Sister Cities Commission

Sister Cities Commission 10/13/16 Meeting Minutes In Attendance: George Lies Liz Finklea Nancy Ganz Helene Friedberg Ana Casanova Brian Gardner Old Business 1. Katie has contacted other Sister Cities Commission and will provide more details at next meeting 2. Lola and Ana hosted the table at the International Street Festival. 3. New Business 1. Increase visibility and fundraising of the Sister Cities Commission a. Host a musical event with American, Chinese, and/or Mexican music. b. Discussed a recent fundraiser “Gandhi Walk” for visual impairments related to diabetes. c. Discussed an art and/or writing competition i. Host a local writing competition between high school Spanish classes ii. Participating in the nation-wide Sister Cities writing competition. iii. Host local art competition d. Draft a proposal for the competition before the next meeting. 2. Guanajuato Sister Cities Commission Mural a. The Commission is postponing the partnership pending further communication with our partners in Guanajuato. b. Nancy has a place for the mural, but Morgantown may have a new city planner before the project is completed c. Guanajuato is also a sister city with Ashland, Oregon. i. Possibly have Katie check in with Ashland while contacting Sister Cities similar to Morgantown’s circumstance d. Talk with Krista Baker about putting pictures and more info on the Morgantown’s Sister Cities Commission i. Create a Google Drive for picture uploads ii. Possibly talk to Krista about making website easier to navigate (DO NOT INCLUDE IN OFFICIAL MINUTES). e. XuZhou visit i. George can get transportation ii. Funds will come out of Sister Cities Comission iii. Wish to discuss green buildings 1. First environmental school in Colin’s Ferry  2. What the city does regarding recycling iv. City safety programs v. Have a city walk/museum visit vi. May need an interpreter (I will do this) vii. Ask them to stay in a downtown hotel viii. Ask them to stay longer ix. PRT Ride? f. Many US-China events happening now, George discussed some options and will provide more information next meeting. g. Develop better communication with sister cities via virtual meetings such as Google Hangouts h. Possibly host a representative to attend the national sister cities competition