09/26/2006
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 26, 2006
Present: Linda Damsky Chair
Robert Freedman Vice Chair
Carlen Petersen Councilmember/Board Member
Absent: C.E. Snedeker Board Member
Richard Wisemiller Board Member
Also Present: Margo Walbolt Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Marsha Beall Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Elizabeth Minor Programmer, Cultural Affairs
Chair Damsky called the meeting to order at 4:52pm at MSB.
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 July 25, 2006 – Member Freedman
moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 25, 2006 as submitted. The
motion carried
was duly seconded and unanimously.
#3 - Old Business –
a. Report on “September Concert” - Through the local support of the Cultural Affairs
Division and CAF (through CAF Education Committee) a celebration was held Monday,
September 11 at 5:30pm at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church. Participants included
local music groups, area school children and community groups. Sister Cities
International promoted the event nationally. There is interest in making this an annual
activity. Next year the program will be enhanced to include more diversified
participation. Additional schools will be invited to participate in the program (e.g. St.
Paul School and St. Cecelia Interparochial School).
b. Sandy Lane and Kennedy Middle School magnet grant - District officials will submit a
proposal this fall to the U.S. Department of Education that could bring as much as $7
million in federal grant money to three Clearwater schools – King’s Highway, Sandy
Lane Elementary and Kennedy Middle. As Chair Damsky reported at the last meeting,
due to Sandy Lane and Kennedy Middle Schools involvement in the Sister Cities
Exchange program, the schools expressed interest in offering a Japanese language
course to their middle school children. In October 2006, the School District will submit a
grant application to Florida Language Assistance Program (FLAP). As additional
support for this endeavor, Ms. Walbolt is working with the grant specialist to help
quantify the School District’s needs.
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c. Recommendation for Youth Advisory Board Member – At the advise of this Board, a
recommendation to add a Youth Advisory member has been placed on the City Council
agenda for October 19 with the second reading on November 2. After Council approval,
applications may be accepted.
Ms. Walbolt advised two Board member terms are expiring in December 2006. Board
member recommendations will be announced at the January 30, 2007 Sister Cities
Board meeting.
d. Citizen Diplomacy Summit – A national summit was held in Washington, D.C. this past
July. The Coalition for Citizen Diplomacy invited communities across the United States
to hold Community Summits on Citizen Diplomacy. The purpose was to raise
awareness of how communities are involved in student and professional exchanges,
begin dialogues, produce action plans and launch long-term goals. In conjunction with
our Sister Cities, Ms. Walbolt raised the opportunity for this Board to plan community
workshops or focus groups within Clearwater. The target groups could include Sister
Cities Inc., Library, St. Petersburg College and local interest groups. Members agreed it
would be a worthwhile adventure. Discussion ensued regarding an appropriate timing
for this event. Chair Damsky mentioned that March is Foreign Language month in the
school system. Also, the Sister Cities Middle School Exchange is during March. Ms.
Walbolt will look for an opportune week in March to coordinate this program.
e. Report on School Board presentation - September 12 – At the September 12 Pinellas
County School Board meeting Ms. Walbolt presented a Certificate of Appreciation from
City of Clearwater thanking them for their strong presence and support in the Sister
Cities Program.
f. Report on Community presentations – Power Point – due to time constraints this
presentation will be scheduled during the January meeting.
#4 - New Business –
a. 2007 HS Clearwater Nagano Scholarship Program
1) Application/interviews/selection - Members reviewed and approved the packet to be
sent out to Clearwater school principals, guidance counselors and other school
resources. City of Clearwater will do a press release, place on their website and
announce on C-View:
2) Teacher Chaperone Application – this opportunity is open to a select group who
have previously participated in this program and taught in Japan. Previous
experience is important to the success of the program. Chair Damsky stated there
are approximately thirty teachers still active in the school system and could qualify to
participate in this program. This application will be sent out via the Pinellas County
School system.
b. 2007 Teacher Pinellas County Exchange Application – this is a new opportunity for the
teachers to visit for one month during the summer. This application will be also sent out
through the Pinellas County School system.
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c. 2006 October-November Nagano Teacher visit - Ms. Walbolt presented a tentative
"Schedule of Activities" for the October-November Nagano Teacher Exchange. This is
the first year Nagano is sending one teacher to Clearwater instead of two. Sister City,
Inc. will arrange for a homestay. The Sayonara party is scheduled for November 15 at
Ross Norton Recreation Center from 6:30pm-8pm.
d. Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. report - no report at this time
#5 - Items not on aaenda - n/a
#6 - Adiournment - Members adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
The next Sister City Board meeting will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at MSB,
Room 130.
Sister Cities 2006-09-26
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