Lawrence Sister Cities Advisory Board
September 16, 2009 minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Bill Keel, Stuart Boley, Jon Josserand, Ken Albrecht, Gina Ross, Bob Moody, Andrew Tsubaki, Kathleen Hodge, Kelly Herndon, Bob Schumm, Michael Kennedy, Linda Hyler |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Lori Hutfles, Lynn Ground |
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STAFF LIAISON PRESENT: |
Cynthia Boecker |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Dennis, Karen and Noah Christilles, Friends of Iniades
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The regular monthly meeting was held in the city commission chambers at City Hall at 5:30 on September 16, 2009. Keel announced the presence of a quorum.
Review of the Minutes and Accounting Documents (Josserand and Boley)
Stuart reviewed the accounting documents. He noted the Eutin 09 trip balance does not reflect the transfer of scholarship monies, and should be basically breakeven. It was also noted that the Hiratsuka 09 trip shows a positive balance due to lower than expected air fares and the issue of rebates needs to be considered.
Draft minutes were distributed and approved for August 2009.
Committee Reports:
Annual Fundraiser (Moody)
Planning is proceeding for the October 22 fundraising event at the Castle Tea Room. The committee is obtaining sponsorships/underwriters. A number of last year’s underwriters have committed to contribute to this event again.
Public Relations (Hodge)
Kathleen will be contacting KU soon relative to the possibility of obtaining an intern.
New
Sister Cities (Schumm)
Bob Schumm introduced Dennis and Karen Christilles.
The mayor of Iniades and other Iniades citizens will be visiting Lawrence on October 19-22. We have received a number of indications that Iniades would like to use this occasion to formalize a sister city relationship with Lawrence. Christilles distributed a draft of a possible sister city agreement with Iniades to the Board.
Schumm discussed a number of contacts recently made with city officials regarding this issue.
KU has had an ongoing relationship with Iniades for nearly twenty years. In addition Professor Tsubaki has teaching experiences in Iniades dating back to 1986, although he was not yet at KU.
Discussion occurred regarding the appropriateness of the timing of creating a sister city relationship at this time. A related issue is whether the advisory board would be seeking increased resources as a result of this request.
A motion was made to forward a request to the city commission a request to recommend approval of a formal sister city relationship with Iniades, Greece. The motion was approved by a vote of 10 – 2. Boecker indicated the earliest agenda opportunity for the commission to have to review this would be October 6, but this would need to be confirmed.
Relating to the budget, if the new sister city relationship is approved the board would commit to not raising its request for budget year 2011 beyond what has been approved for the budget year 2010. That amount, $7,500, is a reduction of 38% from that approved for budget year 2008.
20th Anniversary Eutin (Albrecht)
Keel distributed a newsletter from Professor Baron, and also distributed a participant list and schedule for the 20th Anniversary visit from Eutin. The agenda includes:
Wednesday September 30 – Welcome Reception at Chuck and Mary Loveland
Thursday October 1 – Visits to Lawrence Community Nursery School, Van Go Arts, and
Cottonwood Inc.
Friday October 2 – Visits to high schools, reception at Max Kade Center
Saturday October 3 – Day excursion to Council Grove and Tall Grass Prairie. Dinner in
Cottonwood Falls.
Sunday October 4 -- lunch with LINK, Evening - 20th Anniversary Dinner at Maceli’s
A number of invitations have been distributed for these events. RSVP’s should be forwarded to Bill Keel.
20th Anniversary Hiratsuka (Tsubaki)
The planning committee consists of Kennedy, Moody, Ross, Hyler, and Graham Kreicker. Professor Tsubaki updated the Board on the progress of the group.
Report from Friends of Eutin (Albrecht)
Albrecht reported that next year’s exchange with Eutin will not occur in the format which has existed in recent years. Friedemann Eisert’s retirement as the Eutin trip coordinator has prompted a search for a successor trip coordinator and no current German teacher has volunteered. As such, the educational exchange, as currently formatted, will not occur next summer.
Keel indicated that the Friends of Eutin will need to work to identify a new trip model. Discussions will occur with the Eutin representatives during their October visit regarding these possibilities.
Old Business
Old business agenda items were deferred due to lack of time. It was recommended that a special Board meeting be called to discuss these and other matters. Keel will examine the calendar and make a recommendation.
Ross raised the topic of the Sister Cities membership form and suggested collapsing some of the donor categories. Discussion ensued.
The Chair appointed a committee to review the membership form and appointed Ross, Herndon and Josserand to the committee.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm
Next Scheduled Meetings: October 14 and November 11, 2009, 5:30 pm at City Hall