Maryland Sister States Program hosts annual Legislative Reception in Annapolis, MD

On March 23, 2016, the Maryland Sister States Program hosted its annual Legislative Reception in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of State of Maryland. The event was held in the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis and featured showcases of current projects and initiatives from most of the 18 Sister State programs that Maryland shares with other countries, including with Estonia.

Speakers at the event included Maryland Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, and Sister Cities International President and CEO Mary D. Kane. Other speakers included a number of Maryland state legislators.

The Maryland-Estonia program was represented by the Maryland Estonia Exchange Council, Inc. (MEEC).

Maryland’s Sister State program with Harju County in Estonia exists officially since 2009, and grew out of the Maryland-Estonia Partnership for Peace Program, which was established in 1993 under the auspices of NATO. That year, the Maryland National Guard was linked to the Estonian Kaitseliit (Home Guard) as part of a State Partnership Program. MEEC has been coordinating non-military links between Estonia and Maryland since 2003. In 2006 and 2009 official agreements were signed formalizing the civilian links. In 2009 MEEC became a member of the Maryland Secretary of State’s Sister State Advisory Board.

Maryland and Estonia also share nearly ten Sister and partner cities.