Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board
February 14, 2007 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Nancy Bjorge, Lynn Ground, Kathleen Hodge, Linda Hyler, Jon Josserand, William Keel, Michael Kennedy, Graham Kreicker, Bob Moody, Gina Ross, Bob Schumm
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Stuart Boley, Karen Swisher, Andrew Tsubaki |
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STAFF LIASION PRESENT: |
Lisa Patterson, Michael Tubbs |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Lynn Chen from LHS, with Youth and Local Government Club Cathy Hillard |
Patterson introduced Michael Tubbs who will replace her at our meetings during her leave.
Meeting called to order at 5:34 by Ross.
Hodge moved we approve the minutes from January; Keel seconded. Motion passed.
Ground reviewed the updated financial reports. Kreicker moved and Keel seconded that the monthly financial reports be accepted. Motion passed.
Discussion of the Guidelines for the Selection Procedure of Student Applicants for the student delegation ensued. Much of the discussion centered around the issue of a student’s GPA. Schumm moved Ground seconded that we accept the revised criteria. Motion passed with Keel, Kreicker, and Moody voting no.
Ross presented the revised performance contract. Minor changes were made. Ross will initiate getting the contract to Paludan and Hadley for signing. After discussion, Schumm moved and Ground seconded that we accept the proposed Agreement for the Use of Sister Cities Advisory Board Funds. Motion passed.
Ross reported that we are still doing follow up with our appeal to the IRS for Form 990 for 2000 and 2001. Our accountant has sent the IRS the information requested a second time via certified mail. Ross also reported that we have also provided our accountant with the financial information needed to file the 2006 IRS Form 990.
Ross reported that she had requested from the City Commission provide the money distribution to our board. $12,000 was received from the commission. $9,000 was deposited to our account along with $1,500 each to the Hiratsuka and Eutin accounts.
Schumm reported from the Third Sister City Committee meeting regarding a meeting held recently about the possibility of San Lorenzo becoming a third sister city. After the meeting, an email was received from the San Lorenzo group stating that they no longer wanted to pursue becoming a third sister city with Lawrence. A final report will be forth coming from Schumm and committee.
Kreicker is working on a newsletter about Hiratsuka that we hope to have out soon after Tsubaki returns.
Baron’s report to the board from the Friends of Eutin was reviewed. Ross expressed thanks to Baron for all his work for the Friends of Eutin and for the report.
Ross reviewed issues with plane tickets for the Eutin group. Keel will work with Eisert regarding the budget issues, collections of monies, and the process for paying bills. Discussion also ensued regarding the Sauer Danfoss money request. Kreicker will write a letter requesting that money. Kreicker will check with Strecker to get a copy of the report and budget from last year’s Eutin trip.
Ross reminded the board and the Friend’s representatives on the board that each Friend’s group needs to have a meeting to elect at a minimum a President and Treasurer.
Hodge shared a note and a reimbursement check from Hans Otto for expenses incurred during Eutin’s student exchange 18 months ago. The money ($31.05) will be put in the scholarship fund.
Patterson reminded us that we must be adjourned by 7:00 PM in March, April, and May as another group has the room at 7:00 PM.
Moody moved and Ground seconded that we adjourn. Motion passed.
Next meeting March 14, 2007.
To: Sister Cities Advisory Board
From: Frank Baron, Friends of Eutin
I would like to report on the current status of preparations for the 750th anniversary in Eutin.
1) Guitar Orchestra of Ostholstein (Eutin) will visit Lawrence on Friday, March 30 (arriving from Las Vegas) and remain until Tuesday, April 3 (departing for Chicago). The group has twenty-one members (thirteen children, ages 10 to eighteen and eight adults. Graham and Lisa have reserved Liberty Hall for a concert. The program will include classical pieces by Charpentier, Bach, and Grieg along with solo pieces and modern pieces such as “Irish Dreams.” Friends of Eutin will organize home stays, a visit in Kansas City, and concerts in local churches and schools. Suggestions are welcome.
2) Plans for the unveiling of Jan Gaumnitz’ sculpture in Eutin on June 6. .
The Friends of Lawrence have been very active in the preparation of the sculpture for the placement and unveiling. Mayor Schulz has decided on a very attractive lakeside position, where the sculpture will have an appropriate natural background and lit up at night. Helmut Scheewe and Jürgen Gehm did considerable research in locating the ideal (and financially affordable) stone base. The stone, the fastening of the sculpture and plaque, transport and placement will cost $737.92. The Friends of Lawrence have generously voted to cover the costs beyond the $600 proposed by the board.
3) Plans for “Kansas Night” on June 6.
In the first week of January tow meetings of the Friends of Lawrence and the members of the Eutin Fire Department were devoted to the planning of “Kansas Night.” Based on those meetings and correspondence with Graham Kreicker and Bob Schumm have resulted in reasonable arrangements for the purchase of food and cooking arrangements. The program will take place at the Fire Department home, which can cope with 250 guests (including the delegation, high school exchange students and KU students). It would be appropriate to recognize the help provided by firemen and Helmut Scheewe, who has been involved in such activities in support of Lawrence guests for forty years.
KU will contribute $1,000 and KU students will help in preparing the picnic.
4) Kari Paludan and Melanie Hadley in a program of school instruction, master classes, recitals, and concerts in the first week of September (the time of the official 750th celebrations).
Both schools welcome the Lawrence musicians and will organize class meetings, individual instructions in master classes, and recitals. The special public concert will take place in the newly renovated Rittersaal of the castle, which was the formal reception area of the castle. This concert will be free and open to the public.
For attractive Web sites showing the impressive artistic qualities of Kari and Melanie, please consult http://www.melaniegriffiths.com/Welcome.html
5) Art works for Eutin. I met with Dr. Klaus-Dieter Hahn and presented him with the photograph of Lyonel Feininger’s Eutin I. I was also able to give him a gift from Mrs. Anna Bloch, the earliest print prepared by her husband, Albert Bloch, Mephisto of 1910.
6) Financial Considerations. If the expenses for the celebrations are thought by the board to be to great, Friends of Lawrence would gladly agree to the postponement of future visits by five years. I am attaching the sister-city agreements of 1989, according to which the activities describe above are in line with the original vision. See paper copies.
7) Please note our Web site for the Eutin exchanges, now also linked to the Lawrence city Web site:
http://www2.ku.edu/~germanic/eutin.htm
Lawrence art works displayed in the Eutin museum are at
http://www.oh-museum.de/eutin/bloch.htm