MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Keel, Ken Albrecht, Kelly Scholz, Diana Carlin, Michelle Fales, Melissa Johnson, Carol Shankel
CITY LIAISON: Porter Arneill
MEMBERS ABSENT: James Hilliard, Bob Schumm, Stuart Boley
GUESTS PRESENT: None
Chair Bill Keel opened the meeting at 5:36.
Meeting Materials Provided:
Ÿ Meeting agenda
Ÿ December 13, 2018 draft minutes
Ÿ Financials and balances through December 31, 2018
Ÿ Brochure on Eutin sent to Mayor Boley
Announcements and Guests
· There were no announcements or guests
Approval of Minutes
Ÿ Minutes of December 13, 2018 were approved with corrections.
Ÿ Minutes from July 2018 forward will be posted on the SCL website at https://lksistercityadvisoryboard.weebly.com/ . Minutes prior to that month are on the City website.
Review of Financials ‐ Fales
- Total accounts are $91,734.05
- Scholarship account is currently $22,984.77
- Savings are at $44,395.69
- Retained earnings are $33,243.06
- Fales reviewed all accounts and expenditures since the last meeting.
- Scholz moved and Johnson seconded approval of the financial report. Unanimous approval.
- Fales reported on current CD rates from InTrust, EnVista, Truity, and Mid-America in consideration of a possible move of funds for higher interest rates. Albrecht asked what funds we would invest. Scholz and Fales both identified that retained earnings is a logical target. Shankel asked what the increased rate would yield. Fales answered that it would be approximately $440 on a $15,000 investment. Keel asked where interest would go. Discussed adding to scholarships or savings and deciding when the CD matures.
- Keel moved that we transfer $30,000 for a 15-month CD with a bump at 2.75%. Scholz seconded. Motion approved unanimously. Fales will have someone at EnVista prepare the paperwork.
Committee Reports
Scholarships—Keel
- There were six applications for scholarship support for summer 2019. Keel distributed anonymous information on the applicants and their requests.
- Carlin moved and Fales seconded awarding four scholarships to two student going to Eutin of $250 and $850, respectively, and to two students going to Hiratsuka of $1150, each. Following the meeting a seventh application was received. The Scholarship Committee reviewed the application and recommended financial aid award of $600 for this additional student in the Hiratsuka program. The Board approved the additional award via e-mail. The total amount of financial aid awarded for summer 2019 is $4,000.
- Scholz noted that we still anticipate a contribution of $500 from Rotary to be awarded to one of the students. If that amount is received, one of the students going to Hiratsuka will be the recipient and receive the remainder of the award from the Scholarship Fund.
- Albrecht recommended that in the future the application form be titled “financial aid application” rather than “scholarship application.” Everyone agreed to this proposal. Keel will change the form accordingly.
- Keel recommended that we ask all families to complete a “financial aid application” with the proviso that a family can opt out. There was general agreement.
Membership on SCL Committees
- Keel asked that the board review its committee structure as well as membership on all committees at the February meeting. Keel also noted that it is important to involve the general membership in committee service and not restrict it to members of the board. Fales will bring the membership list from 2018 together with any new and renewed members to the February meeting.
FoH (Friends of Hiratsuka)—Johnson
- First meeting is January 19th. There are 19 students going.
- Johnson received a letter from Toru Hayashi, staff of the Division of Culture & Exchange, requesting stickers and information about Lawrence for an exhibit. Johnson sent the materials.
- Asked chaperones to think about creating a first aid kit and make this established practice for all of the exchanges. This should be included in the trip budget.
- Provide a calling card for chaperones for calls back to the US. We could add to our budget or the trip budget to cover call costs.
- Carol posted photos from Yoshimi Tomita of Hiratsuka on the Facebook page.
- Carol will arrange to have a letter sent from the new Mayor to the Mayor of Hiratsuka.
FoE (Friends of Eutin)—Albrecht and Scholz
- Albrecht distributed a brochure from the city of Eutin on renewal projects in 2018 that was sent to Mayor Boley with an English summary.
- Albrecht and Scholz reported on the January 7 planning meeting for the 30th anniversary delegation from Lawrence. Past participants and those who indicated an interest were invited. There were 10 attendees.
- The delegation will leave June 5 and arrive on June 6 with activities starting on the 7th and departure on the 12th. Estimate of 16-20 participants. Mayor-elect Lisa Larsen and Vice-Mayor-elect plan to go. Bob and Patsy Moody, Mike and Marilyn Amyx, Scholz, Keel, Joe Pierron and Diana Carlin, Free State Principal Myron Graber and his wife Donna, Ken and Nancy Albrecht. Chuck Magerl and Richard Haig have not committed. Kevin Kelly from Peasley Tech is interested in being on the program for the Eutin delegation visit to Lawrence in October. Additonally, Arne Scholz and 6 high school exchange students as well as Dr. Emily Wallace and approximately 14 KU students will also be in Eutin at the time of the delegation visit.
- Scholz visited with Friends of Lawrence while she was in Eutin over the holidays and has a tentative schedule. In addition to receptions and tours in Eutin, a daylong excursion to a museum in Denmark is tentatively planned. The visit will culminate with the German-American Evening on June 11.
- Discussed the need to begin planning for the return visit and commissioning a piece of art for the Eutin trip.
- Fales mentioned that there will be an intern coming in April from Eutin and would be reaching out to businesses.
- Ad hoc 30th celebration committee is Kelly, Bill, Ken (chair), Michelle, Joe Pierron. Need to schedule a meeting soon. Keel asked the committee to meet and commission an artist and begin planning.
- Six students will go to Eutin and Arne Scholz is getting flight arrangements made currently. The Scholzes will host the faculty chaperone Thomas Dretzler from the Voss High School in the fall.
FOI (Friends of Iniades)—Albrecht
Ÿ Eight students are going to Greece in mid-July for about 10 days and will overlap with the KU Theatre Department group visit.
Ÿ Meeting at the train depot on the 13th with the trip coordinator for parents and students at 4:00.
Ÿ They are working on airfares.
Ÿ No financial aid applications.
New Business
- Shankel suggested that someone contact the Lawrence Journal-World to write an article about the 33 students going to our three sister cities. Arneill will send contact information to Keel.
Shankel moved and Scholz seconded and the meeting adjourned at 7:03 pm.
Next meeting: February 13, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.