04/05/2005
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SISTER CITY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 5, 2005
Present:
Robert Freedman
Carlen Petersen
C.E. Snedeker
Richard Wisemiller
Vice Chair
Council member
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Margo Walbolt
Marsha Beall
Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Absent:
Linda Damsky
Chair
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:36pm 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 March 8. 2005 - Member Petersen
moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 8, 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. WaIbolt 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 4:51pm. Mayor Hibbard, Mr. Aungst and Margo Walbolt
will meet the Nagano visitors at the Gate.
Nagano Officials - Nagano Officials will be transported by a City van to the 7:05pm Clearwater
Threshers game. A party suite has been arranged at Bright House Fields.
Nagano Homestays - The Homestay hosts will meet their Nagano guest at Airside and take them
home for dinner & an evening with their host families.
Wednesday, April 27 - 1O:00am-ll:45am - "Welcome Reception" at City Hall with a program
following in the City Council Chamber. Ms. Walbolt is working with Mr. Doug Mathews, Public
Communications for the presentation of gifts, speeches, and other arrangements. At noon the
Mayor and Nagano officials will have lunch with the Rotary Club at Harborview Center ($15.00
per additional person) 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, and
visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium. From 7:oo-9:oopm, Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. will
sponsor a "Dinner & Reception" at the Harborview Club. The theme will be "casual beach".
Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. has generously offered to cover the cost for all Nagano delegation
guests, homestay hosts, City Council members & spouses, and City Manager & spouse.
Sister City 2005-04-05
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Thursday, April 28 - lO:00am-12:45pm - Nagano officials and citizens will attend activities at
Ruth Eckerd Hall, tour the facility, and enjoy lunch in the Great Room. Mr. Freedman will invite
PACT, Inc. Board members. Councilmember Petersen will arrive at lO:OOam and stay through
lunch. Mr. Snedeker will be there for the lunch.
In the afternoon, Nagano officials will tour the Pinellas County School Administration facility
and visit with the school officials, followed by a 4:00pm 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 9:15am.
Program preparations are apportioned as follows:
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Mr. Freedman - Firm up with Phil Henderson arrangements for Dolphin Encounter.
Email PACT, Inc. Board for RSVP to the Thursday lunch at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Check on
the delivery of 40 Clearwater Jazz posters. (Mr. Wisemiller suggests presenting one and
putting the rest with the shipment that will go to Japan).
Ms. Petersen - confirm 25 people for Palm Pavilion lunch, ask Mayor about "Club
Banner Exchange" during Rotary lunch, confirm attendance.
Mr. Snedeker - Rotary luncheon (donated lunch for 9). Additional tickets are $15.00 and
available at the door. Have lunch set-up include a head table for Nagano officials.
Ms. Walbolt - facility, bus transportation, and program arrangements, gifts.
Communicate with Nagano about "Club Banner Exchange" during Rotary lunch and
presentation. Coordinate invitation lists and mailings. Finalize any outstanding issues.
Mr. Wisemiller - Work with CSCI members to organize "Welcome Party" at Harborview
Center. Make sure Ms. Walbolt has an updated CSCI database for invitations.
Gifts: A Roger Bansemer print will be used for the "Mayor to Mayor" gift. For the City-to-City
gift, Ms. Walbolt arranged with Ms. Betsy Clement, Public Communications to design a photo
collage of various images of Nagano and Clearwater. Ms. Walbolt is working with Ms. Ebe
Bower for the "citizen" gifts. Ms. Leslie Freedman volunteered to prepare gift bags for the
Nagano officials staying at the hotel. Members continue to pursue additional sponsorship
opportunities, such as Starbucks, Office Depot and Sports Authority.
Activities Agenda: Ms. Walbolt will have a volunteer prepare an agenda (English & Japanese)
for guests. Also, a Japanese interpreter will be available during the Nagano visit.
ITEM #5 - New Business -
a) Clearwater Nagano Sister City Student Exchange Program - Interviews were held on March
29 and 30 to select four students to serve as 2005 ambassadors for this program. Of the four
students chosen, three students attend Countryside High School and one student attends
Clearwater High School. The two-week trip is tentatively planned for June 22-July 6.
b) The next Sister City Advisory Board meeting will be July 26, 2005.
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ITEM #6 - Adiournment- Members adjourned at 5:5(yY1k9 ;U CVWlb
~st: >N~ Sisler City Advisory Board - Chair
S~tant
Sister City 2005-04-05
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