HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - AIPCA Meeting Minutes from June 19, 2025Ames International Partner Cities Association
June 19, 2025
Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Karla McCollum, Marina Kraeva, Katrina Hardin Williams, Nicki Mackey, Laura
Hansen, Cindy Hicks
1. Call to Order by Marina at 5:30pm. Karla and Cindy joined about 30 minutes later.
2. Approval of May 15, 2025 Minutes. Nicky made a motion to approve. Laura
seconded.
3. Treasurer report by Laura Hansen. Report includes gifts for people from Podujeva,
Kosovo (fourteen 4x6 metal plagues for City of Ames, 1 large print, towels).
Marina made a motion to approve the treasurer report. Nicki seconded.
4. Story County Community Foundation grant proposal. We can request money for
student travel to sister cities.
5. Podujeva, Kosovo
a. Ames and Podujeva signed a sister city agreement on this day, June 19,
Liberation Day in Podujeva. Karla and Cindy attended the ceremony in
Podujeva in person. Mayor Haila and Katrina joined online.
b. Katrina, Karla and Cindy shared their sentiments about the ceremony that
was attended by members of parliament of Kosovo.
c. A visit by an adult delegation from Kosovo is planned by the end of 2025
d. Three main projects to be selected within the framework of this sister city
agreement
e. We need to start a Kosovo relationship subcommittee that would be meeting
with the counterparts in Podujeva quarterly
i. Cindy is interested in serving on this committee
f. Kosovo celebration in Ames in September-October 2025
i. Co-locate with the Koshu City wine festival
ii. Consider Fareway as a sponsor since they already carry Kosovo
wine
6. Koshu City, Japan
a. International Sister Cities (SCI) to host U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit
September 16-19, 2025 in Osaka
i. if someone from Ames is interested in participating, we can suggest
people from Koshu City to go there as well
b. Koshu City would like to start planning student delegation visits in 2026
c. Koshu subcommittee
i. Laura is interested in serving on this committee
d. Wine Festival committee
i. Michael was going to share contacts of people who expressed their
interest but never did
ii. Dyke Hicks was one of those people.
e. Outreach at the Ames Farmers Market
i. Someone will allow AIPCA use their table
ii. Advertise Wine Festival, have Fareway sponsor wine tasking at the
market o[ering coupons
iii. Have activities such as origami making (Katrina recommended
involving Chloe, a former AMS student who is now at AHS)
iv. Have information about AIPCA membership and volunteer
opportunities
7. Other
a. Karla to set regular meetings with Mayor Haila to update on AIPCA activities
b. Reach out to Eric Smidt from Ames Regional Economic Alliance about joining
AIPCA board
Action Items
1. Form ongoing Podujeva committee (Cindy)
2. Form ongoing Koshu City committee (Laura)
3. Form 2025 Wine Festival committee (Dyke?)
4. Reach out to Eric Smidt about joining AIPCA board (Cindy)
5. Submit SCCF grant proposal (Cindy ?)
6. Plan outreach at the Ames Farmers Market