SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE

200 E. Wells Street City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Meeting Minutes SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE ALD. RUSSELL W. STAMPER, II, CHAIR Al Durtka, Tiffany Barta, Oscar Tovar and Charles Vang Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456, clee@milwaukee.gov Legislative Liaison, La-Wanda Fletcher, 286-8661, lfletc@milwaukee.gov Friday, October 13, 2017 2:30 PM Room 301-A, Third Floor, City Hall Special Meeting convened at 2:32 p.m. Present 3 - Stamper, Durtka, Tovar Excused 1 - Vang Absent 1 - Barta 1. Discussion on participation in the Holiday Folk Fair International (Nov. 17-19, 2017). Individual appearing: Arlisia McHenry, City Clerk’s Office Ald. Stamper said that the committee had wanted to promote the City’s sister cities and relationship by setting up a booth at the upcoming annual Holiday Folk Fair. Mr. Durtka gave an overview of the 74th annual Holiday Folk Fair. The dates and times are Friday, November 17th from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, November 18th from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, November 19th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The theme is “Celebrate: the Culture of Welcome”. The featured food is bread, which is a universal food item. Friday will start out with Education Day at 9 a.m. with about 3000 students from grades 4 to 8, will open to the general public at 2 p.m., and have a naturalization ceremony for about 200 new citizens at 2:30 p.m. The Education Day will contain a curriculum, and may perhaps include information about sister cities. Saturday will no longer have a walk/run event at 9 a.m. Sunday will have a non-denominational service at 10:30 a.m. and a children’s program from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with about 400 children from ages 5 to 12 performing. Ticket prices are $10 for advance, $12 at the gate, free for children 5 years and under, $10 for children 6 - 12 years at the gate, $10 for senior citizens at the gate, and free for military. The fair website is folkfair.org. Fair location is the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park. Concerning booth information storage and carts are not available. Setup starts on Wednesday, November 15th for exhibits from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. into Thursday, November 16th from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Takedown starts Sunday, November 17th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and into Monday, November 20th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. There is a general meeting on October 16th for all participants. There are two exhibit areas: 10 City of Milwaukee Page 1 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes October 13, 2017 feet by 10 feet or 10 feet by 20 feet. Drapery is provided. Electricity, chairs and tables are an additional cost. Rental is just for the space. Ald. Stamper commented. A press release should go out on the City’s first participation with information on the purpose and benefits of different cultures. Ms. McHenry commented. She is acquiring volunteers from Job Corps for two shifts as well as from some interested City staff. A list of volunteers will be done. The concern is to properly organize the booth both visually and informationally. Staff has given her written information about the different sister cities. Ms. McHenry inquired about exhibit materials, items to display from each sister city, the message that volunteers should be giving, and booth setup. Mr. Durtka further commented. Materials can be brought in from the outside to display an exhibit as one sees fit except covering an exhibit entirely, which is a fire hazard. Volunteers need to be checked-in, will be given tickets to freely attend the entirety of the fair, and eligible to receive a pin. The Medan relationship, via the Indonesian Consulate, will be involved, performing, and setting up its own booth. Kenyan and Bahamas groups are also participating in the fair. A list of participants will be at the door. The City can be added as a sponsor of the fair, and its logo can be used. The City booth has to be polished and of quality. Items to display should be relevant to the city relationships as opposed to country relationships. Volunteers should be attired properly and according to the group that is being represented. Any written materials, such as brochures, should be given out upon request due to people throwing away written information most of the time. The news media will be around. Adequate time is given for exhibit setup to allow for changes. Ald. Stamper commented. Flags and gift items that were received from sister cities can be display items. An inquiry should be made to everyone to inquire about items for the exhibit. The Public Information Division may possibly have brochures and written materials about sister cities. He is available to volunteer on Friday. Ms. McHenry added further comments. One idea to introduce sister cities is to have a big world map showing the connection of the City to each sister city. The map can serve as a cue to talk about the sister cities. There should be an item of value of each sister city displayed. The booth will be polished. She can look further into having brochures. An adult should anchor the booth always alongside a youth. She is ready to complete the application and payment for the booth. Public Relations should be contacted to assist in taking pictures. Any other materials for the booth will be purchased. 2. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 2:57 p.m. Chris Lee, Staff Assistant Council Records Section City Clerk's Office City of Milwaukee Page 2