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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 02/07/2005 ,2346e, Sister City Steering Committee D Regular Meeting w Monday, February 7, 2005 RECE At the Multicultural Center, 1581 N. Chaparral sOFFIICE��s c� MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS STAFF ` ABSENT V�W ��V�W Vv�V�i��i� ✓M n vvW � .i ., �- �i n/�✓Ni,_v^ /..���V�VV,v'��'..V�VVVV Dr. Mufid Abudiab Ann Jaime Judy Benkendorfer Chris Kallas Joseph P. Alley Venecia Kelly Dr. Hsiu"Mindy" Gustavo Valadez Regis Barber Heather Chang Ortiz Randy Farrar Moretzsohn Mary Ann Lopez Vicki Garza E Ellen Murry Bebe Morris Rebecca Hawn Sharon Phillips Sonia Heil Flicka Rahn Westi Horn John Rocha(6:30p) Elizabeth R. Iglesias Yalee Shih I. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Sister City Steering Committee was called to order about 6 p.m. by Chair, Randy Farrar. II. ROLL CALL: Recording Secretary called roll and announced a quorum. III APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Joe Alley moved the minutes from January 3, 2005 be approved as written and Vicki Garza seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by acclamation. IV. HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC: No one from the public made any statements V. TREASURER'S REPORT: The treasurer's report was put off till next meeting due to computer problems. VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. Discussion concerning Exchange Students' responsibilities once chosen: Randy Farrar, General Chair opened discussion stating that, Cydney Meyer, who visited Yokosuka, Japan, and Crystal Perry, who visited Agen, France, still needed to make their reports. Regis Barber said he had talked to Ms. Meyer and she would be making her report at the next meeting. It was suggested that since our next meeting would be followed with a Reception for the Young Artists', that we ask our two students to make their final reports during the April meeting. Ann Jaime said she would talk to Ms. Perry. Chris Kallas has information for Committee Chairs and students. Once students are picked, the various co-chairs for each of the Sister Cities will become the contacts for the students and their parents. Rebecca Hawn moved that students be given till October, following their trip, to make their final report to the Committee. It was further suggested the students need SCANNED a contract that says when the report and other responsibilities must be completed. This contract should be given to them way ahead of time. Vicki Garza offered an amendment to the motion saying that the students would have to pay back the City for the travel expenses if they did not complete their obligations. Joe Alley seconded the amended motion. Randy Farrar suggested the Committee be somewhat flexible by stating a deadline such as making their final report by the October Sister City meeting. If the student does not make the report by then the City will bill them. If then they wish to make their report in November, either written or oral, that would complete their obligation, nothing due. The motion carried by acclamation. Rebecca Hawn will write a contract that incorporates this motion. Once she has it written, it will be submitted to the City Attorney for approval. It was noted that this contract would not be used this year. B. Discussion and recommendation of two new members to the Sister City Steering Committee: There are two openings, replacing BeBe Morris and Mary Ann Lopez. Randy Farrar asked each Committee member to write down their top five choices from a selection of 11 and he would tally those choices at the end of the meeting and announce the top two the Committee would offer as recommendations. C. Discussion on possibility of holding a Business Exchange EXPO in 2006: Mr. Farrar said the Laredo, TX Sister City EXPO was an impressive event. The City Secretary of Laredo hosts the event. Those Cities coming to vend at the event are all from Mexico to sell their goods. Laredo foots the bill for all the advertising and use of the Hall. They did some creative funding. The CVB had $50,000 transferred to City's General Fund and they can use it for whatever they need. They had 158 booth spaces, some information space and 130 vendors. The Center was full. They actually turned vendors away this year because they did not have room. They even had to set up a tent outside because the hall was too full. It was fantastic! They had 3,000 people per day for 3 days. There was no admission and no booth fee for the vendors. The City of Laredo signed two new Sister Cities, the Cities of Leon and Guadalajara, Mexico and they expressed their desire to come to Corpus Christi in 2006. The City Secretary of Laredo had set a meeting with representatives from the participating cities in Mexico. Many of them were mayors or directors of city departments. Representatives from Corpus Christi were also invited as "honored guests". The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to improve the Expo. The City Secretary of Laredo also set up two meetings with representatives from Leon and Guadalajara to meet with representatives from Corpus Christi. We discussed what we had in common, what all we did with the Sister City Program in Corpus Christi, possible exchanges between our cities and if they would be interested in sending vendors to Corpus Christi for an Expo. One advantage in them coming to Corpus Christi after Laredo or San Antonio is that they would not have to cross the border and