City of Lawrence

Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board

July 12, 2006 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Stuart Boley, Lynn Ground, Kathleen Hodge, Linda Hyler, Sheila Immel, Jon Josserand, Graham Kreicker, Gina Ross, Andrew Tsubaki
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Nancy Bjorge, William Keel, Michael Kennedy, Bob Schumm, Karen Swisher
STAFF LIASION PRESENT:	Lisa Patterson
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Two visitors from Eutin, Bernd and Anke Ditscher, Sharon Holladay, Jim Reagan, Jan Gaunmitz, Frank Baron

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Baron introduced Bernd Ditscher , vice-chair of the Friends of Lawrence group in Eutin, and his wife Anke Ditscher. Bernd and his wife have been visiting in Lawrence. Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board presented Bernd Ditscher with a certificate of appreciation for all the help he has provided to groups from Lawrence that visit Eutin. A recent example is the tremendous amount of time he dedicated to helping the Lawrence Children’s Choir while visiting Eutin last summer.

Meeting called to order at 5:40 PM by Ross.

Hodge moved and Immel seconded that we approve the May and June financial reports from our accounting group. Motion passed.

Kreicker moved and Ground seconded that we approve the June 14th minutes. Motion passed.

Reagan made a brief report on the possibility of forming a sister city relationship with Donegal, Ireland. The possibility of a relationship is progressing.

Holladay made a brief presentation to the board regarding their trip to Hiratsuka in June. Eighteen kids and four sponsors spent ten days there. She shared a gift from the mayor of Hiratsuka. It is a display piece made of enamel and mother of pearl piece and pictures the god of thunder and the god of wind. Holladay will work on setting a date for the formal presentation to the city. The Hiratsuka group will arrive in Lawrence on July 25; there will be a welcome party at 6:00pm at the Lawrence Art Center. LSCAB members, mark your calendars and please plan to attend if at all possible.

Gaunmitz shared with the board design plans for the sculpture that we are commissioning as gifts for Eutin and Hiratsuka. Gaunmitz’s studio is at 943 North 1500 Road (842-5929 or 843-0255). The board is encouraged to visit her studio.

Tsubaki made a report on the Kurashiki Celebration for the dedication of a tearoom which includes a lovely garden in Loose Park in Kansas City. The dedication of the tearoom included the services of a tea master from K.U. Ross and Tsubaki attended a BBQ in Overland Park as part of the celebration.

Hyler shared some ideas and concerns regarding future possible cultural, business, sports exchanges especially as the possibility of our sister cities relationships grow. Discussion followed.

Ross appointed a sub committee to write guidelines for funding future exchange/cultural events. Members appointed to that committee are Schumn, Ground, Ross, and Hyler with Patterson as an advisor from the city.

Ross reported that a group of 20 student guitar players between 12 and 18, with a 10-member adult ensemble, from Eutin could come to Lawrence to play as part of their 750^th birthday celebration. They are from the East Holstein regional music school and under the direction of Andreas van Zoest. They will be doing performances in several cities in the US. The dates they would be in Lawrence would be around April 7-12, 2007. Frank Baron, Chair of Friends of Eutin, will coordinate with his counterpart in Eutin the logistics of finding home stays, transportation, and places for the guitar ensemble to play in Lawrence. Kreicker moved and Ground seconded that we accept this group in Lawrence. Motion passed.

Ross shared information about distribution of the Friends of Eutin newsletter via email and possibly about posting these on a website – possibly the city’s website. Kreicker moved and Boley seconded that each friend’s group does its own newsletter. Motion passed with Hodge voting no. Josserand moved and Ground seconded that we rescind the previous motion. Motion passed. The newsletter issue will be discussed at the next meeting.

Ground was given the discretion to put extra money from our non-interest bearing checking account into short term CDs or money markets.

Josserand moved we adjourn. Motion passed.