Stop the Presses: Delights of Springfield surprise visitors from Tlaquepaque

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Dianne Elizabeth is publisher of the Springfield Business Journal.|ret||ret||tab|

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Springfield spoke to the soul of visitors from San Pedro Tlaquepaque when a delegation of four from that Guadalajara-area community traveled here a couple of weekends ago. The visit was part of International Sister Cities Association efforts to foster greater people-to-people understanding in the hope of lessening the chance of future world conflict.|ret||ret||tab|

The citizen diplomacy program was first proposed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. It has now grown to the largest volunteer organization in the world and involves 2,649 cities globally and communities in all 50 states.|ret||ret||tab|

Although someplace called Springfield is reputed to be the home of the Simpson family, our visitors from Mexico were surprised that, in reality, so much is happening in a city of this size.|ret||ret||tab|

"They were amazed that there are so many involved people, so many volunteers in this area, considering its size, said Joyce Munden, Springfield Sister Cities Association president. Tlaquepaque, a suburb itself, has twice the population of the Springfield area.|ret||ret||tab|

"We wanted to show them business, the arts and tourism activities," Munden said. "But my biggest challenge during the visit was moving the delegation from place to place along the tour schedule. The delegates were so enthusiastic about the different facets of the community that they wanted to linger. They were fascinated, for instance, by the Vision 20/20 process."|ret||ret||tab|

Tlaquepaque, long a thriving arts community in the state of Jalisco, is finding true sisterhood with the artistic soul of Springfield. Kay Logsdon of Springfield Area Arts Council led the group through the new arts center at The Creamery in Jordan Valley Park; Emily Fox showed off the Mexican culture kiosk at The Discovery Center; and Dan Carver, education director for Springfield Art Museum, walked and talked the group through the growing art collection near Phelps Grove Park.|ret||ret||tab|

It was about business, too. Robert Low conducted a walking tour of trucking company Prime Inc.; Tom Langston gave a driving tour of Springfield Underground; the group visited Bass Pro Shops, of course; Tracy Kimberlin, director of Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, explained local and regional tourism efforts; Elise Crain led a special tour of Wonders of Wildlife Museum; and at Southwest Missouri State University, Robert Norton talked to the group about the university's Hispanic Initiative.|ret||ret||tab|

The best part of the visit was the new friendships that were formed. I am proud to report that the entire Springfield City Council and Mayor Tom Carlson turned out for a formal reception at The Tower Club. Sixty people, including many area Mexican-Americans, entertained the visitors at a party at Springfield Brewing Company. A special barbecue and farewell party were held at the home of Pam and Russ RuBert. The guests were entertained with Ozarks' traditional music, including hammers and strings. |ret||ret||tab|

The guests were impressed with a brief stop, just before their departure from SGF, at the Southwest Regional Soccer Tournament going on at Cooper Park, where the Hispanic League just happened to be playing.|ret||ret||tab|

Sr. Salvador Orozco, president of the Tlaquepaque Sister City Association, has already written to Munden expressing the group's gratitude for the Ozarks' hospitality. |ret||ret||tab|

"We vow to always maintain," he wrote, "actions that seek to foster a better understanding between our cultures and to the achievement of lasting educational and commercial ties as well as personal friendships."|ret||ret||tab|

My wish to visit Tlaquepaque myself will come true next week. I am asking SBJ Managing Editor Clarissa French for extra space upon my return to write about my experiences there and print photographs of the new friends I will meet in Mexico.|ret||ret||tab|

Hasta luego.|ret||ret||tab|

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