Sister Cities

Approved January 8, 2020 Idaho Falls Sister City Youth Meeting-Minutes Attendees: Aurora Mahoney Chad Mahoney Vina Gamino Lizette Gamino Omar Gamino Abby Gallegos Robert Gallegos Jo Gallegos Aidan Gallegos Tim Thompson Carter Thompson Nathan Peck Guy Tillitt Arena Tillitt Julie Tillitt Stephanie Van Ausdeln Rebecca Smith Jorge Padron Nate Nakashima Andrew Nakashima Laura Kelley Izabel Kelley Katie Eaton Melinda Cebull Nicholas Cebull Jack Iverson Brennan Corbridge Tate Corbridge Jackson Corbridge Jackie Sugai Gabe Padron Kendra Peck Whitney St. Michel Heather Medema Charlie Medema Lori Ann Kidwell Sam Hawker Laura Combs Caroline Combs Charlotte Combs TJ Combs Todd Combs David Eaton ​Membership: ​ Code of Conduct signed and received for Gabe Padron. Approval of minutes: ​Whitney St. Michel motioned to approve the December 4, 2019 meeting minutes and the motion was seconded by Jo Gallegos. Voted and unanimously approved. Treasurer’s Report: ​Treasurer report that December started with $6,704.92 with the deposit of the dues and money made from the Winter Carnival the total is presently $8,546.95. The group made $2,283.57 from the Winter Carnival. Fundraisers: Donation and Sales from Magazines donated by Sydel’s ​The group sold BYTE Magazines and earned a total of $498.00. Sydel’s also donated speakers to be sold on Ebay. The speakers sold for $930.00. Thank you to Sydel’s for the donations!!! Student Exchange Information: ​ ​Invitations were sent out this past weekend to 15 highest ranked students to participate the 2020 Exchange Visit to Japan. Those students that wish to accept the invitation should send an email by January 24 to Whitney St. Michel and David Eaton stating their intention to participate. A $100 deposit will then be due at the next meeting on January 27. The fifteen students invited are: Kylie Eaton, Nathan Peck, Anna St. Michel, Sam Hawker, Stephanie Van Ausdeln, ​Charlotte Combs, Nicholas Cebull, Gabe Padron, Abby Gallegos, Maggie Boring, Charlie Medema, Carter Thompson Aidan Gallegos, Izabel Kelley, and Max Medema. If any of these students decline the invitation or are unable to participate in the exchange, there are additional students that will be offered invitations in the following order. 1. Aurora Mahoney 2. Tate Corbridge 3. Riley Young ​Whitney St. Michel spoke with Haruka about dates of the Student Exchange. The date of the exchange will begin on July 29 2020. Whitney looked up round trip tickets both from Idaho Falls to Tokai-Muri and Salt Lake City to Tokai-Mur going as a group of 18 and also in groups of six (one adult with five students). Group tickets for 18 people from Salt Lake City on Delta is $1,825 per person. On United Airlines each individual would need to pay $2,040 from Salt Lake City. Whitney will call on prices of a bus to take the group from here to Salt Lake City Airport. Students accepting the invitation will need to give ​Lori Kidwell a $100 deposit (if possible please pay by check) at the next meeting on January 27. The total price of the student’s ticket will need to be paid by the student on or before the beginning of June. All monies should be given to Lori Kidwell. Lori Kidwell asked that if at all possible please make each payment with a check. She’ll keep track of it on a spreadsheet. Whitney St. Michel suggested that each student begin the process of applying for a passport. For more information look online for Passport Application and Information or go to the Idaho Falls Courthouse Passport Office. Each student will need International Medical Insurance.  Each student will need to download the Medical Form on the IFSCY site, fill it out and return it to David or Katie Eaton. As we get closer to the Student Exchange to Tokai-Muri a panel of our students who have gone to Tokai-Muri in 2018 will answer questions on etiquette, currency, activities, expectations, etc. Skyping Kendra will email the Tokai-Muri Sister City Group and asked if we could Skype with them. Several topics to discuss were suggested. Cherry Blossom Festival ​David Eaton spoke with Jerry, the owner of Snow Eagle and asked which dates works best for him. He proposed April 23 or April 30. The group asked if David would see if April 23 works for Jerry. David will let us know at the next meeting. Reminder: The next meeting for Idaho Falls Sister City Youth is scheduled for January 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm at the Idaho Falls Public Library. February meetings are the 5th and 19, March meetings are the 4th and the 16th, April 1st and 13th, May 6th and 18th, June 3rd and 15th. Please put the dates on your calendar. Student Activity: ​Meeting minutes for 01-08-2020 ​Today was a planning meeting. We started by handing out new year cards, that were sent from Japan. We have some left and will be giving them to the owner at meetings. After that, we began talking about what meetings we wanted to have. Some things that were wanted were as below, 1. A Panel of Students that went to Japan 2. A culture lesson 3. Currency 4. Making Sushi Upcoming Activities 1. Cherry Blossom Festival 2. Skype Call( No planned date) 3.Lessons. The next lesson will be taught by Aidan. Adding on to these notes. In February, we have Stephanie, for the first meeting, and for the second meeting, we have Anna and Kylie. In March, we have for the first meeting, Aliyah. For the second meeting, we have Carter on some key Japanese phrases. Sorry if I messed up your name and if we missed anyone, please let me know. ​Meeting Adjourned: Rebecca Smith motioned to adjourn meeting. It was seconded by Gabe Padron.