HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - AIPCA Meeting Minutes from October 16, 2025Ames International Partner Cities Association
October 16, 2025
Annual Meeting: Podujeva-Ames Celebration
Board Members: Karla McCollum, Marina Kraeva, Laura Hansen, Jessica Fincham,
Nicki Macki, Cindy Hicks, Katrina Williams, Charlotte Marqueste, Valerie Stallbaumer
People gathered for the official welcome of Ames’ new partner city, Podujeva, Kosovo, with a
wine tasting and appetizers at the Clouds restaurant in Campustown.
Call to Order – 5:30pm—Karla welcomed those gathered and invited them to sample some of
the ten Stone Castle wines provided by the Kosovo consulate from Des Moines and from the
ten bottles that she and Cindy Hicks brought back from their recent visit to Kosovo.
Retired Major General Tim Orr of the Boone National Guard gave an inspiring summary of his
experiences in Kosovo and, in particular, in Podujeva. He has been continuing to travel there
annually.
Drilon Zogaj, Chief of Mission to the Kosovo Consulate in Des Moines, read a statement from
the mayor of Podujeva to reiterate the special goals of their new partnership with the City of
Ames. He later presented a gift to Mayor John Haila, as well as a book about a Kosovo hero
from the past.
Ames Mayor John Haila received signed copies (in three languages) of the partnership
agreement. He expressed his thoughts for a successful partnership relationship.
Karla McCollum, AIPCA President, gave a summary of AIPCA’s year of activities.
Other distinguished guests included Todd Jacobus, commandant of Veterans Affairs, and his
wife, Heather; Fatmir Rrahmanaji, Secretary to the Kosovo Consulate in Des Moines; Pat
Grote, Executive Director Iowa International Center; Theresa Parmenter, Chair of the Iowa
Yamanashi Partner State Committee; Eric Smidt, Economic Development.
People enjoyed visiting, sampling the various Kosovo wines, and the appetizers from Clouds.
There were a total of 27 people in attendance. Barb Steffan, AIPCA member, and Deb and Tim
Lentsch, AIPCA members, expressed interest in being more involved.