Program activities sponsored by the Foundation:
Official visit to California by a delegation from the Regional Parliament of the autonomous region of the Azores, Portugal. The purpose of their visit was to reinvigorate the sister state relationship between California and the Azores and to make contact with Azorean immigrants and their descendents. The delegation was led by the Honorable José Bolieiro, a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Immigration and Foreign Relations Committee. [2006]
Official visit to California by a delegation of the Chamber of Deputies from the National Parliament of the Czech Republic. This was the first California visit ever from the Chamber of Deputies. Their mission was to learn more about the California Legislature and European Affairs and to discuss cooperation in the areas of hi-technology, biotechnologies, public transportation and the film industry. The European Union, which the Czech Republic has part of since 2004, is one of the leading business partners for California. [2006]
Official visit to California by a delegation from the New Zealand Parliament, led by the Speaker, the Honorable Margaret Wilson. The purpose of their visit was to strengthen the relationship with California, which is a significant trading and investment partner with New Zealand. In addition, the visit served to reinforce the close ties between the California and New Zealand legislative branches. [2005]
Official visit to California by a delegation from the Government of Argentina, led by the Honorable Mario Losada, National Senator. The purpose of their visit was to exchange ideas and knowledge on a variety of issues and strengthen cooperation between California and Argentina. [2005]
Official visit to California by a delegation from Brazil, led by the Honorable Luiz Fernando Furlan, Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The purpose of their visit was to discuss Brazil’s ethanol program and prospects for support and cooperation between Brazil and California on issues involving the environment, science and technology, and trade and investment. [2005]
Official visit to California byadelegation from the Parliament of New South Wales, led by the President of the Legislative Council, the Honorable Meredith Burgmann. The purpose of their visit was to discuss trade and economic development, agricultural issues, and state/tribal relations.[2005]
Official visit to Brazil by an eight member California Senate delegation with the purpose of furthering trade relations and cooperation efforts in several areas, such as education, energy, environment, urban planning, economic development, and health and human services. In addition, the visit served the purpose of further strengthening the existing sister-state relationship between California and the State of Parana. For more information click here to see the report (Acrobat pdf file reader required) [2004]
Official visit to California by Mr. Jorge Cabrera, Director of Planning And Modernization for the Congress of Guatemala, to study the legislative process in California and our legislative technology in order to gain knowledge and ideas, which could be incorporated into the plan to modernize the Congress of Guatemala. [2003]
Official visit to California by approximately 150 elected leaders and staff from many nations including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal and South Africa to join their U.S. counterparts in examining public policy issues and challenges of concern to individual nations and the global community alike. [2003]
Official visit to California by a delegation of nine high-ranking elected and party officials from the national government of Israel to study different perspectives on California's state budget process, regional government's role in international relations, and the political leadership of women in California. [2003]
Official visit to California by Ms. Maria Ximena Calvo de Kierig, Member of the National Congress of Bolivia, and Ms. Roxana Zaconeta, Coordinator, Commission of Coordination, Bolivian National Political Forum for Women, to gain more knowledge about the structure of government in California and the role of women in the California Legislature in the last two decades. [2003]
Official visit to California by a delegation of six members of the Berlin House of Representatives, accompanied by the Program Director for the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, to study legislative process and environmental issues in California and to continue an ongoing relationship between the California Senate and the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation. [2003]
Official visit to California by the Honorable Gerald Morkel, Premier of Western Cape Province, South Africa, and other government representatives, to sign a sister state agreement promoting cooperative projects in the areas of education, agriculture, information technology, the film industry and tourism, and social services. [2001]
Official visit to California by Members of the Regional Government of Umbria, Italy, to exchange information on educational policy, the biotechnology industry and agricultural issues. [2001]
Official visit to California by the Honorable Joan Rigol I Roig, President, Parliament of Catalonia, Spain and other Members of Parliament, to further cultural, educational and economic relations between California and Catalonia. [2001]
Official visit to California by the Honorable Yun Bulong, Governor of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, and other government representatives, to sign a sister state agreement to encourage mutually beneficial economic collaboration and further cultural and educational exchange. [2000]
Official visit to California by a delegation of legislative staff from the National Parliament of Nigeria to study our state's legislative process and democratic institutions in order to promote a stronger parliamentary process in Nigeria's nascent democracy. [2000]
Official visit to California by the Prime Minister of Singapore, His Excellency Goh Chok Tong, to address the Senate and advance relations between California and Singapore. [1999]
Official visit to California by the Honorable Janos Ader, Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, to learn more about our state's organized crime and refugee policies and programs, and to strengthen ties between California and Hungary. [1999]
California-Australia Biotechnology Partnering & Finance Conference: A joint effort to encourage collaboration between the biotechnology industries in California and Australia. [1999]
Official visit to California by Members of the Legislative Congress of the State of Baja California, Mexico, to learn about our state's water and transportation policies and to seek areas of cooperation between California and Mexico. [1998]
Official visit to California by Members of Parliament from New South Wales, Australia, to sign a sister state agreement furthering social, economic, educational and scientific exchanges. [1997]
Official visit to California by the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, His Royal Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, to sign a sister state agreement promoting cooperation in the areas of trade, industry, tourism, agriculture, education and environmental protection between California and Yogyakarta. [1997]
Official visit to the California Capitol by the Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, the Honorable Kim Campbell, who was the first woman Prime Minister of Canada, to address the Senate and strengthen mutual economic relations between California and Canada. [1997]
Official visit to California by the Mayor of Durban, South Africa, the Honorable Johannes Mile, who was the first black mayor of a major city in South Africa, to address the Senate as part of a celebration of Black History Month. [1996]
Official visit to California to study our state's electoral process, by a historic delegation of Bosnia-Herzegovina election officials who were chosen under the Dayton Agreement to supervise the first democratic election of their new country. [1996]
Official visit to California by representatives of the German Federation of Civil Servants: A reciprocal program between California Senate staff and German government staff designed to exchange information and increase mutual understanding of governmental policies. [1991-2004]