City of Lawrence

Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board

June 6, 2006 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Nancy Bjorge, Stuart Boley, Kathleen Hodge, Linda Hyler, Sheila Immel, Graham Kreicker, Bob Schumm, Karen Swisher, Andrew Tsubaki

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Lynn Ground, Jon Josserand, William Keel, Michael Kennedy, Gina Ross

STAFF LIASION PRESENT:

Lisa Patterson

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Frank Baron, Sharon Holladay, Bob Moody, Robert Mosley, Kathleen Hosteenez John Poertner, Rosina Aguirre, Edith Black, Kim Kreicker, Arla Jones, Steve Lopes, Lois Orth-Lopes

Meeting called to order at 5:40 PM by Schumm, who chaired the meeting since all officers were absent other than Hyler who was busy typing the minutes.

 

Kreicker moved and Hyler seconded that the May 10th minutes be approved.  Motion passed.

 

Boley moved and Hodge seconded that we table the treasurer’s report until the next meeting.

 

Hodge turned over to Boley a disc containing the complete Access data base of members and friends.  He will deliver it to Jan Stewart at Office Helpline on Friday.

 

Hodge made a report about the Scholarship Reception that is planned for Pachamama’s on September 28 from 6:30-8:30.  The event will be $35 per person or $50 per couple.  Our goal for this event is to raise money for the scholarship fund with a goal of raising $3,000.  The plan is to send out at least 200 invitations with a goal of 30-50 in attendance.  The committee asked that we begin thinking of names to add to our mailing for this event.  Please bring names and addresses to the next meeting so the committee can get started.  Cash, check, and credit cards will be accepted.  Hyler moved that we authorize $750 with a $400 check to be written from the Membership Event line item.  Kreicker seconded.  Motion passed.

 

Kreicker suggested that Friday, October 20 be our annual membership event and that it be tied to a farewell for the Eutin students.  Kreicker will check with the German group and with possible places to hold this event.

 

A discussion was held about the lack of Board members’ attendance at the farewell party for our students going to Hiratsuka..  A discussion was held also about the late notice of the event.  We need better communication between ourselves and student exchange groups about such events.

 

Kreicker reported Gaumnitz will be here next month to show us a model of the sculptures that we plan to give to Eutin and Hiratsuka.  We estimate that Hiratsuka spent over $10,000 on sculpture for the Friendship Garden on Massachusetts.  Our estimated cost for the two sculptures and bases including shipping is around $5,000.  Schumm moved that we proceed with purchasing these sculptures with $4,000 coming from the convention line item in the budget.  Hyler seconded.  Motion passed.

 

Baron made a proposal for 2007 to send an opera singer and pianist to Eutin for $2,500 ($1,250 for each).  Tsubaki noted that we will provide $900 to help bring an opera singer to the U.S. as part of the Japanese Festival.  She will stay three nights in Lawrence and give two recitals.  The discussion of Friends groups and their level of involvement was discussed.  Kreicker moved that we authorize $2,500 from the 2007 budget for Kari Paludan, the opera singer and Melanie Hadley, the pianist to go to Eutin for a cultural exchange, pending the signing of a contract as to the specifics of their activities in Eutin.  Schumm seconded.  Motion carried.  (Kari Paludan grew up in Lawrence.  She and her parents are well known to several board members.)  The discussion about Friends groups supporting cultural exchanges will be continued next month.

 

Holladay turned over the final $200 payment she had received from a student going to Hiratsuka.  She also gave the board bills for expenses.  Next week 18 Lawrence students (17 junior high and 1 high school), and four adults will be leaving for Hiratsuka, for our 16th student exchange trip. 

 

Moody showed the board an attractive US map with the state quarters made by Robert Mosley.  This gift from Mosley and Kathleen Hosteenez is to be presented to the Hiratsuka delegation at their farewell party in July.  Mosley’s child went to Hiratsuka last year and this is his way of giving back to the student exchange program.  Immel moved that we use up to $250 of the Public Relations line item to mail the framed gift to Hiratsuka.  Swisher seconded.  Motion passed.

 

Boley moved, Kreicker seconded that we table the discussion of short term CD rates until next month.  Motion passed.

 

John Poertner, of the Kansas-Paraguay Partners, addressed the group about the possibility of San Lorenzo, Paraguay, becoming an official Sister City.  With Poertner were Rosina Aguirre, Edith Black, Kim Kreicker, Arla Jones, Steve Lopes and Lois Orth-Lopes who are members of the supported this proposal.  All are members of the Steering Committee of the Friends of San Lorenzo.  The Kansas-Paraguay Partnership has some $30,000 on deposit to help students with exchange costs.  Poertner shared verbally and with a handout the many connections between Lawrence and San Lorenzo.  Immel moved that we designate this group as an official Friends of San Lorenzo organization in order for them to proceed with their pursuit of establishing a formal Sister City agreement.  Kreicker seconded.  The SCAB will authorize a letter to this group to take to San Lorenzo so the process can proceed at a more formal level.  Motion passed.

 

Hyler moved we adjourn.  Kreicker seconded.  Motion passed.