Loading...
10/14/2010 SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER October 14, 2010 Present: Lois Sewell Chair/Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Margo Walbolt Vice Chair George N. Cretekos Board Member/Councilmember Ariana Lazzaroni Board Member/Youth Representative Absent: Linda S. Damsky Board Member C.E. Snedeker Board Member Also Present: Felicia Leonard Administrative Support Manager Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. at the Long Center. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order . 3 – Approval of Minutes – April 8, 2010 Member Walbot moved to approve the minutes of the regular Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting of April 8, 2010, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4 – Old Business 4.1. Clearwater High School Visit: June 12 – 26, 2010 Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard said the four high school students’ visit to Nagano had gone well. Two will make presentations on their visit to the City Council. 5 – New Business 5.1. Sister City Program Support a) City of Clearwater b) CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.) c) Friendship Force d) Clearwater Arts Alliance Chair Sewell thanked Ms. Leonard for her help. She said the City no longer has a budget nor a staff member dedicated to the Sister City program. Stakeholders have been asked to help; Pinellas County School has organized visits; Friendship Force is helping with home stays and has offered transportation; the Clearwater Arts Alliance and CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.) each donated $100 for the teacher’s Sayonara dinner. Chair Sewell referenced difficulties related to the poor economy and said Sister City ties with Nagano cannot just be discontinued. She said Nagano is collecting applications; 13 middle Sister Cities 2010-10-14 1 school students and 5 high school students plan to visit Clearwater in March 2011. Clearwater middle school students are scheduled to visit Nagano in June 2011. Chair Sewell said it would be difficult to tell Nagano that their students cannot visit Clearwater and this program must end. Ms. Leonard said the advisory group needs to take a larger role in accomplishing program tasks, such as interviewing applicants, arranging home stays, transportation, etc. for Nagano students, and leading an orientation program to prepare local students for their visit. Discussion ensued regarding the effect of budget cuts on the program. Nagano once paid all expenses for high school students. It was suggested that high school and middle school programs visit Nagano on alternating years, allowing more time to raise money; the application process could begin next spring for a June 2012 high school visit. Comments were made that cutbacks in Coachman Park events have reduced fundraising opportunities and it is more difficult for middle school students to raise funds than high school students. Suggestions were made for student fees to cover chaperone expenses and that additional publicity would attract more applicants. It was stated that applicants need to be committed to raise sufficient funds and take the initiative to plan and accomplish fundraising activities. City staff is not available to help manage those efforts. Consensus was for Ms. Leonard to investigate modifying the schedule of Clearwater Sister City visits to Nagano by middle and high school students to alternating years. Pinellas County schools will need to be part of the decision. Ms. Leonard said the Sister Cities program remains responsible for hosting two groups of students in 2011. It was felt it would be unfair to cut off visits from Nagano students as Nagano had fully funded Clearwater Sister City costs for many years. It was stated it would be easier to reduce travel to Nagano than visits from Nagano. If the alternating year schedule is accepted, it was recommended that freshman and sophomores be interviewed to travel as juniors; the program always required students to spend at least one additional year in high school following their Nagano visit. It was stated that the high school program is more connected with the school system than the middle school program. It was suggested that schools could incorporate a study of Nagano into multicultural programs. Volunteer needs were discussed. Consensus was that no high school students will travel to Nagano in 2011. 5.2. Nagano Teacher Visit: October 17 – November 15, 2010 Ms. Leonard said Nagano teacher Mr. Kawashima arrived in Tampa on October 17, 2010. She reviewed his schedule which includes a City tour of Clearwater, a School Board meeting and Administration Building Tour, and visits to area schools. 5.3. CSCI Report Chair Sewell reported the Young Ambassadors program sent 13 middle school students, along with three official chaperones and two other adults to Nagano. A survey of host families had good results for most students. However, one would not eat anything, which was difficult Sister Cities 2010-10-14 2 for the host family and affected group activities and another left the host family's gift in the trash can. Future training sessions will address these issues. Chair Sewell encouraged support of CSCI. Concern was expressed the City's website had not highlighted the visit by Nagano delegates and included more photographs. It was recommended that photographs in gift thumb drives be edited before distribution. It was stated it is necessary to avoid offending visitors. 5.4. 2011 Meeting Agenda Tentative 2011 meeting schedule: January 27, April 28, July 28, and October 27, 2011. Meetings are on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. at the Long Center. The schedule may be altered to coincide with visits from Nagano 6 - Items not on the Agenda it was recommended that the City review the value of its affiliation with Sister Cities International. 7 - Upcoming Events: October 14 - 17: Clearwater Jazz Festival, Coachman Park October 16 - 17: Clearwater Jazz n' Art Walk, Downtown Clearwater October 31: Boo Bash, Bright House Field, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. November 6: Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day, Coachman Park, 2 - 6 p.m. November 12 - 16: Festival of Trees, Long Center November 13: Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Clearwater Beach November 14: Christmas Under the Oaks, Coachman Park, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. November 25: St. Petersburg Times Turkey Trot, CLW High School Stadium, 7 a.m. December 3: Miracle on Cleveland St., Tree Lighting/Wreath Decorating, Cleveland St. December 30: Outback Bowl Beach day, Clearwater Beach Hilton, 11 a.m. 8- Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m. Next meeting - January 27, 2011 at the Long Center - 4:00 p.m. Ch Sister Cities Advisory Board Attest: Board Repo Sister Cities 2010-10-14 3