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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 11/03/2008 RECEIVED Sister City Steering Committee FEB 1 9 2009 Monday, November 3, 2008, 5:45 p.m. City Hall, 1201 Leopard St. CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Corpus Christi, TX 78403 MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF Kevin Aguilar-Ferrari Westi Horn Tim Dowling -A I Sally Gavlik - A Jorge Brenner Maria Jaramillo Dora Hidalgo - A Chris Kailas Drue Combs H. Moretzsohn Melissa Melendez - R Chris Semtner - A Randy Farrar Willie Perez Javier Morin - A Wes Vardeman Almira Flores Sharon Phillips John Rocha - A Janice Garrett Flicka Rahn Phyllis Roseman -A Rose Gunji Brandi Williams Danny Williams - A CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Sister City Steering Committee was called to order by General Chair Brandi Williams at 5:45 p.m. II. ROLL CALL: Chris Kallas called roll. A quorum was met with 14 of 20 members present. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes for October 6, 2008 were read. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari asked to have the font corrected making it the same throughout the minutes. Under Committee Reports, Item B, 7th sentence, Randy Farrar corrected the word "school" to "church". Under Item D, still Committee Reports, 10th sentence, it was suggested that the date contain a comma and year. Randy Farrar moved to adopt the minutes as amended. Almira Flores seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as amended. IV. TREASURER'S REPORT: DISCUSSION ITEMS: Ms. Kallas reported that the General Fund expenditures remained the same with a total of$1,814.81. Thanks to a generous contribution of $1,000 from A. Joseph Huerta the PALS Fund increased to $5,177.24. Drue Combs suggested a formal letter on City Letterhead be sent thanking him for his donation and that an informal, hand written note from the General Chair also be sent expressing the Committee's gratitude. Drue Combs moved to accept the budget report and Kevin Aguilar Ferrari seconded the motion. The motion was passed. V. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on updating Sister City Information on the City's web site and development of the Steering Committee's own web site to be linked to the City's site. Appointment of Committee to study feasibility. Brandi presented a written report on the City's current web site and explained how to get there without a lot of steps. Wes Vardeman said the Arts and Cultural Commission wanted to have their own web site too and is being required to provide $2 million of insurance. Ms. Combs said we will just update the current information. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari said that the Publicity Committee would take on the responsibility to update our information. Ms. Maria Jaramillo made a presentation on her ideas for a Sister City web site. Ms. Williams asked her to get with Mr. Aguilar-Ferrari and the Publicity Committee to work on using or including her ideas and possibly develop a new web link. Mr. Aguilar-Ferrari moved to form a Sub-Committee to study the ins and outs or updating the web site information either within the current web site or a link to a new one. Drue Combs seconded the motion. The motion passed. Committee members SCANNED volunteering for the new Web Site Sub-Committee are Heather Moretzsohn, Maria Jaramillo and the current Publicity Committee, Kevin Aguilar and Willie Perez. They said they would meet during the next couple weeks and begin to formulate a plan. Ms. Combs asked the committee to allow Items E and F be discussed next as she has to leave to teach her class at 7 p.m. E. DISCUSSION AND ACTION concerning the International Cultural Festival/EXPO. Ms. Combs thanked the Committee for allowing her to speak to this issue ahead of time. She stated that she will be taking responsibility for this Festival. Ms. Combs said the Committee's history is that it is a small Committee with few fund raising activities. She said the Committee had a booth at the last International Cultural Festival. It was a wonderful event. She said the Committee would like to tag along with the City to do the International Cultural Festival because it's a perfect match. She said she feels they can increase the attendance and make some money for the Steering Committee. She said that Sally Gavlik got prices from the Convention and Solomon Ortiz centers and that they were too expensive. The quote for the Ortiz center was $22,000 for a weekend event. She explained that the committee scaled back their plans. They would still involve our Sister Cities, use various venues in the Tourist District such as the Galvan House, Harbor Playhouse and Asian Cultures Museum. She said the Committee wants to resist doing it outdoors due to weather. How she said they need the approval of the Committee. She stated that the Committee believes this is a good enough project in which to invest your time. She explained that she has a full time job. She asked the Committee to decide if they want to do this project. Almira Flores asked if the Committee got input from the Richard Borchard Center. Ms. Combs said that site is not convenient. Brandi Williams asked the Steering Committee, "Is this what we want to do?" Kevin Aguilar Ferrari asked "What is the expected outcome of such a venture?" Maria Jaramillio said the University is hosting an International Festival on November 15 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the University Center, free of charge. She invited the Committee to come. Westi Horn questioned again "What does the Committee expect?" Drue Combs said "I know it's vague, but, what we imagined was an event of music, dance, food, including representatives from our Sister Cities. There would be a charge to attend." Wes Vardeman stated that fund raisers sometimes fall short on expected results. He asked what would be the magic number. Brandi Williams asked the Committee, "Do we want Drue Combs and her Committee to continue?" Kevin Aguilar Ferrari said it would be a publicity event too, not just a fund raising event. He also said that "Heather's idea to tag onto the existing International Festival is a good idea and more practical. " Drue Combs moved to table the discussion till the next meeting. She said we need more information and encouraged the Committee to attend the International Festival at the University. F. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on adding all the Sister Cities names to signage at Heritage Park. Drue Combs asked for this because she wants more information on the Sister City Committee added to riders to explain who the Sister Cities are and if the Committee can get this done then I suggest we go to other places to get information out. Wes Vardeman said "If you guys want to design a sign to put in Heritage Park on two poles he would be happy for the Committee to use those post when there is no event or Festival scheduled. Jorge Brenner asked if the City would pay for the signs. Mr. Vardeman said no. