By Lisa Stringer    
Monday, 23 October 2006
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor returned Sunday from a week-long trip to the Middle East, where she took part in a multi-service orientation on national defense issues.

Taylor joined selected individuals from the private and public sectors across the United States to attend the program, which was offered by the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC).  Sponsored by the Department of Defense, the program has been in existence since 1948 and is conducted so participants may encourage their communities to support the men and women serving our country around the world.

The mayor posted daily journal entries and photos of the trip online, at www.cityoftulsa.org/trip.asp.

Taylor called participating in the conference a “great experience.”

“I have always been an advocate for building strong teams and finding ways to build those teams through partnerships from both the public and private sectors,” she said.  “Watching our military in action this past week has reinforced how powerful those partnerships can be and what can be accomplished when people work together.”

Though conference participants pay for part of their own expenses, no City of Tulsa funds were spent on the trip.

During her trip, Taylor had several opportunities to meet Oklahoma soldiers while visiting military installations.  She is pictured here with Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Martin, Sr. Airman Obie Bolton and Lt. Col. Michael Schultz.

Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Martin, Sr. Airman Obie Bolton, Mayor Taylor, and Lt. Col. Michael Schultz

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 October 2006 )