Sister Cities

Idaho Falls Sister City Youth Approved Meeting-Minutes This meeting was conducted using the platform Zoom ​February 3, 2021 Nicholas Cebull Charlotte Combs Laura Combs Jackie Sugai Kylie Eaton David Eaton Katie Eaton Abby Gallegos Izabel Kelley Sam Hawker Lori Kidwell McKenzie McIsaac Edward McIsaac Heather McIsaac Eden McIsaac Charlie Medema Max Medema Heather Medema Gabe Padron Jorge Padron Nathan Peck Kendra Peck Anna St. Michel Whitney St. Michel Stephanie VanAusdeln Carter Thompson Jennifer Thompson Approval of Meeting Minutes ​A motion by Stephanie VanAusdeln was made to approve the January 18, 2021 meeting minutes. Motion was seconded by Jorge Padron, Passed. Reminder The next Zoom meeting will be ​February 15, at 7:00.​ Please put this on your calendar. A reminder email notice will be sent out before the meeting. Upcoming meetings you may want to put on your calendar are March 3rd and 15th, April 7th and 19th. May 5th and 17th, June 2nd and 14th. Treasurer’s Report As of today, February 3rd: checking $16,550.84, money market $329.23, and savings $25.05. Fundraisers ​Selling Calendars There are seven calendars left that need to be sold. Lori Kidwell stated she would purchase five of the remaining calendars. Email Exchange ​Kendra Peck stated that she received an email from Carly Louffer, an Idaho Falls person who is returning from Japan. Carly stated that she would like to join IFSCY and help in any way she can. Recruiting Members for IFSCY Lori Kidwell stated that she has been asked by a student where the link is to join in the group meeting. You can forward the email which contains the link to the Zoom meetings. If you know of any student who is interested in the Idaho Falls Sister City Youth program please invite them to the Zoom meetings. You may forward the link to the meetings to any student who is interested. Uploading Pictures to the Google Photo Account Kendra Peck stated that individuals in the group need to learn how to upload photos into the Google Photo Account. Stephanie VanAusdeln stated that she would teach “how-to” at a general meeting. Criteria for Students Going To Japan David Eaton stated that there are presently fourteen students of the fifteen students invited to go to Japan who have stated they want to go to Japan. One student has declined. This leaves one position opened. The criterias for a student to go to Japan is attending 50% of the meeting. At this time two alternates who could fill this position; someone from the McIsaac family or someone from the Corbridge family. Bylaws Last week the IFSCY Board met to discuss if any changes needed to be made to the Bylaws as they are presently written. Below is the link to the Bylaws with the proposed changes. This will be an item that will be discussed and possibly voted on at the next meeting. Proposed changes to Bylaws as of 01/27/21 Bylaw Addendum for Student Eligibility For Participation in Exchange Student Activity Valentine Cards ​During this time of the year, it is common to send Valentine cards to Tokai-Mura students. Each Idaho Falls student is asked to design a Valentine card that contains a short message. Sign your name or your family's name. Each student will be responsible for making one or two Valentine cards for students from Tokai Mura Sister City. Cards are due by Monday, February 8, 2021. Cards can be dropped off at Kendra Peck’s home. The address is 961 Pascadero in Idaho Falls or at Jorge Padron’s office at 522 Lomax. After entering the office ask the receptionist for the dropoff box for IFSC valentine cards. Student Presentation Stephanie Van Ausdeln gave a presentation on Japanese etiquette, primarily on bowing. The link can be found below. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iOeR2RqfPYcc2DUE1lVAqJPhpRQdNVyI/view?usp=shari ng Feedback Form ​Feedback forms from members were received. Several people suggested having lessons on Japanese language as well as Japanese etiquette and culture. Some suggestions for IFSCY activities are Japanese games, climbing gym, watching a Japanese movie at the movie theater, etc. Please fill out the form to give us additional input. It can be found at the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Kajlq6N_zcaaGQYx_8a2k9AZ3sxcvONIGILqtyUBXl8/edit?usp= sharing Photos ​Pictures of IFSCY are taken throughout the year. The group has discussed putting the pictures on social media. If you don't want your picture or photos on the website, please fill out this form and return it to Stephanie VanAusdeln. https://forms.gle/B6Ub2jDJzoXF4YY27 2021 Newsletter The 2021 Newsletter needs to be finished. Each student is asked to write one to three paragraphs on the topic of their choosing. There are multiple topics to cover including: ● The 2019 exchange ● Fundraisers ● 2020 meetings/format ● 2019 Visit ● Get togethers ● Sushi Making Zoom Call ● Volunteering at the Friendship Garden ● Garage Sale ● 2020 Raffle ● Volunteering at the Community Food Basket ● COVID Impact: Cards we’ve sent ​For ideas you can look at the 2019 newsletter on the IFSCY website. Please let Jennifer Thompson know what topic you wish to write about. These are due late February and will be compiled the first week of March. All that has to be done is for you to choose a topic (from personal experience) and write 1-3 paragraphs about it and email Jennifer Thompson when it is completed. Entries or Upload to this google drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nMA0Ck7ARJOxikTVWE0G3WRtxo9Uh9Hu?usp=sharin g ​So far, we have Max Medema who volunteered to write about the Online Meetings and Anna St. Michel who volunteered to write about the Soup Kitchen activity. February 15th Student Presentation ​McKenzie McIsaac will have the next lesson. Maggie Boring volunteered to present the first meeting in March. Next meeting ​Next meeting will be on February 15, 2021. Motion to Adjourn Stephanie VanAusdeln motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Max Medema. Below is the link for the Treasurer’s Report . January 2021 Treasurer Report