HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - AIPCA Meeting Minutes from March 16, 2023Ames International Partner Cities Association
March 16,2023
Meeting Minutes
Attending:Calli Sandahl,Cindy Hicks,Michael Abrams,Katrina Williams,Nicki Mackey,Marina
Kraeva,
1.Call to order:5:34 pm
2.Approval of December minutes
a.Change august minutes to october
b.Motion to approve cindy,seconded Nicki,approved by all
3.Approval of January minutes
a.Motion to approve Cindy,seconded Marina,approved by all
4.Approval of February special meeting minutes
a.Motion to approve Cindy,seconded Calli and Michael,approved by all
5.Koshu 30th visit update
a.Cindy working to finalize all attendees to book rooms.Expected to be completed
by next week.Looking at a number of 14 attendees .
b.Cindy received an agenda of the trip,including welcoming party,meeting at city
hall,tour of government,exchange of gifts,tour of local winery,tour of middle
school…
c.Board needs to come up with gift ideas –one large gift and multiple small gifts to
gift to the various tour guides and other leaders.
i.Cindy to check out Octagon and Reiman Gardens for gift ideas.Would
like to keep it local and Ames /Iowa focused.
ii.Will finalize the details of the trip to better determine the
d.Here are the Koshu trip details:
i.June 11 Fly out of DSM
ii.June 12 Arrive at Haneda Airport in Tokyo (Not Narita)
iii.June 12 Spend the night at Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda (their website
indicates there is a shuttle)
iv.June 13 Travel to Koshu (bus provided by Koshu)
v.June 13-15 Stay in Koshu
vi.June 16 -Travel back to Tokyo (bus provided by Koshu)
e.Things to know
i.1.Hotel costs will be paid for by AIPCA.
ii.2.Transportation will be provided by Koshu
iii.3.Meals in Koshu will be provided by Koshu
f.Costs to delegates
i.1.flight,meals not in Koshu (ie -the hotel meals on the first night and
breakfast the next morning),personal purchases.
ii.In order for everyone to get the most economical flight on the airline
they prefer,you will be responsible for booking your own flight.It is
very important that you arrive in time to be at the Royal Park Hotel on
June 12 and that you fly into Haneda Airport.On June 16,you will be
transported back to the airport,arriving before noon.If you choose to
leave that day -book your flight for later in the day.If you choose to stay
extra days in Tokyo -make your arrangements accordingly.
g.Delegates
i.Cindy and Dyke Hicks (AIPCA President)
ii.Mayor John Haila
iii.Dan Culhane –Ames Chamber of Commerce
iv.Calli Sandahl and Dan (AIPCA Secretary)
v.Marina Kraeva (AIPCA VP)
vi.Vallerie Stallbaumer (AIPCA board member)
vii.Rachel Junck,Olivia Galyon (Ames City Council)
viii.Tentative Bill &Jen Malone (Noir)
h.At Japan Agenda (Email response from Japan to CIndy)
i.-Meeting at city hall with remarks from both mayors,an explanation
about how city government in Koshu operates,and a tour.
1.・We can set up a meeting for the mayors of both cities.
ii.-We will have a local wine expert with us -we would like to tour a couple
local wineries that export their products and discuss how we can
collaborate to sell Koshu wine in Ames.
1.・We are making an inquiry to the wine company.No answer yet.
iii.-We will have an award-winning teacher from Ames Middle School with
us and would like to visit a local school.
1.・We are arranging for you to visit a junior high school in Koshu
City.
iv.-We will have the president of the Ames Chamber of Commerce with us.
Is it possible to have an informal gathering with local business people
who might be interested in doing business in Ames?Or to talk about
how our communities can work to benefit each other economically?
1.・The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Koshu wants to
attend this meeting.We will arrange the meeting time.
v.-We would like to visit a temple and do a tea ceremony.I remember Soy
and he gives a great temple tour.
1.・It is possible to have a tea ceremony at the temple.Get ready.
vi.-We would like to visit Mt.Fuji if time allows.
1.・We can't climb to the top,but we would like to be able to take a
bus to the middle of Mt.Fuji.
vii.-We will have a gift for the City of Koshu we would like to present to the
Mayor.Your advice on when to do that would be appreciated.
1.・We are very happy to hear that.We would like to hold a small
welcome party.We think it would be good to hand it over at the
party.We will adjust the party schedule and consult with you
again.
6.Newsletter
a.Newsletter has been mailed out.Any board members who have not received the
mailed copy can send their address to Calli (mck.sandahl@gmail.com)and she’ll
mail a copy to you directly.
7.Other
a.CIndy attended a reception for officials of Kosovo,and spoke with the committee
chair of iowa sister states and there may be a delegation of mayors visiting
Kosovo in May.More details TBD.
8.Adjourn -6:05 pm