HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 12/02/2013 SISTER CITY COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting, December 2, 2013, 6:00 pm
Galvan House, Heritage Park
1513 N. Chaparral St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
MEMBERS P A MEMBERS P A STAFF
1. Kevin Aguilar- X 9. Heather X Reba George
Ferrari Moretzsohn
2. Mark Bradsher X 10. Evan Paret X Tess Allan
3. Yvonne Fernandez X 11. Michelle Patton X
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4. Westi Horn X 12. Judith Prewitt X
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5. Chris Kailas X 13. Donald Russell X
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6. Wan Sun Kim X 14. John Sloan X
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7. Hailey Kimball X 15. Alan Thornburg X
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8. Kelly Kimball X
Total: 11 4
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I. CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Sister City Committee was called to order by Heather Moretzsohn at
6:11 pm.
II. ROLL CALL: Tess Allan called roll. A quorum was met with 11 members present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Donald Russell Moved to accept the November 4, 2013 minutes,
Mark Bradsher Seconded. Minutes were approved.
IV. FINANCIAL REPORT: Current Available Funds is $7,864.60.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
VI. NEW BUSINESS:
VII. OLD BUSINESS:
VII. Liaison Reports
A. Yokosuka, Japan — Westi Horn reported that Japan asked about health insurance
arrangements for their students while they are in the United States. Japan has universal
coverage in their country so our students are covered while they travel there but the City
of Corpus Christi does not offer coverage. It was determined that if they want coverage
for their students while in the United States they will have to purchase a private policy.
Westi will draft a letter stating such for Heather and Reba to review.
B. Agen, France — Alan Thornburg and Heather Moretzsohn brought a meal and a
sympathy card signed on behalf of the Sister City Committee to Megan Turner's family.
Megan was our student who traveled to France this year and her brother has passed
away.
C. Keelung, Taiwan — Alan spoke with Taiwan and they would like to extend their student
exchanges from two weeks to three weeks so beginning in 2014 their exchanges will
now be three weeks long.
D. Monterrey, Mexico — None
E. Toledo, Spain — None
F. Playa del Carmen — John Sloan reported on his meetings with the Sister City officials in
Playa del Carmen. They are eager to begin exchanges with us and are open to any
arrangement. John suggested that a one way exchange, with them sending someone to
us, would be the best arrangement but if we did decided to send someone to them it
should be an adult exchange, not youth, at least for the time being. They are
specifically interested in a Fire Department exchange, a civil disaster preparedness
exchange, a Police Department exchange and a reef enhancement exchange. Heather
and John will meet to put together an exchange plan. (See attached for John's written
report)
VIII. Task Manager Reports
A. Publicity Reports — None
B. Curriculum/Training — Students will now be given the option to create a Power Point or
a poster board for their presentations and training with the understanding that if they
choose to use PowerPoint they will have to provide their own technology device to
display their presentation.
C. Fundraising — Kelly Kimball has touched base with her contact at Whataburger to let
them know that the SCC Grant application has been submitted and they have flagged it
for review by their team. Heather stated that she will take the same information to other
potential donors to ask for a matching grant opportunity. Suggested donors were:
Thomas J. Henry, Citgo, Stripes, and Five Hills.
D. New Sister City Evaluation — None
E. Activities — None
F. Selection — None
G. Pen Pal — None
H. Student Service — This year's students should have one more service activity to
complete before they receive their reimbursements.
I. Historian — None
IX. Updates
• Reba stated that the Strategic Planning process has been temporarily put on hold as there
is a meeting planned to discuss the need for a protocol office or an ambassador role which
could have implications for the direction of the Sister City Committee.
X. Identify Items to be Placed on Next Agenda
• Goal Setting
• Del Mar Small Business Development Council/Global Trade Section Expo
• Whataburger matching grant opportunities
• Sister City Case at City Hall or the Visitors Bureau to provide information about all of our
Sister Cities to promote tourism between the two sister cities.
XI. ADJOURNMENT: John Sloan Moved to adjourn the meeting. Don Russell Seconded. The
meeting was adjourned at 7:09 pm.
Tess Allan
Parks & Recreation Department