Sister Cities

Idaho Falls Sister City Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2018 Members in Attendance: Cal & Cindy Ozaki, Paul & Sheri Hansen, Brian & Julie Wartchow, Clarke Kido, Edward & Cheryl Zaladonis, Val Haddon, Jim & Nancy Thorsen, Lynda Ulschmid, Nan Hong, Bill Toth, Brad Cramer, David & Carole Walters, Bryce & Kirsten Shurtliff, and Kris & Chelsea Schneider Guests in Attendance: Members from the Youth delegation were Dave Eaton Adult President and chaperone, Melinda Cebull and Nicholas Cebull Youth V.P., Kendra Peck adult chaperone, and Nathan, and Dallin Peck. The students gave a video presentation and talk about the Youth delegation exchange to Tokai-mura in August. Minutes: Approved as corrected Treasurer’s Report: Beginning Balance $11177.09, New Balance: $11412.09 as read by Cindy for Joan. Approved as read. Business:  The youth delegation had 12 name badge holders, they had to order more for their last visit. They no longer have the city logo ones that we leant them. We will need to see how many we need and order more.  Brian talked about the pictures and forms for the delegation member list. Cindy e-mailed the form to everyone. Please fill out the form and return to Brian at bjwartchow@yahoo.com so that he can complete the member list. This will be sent to Japan for the delegates coming and also sent to our members to help acquaint everyone since we have so many new members. Please send form even if you haven’t had your picture taken. He will be taking pictures again next meeting or we can send with a picture you provide or without a picture. They are also working on a delegate list for us.  Friendship Garden: Clarke reported that they have successfully stained the bamboo fence on the upper portion. The pending work to be done is dependent on the weather.  Committees: Cindy passed out a committee list for people to review and edit if necessary. Committees are asked to meet and report at next meeting.  Events: Cindy passed out signup sheets for the events that our delegates want to attend. If you were not at the meeting and would like to attend these please contact Cindy and let her know ASAP. We need a count in order to schedule transportation.  Finance Committee: Nancy reported US Bank has donated $500, Bank of Idaho cannot help financially but will contribute something for the welcome bags. She has contacted Melaleuca but has not received a response and will continue to contact them. No response from the INL, Nancy has left messages with Lori Priest. Kirsten is currently working on one and will let us know how it goes. Litton was going to contact Fluor, Cal will follow up with Ann Riedesel at Fluor.  Media: Litton not in attendance will follow up at next meeting.  Homestay visits: Sheri reviewed the delegates list. All delegates are doing either a weekend or week long homestay. Cindy is finalizing the list and will e-mail out the list once complete. Cindy has an information list for the Japanese delegates but no pictures currently. This will have contact information so that you can contact you homestay prior to them arriving.  Arrival: The delegates arrive on Friday, Oct. 5th. We will greet them at the airport and meet their homestay families. We will then go to Jim & Nancy Thorsens for a potluck dinner before they leave with their homestay families for the weekend.  Tailgate Party: Kris reported that the tickets for both the game and tailgate party (including food and drink) are $20 for adults, $12 for kids. We ask that Members that signed up to go need to get their  payment in to IFSC as soon as possible since we need to pay in advance. Kris will let Nancy know what the food items are for the tailgate party so that we don’t duplicate the menu on the welcome dinner the night before. Clarke asked if he could bring the fish banners to hang at the game. Kris will check but should be OK if there is space available. We wanted to get the delegation ISU memorabilia for the game. The gift committee will check at the Orange and Black store at ISU in Pocatello to see what we can come up with. Kris will let us know the time for everyone to be there or where we can meet to car pool.  Sunday and Monday homestays. Members can coordinate with each other on doing group events if they desire.  City Day: Brad has a schedule where we meet at City Hall at 8:30 for group photo (it is important that you be there on time since this picture is part of their gift) Business attire is the dress for the day. (1) We will start with a meet and greet with the Mayor and City Council Members in the Council Chambers from 8:30-9:30. (2) Fire Station 1 Tour 9:45 to 10:45, (3) Broadway Tour 11:05-11:45, (4) Lunch- Lucy’s Pizzeria won’t be ready so they are looking into other venues, possibly Grandpa’s BBQ. We are trying to work in a tour of the Friendship Garden and the Humanitarian Center based on time constraints. The Community Reception will be that evening at 6:00 pm at the Art Museum.  