01/25/2018 Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2018
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
e e
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 25, 2018
4:00 PM
Council Chambers
Sister Cities Advisory Board
Page 1
City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2018
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Terrence Gourdine, Vice Chair Sallie Parks, Board Member
Hoyt Hamilton, Board Member Candace Hays, and Board Member
Pamela Gene Benton
Absent 1 - Board Member Desaray Dilday
Also Present - Michael Lavery - Parks Support Specialist, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board
Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve October 26, 2017 Sister Cities Board Meeting
Member Gourdine moved to approve minutes of the October 26,
2017 Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda
Pat Snair discussed the City of Dunedin's Sister City program and said
Dunedin was interested in adding student exchanges to its program. She
was in attendance to learn about Clearwater's program.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Provide Direction regarding Nagano Middle School Visit
Update on the 12 students and 3 adults that will be visiting Clearwater
February 17-22.
Parks Support Specialist Michael Lavery reviewed activities planned for
February's visit.
In response to a question, Mr. Lavery said he and Recreation Specialist
Natalie Lamb were arranging home stays. Board Member/CSCI
Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Representative Hays had been helpful
providing contacts.
CSCI efforts were complimented.
Page 2
City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 25, 2018
4.2 Provide Direction regarding Nagano High School Visit
Update on the 5 students and 1 adults that will be visiting Clearwater March
7-17.
Mr. Lavery said the high school group will have an in-depth experience.
The students will visit local schools, including a full day at Countryside
High School, and spend the weekend with their homestay families to
experience American home life. Ms. Lamb was coordinating visitor
activities and home stays. Mr. Lavery reviewed planned activities.
CSCI and Board members were encouraged to help with entertainment
by taking a student out for dinner over the weekend and providing homestay
families a respite from their host responsibilities.
Mr. Lavery said dates for the sayonara events for the middle and high
school students will be sent to Board members and the City Council when
scheduled.
4.3 Provide Direction regarding 2018 High School Trip to Nagano
Update on the selection of students for the Summer 2018 trip
Mr. Lavery said applications were posted on the City's website in October,
deadline was January 12, 2018. Of 16 applications submitted, 14
students were eligible. A selection committee reviewed the students'
essays, applications, letters of recommendation, and qualifications. He
complimented the high caliber of students who applied. After scoring is
completed, students will be interviewed and 4 finalists will be named.
It was recommended that 2 alternatives also be named should
unforeseen incidents occur.
4.4 Appoint Chair and Vice Chair for Sister Cities Advisory Board
Board elects a Chair and Vice-Chair for one year terms. Officers are eligible
for reelection.
Member Hamilton moved to appoint Terry Gourdine as Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Hays moved to appoint Sallie Parks as Vice Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Item
Page 3
City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes January 25, 2018
It was questioned why no action had been taken on Sister City
recommendations requesting the City Council to:
1) establish scholarships for low - income students to participate in the
CSCI Young Ambassadors middle school student exchange program;
2) officially sanction the CSCI Young Ambassadors student exchange
as a Clearwater Sister City program, similar to the City's high school
student exchange program. (CSCI requested no funding associated with
this recognition.); and
3) add 7th seat to the Sister Cities Board.
Mr. Lavery said he would prepare a memo for the City Council on these
issues for the Chair's signature.
6. Director's Report
Member Hays reported CSCI had extended the application deadline to
January 31, 2018 for next summer's Young Ambassadors middle school
student exchange to Nagano; 4 applications were received to date. She
hoped more students would be interested but said families had a difficult
time raising $3,300 for each child's participation. She said the CSCI
fundraiser was successful. She said CSCI first offered two $500 Young
Ambassador scholarships in 2&?5'now CSCI increased the scholarship
amount to $1,000 each. I�
7. Board Members to be Heard - None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
Page 4
City of Clearwater
Chair - Sister Cities Advisory Board