HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 03/02/2009 •
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Sister City Steering Committee
Monday, March 2, 2009, 5:45 p.m. AUQ ZQG'
6th floor Conference Room, City Hall
1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX ���'SEGRETgRyS pFr;;;111
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF
Jorge Brenner Dora Hidalgo Kevin Aguilar-Ferrari -R Sally Gavlik -A
Drue Combs Westi Horn Randy Farrar-A Chris Kailas
Tim Dowling Maria Jaramillo H. Moretzsohn - R Wes Vardeman
Almira Flores Liette Ocher Javier Morin
Janice Garrett Sharon Phillips Flicka Rahn - R
Rose Gunji John Rocha Danny Williams - 0
Michele Hammock Phyllis Roseman
Brandi Williams
CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Sister City Steering Committee was called to order by
General Chair Brandi Williams at around 5:45 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL: Chris Kailas called roll. A quorum was met with 14 of 18 members
present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes for February 2, 2009 were read. Suggested
corrections were 1) under#V, PUBLIC COMMENT, line 3, correct spelling of Ting Sing
to Tianjin; 2) Section VI, DISCUSSION ITEMS:, line two, correct Stewart to Steward; 3)
same item, line 6, spelling of Harven to Harvin; 4) same section, item B, line 8, correct
immature to premature; 5) Section VII, COMMITTEE REPORTS:, item B, line 10, "really
hard" to "difficult to choose"; 6) same section, item G, correct June 24 to June 25; 7)
same section, item I, second sentence first word "or" to "of'; 8) same section Item I, 7th
line correct date, January 17 to February 19; 9) same section, Item K, line 6, correct
get's to gets; 10) same section, same item, line 11, remove "by bus"; 11) same section,
same item, line 17, correct spelling of jester to gesture; 12) correct all misspelled Tian
Jin to Tianjin; 13) page 5, Item 0, line 27, change understand to understanding; 14)
same section and item, second paragraph, line 2, remove the first word, "is". Drue
Combs moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by
Michele Hammock. The minutes were approved as corrected.
IV. TREASURER'S REPORT: DISCUSSION ITEMS: Ms. Kailas reported that the General
Fund report remained the same with a total of$16,128.19. A $193.96 re-imbursement
for travel to Brandi Williams for trip to Laredo EXPO adjusted the PALS Fund to a
balance of$5,483.28. Almira Flores moved to accept the Treasurer's Report and Westi
Horn seconded the motion. The Treasurer's report was accepted.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on what to do about the student exchange
program with Monterrey, Mexico. Brandi Williams shared with the Committee
a travel warning from the State Department and newspaper articles warning
about travel into Mexico. Her opinion is that the Committee should not send
students to Monterrey this year. Randy Farrar agreed. He stated that he also
did not think it was a good idea to send students to Mexico this year. Michele
Hammock noted that we have not yet heard back from Monterrey; that they are
still looking for sponsors for their students and starting their process of recruiting
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Maria Jaramillo opposing. Dora Hidalgo suggested the Committee call Ms.
Josephine Miller and invite her to talk to the Sister City Committee.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Publicity Committee — Kevin Aguilar Ferrari resigned due to health reasons.
Danny Williams has been dismissed due to attendance. General Chair Brandi
Williams asked John Rocha to accept the chairmanship of the Publicity
Committee. Maria Jaramillo will continue on the Committee and work on the
Web Site.
B. Selection Committee — Drue Combs wanted to know if we had contact the
students. Brandi Williams said it was the job of Randy Farrar and her. Ms.
Williams said they are done with their work. Michele Hammock said she would
like to be on the Selection Committee for next year's students.
C. Fundraising Committee — Brandi Williams announced that Heather Moretzsohn
has resigned due to her mother's illness and her need to care for her. We now
have 4 spaces but cannot make recommendations until after the May election
process. Dora Hidalgo expressed her interest in the Fund Raising Committee
and said she would like to be on the Committee.
