Mayor Patti York of St. Charles was recently reappointed to the International Council of the National League of Cities (NLC).  The NLC’s International Programs focus on helping city leaders respond to global change and on building linkages between U.S. municipal officials and their counterparts abroad.

According to Mayor York, the International Council provides advice and direction to NLC’s International Programs.  “The Council encourages and supports educating municipal leaders about the impacts and opportunities of globalization,” she said.  “It also connects the knowledge and experiences of cities outside the U.S. with the hometown priorities of American cities and towns.”

Leaders and members of the Council are selected because of their interest and experience in areas of international commerce and trade, citizen diplomacy, sister cities, cultural and educational exchanges, or international development and technical assistance.  Membership is open to elected and appointed local officials as well as to those from non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

“It is an honor to be reappointed to the Council,” York added.  “Given our city’s interest in the sister cities program and our collaboration with our friends in Ludwigsburg, Germany, this is a perfect opportunity to be a part of maintaining and further fostering our international relationships.”

The International Program’s three primary objectives are to:
1. Educate municipal officials about their critical leadership role in seizing the opportunities and managing the challenges of globalization.
2. Facilitate and support opportunities for U.S. local officials to establish and sustain relationships with local officials outside the United States.
3. Develop and advocate policy statements on international issues.

York has been involved with the National League of Cities since 1993 when she was a St. Charles City Councilwoman, and served as President of Missouri’s Municipal League.  She has been a member of the International Council since 2005.  Mayor York participated in NLC’s collaboration with the U.S.-China Exchange Association in 2007 giving local government officials an opportunity to participate in a high-quality trade mission and business development conference in China, including stops in Shanghai, Nanning, Changsha and Beijing.