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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 05/03/2010 , • Sister City Committee RECEIVED Monday, May 3, 2010, 6 p.m. 6th floor Conference Room, City Hall AUG 0 2 2010 1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE MEMBERS PRESENT � MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF Yoshiko Boulan Michele Hammock Mary Babbili Laura Gonzales Jorge Brenner Westi Horn Drue Combs John Rocha Maria Couret Kate Rodriguez Tim Dowling Phyllis Roseman Randy Farrar Donald Russell Almira Flores Samantha Sandate Elizabeth Garza Alan Thornburg Rose Gunji Brandi Williams CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Sister City Committee was called to order by Brandi Williams at 6:00 pm. II. ROLL CALL: Laura Gonzales called roll. A quorum was met with 14 of 19 members present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Corrections: Take "Steering" out of the title of Sister City Committee. Under VII. A. Change "student's"to "students". Change "Sr. Baldo" to "Sr. Boldo". Add "unanimously" to "The motion passed." Under VII. B. Add "second" to "The committee voted and Gloria Sykes-Saucedo received the majority of the "second" vote." Under VIII. B. Change "possible" to "possibly" Michele Hammock moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by Elizabeth Garza. The minutes were approved as corrected. IV. TREASURER'S REPORT: DISCUSSION ITEMS: Laura Gonzales reported that the General Fund balance is $ 17,182.85. PALS account is $7,379.92. Donald Russell moved to accept the Treasurer's Report and Westi Horn seconded the motion. The Treasurer's report was accepted. V. PUBLIC COMMENT: none VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS: VII. A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on sending the two Playa del Carmen students to France and Japan. Michele Thomas spoke to the committee about the decision made by the Mayor not to send the students to Playa del Carmen. A letter will be written to Sr. Boldo informing him that we will not be sending students to Playa del Carmen. We will invite the two students to be a part of the student activities. France is willing to accept another female student and Japan is willing to accept another male student. Drue Combs moved to send the female student to France and the male student to Japan. Westi Horn seconded the motion. The Motion passed. B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on revising the student application for next year. The application for the Student Exchange needs to be revised. Alan Thornburg moved to table this action until the June meeting when John Rocha is present and can discuss his thoughts. Drue Combs seconded the motion. The Motion passed. C. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on how the students should be penalized if they do not follow through with their commitment to the Student Exchange. Randy would like to impose a penalty on the students who do not follow through with their commitment to the SCANNED Sister City. Michele Hammock moved to table this action until June's meeting. Donald Russell seconded the motion. The motion passed. D. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on hosting two students from Playa del Carmen. Lisa Chapman, with the World Affairs Council has agreed to host the young woman from Playa del Carmen. Brenda Medary, J.D. Longoria's mom, has agreed to host the young man from Playa del Carmen. Rose Gunjii moved to accept the two students from Playa del Carmen. Randy Farrar seconded the motion. The motion passed. VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Publicity Committee—June's meeting will be Maria's last meeting. She would like for someone to continue the web page. Elizabeth Garza agreed to take on this duty. Maria would like to set up an event with the World Affairs Council and the Exchange Students and invite the public. This would be one of the activities arranged for the students. Westi and Maria will set a date and a location within the week of student activities. B. Curriculum/Training Committee—The student training took place in April and all students attended and it went well. Margaret Dechant, did a wonderful job of speaking to the parents. She gave them some very important information. Only one student failed the test and one student did not take the test. John will re-administer the test on Saturday. C. Selection Committee— No Report. D. Fundraising Committee— Kate and Elizabeth discussed having a BBQ fundraiser on June 12. They will bring tickets to June's meeting and the committee will sell the tickets. The Car Wash is Saturday, June 19. E. Art Competition Committee— 1st Place— Min Hee Hwang — Carroll H. S., 2nd Place— Paul Najarro— Flour Bluff H.S. 3rd Place— Hayley Rollins —Carroll H.S. E. International Cultural Festival/EXPO—The Del Mar International Festival has already been held. Drue didn't get notice until a couple of days before. Sail Texas will be July 1-5. Maria will send out a sign-up sheet G. Yokosuka, Japan— Dates are set. Japan has asked that we try to coordinate the flights so that the Japanese students will fly back when our students fly back. H. Agen, France— No Report—The Exchange is ready to go. Keelung, Taiwan —Dates are set. Taiwan has not confirmed their students who will be coming here. J. Monterrey, Mexico—Almira let them know that we have already selected our students and that we wouldn't be having an exchange this year. K. Toledo, Spain— No Report. L. Veracruz, Mexico—They are no longer answering Jorge's emails. It has been about a year since there has been contact with Veracruz. We will discuss this at June's meeting as a discussion and action item. M. Playa del Carmen —Waiting for the letter to be sent to Sr. Boldo from our Mayor informing him that our students will not be traveling to Mexico, but that their students are welcome to come and participate in the student activities. N. New Sister City Evaluation Committee— No Report Israel — No Report India— No Report O. Activities Committee—Westi passed out a draft of the student activities. Student Activities will start July 26 —August 3. Parents will participate in the farewell BBQ by bringing their favorite dish. The committee also will bring their favorite dish. That day will also be Maria's last day. P. Pen Pal Committee— Liabilities with students corresponding over the internet. What, if anything, does the City need to do as far as policies and procedures. IX. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA— I. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on determination on how to revive the relationship with Veracruz. II. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on action to appoint a subcommittee to revise the student packet and to rewrite the questionnaire. Ill. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on finding a new chairperson for Agen, France. X GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT: Questions for the Mayor 1. Relationship with Veracruz and where we stand 2. Ability to be lined up with Tianjin Pipe Company 3. Sustainability of the Sister City Committee and Funding 4. Point out to the Mayor how other Sister City Committees function and under what protocol they fall under. 5. Economic Development—Alignment under Business Partnerships 6. Priorities of other Countries and their Sister Cities. 7. Scholarships 8. Getting major business involved with the Sister City Committee. Meeting with Jeff Tunches (Costa Rica) II. Met with Jeff Tunches on a possible Sister City relationship with Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The possible connection to Costa Rica could possibly be ecologically based. Possible exchange for High School Marine Science students would be the age group targeted. XI ADJOURNMENT: Rose Gunjii moved to adjourn and Drue Combs seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm. Laura Gonzales, Sister City Recording Secretary Cultural Services Division Parks & Recreation Department