JAFI’s joint Karmiel-Misgav-Pittsburgh Partnership Steering Committee was held from June 17 - 20, 2012.

For three days, the committee members – regional representatives and representatives from Pittsburgh – discussed the Partnership work plan for the coming fiscal year.  Some of the time was dedicated to reporting on projects that the Partnership funded during the present fiscal year.  For example, Offer Nevat from the "Pirchei Karmiel Club", Moshe Levi from the Karmiel Municipality and Oz Dudai from the Misgav Biking club presented the extensive activity that was conducted in the field of professional and amateur Bikingin Karmiel and Misgav.  It was impressive to hear that the budget of $25,000 given by the Partnership was leveraged by the authorities, government ministries and sponsors to over $200,000 invested also in activities at schools, neighborhood events, national and international competitions and infrastructure for cycling paths.

The committee visited the Klil factory in Karmiel.  During the visit, the committee members learned about Klil’s extensive activity in the field of aluminum window and door design in Israel.  The participants also discussed Klil’s innovative idea which makes use of new technological means as part of a tourism-community project to be operated jointly with the Partnership.  The project will be called "Windows to the Galillee" and will be held concurrently in Karmiel, Misgav and Pittsburgh, in order to encourage tourism in the Galilee and to introduce the Partnership’s activity.

The Steering Committee also visited "Har Shechenya"  elementry school which have worked effectively with an educational program for the 5th grade students, that is called "The Eco- Connection" and connecting between Israeli students and American students in Pittsburgh.

The steering committee authorized an activity budget of $510,000 for the coming fiscal year.

During the coming year, we will say farewell to the chairpersons from Pittsburgh, Linda Simon and Skip Grinberg, who have headed the committee for the past four years, and we will welcome the new chairs from Pittsburgh:  Jan Levinson and Cindy Leib-Goodman.

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