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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 04/07/2008 • 1 ��0A‘1213141$7 co �g !> Sister City Steering Committee 'Q o Monday, April 7, 2008, 5:45 p.m. ' '4,-. cS if ip I`P Art Center of Corpus Christi, 100 Shoreline Blvd. OF04j,, A ' MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF Kevin Aguilar-Farreri H. Moretzsohn Rose Gunji - AE Chris Kallas Drue Combs Javier Morin Farley Frazier- A Chris Semtner Tim Dowling Ellen Murry Willie Perez -A Randy Farrar Sharon Phillips Sukhbir Singh - A Almira Flores Flicka Rahn Westi Horn Phyllis Roseman Ann Jaime Brandi Williams Melissa Melendez Danny Williams CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Sister City Steering Committee was called to order by Committee General Chair, Heather Moretzsohn around 5:50 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Chris Kallas called roll. A quorum was met with 16 of 20 members present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Under Item D, 4th paragraph, the two blanks were filled in with Ellen Murry's name. The minutes from March were approved as amended. IV. HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC: No one from the public. V. TREASURER'S REPORT: Chris Kallas reported the General Fund has a balance of $15,223.34. Expenditures for the last two months, February and March were $304.84 for food for visiting Japanese guests; $211.30 for easel building supplies; and $23.50 for flyers for the Chess Championship. The current balance in the PALS Fund is $2,758.89. Changes reflected since January are $260 memorial donation for Judy Benkendorfer; and $500 deposit of 10, $50 fees for each of the selected Exchange Students. The fund also reflects a deduction of$600 for the Art Contest prizes (first at $300; second at $200 and third at $100). Chris Kailas reported that she spent $6,830 for the four tickets to France. She estimated that prices for airfare for the rest of the tickets (based on air fare to France) will be about $200 (Mexico) to $400 (all other countries) more per ticket placing her estimate for all air fare at about $15,000. She also reported the Committee should receive about $1,500 in fees from the students for their 10% of air fare. VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on choosing a new person to recommend to the Council to replace Alfonso Trujano, Jr. Committee members discussed various applicants provided by the City Secretary's office. Dr. Jorge Brenner recently from Veracruz, Mexico was put forth as a candidate by General Chair Heather Moretzsohn. He and his wife are professors at the University and recent residents of the City. He is very interested in working with Veracruz through his contacts there to re-energize that relationship. Ellen Murry recommended Kim Wilson because she is very organized, knows people in the community; she would be great to take the lead on the EXPO. John Rocha was mentioned. He is a former member and General Chair. Ann Jaime moved that the Committee recommend Dr. Jorge Brenner because the Committee needs to energize the Veracruz, Mexico relationship. Drue Combs seconded the motion. The motion passed. Heather Moretzsohn noted that the Committee is getting some really SCANNED good candidates. She said people are very excited about getting involved and they know the program since B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on co-hosting a reception on April 13, 2008 at the Science and History Museum with Rotary for the GSE Team from Spain. Ellen Murry explained that she was contacted through Rotary to enlist the Sister City Steering Committee to help host a reception at the City's Science and History Museum for one of the visiting GSE Teams; the one from Spain. The reception is to be April 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Ms. Murry already talked to the Museum and there will be no rental fee or administrative fee. She said the Committee could bring its own food and drink. She asked the Committee to volunteer to do a pot-luck dinner. She would be inviting the City Council. This event will be the only chance for the visitors to meet City Officials. Ellen Murry will bring her jambalaya. Danny Williams moved to support this event and Kevin Aguilar-Farreri seconded the motion. The motion passed. Ms. Murry passed around a sign up sheet for the upcoming event. C. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on April 19, 2008 Sister City Planning Retreat with Bobbi Reed. The Committee discussed having a get- acquainted gathering at Ellen Murry's house to help the new and older members bond before the planning retreat the next day. The Planning Retreat will be held at the Galvan House and will begin at 9 a.m. A continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Heather Moretzsohn agreed to send the Committee definite information closer to the retreat. VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. EXPO Planning Committee —. Heather Moretzsohn said she was going to attend the Taste of the Coastal Bend to talk to vendors about the EXPO in 2009. She asked if anyone on the Committee was interested in attending with her from 7 to 9 p.m. It will be held at the Aquarium and will cost $10. She noted that we are a year and a half out from the EXPO and she will be calling together the planning committee to start working on preparations for the event. B. Keelung, Taiwan — Tim Dowling said that Keelung, Taiwan has already selected their students for this year. Though they are further ahead this year, they neglected to tell him the names or give him contact information for our students. He said he has a daughter in Spain right now and she is using Rebtell.com where she can contact her parents for about $.02 per minute is the call is landline to landline. C. Fund Raising Committee — Ellen Murry, Danny Williams, Willie Perez, and Farley Frazier-The flyers are out; they look great. (Flyers were given to Committee members to hand out.) Dan Deleon is on board and working hard. The Fund Raising Committee will secure door prizes. D. Publicity Committee, Brandi Williams, Danny Williams — Ms. Williams reported that she had called all the media folks