10/26/2023 Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 26, 2023
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 26, 2023
4:00 PM
Clearwater East Community Library - 2465 Drew St, Clearwater,
FL 33765 - Program Room
Sister Cities Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 26, 2023
Roll Call
Present 5 - Board Member Robert Kantor, Vice Chair Pamela Gene Benton,
Board Member Lina Teixeira, Board Member Doug Kelly, and Board
Member Indira Yengera
Absent 1 - Board Member Stephanie Chill
Also Present—Amber Brice —Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator and Nicole Sprague
— Deputy City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the East
Community Library.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve Minutes from July 27, 2023 Meeting
Approval of minutes was continued to the next meeting.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Welcome High School Student Exchange Group from Nagano, Japan
High school students from Clearwater's Sister City, Nagano, Japan are in
Clearwater from October 21-30. They participated in a Clearwater Day where
they walked downtown, saw the new Coachman Park and spent the day at the
Clearwater Marine Aquarium. They will give a short presentation about their life
in Japan and their time in Clearwater so far.
Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator Amber Brice said five students and
two teachers travelled to Clearwater. They spent time at Countryside High
School, toured Downtown and Coachman Park, and were provided a
private tour of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and a private dolphin
experience. She thanked the Aquarium staff for making the students
experience in Clearwater so special.
The high school students provided a PowerPoint presentation. Each
student presented different aspects of culture, food, sports, and school
life. The teacher thanked the Board for the warm welcome.
A comment was made that four students would be attending Palm Harbor
University and one student would attend Largo High School during the
trip.
4.2 Welcome Manabe Sensei the Exchange Teacher from Nagano, Japan
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 26, 2023
Every year in the summer the Pinellas County School Board sends 1-2
teachers to Nagano, Japan for a month-long teacher exchange. Nagano sends
1 teacher to Clearwater for their teacher exchange from October-November.
The teacher spends time at various Pinellas County Schools. The exchange
teacher also participates in Clearwater Day. The teacher Megumi Manabe will
give a short presentation about her time in Clearwater so far.
Chair Benton, who is in charge of the teacher exchange program, said
Sensei Megumi Manabe will visit seven schools during her trip. She
provides presentations and observes classes.
Sensei Manabe said one of the Clearwater teachers visited her class room
nine years ago and those students are now 24 years old and they still
remember the visit. She hopes her visit in Clearwater inspires young students
to become interested in Nagano. She said the pandemic halted the program
for a few years but hopes the tradition continues.
4.3 Update on the 2024 Clearwater Delegation to Nagano, Japan
The City Manager has decided to open the delegation to the Clearwater City
Council, City Management, The Arts and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, The Sister
Cities Advisory Board and The Sister Cities Inc. Board members. With the
excess funds in the Nagano trip fund, this would include covering travel costs
for all board members up to $6,000. This would not include the purchase of food
or travel costs for plus ones or spouses for any group, including city staff. Any
costs in excess of$6000 would be the responsibility of the travelers. Non-city
staff will be placed with a homestay family while in Nagano. All delegates would
need to be present at all official functions as they are representatives of the City
of Clearwater. It's important to note this is not a vacation, it is an official
delegation and delegates will be expected to be present and dress formally for
any meetings or functions related to the delegation. All delegates would be
expected to act as host homestay families when the Japanese delegation
comes to Clearwater in 2025. All delegates must be active board members.
Board members should check their board seat status and expiration date. More
details to come in January. No official dates have been set yet. The delegation
usually takes place in October.
Ms. Brice said the City Manager will open the invitation to the Sister Cities
Advisory Board to attend the Delegation trip. The City Manager said there is
an overage of funds due to previously cancelled trips. The travel cost will be
covered for the Board Member up to $6,000 and does not include significant
others. Significant others are welcomed to travel along at their own expense.
Only active Board Members will be eligible. Delegation members are
expected to attend all scheduled events and host a Delegation member
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes October 26, 2023
when the Nagano officials travel here. She said travel will likely occur in
October 2024.
In response to a question, Ms. Brice said the Nagano Delegation trip is
scheduled for February 2025.
5. Director's Report
Sister Cities, Inc. representative Candy Hayes said the summer program
for students to travel to Nagano is being promoted. The students that are
visiting from Nagano now has provided a great opportunity to spread the
word about the trip. A scholarship fundraiser is being planned for this
weekend at Art in the Park in Coachman Park.
6. Board Members to be Heard: None.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Attest:
Board ' eporter
City of Clearwater
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