2008 Summer Plenary Session Review
 This year, during the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) 2008 Summer Plenary Session, the AMC fully implemented a new binational model and took the work of our committees and AMC members to the next level. While meeting with co-chairs, both governors encouraged committees to promote cooperation across disciplines within each committee cluster in order to address and solve large-scale problems. Governors Napolitano and Bours highlighted the importance of the development of strategic committee action items that align with the governors' policy priorities. This was demonstrated this year when the governors chose to tackle childhood obesity in the Arizona-Sonora region (Quality of Life Cluster) and develop a 2015 Border Infrastructure Plan for border-wide improvements (Expanding Trade for our Region Cluster).
Click here to view the 2008 AMC Strategic Plan.
Click here to view 2015 Arizona's New Border.
Click here to view the Executive Summary for 2015 Arizona's New Border. "As neighbors, collaboration is essential to our success in combating issues affecting the region," said Gov. Napolitano. "Not only will partnerships advance our global competitiveness, but more importantly it will improve the quality of life for Arizonans and Sonorans."
Gov. Janet Napolitano and Sonora Gov. Eduardo Bours Castelo also signed eight agreements addressing drug and weapon trafficking, felony fugitives, emergency response and border infrastructure in the Arizona-Sonora region during the plenary session.
Click here for a brief overview of the conference and its accomplishments.
Letter from Governor Napolitano
Gov. Janet Napolitano, chair of the AMC, wrote a letter to thank attendees for their time and participation in the summer plenary and expressed excitement about numerous changes introduced during the regional conference. Dear Friends:
I am excited to report that this year's Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) Summer Plenary Session was a success! Thank you for your participation, together we began to write "The Next Chapter of Collaboration in Arizona and Sonora's History." During this year's plenary session, the AMC asked committee leadership to join forces to enhance border security, expand trade for Arizona and Sonora, promote regional economic development and enrich the quality of life in our shared region.
Click here to read the full letter. Press Coverage
The AMC 2008 Summer Plenary Session attracted attention from numerous local, national and international media outlets. Read the press coverage and watch PBS's interview with AMC Vice Chair Marco Lopez on Horizonte.
Click here for press coverage. Declarations Signed
Govs. Napolitano and Bours signed eight revolutionary declarations during this summer's plenary, marking the largest number signed in the history of AMC plenary sessions. Arizona and Sonora are partnering to extend efforts to fight crime, prevent illegal goods from being transported across the border and improving the quality of life for residents in our region.
Click here to read the 2008 declarations signed at this year's plenary.
Action Items
Our 13 binational committees continue to propose innovative ways to improve the Arizona-Mexico region. Read the action items that emerged during this year's summer plenary session.
Click here for English
Click here for Spanish
 AMC Accomplishments 2007/2008
Thanks to our members and plenary attendees, the AMC has made great strides in improving border relations and tackling issues that affect the Arizona-Sonora region.
Click here to find out what our organization has accomplished over the past year. |
