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10/27/2011 SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER October 27, 2011 Present: Margo Walbolt Vice Chair Linda S. Damsky Board Member George N. Cretekos Board Member/Councilmember Terrence Gourdine Board Member Daryl W. Schuster Board Member/Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Absent: Ariana Lazzaroni Board Member/Youth Representative Also Present: Felicia Leonard Administrative Support Manager 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 . 2 – Approval of Minutes – July 28, 2011 Member Cretekos moved to approve the minutes of the regular Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting of July 28, 2011, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 – Old Business 3.1. Nagano Middle school visit – October 17 - 22, 2011 Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard reported that home stay families had been found with one in Trinity and a core group in Safety Harbor. The search used many City resources. While Nagano prefers that students stay in separate homes, one family hosted two students. Hosts feel left out when guests spend all of their time together and speak little English. Discussion ensued regarding difficulties in finding home stay families. It was recommended that hosting a Nagano student should be mandatory before students can visit Japan. It was stated it is important that home stay families have middle school students. Safety Harbor Middle School was complimented on the terrific schedule they provided visiting students with the addition of a Nagano mileage marker at the school, group photographs, lunch, school t-shirts, photo albums, etc. Issues at Palm Harbor Middle School occurred when the primary contact called in sick. The City has not received feedback from surveys sent to Nagano. In response to a recommendation to reestablish the Clearwater Fundamental School program as it provides a pool of middle school students who could participate in high school, it was noted program involvement is time consuming for schools and teachers. The success of a school’s participation depends on someone accepting the organizer role. It was reported the pool of applicants for next June’s Young Ambassador program is not large. It was suggested that home stays, school visits, and transportation would be easier to organize if the program Sister Cities 2011-10-27 1 focused on students who live or go to school in Clearwater or whose parents work in the City. Concern was expressed that an applicant’s family could relocate before the trip. It was requested that Ms. Leonard send thank you letters on behalf of the board to the School Superintendent and participating schools. 4 – New Business 4.1. Nagano exchanges: 2012 Middle School and 2013 High School Ms. Leonard said the 2011 middle school student visit from Nagano replaced last year’s postponed trip; Nagano wishes to send another group next March. A copy of last year’s high school application was distributed. In response to a recommendation that applications be distributed in the fall, it was noted that participants then could not raise funds during the summer. The previous process allowed students to earn points by participating in the Sayonara program, etc. Consensus was to discuss the application at the next meeting. Ms. Leonard anticipated that air fares will increase. Staff is awaiting data on medium household income from the 2010 census to establish income thresholds for scholarship assistance. She will report on the teacher exchange program. 4.2. 2012 Meeting dates Sister Cities Advisory Board meetings are scheduled for January 26, April 26, July 26, and October 25, 2012. 4.3. CSCI Report See CSCI President’s Report Member Schuster reviewed CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.) board activities and recent efforts. 5 – Items not on the Agenda Concern was expressed that the program needs more publicity. Discussion ensued regarding the importance of gathering interest in the Sister Cities program. Recommendations were made to: 1) include program information in City utility bills, newspaper columns, school newsletters, or a small advertisement in a local newspaper, 2) issue press releases; 3) contact Bay New 9 regarding international events; 4) post program information on bulletin boards at the Main Library and City recreation centers; 5) Contact private schools in Clearwater and connect with them before events to involve them as hosts; 6) set up a table with a Sister Cities banner at City events or monthly at the Main Library with a representative who could talk up the Sister Cities program; 7) add program information to the City’s Facebook page and establish a Facebook page for exchange students to connect; 8) decorate and submit a tree to the Festival of Trees; 9) develop a program to incorporate during a camp day; 10) host an anime festival to attract teens; and 11) invite organizations to participate in a greeting committee when student groups visit City Hall. Sister Cities 2011-10-27 2 Ms. Leonard said staff will brainstorm regarding which City events would be appropriate for Sister City participation. She suggested the Blast Friday organization could be approached to host a Sister City themed celebration. 6— Upcoming Events Summer: Surface Design Guild Art Exhibit, Main Library October 31: Boo Bash, Bright House Fields, 5:30—8:30 p.m. November 11-15: Festival of Trees, Long Center November 13: Christmas Under the Oaks, Coachman Park, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. November 13: "A Swinging Good Time," Peace Memorial Concert, 3:00 p.m. November 19: Tampa Bay Veteran's Appreciation Day, Coachman Park November 23: St. Pete Times Turkey Trot Kickoff Party, Clearwater HS, 5:00-7:30 p.m. November 24: St. Pete Times Turkey Trot, 7:00 a.m. December 2: Holiday Light-Up & Miracle on Cleveland St., 5:00 -10:00 p.m. December 30: Outback Bowl Beach Day, Clearwater Beach NEXT MEETING —January 26, 2012 at Long Center, 4:00 p.m. 7-Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m. Chair ter Cities Advisory Board Attest oard Reporter Sister Cities 2011-10-27 3 EXHIBIT: CSCI PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2011-10-27 SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011 CLEARWATER SISTER CITIES, INC. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Highlights  Daryl W. Schuster assumed presidency April 12, 2011 – currently a member of the Association For Asian Studies, Inc.  At the May meeting I set some goals that relate to increasing awareness of the CSCI in the community, building membership, and starting an archive of materials at the Clearwater Main Library  I have attended three (3) Japanese Festivals at Belcher Elementary School in June, the Florida Japan Exchange Teaching Alumni Association (JETAA) festival in Tampa in July, and the Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Center of Tampa Bay festival in Clearwater in October  We are exploring the possibility of applying for a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with perhaps the idea of staging a film Japanese themed film festival  Streamlining the process of tracking members with a new email account and beginning a Facebook page  Sent out a newsletter in September  Vice-President Richard Wisemiller arranged for meeting space at Clearwater HS campus.  Supported the Nagano Junior High School exchange trip – five host families have volunteered to contribute articles to the upcoming newsletter Items not on Agenda CSCI would like to request access to Clearwater events to build awareness of the Sister Cities relationship and set up a table and distribute information.