04/28/2011
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 28, 2011
Present: Margo Walbolt Vice-Chair
Linda S. Damsky Board Member
George N. Cretekos Board Member/Councilmember
Terry Gourdine Board Member
Empty Seat Board Member
Absent: Ariana Lazzaroni Board Member/Youth Representative
Also Present: Christopher Hubbard Recreation Specialist
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 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
– January 27, 2011
Member Damsky moved to approve the minutes of the regular Sister Cities Advisory
Board meeting of January 27, 2011, as submitted in written summation to each board member.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4 – Old Business
4.1. Nagano High School visit: March 6 - 14, 2011
Recreation Specialist Christopher Hubbard thanked all involved with this visit. Following
the earthquake in Japan, home stay families opened their homes to the students for as long as
necessary. The students departed as scheduled and have reported that their families are safe.
4.2. Postponed Nagano Middle School visit: March 21 - 27, 2011
Japan postponed the middle school visit. Discussion ensued regarding difficulties in
scheduling visits earlier in the school year.
Consensus of the Sister Cities Board was for the Middle School visit to be postponed
until next spring.
4.3. Postponed Young Ambassador Middle School trip
Daryl Schuster, of CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.), said this year’s Young
Ambassador trip to Japan was cancelled. Student participants will remain qualified to travel
next year if they so choose.
5 – New Business
5.1. Member Sewell’s resignation
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Lois Sewell reported she had resigned from the Sister Cities Advisory Board and CSCI.
Ms. Sewell was thanked for her participation and leadership of both entities.
5.2. Future Nagano exchanges
Mr. Hubbard reviewed proposals to schedule high school trips to and from Nagano
during alternating years; annual teacher exchanges would continue. The City cannot support
annual middle school trips. The School District will be asked if they support the new schedule.
Following approval by the City Council, staff will forward the suggested schedule to Nagano and
copy board members.
Daryl Schuster, of CSCI, recommended that travel schedule reductions be reviewed
once the budget crisis has passed. He said the program needs a City coordinator.
Discussion ensued with comments that after the economy improves, it will take years for
tax and revenue to approach previous levels and that the program is taxing for teachers and
difficult for schools to prepare for visits and host students. It was stated this year’s teachers
selected to participate in the teacher exchange have completed some training but have not
booked their tickets for Japan due to the uncertain state of the country post-disaster. More
information will be provided.
Member Damsky moved that the Sister Cities Advisory Board recommends adjusting the
exchange calendar to schedule high school and middle school student visits to Japan during
alternating years, beginning in 2012 and for the annual exchange teacher schedule to continue.
The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5.3. June 3 Belcher Elementary Japanese Fest
The community is invited to the daylong Japanese Fest on June 3, 2011, planned by an
exchange teacher who traveled to Nagano.
5.4. CSCI Report
Lois Sewell said the International Bazaar was a great success and thanked the
Friendship Force for their support. She said $1,500 was raised and donated to the Japanese
Red Cross to aid earthquake and tsunami victims. She said CSCI members had not expressed
interest in establishing exchange student scholarships and suggested the new CSCI board may
wish to work with the Friendship Force on this issue. It was stated that the City lacks resources
to provide help with the programs. Discussion ensued regarding possible sources for
scholarship funds. Staff will report if the City is a member of Sister Cities International.
6 – Items not on the Agenda
Nagano teacher visits
It was suggested that exchange teachers from Japan are more comfortable teaching in
local classrooms after co-teaching with an American teacher. It was recommended that
orientations be scheduled to review materials and make Nagano teachers feel comfortable
before they visit classrooms.
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Friendship Force
It was noted that yesterday's newspaper had a good write-up on the Friendship Force.
Japan
Discussion ensued regarding current conditions in Japan where there is much
uncertainty due to a downward economic trend and a lack of tourism. Residents are not going
out much. Produce prices have risen dramatically.
7— Upcoming Events:
April 29: BLAST Friday, Downtown Clearwater, 5:30- 10:00 p.m.
April 30: 8th Annual Police Charity Softball Game, BrightHouse Fields, 4:00 p.m.
April 30: 16th Annual Smooth Jazz Fest, Coachman Park
April 30: Tree Giveaway/Arbor Day Celebration, Public Works Dept., 9 a.m. —2 p.m.
May 1: Q-Fest, presented by Q105, Coachman Park
May 5: One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullens &The Works, Capitol Theater
May 6 - 7: Knology Sea Blues Fest, Coachman Park
May 8: WQYK Fun `N Sun Toyota Country Concert, Coachman Park
May 17 -July 14: County High School Art Exhibit, St. Pete College/Clearwater Campus
May 20: Pure Prairie League and Firefall, Capitol Theater
8-Adjourn . >=wr
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Next meeting—July 28, 2011 at the Long Center—4:00 p.m.
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