Humanitarian Center tour: Sheri has been working with the center for either Tuesday or Wednesday from 1:30 or 2:00. The tour will take about one hour and will include a video, a tour of the facility, see the projects they work on and workshops in progress, they will also explain who this program helps.  INL Tour-Cal and Litton have been coordinating the tour to leave the Willow Creek Building at 7:30 go to Energy Systems Lab for about 1 hour, tour MFC, and IMCL and possibly EBR2 and powerhouse. The tour will take about 4 hours. They have vans that seat 14 including the driver, we may need to split the group into two with 2 vans. A signup sheet was passed around so Cal can work on transportation and clearances.  Youth Dinner: The youth delegation are planning on a Mexican dinner on Wednesday, Oct 10th at 6:00 at the Activities Center on Skyline Drive.  Home Tours: Brad has lined up some homes and we will schedule them on either Wednesday or Friday afternoon depending on schedule.  Bus Trip: Cindy reported after doing more research and in talking to Keiko that we would not do Granite Hot Springs but that people could do on homestay weekends if the desire. Since a few new members of the City Council are coming it was suggested that it would be better to do either Yellowstone or Jackson/Grand Teton. It was decided on doing Jackson/Grand Teton. Paul and Brian talked about the routes and places to go in both Jackson and Grand Teton. Sheri reported on the information she received about the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. It was decided on doing a box lunch on the bus and stopping at Melvin Brewery in Alpine for dinner and a tour. The committee will meet and plan the route and assign someone to coordinate lunch and dinner with Melvin Brewery.  Thunder Ridge High School tour will be on Friday morning. Cindy and Chelsea are coordinating with the school for a tour held while school is in session and if we can do lunch there. Tentative time is 11:30-1:30.  Teton Toyota Tour: Nancy is checking with them to schedule.  Farewell Brunch: Cindy was able to reserve Idaho Brewing Company for Saturday morning, $150 rent. Brad’s family has offered to do Crepes for cost only, the menu to include: 2 savory, and 2 sweet options. They will make some up ahead of time and also have their truck there to watch them making them. We will supplement with potluck items fruit, drinks, etc.  Farewell Party: Cindy has booked the Sandpiper for Saturday, Oct 13th, 5:30. This will be a no host event payable at the door. Details will be coming later. Please let her know if you are planning on attending so that we can have adequate space.  Farewell Departure Breakfast: Their flight leaves on Sunday at 7:29 am. The airport is open at 5:30 in which we will have to have them there. Clarke is arranging for sack lunches available for them on the  other side of security. We will have a small breakfast in the small meeting room by the departure gate consisting of coffee, tea, juice. Great Harvest has offered to donate muffins etc. to share.  Gifts: Nancy brought the gifts again to show everyone and Brian took pictures for our records. We will give these formal gifts at the Community Reception. We decided on the Bow & arrow in quiver for the City to City gift. The Matching Breast plate and choker necklace as our Sister City to Sister City gift, and will offer Mayor Casper the Indian Tomahawks for the Mayor to Mayor gift if she would like otherwise we will combined with one of the other. These are from the Lewis & Clark Warrior of the Plaines Collection.  Display Cases: Nancy reported that the display cases at the airport have been redone and that smallest of the child’s kimono’s the Japanese gave us is this last year is on display. She did not have room for the larger child’s kimono so we still are in need of more display areas.  Shopping: Saturday afternoon is the only time for shopping unless done on a homestay day. Cindy reported that the Chamber Welcome Center on the river has a large amount of Idaho souvenirs. They have also offered to donate an item for our gift bags. Cheryl commented that Cal Store has a large amount of Americana and they always love Wal-Mart for souvenir gifts to take home which include candy etc.  Homestay ideas: Nancy recently talked to Bob Hoff and they will be starting to dig potatoes October 1st so they might like to watch them harvesting potatoes and glean a field. PLEASE NOTE: We have a lot to do in a short period of time and would like everyone’s support and help in making this exchange a success. The following meetings scheduled are: Monday September 10th at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers and Monday September 24th. Sheri Hansen (Filling in for Lisa Sehlke)