Wendy Werner
CherryRoad Media
Syracuse was host to a Delegation from Romania on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. The delegation of three women and two men along with an interpreter toured the Otoe County Museum of Memories, Syracuse Public Library, City Hall, Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Elementary School, the wastewater treatment plant, fire and rescue building, the sports complex and Williams Park/Aqua Center.
Earlier in the day, the delegates met with the Otoe County Commissioners.
Carolyn Gigstad discussed charitable giving, volunteerism and the work of the Syracuse Foundation at dinner at Roc Hopper.
The day concluded with the guests attending the Syracuse City Council meeting.
Ranging in age from 22-53, the Romanian delegates’ visit was under the Open World Program, sponsored by the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL). The theme was “Local Legislatures”. Friendship Force of Lincoln is the hosting organization for which families open their homes to the delegates.
Locally, Bruce and Carlene Keim of Syracuse hosted two delegates, one from northwest Romania and the other from the southern border of Romania.
Other hosts families were located in Lincoln.
According to the Friendship Force International website, the organization was founded by Wayne Smith and introduced by then President Jimmy Carter who in meeting with governors asked them to return to their states and identify a volunteer leader to serve as the State Director for the Friendship Force.
Among the delegates were a County Councilor, two Vice Mayors, a Deputy Mayor, a Senior Lawyer and a Facilitator. The group arrived Friday, August 8, 2025, late afternoon and spent the following day choosing from social opportunities in the Lincoln area.
Over the next few days, the delegates visited governmental entities in Crete and Lincoln and also met with District 1 State Senator Bob Hallstrom.
They departed on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
One delegate explained with the fall of the Soviet Union or Iron Curtain, Romania has been a democracy for 35 years. He said the opportunity to visit the U.S. helps them learn and allows them to have a bigger impact on society because they are leaders.
