Sister Cities

Approved September 16, 2019 Idaho Falls Sister City Youth Meeting-Minutes Attendees: Kylie Eaton Kendra Peck Nathan Peck Aurora Mahoney Aiden Gallegos Jo Gallegos Robert Gallegos Abby Gallegos Laura Combs Charlotte Combs Samantha Gohl Stephanie Van Ausdeln Rylee Young Heather Medema Mike Medema Max Medema Charlie Medema Izabel Kelley Melinda Cebull Nicholas Cebell Maggie Boring Wendy Boringh Ed McIsaac McKenzie McIsaac Katie Eaton David Eaton Lori Kidwell Sam Hawker Tate Corbridge Membership: Please remember that: ​All applications need to be updated and signed by guardian. Membership dues for the 2019/2020 year in the amount of $25.00 for individual membership and $35.00 for families with two or more students in IFSCY. Membership will become delinquent as of January 1 if dues are not paid. (Article II Section 1 of Bylaws) Membership fees for 2019/2020 year paid: Nicholas Cebull $25.00, Max and Charlie Medema $35.00 check, Stephanie Van Ausdeln $25.00, Anna St. Michel $25.00, Charlotte Combs $25.00, and Kylie Eaton $25.00. Approval of minutes: ​Corrections made prior to the approving of the noted: Adding Nicholas Cebull $25.00, and correcting the IFSC Adult group to JACL under the upcoming event. Kendra Peck motioned to approve the September 16, 2019 meeting minutes and seconded by Max Medema. Voted on and all agreed. Reminder: Next meeting for Idaho Falls Sister City Youth is scheduled for October 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm at the Idaho Falls Public Library. The Library is closed on the 14th of October therefore the next meeting is scheduled for October 21st. Please put the dates on your calendar. Treasurer’s report: Current Checking Balance as of 09/16/2019 is $6,454.93. Total deductions in August and through Setpember 16 was $9,186.06. The estimated cost of the 2019 Student Exchange is $9,700.00. This does not include individual donations and contributions. Bylaws for the Student Exchange: David Eaton reviewed the eligibility requirements (point system) for the July 2020 Student Exchange. Anyone interested in meeting with David after the meeting to discuss eligibility please let him know. Student Exchange eligibility requirements and priority points explanation as noted from September 4, 2019 meeting notes: According to Article VII Section 5 to receive an invitation to participate in the exchange withTokai-Mura students must meet the following participation criteria: Must have attended at least 50% of meetings and activities of the Idaho Falls Sister Cities Youth Program in the 16 month period prior to the invitations being sent (September 1 of even numbered year to December 31 of the odd numbered year (just prior to the invitations being issued). Students who join after September 1 of even-numbered years will have this requirement evaluated based upon the time period from their date of member to December 31 of the odd numbered year. Students must be in good standing with the Idaho Falls Sister Cities Youth Program and in compliance with the Code of Conduct. The student and their family must have participated in the hosting of the delegations from Tokai-Mura during the previous odd-numbered year. Priority Points Explanation (from September 4, 2019 meeting minutes): The top 15 students in priority points will be invited to participate in the exchange. Priority points are defined as 1: the total of the participation points earned directly by the student, 2) points earned by parents (or those acting in parental capacity) assigned to the specific student (parents have the choice of splitting their points equally among their students or assigning all of their points to one specific student in their family). Article VII Section 4, Participation Points, and Article VII Section 5 Priority Point Adjustments were discussed. There are two meetings in September, two meetings in October, two meetings in November, and one meeting in December. In addition to the meetings there may be opportunities to help with the clean up of the Friendship Garden, Skype call, and Winter Carnival. Student Exchange (from September 4, 2019 meeting minutes): Time of the 2020 Student Exchange has not yet been determined. Students who were invited to participate in the 2018 Student Exchange were required to put a $300.00 deposit down for their airplane ticket by February 2018. The total amount of ticket had to be paid off by May 2018. The amount of the ticket for 2018 Student Exchange was around $1,500. The time of the exchange will be determined and then the airfare reservations made and costs will be determined. Reimbursement is based on students participation points. Student Exchange News: ​Whitney St. Michel is not present due to a prior commitment. Whitney will be reporting at the October 2, 2019 meeting. Upcoming Events: Winter Ice Carnival - David Eaton reported that he is still negotiating with the city on the Ice Carnival. More information will be given at the next meeting. Max Medema volunteered to create posters for the Ice Carnival. Lori Kidwell will call District 91 and 93 to see if the winter carnival posters can be placed in schools in each district. Selling of Coupon Books at the Paramount Theater - Max Medema offered to coordinate people and shifts for the sales of the coupon books. The group decided on Friday, October 25 and Saturday October 26. He’ll bring a volunteer signup sheet to the next meeting. Bento Boxes - Helping out with the Bento Boxes happens only on the even years. However last year the JACL Adult group stated they would donate $200.00 to the Youth group. Lori Kidwell will confirm the donation at the next meeting. Japanese Language Lessons - Kendra Peck will talk to Junko about offering group language lessons. Junko had been charging $10.00 per student per lesson if there are three or more students in the group and $15.00 per student if there are only one or two students in the class. If students are interested in taking Japanese Language lessons from Junko one time per week please email Dave Eaton at ​daveifid@gmail.com​. Heather and Max Medema asked if there was an interest in going to the Corn Maze which is off Exit 113. The projected cost to each student is $6.00. Heather Medema will will send out an email to the group to determine if there is interest in going the Corn Maze. ​Student Activities ​Websites of cultural activities was shown. These websites have many lessons and games to do. We showed these sites for students to learn about the culture and to allow students to teach a lesson to the group so that each student in the group can learn better. Each student is asked if they would look at the sites and teach a lesson. Students can be responsible for one thirty minute block or share the block with another student. Part of the lesson should be interactive. The two websites are: Kids Web Japanese Teaching Ideas  Some people have already signed up, and just as a quick reminder to them, October 2 - Culture: Rylee Young Game: Samantha Gohl October 21 - Culture: Sam Hawker Game: Max Madema November 6 - Culture: Aidan Gallegos Game: Maggie Boring December 4 - Culture: Game: Charlotte Combs Sorry if I misspelled your name. Thank you for being willing to help. To everyone else, remember that there is another year, so if you wanted to teach, you will have an opportunity at some point. ​Meeting Adjourned: Aurora Mahoney motioned to adjourn meeting. It was seconded by Charlie Medema.