Town of Cary
SISTER CITIES COMMISSION
Minutes of April 18, 2002 Meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm.

Present: Mary Lou Addor, Jinnie Davis, Scotty Elliot (Town of Cary), Sharon Hannigan, Tom McCuiston, Barry Mitsch (Chair), Steve Morrison, Sarah Sheffield, Janice Stolzenberg, Ildiko Trombitas, and Nadette Welterlin-Hugg.

Guest: (1) Julie Robison - 'At-Large" Representative Cary Town Counci

Meeting Summary Approval: March 21, 2002 remain unapproved. Sam to submit.

Refund of $500 due the Sister City Association was collected. Current account balance approximately $2, 300.

Spring Daze Arts and Craft Festival is Saturday, April 27, 2002, from 9:00am - 5:00pm at the Cary Town Hall Campus. Mary Lou Addor, Jinnie Davis, and Sharon Hannigan will represent the Sister Cities Association at the event and man the booth. Scotty will provide table and tent.

Steve requested members email him any Sister City forms and/or other materials created (such as letterhead). He will eventually add documents of this kind to the Sister City Association website.

Nadette reported she and the Le Touquet's liaison are building a good relationship through ongoing communication. Discussed role of the Wake Tech Culinary School in furthering relationship of the Sister Cities. Although students from Wake Tech did not attend culinary school in Le Touquet this year as they have previously done, Le Touquet students will visit the Triangle in either July or August. They would like to have a least one event with the Sister City Commission. Some ideas are: have cook-out before a attending a Durham Bulls game; have a pool party with games and a cook-out; or attend a dinner cooked by the French students.

Markham Intercity visit is on schedule for April 25-28, 2002. Focus is on how to do business in Canada. Approximately 42 people will attend, including members of the Cary Town Council and Chamber of Commerce. The delegation will meet with Mayor Donald Cousins, spend time re-visiting the evolution of the Cary/Markham relationship and expectations for current and future directions. Topics of focus are:

1. Government - growth management, regional cooperation , and transportation planning;

2. Economic Development - Towne Centre Plan, use of creative economic incentives, business development approaches, and creation of economic opportunities between the towns); and

3. Cultural Resources - Unionville development and preservation, tour of Markham Theatre, parks and recreation opportunities, and creation of cultural exchange opportunities between he communities.

Sharon reported Maupin Travel has been selected as the travel agent for the Meath trip. She, Sarah, and Mary Lou reviewed the three proposals submitted based on criteria set by the RFP and after discussion, selected Maupin Travel.

Tentative dates for the Meath trip are October 7-16, 2002. Airfare is $728 and currently 22 seats are being held. There is a $100-deposit of the seats, which assumably is required up front. Some discussion ensued on who pays the up-front deposit fee.

Sharon would like to talk with Maupin as to whether the time of year is the most practical in terms of schedules and time needed to market (have about 5 months). If trip would be better suited to Spring 2003, other members concur to reschedule trip. In addition, Sharon requested Maupin Travel receive a formal letter to acknowledge their status with Sister Cities.

Sharon will arrange a face-to-face meeting with Maupin Travel to explore these concerns. Other members who may attend are Sarah, Mary Lou, Tom, and Barry.

Sharon requested that the Cary Catalogue is sent to County of Meath.

Hsinchu City, Taiwan - Nothing to report.

Town Council Representative: Julie Robison will serve as the Town Council liaison to the Sister City Commission. She will attend meetings periodically and when directly requested to do so.

Next Meeting: May 16, 2002 @7:30pm, Conference B of Cary Town Hall