks of life. I think, our city will meet new challenges with more confidence and experience. The fact that you are here today makes me think that some new initiatives will follow your visit.

On behalf of my generation of graduates who have become university staff and are involved in its activities I’d like to thank you for being our friend for so many years.

Koba Lomidze the former teacher and the winner of Muskie scholarship noted:

A Call To Serve’s contribution is great in the Georgian healthcare, business cooperation and most importantly education. We should never underestimate the importance of friendship and cooperation between Columbia and Kutaisi. The world university rankings show the prevalence of the American universities. This once again confirms how much can be learned and shared between Akaki Tsereteli State University and University of Missouri. Being able to visit the US as an international student through a Department of State funded program I could see that life in the US is of high quality but not without problems. Therefore it is commendable of American people that despite the problems of their own they are willing to extend a hand and assist their friends in Georgia.



At the entrance to the Kutaisi City Administration Dr. Trish Blair was welcomed by Davit Megrelishvili, the head of international relations department of the Mayor’s Office. Dr. Blair liked the post that has arrows pointed to all sister cities of Kutaisi. In the conference hall Dr. Blair met with the Kutaisi Mayor Mr. Giorgi Tevdoradze, head of the city council Mr. Amiran Khvadagiani and other officials. Mr. Giorgi Tevdoradze noted that the relations between Columbia, Missouri and Kutaisi, Georgia were very good in the past, but with the new stage in the development of Georgia and Kutaisi this relationship can be made even more outstanding. The potential points of cooperation were discussed.

Dr. Blair talked about the need for sustainable development and invited the city officials to visit Columbia early next year. The response visit of the Columbia City leadership and the University of Missouri officials could happen next September which is the best time in terms of schedule. Giorgi Tevdoradze expressed his hope that the delegation will be able to come for Kutaisi Day celebration on May 2 as well. It is noteworthy that the year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the sisterhood between the cities of Kutaisi and Columbia.

Dr. Trish Blair noted the extraordinary friendship between Kutaisi and Newport. With love and respect she mentioned Rosemary Butler, who is a moving force of this friendship together with Derek Butler. She came up with an idea of strengthening and deepening the joint friendship between the three cities - Kutaisi, Columbia and Newport.

The next destinations were Kutaisi Public Schools #3 and #19. There used to exchanges between these and Columbia schools in the past. Dr. Blair donated books to the mentioned schools.

Koba Lomidze, PhD
Akaki Tsereteli State University