01/29/2009
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 29, 2009
Present: Linda Damsky Chair
Robert Freedman Vice Chair
Katie Bosley Youth Member
Carlen Petersen Councilmember
Lois Sewell Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.
C.E. Snedeker Board Member
Absent: none
Also Present: Margo Walbolt Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Marsha Beall Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Chair Damsky called the meeting to order at 3:37pm at MSB.
Ms. Walbolt introduced Evangelyn Kirk, who is interning with Cultural Affairs Department
until May 2009. Ms. Kirk is attending University of Tampa and majoring in International Cultural
Studies. Her goal is to join the Peace Corp.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2 – Approval of Minutes of Sister Cities Board Meeting of October 20, 2008.
Member Sewell suggested a minor change in last sentence in 5b. changing “Fall 2010” to
just “2010”. Member Snedeker moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October
motioncarried
20, 2008 as amended to members. The was duly seconded and unanimously.
3 – Election of Officers
Postponed until next meeting.
4 - Old Business
a. High School Exchange Program 2009
1) Scholarship Criteria
Ms. Walbolt distributed copies of the Clearwater-Nagano Japan Exchange Program. The
applications and student eligibility requirements were sent to all Clearwater High Schools and to
special interest citizens. The deadline for submittal was January 23, 2009.
2) Applications & Interviews
There were ten (10) applications received for this year’s High School Scholarship program.
Interviews will be set up in the upcoming weeks. Although there are many qualified students,
only four students will be given the opportunity to visit Japan for two weeks in the summer of
2009.
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b. Update on 50 Anniversary Celebration in 2009
Ms. Walbolt spoke about preparations for a formal “Proclamation” from Mayor Hibbard
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during the March 19 Council meeting to formally recognize the 50 anniversary of the sister city
relationship between the City of Clearwater and Nagano City, Japan. This proclamation will
help promote and endorse additional upcoming activities throughout the year.
c. Lantern Festival & Consulate General of Japan (Miami)
Ms. Walbolt has been working with Consulate General of Japan in Miami about hosting the
“Lantern Festival” on April 25, 2009 in cooperation with the Fun ‘n Sun Festival. The event will
be held in Clearwater’s downtown Station Square. The Consulate has generously donated a
$5,000 grant to help pay for some of the cost of this program. The event may include different
stations of Japanese food and beverages, origami crafts, displays, demonstrations, and
examples of such things as Ikebana flower arranging, Taiko drumming and martial arts of
Kendo. A special part of the event will feature illuminated lanterns along the medians on
Cleveland Street. Ms. Walbolt continues plans for additional participants. Members suggested
contacting Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute, Pinellas County Cultural Affairs, Rotary
Club, East Lake High School and Clearwater High School. The advisory board is encouraged to
be active participants in the program.
5 - New Business
a. Satsuki High School Exchange visit – Feb. 4-Feb. 12
Clearwater is host to four students, a high school teacher and tour guide from Feb. 4 – Feb.
12. The itinerary during their visit includes attending a Japanese language class at East Lake
High School, classes at Countryside High School, tour at St. Pete College, Disney and
Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The Sayonara Party is planned for Feb. 11 from 6-8:30 p.m. at
Moccasin Lake Nature Park.
b. Middle School Exchange visit – Mar. 21-Mar. 28
In March, twelve Nagano students and three chaperones will be visiting Clearwater for a
week. Ms. Minor is working on their itinerary and securing host families. Due to transportation
issues, the students will be spending their school visits primarily at Coachman Fundamental. It
is much easier if the Nagano students attend the same school as the hosting students. They
will also visit Disney, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and a be given a city tour.
c. Pinellas County Schools report
a. Selection of teachers for summer 2009
Out of twelve applicants this year, Jason Smelski, Coachman Fundamental and James
Wallace, Carwise Middle were the two teachers chosen to travel to Nagano for one month
during summer 2009 as exchange teachers. The teachers will spend their time teaching at the
elementary level. The orientation will begin for them next week. The teachers will be traveling
to Japan along with the Young Ambassadors group this summer.
d. CSCI Report
1) Young Ambassadors
From June 15 – June 29, twelve local middle school students and three chaperones will
travel to Japan as part of the annual Clearwater Sister Cities Young Ambassador Program.
Their first orientation will be Feb. 8 in Tarpon Springs. Following a week of touring the country,
the students will given the royal treatment by the city of Nagano.
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2) CSCI Newspaper
The next newsletter will be going out in mid-March 2009.
3) Recent & Upcoming Events
Member Sewell has had some individuals approach her about specific dates for the 50th
anniversary trip to Nagano in October 2009. Also, a previous Nagano teacher, Steve M~f{c-&b.IL
,_ /'_ III has contacted Ms. Walbolt and Member Sewell about assisting with the exchange program. Mr.
tf~{.; ~ knows the Japanese language and has offered his services for translations and other
services. Mr. MrcC~as already attended the last CSCI meeting and shown an interest in
helping to design a new logo, a website and many other things.
The Sister Cities International Annual Conference will be held July 29-August 1 in Belfast,
Northern Ireland.
e. Exhibits & Activities
. City Hall Lobby Exhibit - Jan. 5 - March 27
June Colburn, Japanese Textile Artist, exhibiting fiber artworks
. Nagano Commemorative Exhibit - 4th Floor Main Library
Gifts received from Nagano over past 50 years are on display
. Pottery Exhibit - entryway of Main Library
Japanese pottery display by Clearwater resident
. Ruth Eckerd Hall, March 6, 8PM
Kodo Drummers, an elite Japanese taiko drumming troupe
6. Items not on aqenda
Member Snedeker would like to see a stronger cultural exchange between Clearwater and
Nagano's Rotary clubs. As an active Rotarian, Member Snedeker has contacts both local and
abroad. He feels it advantageous to have our exchange students including a visit with the
Rotary Club in Nagano during their trip. He would be happy to set something up, once the
dates are confirmed for future trips.
Ms. Walbolt congratulated Member Bosley, who recently won a National Scholastic art
award.
7 - Adiournment
Members adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
The next Sister City Board meeting will be held 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2009
at Long Center.
Sister City Advisory Board - Ch
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