Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Sister Cities Advisory Board

TO:	Mayor and City Commission
FROM:	Bob Schumm and Bob Moody, Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board Members
CC:	David L. Corliss, City Manager Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager/Staff Liaison
Date:	August 20, 2009
RE:	Activities to date regarding exploration of third sister city relationship

Background

The Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board was created June 16, 1987 when Mayor Mike Amyx signed into law Ordinance 5799. As amended by ordinance 6700 (September 26, 1995), the duties of the Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board (LSCAB) were outlined:

Chapter 1, Article 10, Section 1005

(A): to seek, support, coordinate, foster and develop sister city exchange programs of an educational, or charitable nature. Exchange activities sponsored by the board should include but not be limited to social events providing cultural enrichment. Exchange activities may result in greater cultural understanding and subsequent business, economic and governmental relationships……

(D) Raise opportunities for new Sister City relationships with the City Commission

Timeline

In July of 2008, Antonios Aleteras, the mayor of the municipality of Iniades, proposed to Dennis Christilles, professor of theatre at KU and KU/Iniades group leader, a sister city relationship between Iniades, Greece and Lawrence, Kansas. The University of Kansas has had a long-time Summer Theatre Program with Iniades, dating back to 1986. The Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board has since been approached by representatives of Iniades, Greece with the intent to possibly form a Sister City relationship. Below is a timeline of activities associated with the Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board consideration of the request.

July 22, 2008 An email from Karen Christilles to Sue Hack was received requesting information about the Lawrence Sister Cities program.

August 14, 2008 Bob Schumm, Chair of the New Sister City Committee, and Kathleen Hodge, Lawrence Sister City Advisory Board member, attended a meeting at the Lied Center with Karen and Dennis Christilles. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Lawrence sister cities program and discuss how Iniades and Lawrence could function together in a sister cities relationship.

August 20, 2008 Dennis introduced Bob and Kathleen to Dimitra Pitsikou, representative from Iniades, Greece, during an informal lunch meeting. Discussion centered on Iniades and how our two cities could benefit from a sister cities relationship. The potential for exchange programs between our two cities and mutual similarities of the regions such as agricultural and cultural interests were discussed. Additionally, the potential of forming “friends groups” for both our cities was discussed.

August 20, 2008 Dimitra, Karen and Dennis were introduced to the Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board at its regular monthly meeting, which was held at the Lawrence City library. Dimitra gave the board a history of Iniades and its long relationship with KU students and faculty. In addition, she explained many of the cultural opportunities that Iniades has to offer and the great potential for exchanges between our two cities.

August 21,2008 Dimitra, Karen, Dennis, Bob and Kathleen were received at the Lawrence City Hall. Dimitra was introduced to Mayor Mike Dever and City Manager Dave Corliss. Dimitra received a gift from the Mayor and they visited for several minutes talking about the possibility of a sister city relationship between Iniades and Lawrence.

August 28, 2008 The New Sister City Committee of the LSCAB met to officially review the request of Iniades. Five board members and a city staff person met and, after lengthy discussion, voted unanimously to recommend to the LSCAB that we proceed towards a full sister city status with Iniades, Greece.

October 29, 2008 A special meeting of the Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board was convened and held at the Max Kade Center on the KU Campus. The meeting started at 5:30 and lasted two hours. Dennis and Karen Christilles presented a request to pursue a sister cites status with Iniades, Greece. Several students, who had studied in Iniades, made presentations to the board.

Action taken by Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board

The first official step to receiving sister cities status is for the board to approve a chairperson to organize and coordinate a supporting “friends group.” The board voted unanimously to install Karen and Dennis Christilles as the Co-Chairs of the Friends of Iniades (support group).

Friends of Iniades

January 11,2009 The Friends of Iniades met for the first time at the home of Dennis and Karen Christilles. Bob Schumm shared much information from the recent LSCAB meeting as well as information in general regarding sister-city programs. Although the committee was very enthusiastic at the prospect of a third sister city, Schumm and Hodge expressed concern about the city’s current budget problems.

February 15, 2009 The Friends of Iniades met.

May 17, 2009 The Friends of Iniades met. Angela Chrysostomou was present to translate a DVD produced by the city of Iniades. The DVD was narrated by Mayor Aleteras and featured many of the sites of importance and interest, both ancient and modern, in his municipality.

May 27-30, 2009 Bob Schumm, New Sister City Committee Chair, and Kathleen Hodge, LSCAB member and families visited Iniades, Greece at their own expense. Discussions with the Mayor of Iniades, Antonios Aleteras, and other representatives centered on the possibility of Iniades becoming Lawrence’s third Sister City.

The Friends of Iniades have 15 active members attending meetings.

Friends of Lawrence

August 2008 Shortly after the return of Dimitra Pitsikou to Iniades, a seven member Sister Cities Advisory Board was formed. The Board included Mayor Antonios Aleteras, members of the City Council, Dimitra Pitsikou, and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Balomenos. After several meetings, the City Council formally voted in favor of having Lawrence as a Sister City, all Council members voting in the affirmative. This decision was sent to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approval.

Now what?

The Lawrence Sister Cities Board has been working for the past 5 years investigating possible sister cities. For one reason or another, all potential relationships have failed. This has been the most positive to date. This could be an opportunity to make friends with a Sister City that will provide Lawrence with opportunities to study and partake in Greek culture, history, ancient theater, archeology, anthropology, as well as enjoy their ethnic foods. There is a 23-year-long relationship between KU’s Summer Theatre Program and Iniades.

Iniades is very anxious to establish formal ties with Lawrence. This was a repeated theme that Schumm and Hodge heard while they were in Iniades. Schumm responded to the invitation of formalizing the relationship with caution noting that Lawrence was not far enough along in the process to formalize anything at the moment due to the ongoing economic situation as well as all interested stakeholders having enough information to make a well-informed decision about Iniades. Iniades officials were told that we would continue to explore the possibilities of a future relationship and also continue to support both Friends Groups. The Iniades City Hall Staff indicated that they would like to visit Lawrence in the fall of ’09. The next step would be to invite the city staff of Iniades to Lawrence such that we can introduce them to all interested parties.

At this time, it is anticipated that no new funds will be required from the city in order to further investigate pursuing Sister City status with Iniades. The Sister City Advisory Board has funded a line in its budget at an amount of $1,000 each year for the past 6 years for the purpose of adding an additional sister city. To date, we have only spent approximately $85.00 of the $6,000 reserved for this activity, therefore there is a sufficient balance of money to handle our necessary expenses. Almost all of the activities that have taken place have been thus far of on a voluntary basis and hence at no cost to the city.