Town of Cary, North Carolina
SISTER CITIES COMMISSION
Minutes of December 20, 2001 Meeting.
Present: Mary Lou Addor, Scotty Elliot (Town of Cary), Sharon Hannigan, Tom McCuiston, Barry Mitsch (Chair), Steve Morrison, Tom Nugent, Sarah Sheffield,& Janice Stolzenberg.
Meeting was called to order at 6:55pm.
November Minutes: Sharon Hannigan motioned to approve minutes & Tom McCuiston seconded motion.
Treasurer's Report - Tom McCuiston.
Refund due Association from Ireland trip ($500), still outstanding. Cary Chamber of Commerce contacted. Tom will work with the Chamber to release these funds to Association. Association's financial balance, with refund credit, $2,300.
Markham Update - Barry Mitsch.
Markham Intercity visit scheduled for April 25-28, 2002 at a fairly inclusive
cost (Cary Chamber of Commerce distributing Registration Flyers). Currently, 40
seats on Air Canada are held. Leadership from the Cary Chamber of Commerce and
Town Council will attend and exchange a Memorandum of Understanding (recognize
economic alliance between the cities).
Tom Nugent -
Barry reminded members that Tom Nugent steps off from the Commission at this
meeting, despite encouragement for Tom to reconsider. Commission praised Tom for
his role in the development of a sister relationship with Meath, and in his
overall service to the Commission.
Meath - Sharon Hannigan.
As regards to the Commission planning a trip to Ireland during 2002, preference
is for a fall trip. Two airlines submitted a request to quote for the Meath
trip,October 12-26, 2002. Sharon relayed that Cary and Meath, are prepared to
sign off on proclamation, which formalizes partnership.
Sister Cities Catalog - Sarah Sheffield.
A copy of the SCCatalog was shared at the meeting. Sarah is requested to send an
electronic copy to each Commission member. Members are encouraged to review for
future changes or amendments, and submit to those to Sarah. Commission agreed a
revised catalog is not warranted until June 2002.
2002 Plans, Goals, Dreams - Barry Mitsch.
Recognize 2001 Accomplishments:
1. Four SISTER CITIES in place: Meath, Ireland; LeTouquet, France; Hsinchu City, Taiwan; and Markham, Ontario.
2. Development of a SISTER CITIES Association Membership Application.
3. Purchase/design of a Cary SISTER CITIES Banner.
4. Development of SISTER CITIES Catalog for distribution
Plans:
1. Establish a membership base in the association (fundraising arm of the Commission). Goal - acquire 50 memberships in 2002.
2. Develop/produce Commission Letterhead and Business Cards. Goal - Scotty will work with Town to develop/produce.
3. Establish an association database. Goal - Steve Morrison to develop database with initial entries of prior hosts and commission members contact information entries from.
4. Establish critical mass in the association by focusing on ways and means to enlist membership. Goal - Commission members prepare to discuss ways and means to increase membership for 2002 at the January meeting. Ideas for membership campaigns offered at the December meeting were:
a. tie campaign to Cary cultural events.
b. showcase incentives to convince potential members to join.
c. consider offering discounts to local Cary events
d. develop a Senior Sister Club
e. become a member of SISTER CITIES International - www.sisters-cities.org - (potential benefit of grant funds, networking, & online community resource database). Note: Town Council willing to purchase SCI membership. Barry proposed the Commission raise SCI membership funds themselves (population of 100,000 = $675/2002, $750/2003) if Commission is interested in order to use $$ Town may offer for other SC events like a reception.
f. develop Newsletter as an incentive or tie into other association's newsletters.
5. Proposal made for Tom Nugent to head the Association.
The meeting was adjourned at 7.35 pm.
The commission's next meeting will be January 17, 2002 at 7:30pm (NEW TIME).