to invite them to come to the art reception tonight. A news release had been sent earlier. She hopes the media shows up tonight. She also sent a letter to them asking if they would do a feature article on the Art Competition. Ms. Kailas said that Ms. Vasquez called today asking for pictures of our 2008 Exchange Students from the Airport event. She suggested we send her pictures of our Art Competition students too. She also suggested we could send pictures of our Chess Tournament from last year for the upcoming 2008 Chess Tournament. Mr. Kevin Aguilar-Ferrari said the Public Administrator for the base is Mr. Bob Torres. He suggested that Ms. Williams drop his name when she visits them. County Judge Loyd Neal has agreed to display the 2007 travel posters at the Court House. Danny Williams volunteered to take them there. E. Art Competition Committee, Rose Gunji and Sharon Phillips — The Art Competition reception is tonight. Rose Gunji is in the hospital and could not be here tonight. Ann Jaime is going to do her part at tonight's event. F. Selection Committee, Randy Farrar and Brandi Williams — They are finished for this year, there is no report. G. Agen, France, Ann Jaime — No report. H. Monterrey, Mexico, Almira Flores and Willie Perez — An e-mail was sent to Humberto Dingier our contact in Monterrey, Mexico saying that our official visit had been put on hold. They were asked for other dates that would convenient for them. They have been given our students travel dates. I. Toledo, Spain, Flicka Rahn, Javier Morin, Melissa Melendez and Ann Jaime —Tim Dowling said he is going to Spain soon. Javier Morin is going on tour soon. He has sent out applications with an April deadline to Spanish students for Spain's College level language training this summer. He'll have them ready for the Committee to look at during the next regular meeting. J. Veracruz, Mexico — Melissa Melendez sent an e-mail to people in Veracruz, Mexico. She would like an appointed Sub-Committee. K. Yokosuka, Japan, Westi Horn and Drue Combs —The dates have been e-mailed to our contacts in Japan. Those dates are July 16 (our students leave); August 1 (our students and their students come to Corpus Christi) and August 14 our visiting students leave. L. Curriculum/Training Committee, Brandi Williams, Melissa Melendez, Danny Williams — Ms. Williams reported that the final training will be June 8, 2008 at the Galvan House from 2 to 4 p.m. Ms. Williams asked every chair to be there to answer specific questions about their Sister City and its culture and customs. She expressed the need for the Chairs can answer last minute questions that are making the students and their parents anxious. Mary Ayers spoke as an experienced mom. Kevin Aguilar-Ferrari asked if young adults who have lived abroad could come in to help put some minds at ease. M. Evaluation Committee, Ellen Murry and Ann Jaime — a. Playa Del Carmen — Heather Moretzsohn said she had put together a Power Point presentation for the Council on April 22, 2008 around 10 to 11:30 a.m. She also sent a letter. She encouraged everyone to attend to give support for this effort. Playa del Carmen asked for a Police Training group to go around April 10, however, it was postponed until the Council confirms Playa del Carmen as a new Corpus Christi Sister City. Ms. Moretzsohn also let the Committee know that they have letters of support from the Police, the Airport, the CVB, the Port and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Others expressing an interest are Spohn Hospital, Texas A&M University Marine Biology Research. Most of these people will be at the Council meeting on April 22, 2008 to speak on behalf of this newest Sister City relationship. b. Bethinda, India — Ellen Murry said they had a meeting at the end of March but the newly elected leaders of the Coastal Bend India Association does not know yet what they will do. They will meet to discuss whether or not they will support an Indian city as a new Sister City for Corpus Christi. Once they discuss it, they will call to have members c. Netanya, Israel —Ms. Roseman said this City is similar to Corpus Christi. It is a vacation spot in that area with not a lot of industry. She was sorry she missed the Mayor of Netanya, Israel when she was there recently. N. Activities Committee, Danny Williams, and Westi Horn —The Committee noted that we are getting very close to the summer time when we'll need activities for all the students. Brandi asked the Activities Committee to keep her in the loop so she can put together the publicity. She needs the Committee to confirm the dates as soon as possible. O. Pen Pal Program, Danny Williams— Danny Williams — No report. VIII. GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT— No report. STAFF REPORT— Chris Kailas, shared flyers for the Chess Tournament and the upcoming International Cultural Festival. IX. CURRENT CONCERNS — No additional concerns. XI. ADJOURNMENT: Randy Farrar moved and Danny Williams seconded to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at around 7 p.m. The Art Competition Reception followed immediately after the regular meeting. There was a very good attendance of student artists, their parents and family members and art teachers and some school principals. The Committee provided snacks and drinks. The winners were st 1. Alyssa Black,Flour Bluff H.S.,— 1 "Ind 2. Jessica Barker,Flour Bluff H.S.,— rd 3. Minnee Hwang,Mary Carroll H.S., 3 4. Jennifer Sullivan,W.B.Ray H.S.,HM 5. Marina Giannico,W.B.Ray H.S.,HM 6. Emily Shaver,Cullen Middle School,-HM 7. Irma Estella Garza,Foy H.Moody,HM 8. Sheridan Enderle,Tuloso Midway H.S.,HM 9. Kennet Hernandez,Wynn Seale Academy.,HM 10. Jaylynn Wilson,Wynn Seale Academy,HM 11. Alex Mejia,Wynn Seale Academy,HM 12. Blanca Jimenez,Wynn Seale Academy, HM 13. Kevin Dirksmeyer,Wynn Seale Academy,HM 14. Daniela Cantu,Roy Miller H.S.,HM Chris Kailas, Sister City Recording Secretary Cultural Services Division Parks & Recreation Department The following guide explains the attendance code: AE—Absence Excused for those who were absent due to illness or Sister City Travel R—Resigned Examples of arrival or leaving times—arrival, 6:07 p.m.; or leaving, L7:00 p.m.