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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 01/08/2007 1 12 3 q ss,t Sister City Steering Committee Regular Meeting �J�y o Monday, January 8, 2007 C/Ty�t'" . ��OJ v� MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF Drue Combs Ellen Murry Cecilia Hanna -A Chris Kailas Randy Farrar 6:10 Sharon Phillips Peter Kuntu-Mensah -A Dr. Gustavo Valadez Almira Flores 6:10 Flicka Rahn JJ Nelson - A Rose Gunji John Rocha L6:35 Gilberto Porter- A Ridge Hammons 6:30 Sukhbir Singh Van Phan Villa - A Westi Horn Ann Jaime H. Moretzsohn CALL TO ORDER: The Sister City Steering Committee meeting was called to order by General Chair, Heather Moretzsohn around 6:05p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Chris Kailas called roll. A quorum was met with 13 of 18 members present. III. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ellen Murry announced that the World Affairs Council was having an event and she handed out a flyer with the information. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was noted that, under Section VII, DISCUSSION ITEMS, item F, on page 3, 4th sentence, the word "date" should be "data". Randy Farrar moved the minutes be approved as corrected and Drue Combs seconded the motion. The motion was passed. V. HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC: There was no one from the public at the meeting. VI. TREASURER'S REPORT: The current balance in the General Fund is $9,031.00. This includes the John Marez contribution of $1,333. The new expense was $257.75 for 5 flag stands. There was no change to the PALS Fund. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION concerning the January 13, 2007, Sister City Flags Dedication and the 2007 Exchange Students announcement and reception. A sign up sheet for volunteers was passed around. Gustavo Valadez suggested each member who attends give Chris Kailas their parking pass and she will have Amy Gazin sign off on each. B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION concerning the January 16 PowerPoint presentation. It was noted that the presentation still needed some editing. The presentation has been moved to February 13, 2007 around 10:30 a.m. in order for the Committee to have a really good package to present. General Chair, Heather Moretzsohn asked those who were interested in critiquing the presentation to stay after the meeting and the presentation would be shown slide by slide for input. No action taken. SCANNED C. DISCUSSION AND ACTION about the Sister City Annual Chess Tournament. Ellen Murry noted that she, Chris Kailas and Mr. Dan Deleon with the S. Texas Chess Center met at the Oveal Williams Senior Center to look over the location. Ms. Murry asked Chris Kailas to share details. The list of volunteers was shared with those present. Ms. Murry stated that Cecilia Hanna would not be able to be there on that day due to work commitments. Peter Kuntu-Mensah shared information he received from former member Ping Tintera saying that there was a piano competition and SAT testing on that day and the event was unlisted on a couple of Chess web sites. Ellen Murry and Westi Horn will secure prizes for the raffle. D. DISCUSSION AND ACTION concerning the 2008 EXPO materials to be handed out at the 2007 EXPO in Laredo, Texas on January 27, 2007 and develop a special sub- committee. Heather Moretzsohn said she has a draft survey and need help reviewing it. Randy Farrar volunteered to help. Gustavo Valadez will work on the Spanish translation. E. DISCUSSION about two potential new Sister Cities, Playa del Carmen, Mexico and Bethinda, India. Sukhbir Singh said that Bethinda, India has about 400,000 people and parallels life here in Corpus Christi. He said his Dean's wife says they have a large tech college and army depot there. The Dean's wife works for the Mayor's office. Ellen Murry, chair for the New Sister City Evaluation Committee said that there needs to be a local community with folks interested in supporting a new Sister City. Rose Gunji noted that we could only have one Sister City from a Country. It was explained that Sister Cities International now allows U.S. Cities to have more than one Sister City in a Country. Chris Kailas explained that she had spoken to Police Chief Bryan Smith who said he would put together a committee to work up the support, both financial and otherwise, for Playa del Carmen. Ms. Kailas said she sent him the selection criteria for new Corpus Christi Sister Cities. Chief Smith sent the attached request letter for Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Ms. Murry