03/08/2005
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SISTER CITY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 8, 2005
Present:
Linda Damsky
Robert Freedman
Carlen Petersen
C.E. Snedeker
Chair
Vice Chair
Councilmember
Board Member
Also Present:
Margo Walbolt
Marsha Beall
Karen King
Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Clearwater Sister City Inc.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:34pm at MSB.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in
that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Sister City Board Meeting of February 15. 2005 - Member Petersen
moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 15, 2005 as submitted. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Old Business - April 26-29 Nagano Delegation Planning -
a) Tentative Nagano Delegation Schedule - Ms. Walbolt submitted a revised schedule of activities
from April 26-April 29 for both the Nagano Officials (8-9) and the Nagano Citizens (26).
Members discussed the itinerary.
Tuesday, April 26 - Flight arrival is at 4:46pm. Nagano officials will be invited to attend the
7:05pm Clearwater Threshers game. The Nagano citizens will be given an option of having
dinner & an evening with their American host in lieu of the game.
Wednesday, April 27 - From 1O:00am-ll:45am everyone will be at a "Welcome Reception" at
City Hall and attend a City Council meeting. At noontime the Nagano officials will have lunch
with the Rotary Club at Harborview Center and then attend meetings at the Main Library; while
the Nagano citizens will spend the afternoon having lunch at Palm Pavilion, take a ride on the
Dolphin Encounter (Mr. Freedman will confirm), shop on the beach, and visit Clearwater Marine
Aquarium. At 6:30pm everyone will board the Starlight Majesty to enjoy a Dinner/Dance Cruise
until lO:OOpm sponsored by Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.
Thursday, April 28 - From 1O:00am-12:45pm, everyone will attend activities at Ruth Eckerd
Hall., have lunch in the Great Room. In the afternoon, Nagano officials will tour the Pinellas
County School Administration facility and visit with the school officials, followed by a 3:30pm
reception at Mayor Hibbard's home. Nagano citizens will spend their afternoon touring
Pinewood Cultural Center, Gulf Coast Museum, Botanical Gardens, and Heritage Village until
4:00pm. The finale to their visit will be a "Sayonara Party" from 7:00-9:00pm at Sheraton Sand
Key.
Friday, April 29 - Flight departure is at 9:05am.
Program preparations are apportioned as follows:
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Ms. Damsky - School Board delegation visit, see if available to help at Palm Pavilion
luncheon and afternoon tour. Will arrange activities & tour at Administration building.
Mr. Freedman - contact Phil Henderson re Dolphin Encounter, check on 35 Clearwater
Jazz posters, contact Josie Rivera for a set-up call regarding reservation for the cruise.
Ms. Petersen - confirm 26 people for Palm Pavilion lunch, ask Mayor about "Club
Banner Exchange" during Rotary lunch, confirm attendance.
Mr. Snedeker - Rotary luncheon (9 people approved) - is Mayor lunch paid for. Check
deadline for adding additional guests.
Ms. Walbolt - facility, bus transportation, and program arrangements, gifts.
Communicate with Nagano about "Club Banner Exchange" during Rotary lunch and
presentation. Assist CSCI with mailout for home stay and membership applications.
Mr. Wisemiller - work with Ms. Walbolt regarding payment/reservations of Starlight
Majesty. Verify if they CSCI will sponsor drink tickets. Provide: Letter from CSCI
along with Application, updated database of invites.
Gifts: Members discussed gifts to plan for. Ms. Walbolt will contact Roger Bansemer to secure a
painting for the "Mayor to Mayor" gift. Ms. Walbolt is working with Eie Bower for the "citizen"
gifts. Members will pursue additional sponsorship opportunities, such as Starbucks, Office Depot
and Sports Authority.
Sayonara Dinner: Ms. Walbolt discussed the "Sayonara Party" dinner at Sheraton Sand Key on
Thurs., April 28. Ms. Walbolt asked what the vision should be for the evening meal. Between
having a buffet or sit down dinner, having a buffet with both Japanese and American food choices
was unanimously agreed upon.
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Event Set-Up:
Reception line prior to the dinner
Official opening
Buffet
No 'head table'
Variety of music venues (choir group, jazz band, Dundu dole, etc)
Official closing
Agenda: Final thoughts will be to prepare an official presentation of the agenda and get it to the
Japanese interpreter prior to their visit to Clearwater.
ITEM #5 - New Business - The next Sister City Advisory Board meeting will be in April 5, 2005 to
finalize plans for the Nagano Delegation visit April 26-29.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment - Members adjourned at 5:50 p.rn.
The next meeting will be April 5, 2005. The regular scheduled quarterly
meeting on April 26, 2005 has been cancelled.
\! I c:.~ Chair
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Sister City Advisory Board
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Staff Assista
Sister City Advisory 2005-0308
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