D. Essay Committee — Liette Ocker suggested that the Committee table this project
as there is no one to do the program at this time. The Committee agreed.
E. EXPO/International Cultural Festival — Drue Combs passed around a list asking if
members would come and man the Sister City Booth at the International Festival
at Del Mar sponsored by their Diversity Committee on March 5, 2009 from 1
to 2 p.m. She noted that she was very pleased with everyone's efforts in putting
together posters of our Sister Cities for that event. Students from all over the
world will be coming to the event. She asked volunteers to try to dress
appropriately for one of our Sister Cities. She said she is wearing a
Japanese jacket. She asked the Committee to please come to see what this is
all about. Wes Vardeman asked where to park. Ms. Combs suggested parking
behind the Harvin Center.
F. Yokosuka, Japan —Westi Horn and Drue Combs— Ms. Horn asked that we
check the dates for travel. The travel dates should be July 11 through 27, 2009.
G. Agen, France— Ms. Maria Jaramillo noted that they are ready to purchase
tickets.
H. Keelung, Taiwan —Tim Dowling — No report.
I. Monterrey, Mexico —Almira Flores asked to be kept informed of any news
concerning Monterrey, Mexico.
J. Toledo, Spain, Javier Morin — No report.
K. Veracruz, Mexico — Jorge Brenner and Dora Hidalgo — Dr. Brenner said he has a
letter for the Mayor of Veracruz, Mexico from Mayor Garrett asking for their help
in reinstituting our Sister City relationship. He will be traveling to Veracruz,
Mexico on business but while there he will be taking time to visit with the Mayor
or his representative about our Sister City relationship.
L. Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Brandi Williams asked Almira Flores if she can
handle this City. Ms. Williams noted that Ms. Moretzsohn has all the contact
information and she will be contacting Ms. Moretzshon for that information.
M. Curriculum Committee/Training —John Rocha reported that they had the first of 3
trainings on March 15, 2009. The main purpose for this training was to get all the
documentation done. April 5 and April 19, 2009 are the dates for the last two
training sessions. They will be held at the Galvan House. The 2008 students did
an excellent job. Committee members said it was very organized. Mr. Rocha
explained that his idea for training this year was to have the 2008 exchange
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students involved and they loved doing it. The parents really enjoyed the
presentations of the 2008 students. At the next training session, we will
focus on the History of Corpus Christi. Brandi Williams thanked the chairs and
invited everyone to attend future trainings. Michele Hammock expressed an
interest in working on the Curriculum Training Committee. Maria Jaramillo said
she is going to invite the University foreign students to our next meeting.
N. Art Competition Committee — Rose Gunji and Sharon Phillips reported they are
already done.
O. New Sister City-Evaluation Committee, Maria Jaramillo and Dora Hidalgo said
they would be writing Ellen Murry for information on the process for instituting
new Sister Cities. Ms. Hidalgo said that if a Community approached us, we
would not know how to react. Chris Kailas said they should look at the Criteria
for selecting a new Sister City.
P. Activities Committee —Westi Horn said the planned activities would be from July
27 through August 3, 2009. The Farewell Party will be held on Friday at the Club
House at the Lakes. Some of the planned activities are a meeting with the
Mayor, fishing, baseball game, a bar-b-que meal, trips to museums, etc. Jorge
Brenner said he would e-mail her with more ideas for more activities.
Q. Pen Pals —The Committee decided to table this project too, until someone can
be found to oversee it.
VIII. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA— Drue Combs asked for a
report on getting our Sister City names on the Sister City Parkway.
IX. GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT: Ms. Williams asked that Committee members keep
her informed as to what our other Sister Cities say about whether or not they could
take the Monterrey, Mexico students. Also, the Sister City Steering Committee was
invited to attend the India Festival this Sunday.
X. CITY STAFF REPORT: No report.
XI. ADJOURNMENT: Liette Ocker moved to adjourn and Michele Hammock
seconded the motion. 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.