pay tariffs on the same goods each time they crossed. They had an ATM machine from a local bank that was built into a van so that visitors could withdraw cash for purchases. They also had a central credit card booth set up so that vendors that did not have credit card capabilities could take their customers to the central booth and charge their purchase. Dr. Valadez is writing an e-mail to the Mayor outlining what it would take to hold an Expo in Corpus Christi and find out if there is any interest on the city's part in holding an Expo. • Vicki Garza and Dr. Valadez went to numerous vendor booths and they all said they want to come to Corpus Christi. Dr. Valadez said the vendors are scheduled to go to San Antonio the weekend after Laredo and then they could come to Corpus Christi on the third weekend. VI COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Student Exchange Program, Selection Committee-Rebecca Hawn: Ms. Hawn reported that a small change to the schedule had to be made to accommodate some of the female students. Interviews were held on Monday evening, January 31St for 3 female students, on Saturday, February 5th for 13 girls and on Sunday, February 6th for 7 boys. B. Agen, France—Ann Jaime and Vicki Garza, no further update from France. C. Keelung, Taiwan —Yalee Shih reported that the government is not able to commit their resources this early. Keelung had a couple of bad experiences with our students. She said they tolerated them. Ms. Shih stated that our students interview well, do OK once they are back and make good reports, but she said it seems that our students think once they are there (at our Sister City)that they can do anything they feel like doing. She suggested we do a survey with our Sister City hosts evaluating our students during their visit and let our students know that their behavior will be evaluated. Venecia Kelly said their culture may be too different and may not be fair to our students. It was suggested we do a more thorough job of preparing our students about the culture of the country they are visiting before they leave. The Curriculum Committee is working with the Sister City Committee Chairs to provide materials that might help. D. Monterrey, Mexico—John Rocha said there was no report at this time. E. Toledo, Spain —Randy Farrar said Spain was not participating in the Student Exchange Program this year. We are maintaining our relationship with Spain through our Art Exchange and College Student Language and Educational Program. Mufid Abudiab suggested we consider adding another Sister City for the Student Exchange. Mr. Farrar stated we might want to consider another Sister City for lots of reasons not just the Student Exchange Program. Mr. Farrar also suggested we develop a selection process for the Language Students going to Spain. F. Veracruz,Mexico—Elizabeth Iglesias said Ms. Barbara Hernandez is ready to go. G. Yokosuka, Japan—Regis Barber reported that our two VIP visitors from Yokosuka, Japan will arrive on February 22nd Our two volunteers have agreed to host for the first week. The girl asked Mr. Barber to purchase tickets to the World Wrestling Event. She is in her late 20s and the other is in her late fifties. The first volunteer is interested in pre-school programs, wrestling, and guide dogs and the second is interested in Nursing care and dementia, veterans and crafts. Mr. Barber said they know about the Student Exchange Program. H. Curriculum Committee: Heather Moretzsohn is working with her committee on a draft of the Curriculum. I. Fund Raising Committee: Ellen Murry announced that Rebecca Hawn and her husband gave the committee $500 which will mostly cover the prizes for the upcoming local Sister Cities International Young Artists' Competition held next month at the Corpus Christi Art Center. One hundred dollars is still needed for a total of$600. J. Young Artists Committee: Venecia Kelly and Sonia Heil announced that a second notice went out to all the art teachers in the various School Districts throughout Corpus Christi. Ms. Heil updated the school listing. Last year's judge, Ms. Tanner, said she could not do the judging this year but Ms. Clarisa Gonzales agreed to do the • judging. Ms. Kelly wondered if we should have two judges. Ms. Kelly and Ms. Heil were going to talk to Ms. Rose Gunji about that. While Ms. Heil was talking to the teachers, most said they want to change the date. Ms. Kelly asked for volunteers to help with the reception on March 7, 2005. She offered to provide the punch and Ellen Murry offered to provide a cake. K. Feasibility Committee: Ellen Murry reported that the Committee is meeting on Friday, February 11, 2005 and having a working brunch on Saturday. They plan to have a working draft at the next meeting and a finished draft in April ready to hand over to the City for approval. L. Activities Committee: There is no report. VII Staff Report—No report. VIII Current Concerns—General Chair's Report— Adjournment—Motion to adjourn was made by Vicki Garza and seconded by Ann Jaime at 7:00 p.m. The Reception announcing the 2005 Sister City Exchange Students began immediately following the meeting. A list of the students chosen is attached. Pictures were taken of all the selected students and it was announced that there would be an orientation meeting on Sunday, February 13, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the American Bank Center in room 225 A and B. Refreshments provided by the Committee were served. /�� hris Kallas, Secretary Park &Recreation Department