Minutes_Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission 5 20 15 Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission
DATE: Wednesday, May 20, 2015
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: City Hall — Conference Room A, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque
Minutes
Present: Vice Chair Kevin Lynch, Commissioners Sheila Castaneda, Bob Felderman, Jeff
Jochum, Phyllis Lee, Pat McNamara, Louise Thum
Excused: Joyce Connors, Dick Landis, Dik Van Iten, Betty Phillips, Annalee Ward, Bryan Zygmont
1. Approval of Minutes from the March 3, 2015 meeting. Motion by Felderman. Second by Thum to
approve the minutes as submitted. Motion carried 7-0.
2. Oaths of Office for Commissioners Jochum, Lee and McNamara were administered.
3. Financial Report: Firnstahl reported that as of this date there is $4,454.36 remaining in the budget and
that amount is currently reserved for Chairperson Landis' travel to Handan, China, and related
expenses for the Handa photo exhibit.
4. Follow Up on Goal Setting Information: Firnstahl will discuss with goal setting facilitator Cindy
Steinhauser on next steps for acting on the information from the session.
5. Dornbirn, Austria: Update
a. Arts Exchange — Lauren Alleyne, Poet-in-Residence. The information provided on Ms. Alleyne
has been shared with our contact in Dornbirn by both Landis and Firnstahl.
b. Visits: Felderman stated that he will Dornbirn in 2016 in conjunction with a family visit. Firnstahl
stated he is planning to also visit in spring of 2016.
6. Handan, China: Update
a. Status of Photo Exhibit and Humanities Iowa Grant: Thum reported that there wasn't a space for
the exhibit in Decorah and that the exhibit or portions will go to Dyersville, Maquoketa,
Muscatine, and Keokuk. Discussion was given to the "after life" of the photos as to whether they
will be kept for a future tour or framed for display within the City. The Humanities Iowa grant
ends June 1.
b. Delegation Visit: Firnstahl read a short description of the trip as provided by Landis who is on
his way to Handan.
7. Pyatigorsk, Russia: Update: Jochum reported that the Dubuque Young Professionals will host 5 Open
World representatives from Ukraine including one interpreter. Jochum is setting up a sponsored dinner
on June 17 at 5:00 p.m. at Vinny Vanucchi's. Please contact Johcum to RSVP.
8. Pen Pal Student Exchanges: Thum reported that the Handan teacher she had been working with has
left for Washington and they will renew the exchange next year. Dornbirn is working on finding a
principal for next year as well.
9. Sister City Committees as Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations: Firnstahl reported on his
conversation with Ann Geiger, State Coordinator for Sister Cities International. Ms. Geiger stated that
most Sister City Commissions/Committees are non-profits, which allows them greater flexibility in
fundraising. She added that some groups work with their local municipality for funding, grants and
membership. Felderman provided information on how the Hibernians/Irish Hooley work with the Area
Committee on Dubuque Foreign Relations. To discuss the issue further, the commission agreed to
schedule a separate meeting at the next commission meeting.
10. Library Archive and Display— Update, retrieve & revive: Firnstahl will contact the Library and
Chairperson Landis on this.
11. Items from Commission: None
12. Items from Staff
a. Mediacom Newsmakers Program (Pen Pal Program): Revisit next year when Sister City
contacts have been confirmed in Handan and Dornbirn.
b. SCI Commissioner Accounts: Firnstahl reported the Sister Cities International allows individual
commissioner accounts as part of the City's membership and if any commission would like to
have their e-mail given to SCI. There are no solicitations and it is for member access to SCI
resources, newsletters, etc. Felderman, Lee, McNamara, and Thum stated that they would like
to be signed up. Firnstahl will solicit the remaining commissioners.
c. North American Francophone and Francophile Cities Network: Firnstahl routed information and
reported that the City of Dubuque has been contacted about participating in the Francophone
and Francophiles Cities Network that is being led by the mayors of the Canadian Cities of
Quebec City, Lafayette, and Moncton. The mission being to "increase awareness of the vitality
of municipalities and communities that have historical, cultural, and linguistic ties to French
Canadian culture and heritage." The commission concurred that this may be a project for the
Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau since it initially appears to be tourism
based. Firnstahl will keep the commission apprised with any further information.
d. Sister City Relationship with Jambi, Indonesia: Firnstahl reported that City of Dubuque Human
Relations Specialist Manisha Paudel has inquired about a Sister City Relationship with Jambi,
Indonesia. He provided Paudel with some basic Sister Cities information.
13. Next Meeting: July 15, 4:00 p.m., Conference Room A, City Hall
14. Adjournment: Motion by Felderman to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. Second by Lee. Motion carried 7-0.
Submitted by Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk