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01/24/2013 SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER January 24, 2013 Present: Terrence Gourdine Chair Daryl W. Schuster Board Member/Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Paul Gibson Board Member/Councilmember Sallie Parks Board Member Danielle Dilday Board Member/Youth Representative Absent: Linda S. Damsky Vice-Chair Also Present: Felicia Leonard Administrative Support Manager Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:05 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 – October 25, 2012 Member Parks moved to approve the minutes of the regular Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting of October 25, 2012, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 – Election of Officers Member Schuster moved to appoint Sallie Parks as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Parks moved to appoint Daryl Schuster as Vice-Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 4 – Old Business 4.1. Young Ambassadors Program Administrative Support Manager Felicia Leonard reported the 2013 Young Ambassadors’ trip to Nagano was cancelled; no applications were submitted. A MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the City and CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.) will outline joint responsibility for soliciting participants. The Young Ambassadors trip will be the City’s official Sister Cities trip. It was noted the previous lead person for the program had attracted many students from Tarpon Springs Middle School where he teaches. The program currently works with Safety Harbor Middle School, where approximately half of the students are Clearwater residents. Concern was expressed regarding lack of interest in the trip even though Safety Harbor Middle participates in the teacher exchange program, two students travelled with the program, and Nagano exchange teacher Sachiko Miyashita spent two weeks at the school. It was suggested one of the exchange teachers may be able to advance the program. It was reported that Sister Cities 2013-01-24 1 Countryside High School’s annual trip to Europe may be cancelled due to limited interest. It was commented that cost may be a factor. Discussion ensued regarding opportunities to attract middle school student interest and recruit students for the Summer 2014 program, including developing a communication plan for the City and CSCI, scheduling a focus group led by a teacher exchange participant with Safety Harbor Middle students, parents, and Young Ambassadors, and engaging middle schools in Clearwater. It was stated that home stays provide an opportunity to encourage program participation. It was recommended that CSCI and board members contact PTAs (Parent Teacher Associations) and provide information for PTA newsletters and schedule presentations that encourage parental enthusiasm. Ms. Leonard suggested the City could produce a short video featuring participants, the program’s history, and Clearwater’s 55-year relationship with Nagano. 5 – New Business 5.1. Nagano Middle School 2013 Visit Ms. Leonard reviewed the March 20 – 26 itinerary for Nagano middle school students. Home stay families are needed. The male teacher escort does not speak English; staff is reaching out for an interpreter. A schedule of activities will be forwarded to board members. 5.2. CSCI Report Member Schuster, CSCI President, reported Nagano teacher Ms. Miyashita had departed on November 12, 2012. He said CSCI membership is in transition with many long time dedicated members no longer able to participate. He said the organization needs new members and reviewed CSCI board recruitment ideas. Discussion ensued regarding the plan to recruit middle school students for the Young Ambassador program at the annual SPIFFS (St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society) folk fair, with concerns expressed that St. Petersburg has its own Sister Cities program and south county parents are unlikely to drive to Clearwater to attend meetings and participate in activities. A CSCI member needs to be recruited to set up a table with a banner at City events to let people know that the organization exists. Ms. Leonard said Clearwater Magazine could include a feature article on CSCI and Sister Cities. Members were invited to the CSCI Social on February 3, 2013. 5.3. Board Attendance (Ordinance 8220-10, Sec. 2.066) Ms. Leonard reviewed the Code section related to board meeting attendance. Absences are considered excessive if more than one occurs during a consecutive 12-month period. 6 – Items not on the Agenda Visit by Consulate General of Japan in Miami Board and CSCI members were invited to City Hall on January 31 for the visit by the Consulate General of Japan in Miami. The Clearwater-Nagano Sister Cities program celebrates th its 55 anniversary in 2014. Miscellaneous Sister Cities 2013-01-24 2 It was reported that the Eckerd Theater Company was producing and touring the play, A Thousand Cranes, about a Hiroshima woman dying from radiation sickness. The company was careful to not offend Japanese people and had a grief counselor available at performances. Ms. Leonard reported the City had sent 50 lanterns for the Nagano Lantern Festival in February. She will share photographs of the lanterns when she receives them. Chair Gourdine was thanked for the good job he had done as Chair. 7-Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Next meeting —April 25, 2013 at the Long Center Chair- Sister Cities Advisory Board Attest: Board Re•orte- Sister Cities 2013-01-24 3