Rapid City Nikko City Sister City Association

08/28/2025

Hey everyone! Our sister City Associations have Merged 🥰 Please give our new page a follow! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578386703854

Rapid City, South Dakota's Sister City Page
Current sister cities:
Apolda, Germany
Nikko, Japan
We travel, we connect, we grow
Student exchanges, Profession Exchanges, Family Trips, Educational Events and more!
Let us know what you're interested in!

05/06/2025

2025 U.S-Japan Sister Cities Summit!
September 16-19, 2025, in Osaka, Japan.
https://www.sandisca.org/events/ #!event/2025/9/16/2025-us-japan-sister-cities-summit

04/24/2025

ATTENTION!

Our Sister City Associations need volunteers for leadership positions immediately!
(Apolda, Germany and Nikko, Japan)

The boards of both sister city associations have merged and in our joining we are looking for new leadership to take our sister city relationships to new levels!

Leadership positions are all open for new (or returning) volunteers
Current leadership will be available for questions and guidance throughout their first year to help the new board feel comfortable stepping into these roles.
Please reach out and let me know if you would like to serve on the board.

The new board must be voted in and our vote will happen next Wednesday, April 30th 2025 @ 5:30 at City Hall.
If you are interested in a specific position please contact Meghan Olson directly or send an email to [email protected] with your name, phone number and position you would like to fill.
If you are unsure which position you would like to volunteer for, please stay tuned for the list of duty descriptions!
Volunteers must be present at City Hall Wednesday April 30th or have submitted their contact information and written bid with stated intent to serve for the specific leadership position of their choice.

If you are elected you will serve for a 1-3 year term. Terms will be set by the new board as a first order of business with flexibility and a minimum of one year for the first new board.

This meeting is the LAST EXTENSION in order to fill seats on the board. Failure to fill these seats by 7pm Wednesday April 30th will result in the sale or dissolution of the sister city associations.

We are well established associations (over30 years!) with a solid volunteer base for exchanges, events and committees who need new leadership in order to grow in new directions and transform the way we operate.
Leadership positions should be filled by those who have business experience, passion for cultural exchange, great adaptivity and communication skills, or community members interested in developing international relationships. Duties vary based on position, I will be adding a link to specific duties shortly.

Once again, we are out of time to elect a new board. If you or someone you know would like to serve purpose community and work with the sister city association, please reach out!

Questions and comments are welcome. Help me get the word out Rapid City🫡

03/25/2025

Sister Cities leaders and friends,



I am proud to announce our 89 outstanding Youth Ambassadors (YAs) ages 19-27 who will represent the USA at next month’s World Expo in Osaka, Japan. We have 47 states represented and the YAs speak a combined total of 22 different languages! Click HERE for a full list with photos and short bios in our YA “Look Book.” Many of your cities are represented among the group and we are very proud of them all. There were 1500 applicants for only 89 positions.



We are finishing YA training today here in Fort Worth, Texas and will es**rt the group to Japan tomorrow. YAs will work for either three or six months during the World Expo. Our local NBC affiliate did a great news story on them this morning – check my LinkedIn page or page for the video.



Yesterday we took some great photos at our IMAX Digital Dome.

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We also heard from former Ambassador to Japan (2005-2009) Tom Schieffer, who stayed for an extra two hours to talk with each YA.

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And we took an official photo of our incredible team of young men and women.

If you’d like to see these YAs in action, join us at the 2025 U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit in Osaka Japan from September 16-19, 2025. We will have:

- world-class speakers

- insightful and dynamic sessions

- opportunities to meet people from around the world
- hands-on Japanese cultural activities

- a full day trip to the Osaka World Expo.



Visit THIS page for more information and sign up before it sells out. The early bird rate ends on March 31.



These YAs represent the future of diplomacy and global leadership for the United States, and Sister Cities International is proud to have been chosen by the U.S. Department of State to execute this incredible program.



Thank you for your support of our mission of bringing the world together, one friendship at a time.



--

CARLO CAPUA “カルロ・カピュア”

Chair, Board of Directors

[email protected]

03/10/2025

Photo from Girl's Day Celebration! Thank you Sako Tennant!

02/16/2025

NOTICE****

Anyone interested in brainstorming the future of both of our Sister City organizations (Apolda and Nikko City) is welcome to attend a SISTER CITY BRAINSTORMING SESSION, which will consist of an update on the “state of the union” from both Nikko City and Apolda Sister City Boards, followed by a moderated discussion of the possibilities and challenges faced by both organizations looking to the future!

WHEN: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 PM

WHERE: City Hall, second floor meeting room – “Circle of Friends” ( a door monitor will be on duty from 5:45-6:10 PM, please text 605-786-3974 to be let in to the meeting after 6:10 PM)

WHO: Anyone interested in learning more about the opportunities for volunteer service and participation in our current Sister City programs.

WHAT: “State of the Union” updates from both groups, and a moderated discussion on the administrative challenges of recruiting Board member involvement, ways we can support each other if we continue as independent groups into the future, merging of the two groups, or dissolving one or both groups.

This discussion is designed to generate ideas and to establish interest in maintaining one or both groups. The current Boards are accepting letters of interest in serving as Board members, or Committee Chairs for exchange visits. Comments in reply to this email are welcome and will be considered by the Boards.

The results of this meeting will inform the Apolda Annual Meeting Agenda. The Apolda Annual meeting is currently scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 6:00-7:00 PM, City Hall, second floor, Circle of Friends meeting room. A separate Notice of Annual Meeting will be sent in March.

Please forward this email as you wish! Ideal opportunity for a group of friends to choose to serve two very worthy programs promoting “citizenship diplomacy”.

Looking forward to our discussion on February 26th!

Sincerely,

Jennifer B. Utter

President

Rapid City Sister City Partnership Association, Inc. (Apolda)



Jeff Kaleda

Treasurer

Nikko City Sister City

08/25/2022

Hopefully, more exchanges can find a way to meet face to face as soon as possible.

A Japan-US student exchange program with a long history has held its first face-to-face meetings in three years.

08/18/2022

Interested in Japanese folklore and monsters? Why not check out this free online session from the Japan Foundation.

Join us as we explore the origins of Yokai, and how these monsters from Japanese folklore influenced the world of horror.

05/10/2022

Nikko is famous for Yabusame - horseback archery. Here’s a chance to learn more about it.

May is almost here! Mark your calendar for our 5/14 webinar on yabusame, a form of ritual horseback archery in Japan.

🐎🏹 REGISTER: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QJ_L1vblTXqzBnZkldv_ew