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari said the City did the other sign, and there is no reason why the City should not step up and cover a city expense. Wes Vardeman said he would look into the matter. Drue Combs moved that we add the new Sister City to the existing signage at the Sister City Park. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari seconded the motion and the motion passed. B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on having 4 students to Agen, France. Randy Farrar expressed his opinion that we should continue sending 4 students to France until we start an exchange with Playa del Carmen or the Committee could loose that money during budget time if it's not spent. Sharon Phillips said she thought that Playa del Carmen was not going to have an exchange program. Heather Moretzsohn said that was not their main interest but that they might be interested in a student exchange after all. Drue Combs asked "Why France, why not Japan?" She said "we used to send more to Japan." Rose Gunji asked "What about this year?" Randy Farrar moved to continue to send 4 students to France until we get a reply from Veracruz, Mexico. Westi Horn seconded the motion. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari said it is a point well taken that the Committee spends all the funds allotted for travel so as to not loose them, but asked, "Why are we deciding this now?" Brandi Williams explained that we need to make a decision now because we are getting close to choosing the students and we'll need to know where we are sending them. Drue Combs left at 6:35 p.m. Heather Moretzsohn moved to table the motion. Randy Farrar moved to amend the motion and leave out the location but agreed to table it till next month. C. DISCUSSION AND ACTI ON about the Christmas Pot Luck Dinner and meeting. General Chair Brandi Williams offered her house. Heather Moretzsohn seconded the motion. The motion passed. The next meeting will be a Brandi Williams' home at 2518 Scabbard. She will send directions. Chris Kailas will e-mail the Committee the food list. D. DISCUSSION AND ACTION concerning Spanish Language Student making a report about their trip. Randy Farrar said that he believes we need a change in the contract with these students stating that they are expected to make a report about their trip. This year's student does not want to make a report and we cannot expect her to make one because that was not part of our agreement with her. Randy Farrar moved we not pursue this issue. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari seconded the motion. The motion passed. VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Publicity Committee — There was not a report. B. Selection Committee — Randy Farrar and Janice Garrett— It was announced that Janice Garrett agreed to work on this Committee with Mr. Farrar. He noted that at the next meeting they would be asking for volunteers to do interviews at the January 10th interview session at the Galvan House. Chris Kailas will check to see if house is available. Brandi Williams ask Janice Garrett to check with Collegiate and Coles Schools. She said she had delivered packets to them but that they were new this year and may have questions. Randy Farrar talked to Tuloso Midway School District because their school term overlapped. He said the Principal said the program was important enough for a student to miss a little school in order to participate. Westi Horn asked what if the school has more than one student would the school allow them to participate. Mr. Farrar said no. C. Fundraising Committee — Heather Moretzsohn — Ms. Moretzsohn said there is nothing new. However, she said "Thanks again to Ellen Murry for her contact and successful fundraising efforts with Mr. A. Joseph Huerta. D. EXPO/International Cultural Festival — No further report. E. Agen, France — No report. F. Keelung, Taiwan — Tim Dowling — No report. G. Monterrey, Mexico —Almira Flores and Willie Perez —No report. H. Toledo, Spain — Flicka Rahn and Javier Morin — Flicka Rahn said she has tried repeatedly to reach Consuela about the Community Chorus but she is finding very difficult to get a response from her. She said she is doing her best. Veracruz, Mexico — Melissa Melendez— No Report. J. Yokosuka, Japan -Westi Horn and Drue Combs —Westi Horn asked if there was any training material we could share with our Japanese counterparts. Brandi Williams said she is in the midst of updating the materials with John Rocha. She said she'll get with John, scan the materials and get them to our contacts. Maria Jaramillio asked if it could be on web site. Brandi Williams said it would be too much information. She said she would leave it to Kevin Aguilar Ferrari and his committee as to what would be put on the web site. K. Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Heather Moretzsohn — No report. L. International Art Competition Committee— Sharon Phillips and Rose Gunji — Sharon Phillips reported that they sent out all the letters and are hopeful we'll hear back from lots of art teachers. Rose Gunji said she was so glad the Committee elected to pay the annual dues or otherwise the Committee could participate in the International Competition. She announced that we had another International winner this year. Our student came in 7th. She said this is Corpus Christi's 3rd International winner since 2000 when we started to participate. She said that $300 may not seem like much to you but it means a great deal to these students. Randy Farrar reminded everyone to keep in touch with their copy of the annual timeline for Sister City. M. New Sister City Evaluation — Heather Moretzsohn — Ms. Moretzsohn said that the Coastal Bend India Association is not interested in continuing to work toward an Indian Sister City for Corpus Christi. She suggested we strike Bethinda, India from our reports. Kevin Aguilar Ferrari asked our reason for looking for a new Sister City, he suggested they come to the Committee with their interest. Ms. Moretzsohn explained that the Committee's former Committee member, Sukhbir Singh asked us to consider Bethinda and that there are not many people here in Corpus Christi to support the idea. N. Activities Committee —Westi Horn, Sharon Phillips — No report. O. Pen Pals — Danny Williams — No report. VII. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA A. Ms. Moretzsohn asked to place a Discussion and Action Item on the next agenda about Playa del Carmen having a student exchange program. B. We went over the travel budget, put on the agenda to send or select an alternate due to the budget. C. Start an essay contest with award money like $100 or something. D. Randy Farrar suggested we tie into 4 students and they can be sent to another city. E. Heather Moretzsohn suggested the Committee consider 3 students due to cost because we might not have enough funds due to fuel costs. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT: Ms. Teri Samo was at the meeting for Principal Conrado Garcia of Moody High School. She said that Mr. Garcia will be more involved in the future in selection of students. He asked to say that "We want to continue to work on our selection process. • ADJOURNMENT: Randy Farrar moved to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. The meeting was adjourned. 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.