SERBIAN DELEGATION WELCOMED IN CLEVELAND
Cleveland, OH - The Serbian community of Cleveland had the opportunity to welcome a Serbian delegation during the month of December. USAID sponsored 10 visitors on an exchange program from Serbia. Upon receiving over 60 applications 10 visitors were chosen which best represented the Waste Management and Recycling industry of Serbia. This group represented many areas of Serbia including Belgrade, Krusevac, Valjevo and Pirot. Our visitors hold various titles including; Planning and Analysis Manager, Head of Public Utility Affairs, Recycling Center Manager and Head of Economic Development Department.
The delegation had a full three weeks of training and exposure to area facilities. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. George Brown, community liaison for Senator Voinovich’s Cleveland Office. Mr. Brown spoke on the Senator’s work in the U.S. Congress in relation to promoting Public Works Committee (EPW), Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee. They also visited the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District, the Cleveland State University computer lab, the Ohio EPA Office of Twinsburg, the company New Wave Plastics LLC, Republic Services and many more. They had a full schedule of a week of class work and presentations followed by two weeks of on hands experience at various waste management facilities.
This delegation was welcomed to the Serbian community by many host families including the Sokolovic, Batkovic, and Damljanovic families. Fr. Zivojin Jakovljevic and his family invited the entire delegation to their Slava, Sv. Nikola, which made our guests feel very welcome. The delegation was fortunate to visit many tourist sites as well including, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, they attended a Cavs game, drove through the Serbian cultural garden, and visited our local Serbian churches. The visitors were presented with gifts from the community including an icon of St. Budimir of Dobrun (Sokolovic) and a SSS Njegos Christmas CD.
The delegation had a gracious send off by the Serbian community of Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Milan Damljanovic planned an event to send off the guests. On December 18th the reception was held at St. Sava Cathedral reception hall which was filled with many local Serbs who came to meet and greet these special guests. Mira Damljanovic was asked to emcee of the evening as she and her husband are committee members of the International Community Council (ICC). This couple were appointed to this position in 2002 and have remained active in the international community of Cleveland, proudly representing the greater Serbian community. They are active in working with several groups to strengthen our connection to Serbia and support many exchange programs through the government and other supporting organizations. The Damljanovic couple is also the official writers for the Mosaic blog of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, representing the mosaic of ethnicity in Cleveland.
Cleveland is a great multi ethnic community representing over 120 countries. There is a vast pool of immigrants in the greater Cleveland area and they work together through the ICC. The host families were thanked for sharing their home and opening their doors to strangers whom have now become part of their extended families.
Prominent community figures were represented at the event at St. Sava hall including Mr. Alex Machaskee. He welcomed the visitors and spoke briefly on their work and educational experience during the past three weeks. Prof. Branimir Simic-Glavaski also spoke about the wonderful education in Serbia and the experiences he has had as a professor at CWRU with many talented Serbian engineers.
Mrs. Damljanovic introduced the 10 visitors and they spoke about themselves and gave a presentation on their work and the land of Serbia. The audience was taken by the gifted group and a question and answer period followed. The dinner prepared was delicious and Mr. Svele Nikolic was thanked for not only his work in the kitchen but, for sponsoring the event!
We are thankful that we live in a multi cultural city and that we have many international visitors especially from Serbia. The Serbian community was thanked by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs for bringing together such a memorable event!