HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 04/04/2011 Sister City Committee
Monday, April 4, 2011 6 p.m. c RECEIVED '
Heritage Park—Galvan House
1581 N. Chaparral, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
JUN 032011
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF [ 1SECRETARVS OFFICE
Letisia Rios-Cortez Donald Russell Angela Carmona Laura Gonzales
Timothy Dowling Mac Sanders Jeremy Coleman
Elizabeth Garza JR Seaman Andrea Foley
Meredith Delano Alan Thornburg Dr. Judith Prewitt
Michele Hammock Arthur Valdez Ernesto Trevino
Chris Kailas Brandi Williams
Elena Mendez
Heather Moretzsohn
John Rocha.
CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Sister City Committee was called to order by Chris Kailas at 6:00
pm.
II. ROLL CALL: Laura Gonzales called roll. A quorum was met with 15 of 20 members present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Corrections: No Corrections.
IV. Arthur Valdez moved to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Michele
Hammock. The minutes were approved as corrected.
V. TREASURER'S REPORT: DISCUSSION ITEMS: Laura Gonzales reported that the General
Fund balance is $17120.00 PALS account is $8,509.75.
Donald Russell moved to accept the Treasurer's Report and Brandi Williams seconded the
motion. The Treasurer's report was accepted.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT: Kelly Kimball spoke to the Committee and is willing to accept
more than one exchange student into her home, if needed. She also spoke to the
Committee about her decision to allow her daughter to go to Japan. She spoke with a
former student of hers in Yokosuka and feels there is no danger in sending her
daughter. Heather Moretzsohn read a letter from the Liaison in Japan. At this time,
Japan wants to move forward with the exchange.
VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on sending students to Japan
Heather Moretzsohn spoke to the Committee and let them know that Japan wants to
move forward with the exchange. Chris Kailas read the most recent travel warning and
Yokosuka is not included in the list of cities where Americans should not travel. Ms.
Kimball discussed that the Japanese are more cautious than we tend to be and that she
trusts the Japanese decision to go forward with the exchange. Alan Thornburg moved
to allow Mr. and Mrs. Frazier and Ms. Kimball to make the decision to send their
daughters to Japan or France by Thursday, April 7, 2011. Yes-11, No- 2, Abstained — 1
The motion passed. Donald Russell moved to give the parents the information on the
cost of additional insurance and the option to purchase the additional insurance with the
understanding that if the insurance is purchased that the students will be sent to an
alternate location, but if the insurance was not purchased, then the students would not
be allowed to be part of the exchange . Yes-11, No-1, Abstained-2
B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on developing new ways of exchange with Mexico other
than a Student Exchange. Elizabeth Garza made a motion to table this item. Letty Rios-
Cortez seconded the motion. Yes-12 and No— 1. The motion passed.
SCANNED
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C. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on the Planning Meeting to discuss the direction of the
Sister City Committee. Brandi Williams made a motion to table this item. John Rocha
seconded the motion. Yes-10 and No-2. The motion passed. Donald Russell reported
that the Training would be from 8:30— 1:30pm. There would be break-out sessions and a
pot-luck lunch. Laura will need to look at the calendar and see when the Galvan House
would be available.
VIII. Liaison Reports
A. Yokosuka, Japan — No Report
B. Agen, France—Waiting on us to purchase the tickets. They would like their students to
be on the same return flight as our students. Agen has boys available if our two
Japanese exchange students have to go to Agen instead of Japan.
C. Keelung, Taiwan —There are no problems with radiation in Taiwan. They are asking
for flight information from us so that their students can purchase their tickets.
D. Monterrey, Mexico — No Report
E. Toledo, Spain — No Report
F. Playa del Carmen — No Report
IV. Task Manager Reports
A Publicity Reports— Liz has been very successful in getting the Sister City information in
the Caller-Times and on the news. The Houston-Chronicle also picked up the story.
She will continue to work with them activities.
B. Curriculum/Training —The first training day went well.
C. Fundraising — No Report
D. Art Competition —The Sister City Young Artist Show is this evening.
E. New Sister City Evaluation — No Report
F. Activities —John thanked everyone in the committee for everything that they have done
to get the activities done. The Student Activities for this summer have been planned and
the cost of the student activities will be almost zero dollars.
G. Student Selection — No Report
H. Pen Pal — No Report
I. Student Service— No Report
IX. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA—
DISCUSSION AND ACTION on developing new ways of exchange with Mexico other
than a Student Exchange
II. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on the Planning Meeting to discuss the direction of the
Sister City Committee.
X GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT: None
XI ADJOURNMENT: Arthur Valdez moved to adjourn and John Rocha seconded the
motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 pm.
Laura Gonzales, Sister City Recording Secretary
Cultural Services Division
Parks & Recreation Department