Sister Cities

Idaho Falls Sister City Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 29, 2018 Members in Attendance: Joan Fuhrman, Kevin Fuhrman, Val Haddon, Clarke Kido, Cal Ozaki, Cindy Ozaki, Chelsea May Schneider, Kris Schneider, Lisa Sehlke, Jim Thorsen, Nancy Thorsen, Edward Zaladonis, and Cheryl Zaladonis. Guest: Mary Krupnik and Nan Hong Introductions: Members & Guest introduced themselves. Minutes: Approved as amended (added decision to purchase Japanese US postal stamps for visiting delegation members.) Treasurers Report: Balance as of 5/29/18 $5,602.09. Business:  Clarke Kido gave an update on the Friendship Garden. The water channels are flowing and the garden is beautiful! The Friendship Garden is now part of the master gardener training program. Several master gardeners will take care of the garden while Judy is away on vacation. Edward Zaladonis reported that the city is working on installing security cameras.  Clark also mentioned an upcoming annual pilgrimage to the Minidoka internment campsite. Clark will attend July 5 - 8. Several of the teachers involved in the visit earlier in the school year indicated their support for both the youth and adult sister city programs.  Committee Reports: Fund Raising – Nancy Thorsen is working on this. If you have contacts or suggestions for sponsors or folks who may be willing to support the program, please let Nancy know.  2018 Exchange:  the Japanese delegation will be in Idaho Falls October 5, 2018 to October 14, 2018. Fifteen delegates are expected. Cindy sent out a sign up sheet for members to indicate their ability/willingness to host delegates during the visit. We anticipate at least 3-night home stay weekend to start the visit, and some delegates may wish to home stay the full length of the visit.  Action: Please follow-up with Cindy to indicate your participation as host.  Cindy reported that the proposed budget of $14,000.00 and funding request for $7,800.00 was submitted to the City.  Cindy distributed a draft schedule (strawman) based upon the proposed budget and led a discussion regarding potential activities for the visit. Activities may need to scale back or may be added depending on fundraising (we need to raise $3,000 to $4,000).  We agreed to delegate activity planning to our membership to be more efficient. As we identify activities, members will volunteer to research and coordinate them. The draft schedule included the following activities: o Nancy and Jim Thorsen agreed to host the brunch and gift exchange o Clark Kido will coordinate departure breakfast and sack lunch o Nancy Thorsen and Kevin Fuhrman will research potential hotels for the delegation to stay during the visit o Kris Schneider agreed to research the potential of getting complementary tickets for the Idaho State University/University of Idaho football game on October 6 o Brad Cramer is coordinating City Day with the Mayor and Council Members o Julie Wartchow and Sheri Hansen are looking into a visit to the Humanities Center o Chelsea Schneider will inquire about a visit to Thunder Ridge HS and will also inquire about displaying our Japanese gifts at the school. o Val Haddon and Edward Zaladonis will help coordinate transportation for delegates to activities (can we use City vans?) o Additional ideas and activities that need research and potentially coordination: Bus transportation, Yellowstone visit, Community reception, Local events, Farewell party  Action: Please let Cindy know if you are willing to research/coordinate an activity. o We also discussed limiting the gift exchange to include only: Sister City to Sister City, Mayor to Mayor and Gift bags for delegates.  Nancy bought and displayed for consideration as gifts from a western auction:  2 Indian ceremonial chest plates ($62.50 and $102.00)  Quiver, Bow and Arrows ($135.00)  Tomahawk ($50.00)  Cindy will meet with the Mayor to find potential city-owned locations to display Sister City gifts received over the years.  Future meeting dates: All future meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of the month. The next meeting is Monday, June 25, 2018, at 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers. Lisa Sehlke Secretary, Idaho Falls Sister Cities