G.H.A. Events 2014


JAZZ LUNCH 2014


Thirty five years after the official twinning of Grampian Region and Houston the Sister City relationship is still going strong, Grampian-Houston Association Chairman Councillor Ron McKail stated at the Association's annual Jazz Lunch in Aberdeen on 2 February, 2014.


He said there remained potential for extending business links and economic development officials from Greenspoint District in North Houston, Andrew Millar, the British Consul General in Houston, and officials from one of Houston's leading hotels,Hotel Granduca, were due in Aberdeen shortly for discussions with local businessmen.


A large attendance was expected at the second Aberdeen-Houston Gateway event involving a lunch in Aberdeen linked by satellite to a business breakfast in Houston  on 4 March and in September an exchange delegation from the Grampian-Houston Association would be heading for Houston to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the student nursing exchange between the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and Houston Baptist University.


Councillor McKail welcomed a company of 106 at the Jazz Lunch, including Burgesses of Guild of the City of Aberdeen, and music was supplied by the Atholl Smith Jazzmen.

THANKSGIVING DINNER 2014


Guest speaker at our 2014 Thanksgiving dinner was Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of Aberdeen Business School at the Robert Gordon University.


Aberdeen Business School is keen to establish links with Houston and she said she was encouraged by the response she had received in our Sister City.


Prof. Marcella is pictured being presented with flowers by Mrs Ann McKail, wife of Grampian-Houston Association Chairman Councillor Ron McKail.


Councillor McKail said the Association’s student nursing exchange involving the Robert Gordon University and Houston Baptist University (HBU) had reached its 20th anniversary and to mark this milestone HBU had presented the Grampian-Houston Association with crystal bowl.


Mayor Annise Parker had also decreed that 23 September should be observed as Houston-Grampian Student Nursing Exchange Programme Day in the city’s calendar.


GHA Vice Chairman Brett Jackson, who led an exchange delegation on a visit to Houston in September, 2014, handed over the bowl and framed Houston City Council proclamation to Prof. Ian Murray, Head of the RGU School of Nursing and Midwifery, for display at RGU.


Prof. Murray (left) is pictured with the proclamation along with Prof. Marcella, Cllr McKail, Jackie Leith (RGU), GHA’s student nursing co-ordinator Kristin Jackson Brown and Brett Jackson.


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