The Auburn Washington Sister Cities Association will hold its inaugural membership meeting on April 21. The group will gather at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St. The public is welcome.

The association is a volunteer non-profit organization whose primary focus is to promote, organize and maintain Sister City relationships with similar communities around the world, with the object of developing closer understanding and cooperation between people of different cultures.

Auburn has an established Sister City relationship with Tamba, Japan, which is shared with Kent.

Discussions are in process regarding formation of a Sister City relationship with the city of Pyeongchang, Korea, which will be hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Auburn and Covington recently were approached about forming a joint Sister City relationship with a group of three small municipalities in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. An informational meeting about the proposed relationship has been scheduled for 7 p.m., April 23, in the Glacier Room at Green River Community College.

The Sisters Cities Association also is taking nominations for at-large positions on its board of directors. The positions will be voted on by membership at the annual meeting. Membership is required in order to vote and/or run for the board. Annual membership dues are $10 per individual or $15 per family or organization. If you are interested in being considered or wish to nominate someone, please contact Duanna Richards, City of Auburn’s community services manager, at 253-931-3099 or drichards@auburnwa.gov.