On Friday June 12th 2009, Gustavs Plato, the Director of the Board of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce (LatCham), Julija Filinovica (LatCham DC-Metro Director), Aleksandrs Racenis (LatCham National Office Intern), and NVRC Executive Director, Mark Gibb, met with the Mayor of Leesburg, Kristen C. Umstattd, the Chief Growth Officer and Assistant VP of Operations of Inova Loudon Hospital, James W. Rohrbaugh, George C. Marshall International Center Exchange Program Coordinator, Alisa M. Sodeerquist, George C. Marshall Center Board Member, Tom Flynn, and George C. Marshall International President, Frederick L. Morefield at the Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia.

The meeting was called as a follow-on meeting to the LatCham launch held at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission on May 28, 2009. LatCham Director, Gustav Plato presented an overview of the LatCham organization as well as an outline of the proposed LatCham Sister City and Exchange programs envisioned for 2009 and 2010.

Following the introduction of LatCham the group discussed potential teacher and student exchange programs, as well as forging a possible Sister City Agreement between Leesburg and a city in Latvia. The group discussed identifying cities similar in size, economy, and the problems that they face. The city of Cesis, Latvia, was identified as a potential candidate for such an agreement.

In addition, there were shared success stories, such as Alisa M. Soderquist outlining her success with the German and Austrian teachers exchange program in Leesburg as well as expressing interest in involving Latvian teachers in the future. James W. Rohrbaugh expressed his interest in possible video conferencing sessions with Latvian doctors and Leesburg’s hospital staff sharing ideas and techniques. An equipment exchange program with Inova Loudon Hospital and Cesis clinics also was considered as potentially beneficial, by sending extra equipment needed by Sister Cities.

The group agreed that further breakouts were necessary with the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce, the Marshall Center, and the city of Leesburg.