explained that the process could take up to 1 to 2 years. She said she and her committee would work with these applicants and she would report their progress. F. DISCUSSION on the new data base format and information on previous students' participants, donors and others interested in the Sister City program. Drue Combs will meet with J.J. Nelson to figure out the format for the data base before we begin to input the information. VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Selection Committee: Cecilia Hanna — No report. B. Fund Raising Committee: Ellen Murry, JJ Nelson — No further report after the Chess Tournament discussion. C. Publicity Committee: Cecilia Hanna, Gilberto Porter, and Sukhbir Singh — No report. D. Art Competition Committee: Rose Gunji and Sukhbir Singh — Sukhbir Singh e-mailed information to CCISD, Martha Fair and Principles. Mr. Singh was asked to e-mail information to other school systems in the Corpus Christi area. Mailing information for other school districts is on the listing for the arts program. E. New Sister City Evaluation Committee: Ellen Murry— No new report. F. Agen, France: Ann Jaime, Ridge Hammons and Van Phan Villa —Agen, France has had their exchange students' names since December 1 and is waiting for us to send them our students' information. We will have that information and pictures after our public announcement on January 13 at the Airport. Ann Jaime reported that she is still waiting for Veracruz, Mexico to respond to her calls. France is willing to take 4 students and send us 4 students. Ms. Jaime would like to know the variance in airfare between the cost to Veracruz, Mexico and Agen, France. Ms. Kailas will get an estimate. G. Keelung, Taiwan: Peter Kuntu-Mensah — Dr. Peter Kuntu-Mensah has a real person with a telephone number. Drue Combs noted that this is our 20th anniversary with Keelung, Taiwan. She asked Dr. Kuntu-Mensah, when he calls them, to explore ideas concerning of an official visit from Keelung, Taiwan representatives. Ms. Combs would like for the Sister City Steering Committee to invite them to come here in the fall. H. Monterrey, Mexico: John Rocha and Almira Flores — Ms. Flores and Mr. Rocha will meet within the next two weeks to discuss working with Monterrey, Mexico. Toledo, Spain-Music: Flicka Rahn — Ms. Rahn reported that there has been some communication with Spain. Mrs. Diaz, the contact in Toledo, Spain, invited the Committee to attend the Feast of Corpus Christi in June. J. Toledo Art Exchange: Gustavo Valadez —A call for applications went out to the Corpus Christi Caller/Times about the Spanish Language Study Program in Toledo, Spain. Dr. Valadez reported that in the past we have had 5 Corpus Christi students attend and all had a great time. Ms. Rahn noted that she will talk with the Spanish Dept. at the University as they do not seem interested in distributing this information. General Chair, Heather Moretzsohn stated that she has the name of a possible, interested student. K. Veracruz, Mexico: Ann Jaime — No further report. L. Yokosuka, Japan: Westi Horn and Drue Combs —Westi Horn sent an e-mail concerning the upcoming visit and information about our newly selected Exchange Students for this summer. She has not heard back from them. Drue Combs informed the Steering Committee that our 50th anniversary is coming up in 2012. She said it's not too early to start thinking about how we want to plan for and celebrate this milestone. M. Curriculum/Training Committee: Sukhbir Singh and Peter Kuntu-Mensah — No report. N. Activities Committee: Sharon Phillips, Flicka Rahn — No report. It's too early. IX. GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT: Heather Moretzsohn — Ms. Moretzsohn reminded the Committee that those interested in critiquing the PowerPoint Presentation could stay and watch it and give feedback as a group. X. STAFF REPORT: Gustavo Valadez — No report XI. CURRENT CONCERNS: None XII. ADJOURNMENT: The regular meeting ended at around 7:10 p.m. Committee members who stayed to critique the presentation were Drue Combs, Almira Flores, Ann Jaime, Heather Moretzsohn and Ellen Murry with staff Chris Kallas. The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Chris Kallas, Sister City Recording Secretary Cultural Services Division Parks & Recreation Department The following guide explains the attendance code: A—Absent, unexcused AE — Absence Excused for those who were absent due to illness or Sister City Travel R— Resigned or removed Examples of arrival or leaving times — arrival, 6:07 p.m.; or leaving, L7:00 p.m.