Town of Cary
SISTER CITIES COMMISSION (SCC)
Page-Walker Arts & History Center
Minutes of October 16, 2003 Meeting

Present: Mary Lou Addor, Jinnie Davis, Lisa Englert, Amy Feistel, Samuel Fudzie, Sharon Hannigan, Cricket Harrell, Ian Henshaw, Selby Lo, Steve Morrison, Sarah Sheffield, Darrell Stover (Staff Liaison)

Absent: Mary Brice, Jack Smith (Council Liaison)

Guests: Barry Mitsch

Handouts:  Agenda (Steve), Minutes (Jinnie), Pen Pal Fact Sheet (Selby), 25 September 03 Letter from Markham (Mary Lou)

CALL TO ORDER:  Steve Morrison called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Amy Feistel made a motion to approve the minutes of the 13 August 03 meeting (there being no meeting held in September because of the imminence of Hurricane Isabel). Mary Lou Addor seconded the motion. Approved unanimously. [Note: Minutes amended to make a correction raised later by Lisa Englert.]

Steve noted that Jinnie Davis will not be able to attend the December meeting and asked for a volunteer to take minutes. Sam Fudzie agreed to the task.

SISTER CITIES CALENDAR:  Jinnie Davis referred to the 15 July 03 draft calendar, intended as a reminder of recurring deadlines and events so the work of the commission can continue on a timely basis, regardless of turnover. She asked for discussion on the scope of the contents and its maintenance on the Web.

Members confirmed that each liaison is maintaining a file of correspondence, etc., relevant to a sister city. Ian Henshaw can set up a password-protected document on the Web. Amy suggested looking into the use of Mailman on RTPnet to set up a documents section accessible only to subscribers. Steve asked Ian to find a reasonable way to address this issue; Jinnie will further develop the content for posting by Ian. They will inform the SCC when ready for review.

STUDENT PEN PAL PROJECT:  Selby Lo distributed a list of 23 students who have signed up in response to his call to the Teen Council. By next Friday, he will have a full list of volunteers (sorted by name of city preferred and indicating gender) to e-mail to the sister city liaisons. The liaisons will then solicit interest from their cities.

HSINCHU UPDATE:  Amy reported that Hsinchu has invited two representatives from Cary to attend its glass works festival next month. They are paying for airfare and lodgings. Because the Town Council receives priority in matters of this sort, Jack Smith will attend, along with Amy representing the commission.

Amy is collecting pertinent materials to take along. She will follow up with Darrell Stover and Karen Gray about a proclamation from the mayor and other items (e.g., CDs about Cary ). While there, Amy will also discuss the pen pal and student exchange programs. TECO would like to see a program that includes an opportunity for parents to meet as well, to establish personal relationships before serving as host families.

Ian raised the possibility of inviting artists from our sister cities (e.g., glass artisans from Hsinchu) to the next Lazy Daze. Members discussed issues of space, corporate sponsorship, and funding. Darrell noted the January/February deadline for submitting funding requests to Town Council and the September/October 2004 deadline for reserving space at Page-Walker. The SCC agreed to focus resources on one major project at a time; Steve appointed Amy, Sarah Sheffield, and Lisa to a subcommittee that will bring ideas to the November meeting for an arts program in 2005. He asked all the sister city liaisons to ask their contact persons about interest in such a program.

LAZY DAZE GRANT UPDATE:  Sarah reported that the Town of Cary has still not mailed out the grant form, but the deadline for submission is November 21. She will call a meeting of the Cary Subcommittee in the next two weeks to recommend a grant project at the November SCC meeting.  Sarah will also check with Mary Brice to review data on expenditures for this year’s Lazy Daze and identify where funding is needed. SCC members are to e-mail their ideas to Sarah and are invited to attend the subcommittee meeting if they wish.

MARKHAM UPDATE:  Mary Lou distributed copies of a letter from Markham proposing activities for joint economic development and cultural/educational programs. She will follow up with Karen Gray to set up a meeting with Jack Smith to determine how the town should respond.

The SCC agreed that we will focus on Markham at next year’s Lazy Daze and only invite all sister cities representatives here every two or three years. Darrell asked for a comprehensive summary of the Lazy Daze 2003 activities and finances, to see where the Town of Cary might be able to help in the future. Mary Lou and Ian will compile the needed documentation by mid-November to meet Cary ’s budget cycle deadlines.

MEATH UPDATE:  No report ( Sharon arrived at the meeting later).

LE TOUQUET UPDATE:  Steve is working with Selby on the student e-mail project. Ian reported that Le Touquet has invited us to send 10 students and four adults to Le Touquet. We will solicit interest and commitments from the Sister Cities Association and previous host families (whose children will have priority in participation).

OTHER BUSINESS:  Barry would like to complete the revision of the commission by-laws by year’s end. He, Ian, and Sharon will form a subcommittee to put together a revised version for review by the town attorney.

Jinnie reported that the Wake County Public Library has almost no materials about our sister cities but will be happy to accept contributions, marked by a bookplate acknowledging the donor. She will draft language for all the liaisons to use in soliciting gifts from our sister cities. In return, we could offer copies of Around and About Cary and Cary-osity. Jinnie will follow up with Sue Rowland about requesting Town Council funding for the book (four copies @ $30). As materials are received, Jinnie will work with Ian in posting a reading list on our Web site.

CULTURAL EVENTS:  Darrell reported on the many upcoming activities associated with the Indian Diwali festival.  

ADJOURNMENT: Lisa made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Sharon seconded it. Approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Submitted by Jinnie Y. Davis