10/23/2007 - No Quorum
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 23, 2007
Present: Carlen Petersen Councilmember
Lois Sewell Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.
C.E. Snedeker Board Member
Absent: Linda Damsky Chair
Robert Freedman Vice Chair
Nicole Scholet Youth Advisory Board Member
Also Present: Margo Walbolt Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Marsha Beall Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Ms. Walbolt called the meeting to order at 4:35pm at MSB.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2 – Approval of Minutes of Sister City Board Meeting of August 14, 2007
No quorum
3 - Old Business
a. Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. report – Member Sewell
Taste of Clearwater – the Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. had a booth at the Taste of
Clearwater in the Harborview Center on September 18. They had many interested citizens stop
by and discuss their mission.
September Concert -the 2007 Clearwater September Concert was held on September
11 at City Hall steps and then concluded at Peace Memorial Church. There was good
community participation and plans are to continue this program every year.
Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. - held their regular meeting on October 16 at the
Clearwater East Library. Their program for the evening included having a presentation by the
summer exchange students. The meeting was well attended and the response to the program
well received. Applications for next year’s exchange were made available. Ms. Walbolt spoke
to at least four interested students for next year’s program. Ms. Walbolt also received emails
the following day from additional interested students.
Newsletter – the newsletter continues to evolve and is distributed via email. Please
contact Carol Huber with any articles or news items.
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b. Pinellas County Schools report
Ms. Walbolt has had several meetings with Jan Kucerik, World Language Supervisor at
PCS to discuss the Summer Exchange program. In June-July 2007 two teachers (Magen
Studebaker and Melissa Anderson) traveled to Nagano for one month. The feedback received
from them was advantageous to future exchanges. The teachers suggested that during the
selection process it would be prudent to opt for the teachers who are flexible and able to adjust
to changes. Most of their visit was spent apart from one another. Their homestays went well.
The teachers received an honorarium that was sufficient to cover airfare and miscellaneous
costs. They also received a transportation stipend since the expectation was for the teachers to
get to the schools by public transportation.
The 2008 Teacher Summer Exchange program applications have been circulated
through the school system. Nagano is agreeable to the format from 2007 that allowed for the
two teachers to visit for one month and then return home at the same time as the four High
School students. No specific dates have been settled on at this time. The teacher chaperone
application was amended to open up the base by changing the phrase “required previous
experience” to “preferred”.
c. High School Student Scholarships/Application Process
Promotion - The High School Student Exchange application process was distributed to
members. The 2008 exchange students will be required to do presentations and possibly
perform so their skills and talents will be an asset. Applications have been mailed to Clearwater
high schools and may also be downloaded from the City website at www.myclearwater.com.
The deadline for applying is November 27, 2007.
Program Fundraising – the City has set up an account for donations and will offer the
students fundraising opportunities by working City sponsored events.
4 - New Business
a. Nagano Exchange teacher visit October 20 – November 18.
Mr. Katayama is an English Teacher in Nagano Japan. He arrived in Tampa on October
20 and will be here until November 18. Mr. Katayama is scheduled to visit eight schools in both
Clearwater and Dunedin. A Sayonara Party will be planned at Ross Norton Recreation Center
near the end of his visit here in Clearwater. Next year, Ms. Walbolt strongly suggests reducing
the number of schools for visitations due to transportation challenges.
b. February-March Japanese activities at Main Library
The Clearwater Main Library will host “Focus on Japan” from February-March 2008.
Artist Jim Sikes will exhibit his Japanese Paintings from Feb. 4 – April 30. The library will also
have additional events: Sumi-e Painting & Ikebana Demonstration, Japanese Crafts for Youth
and an Artist Reception for Jim Sikes. All of these events are embracing Japanese culture.
Sister Cities International Bazaar – as part of the “Focus on Japan” Clearwater Sister
Cities, Inc. and the Clearwater Cultural Affairs is sponsoring an international bazaar scheduled
for Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Clearwater Main Library from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Member
Sewell is accepting donations of items to sell at the bazaar.
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c. 2008 meeting dates
Members reviewed proposed 2008 meeting dates and agreed to the following:
January 29, May 20, August 19, October 21.
5 - Items not on aQenda
a. Ms. Walbolt shared pictures of the July 2007 trip the Clearwater High School students
made to Nagano. The 2007 trip included four high school students (Lucy Feigel, Ben Popp,
Joey Stokes and Zach Tranter) along with a Pinellas County teacher, Stacie Little.
b. Member Sewell distributed the following:
. Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. brochure
. Youth Ambassador/Nagano Exchange - June 2008
. Corporate Sponsorship Donation opportunity
. Logo Contest entry form
6 - Adiournment
Members adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
The next Sister City Board meeting will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at MSB,
Room 130.
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Sister Cities 2007-10-23
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