ANACORTES SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION

MINUTES FOR MEMBERSHIP MEETING
March 6, 2008

President Duane Clark called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm.  He welcomed guests and visitors and asked Don Lapworth to introduce then:  Alex and Jean Taylor, visitors and Jackie Boss, visitor, who will be going to Vela Luka in May, 2008.

SECRETARY’S REPORT:  Don Lapworth made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 7, 2008 meeting as corrected with the understanding that corrected minutes will be e-mailed to the members.  Gary Walter seconded.  Motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:  Duane announced that Jack Greenewald will be 85 years old. Jack is in an Assisted Living facility.  A Birthday card for Jack was distributed for all to sign.        
Duane read portions of a letter from the Exchange Student to Spain, Karisa Herrigstad.
Don reported that Scott Gorman is recovering from pneumonia and a fall.  He will be sent a “Get Well Quickly” card.

HOSPITALITY:  Duane read a note of resignation from David Rapella as Chief Cook and Hospitality Chairman.  He then presented a “medal” to David, which read: AWARD FOR VALOR TO DAVID RAPELLA.  The Board will consider a Hospitality replacement at the next Board meeting.  Marius Hibbard presented David with a collage of pictures of David in Cook’s hat, as well as other attractive “head gear”.

TREASURER: 
Mark Lijek, Treasurer, reported for February, 2008:
Checking Account Balances:  $4212.53
Savings Account Balances:
General Reserve:  $2,611.08  
Operating Reserve:  $15,814.15
Dedicated Reserves: $12,388.36
Official Travel Reserve:  $1,000.00
Cookbook Reserve:  $2,772.02        
Sidney Committee Reserve:  $116.34
Student Travel Fund:  $8,500.00
Total Assets:  $35,026.12
Custodial Accounts:
Kisakata Exchange Reserve:  $11,517.50
Significant Items:
We purchased olive oil at a cost of $2160.00 to be resold as a fund raiser for the Vela Luka committee. 
The City reimbursed us $378.99 for Town Crier expenses.
The Kisakata students raised an additional $425.00.
We received $290.00 in dues income.
The preliminary financial report for 2007 has been completed and is undergoing review prior to the annual audit.

VICE PRESIDENT:  John Lovric – no report

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT:  Don reviewed experiences when the ASCA travelers met a Sister City in Comarnic, Romania.  Upon their return the ASCA Board authorized $1000.00 to go towards costumes for the children.  Another $1000.00 was raised to make a total of $2000.00 for the costumes.

SIDNEY:  David Rapella, Chairperson, reported that he and Duane have been invited to present a program about Sister Cities and ASCA at their meeting, May 8th.  It will be an over-night trip.  Members are asked to let Duane know if they are interested in attending this presentation. 
Duane reviewed the current situation regarding the Ferry Trip, March 29th to Kick-off the season.  Members are asked to let Duane know if they want to attend the “no charge” ferry ride to Sidney, and return the same day.  (Time in Sidney will be approximately one hour).

KISAKATA:  Cora Lijek, Co-chairperson, thanked all who helped with Kyoko Honma’s visit – those who came to the Pot-luck and Yuki, Anne, Joe and Setsuko Anburn, and especially Hisako, who drove Kyoko to SEATAC.
The collecting of auction items is almost complete. Candice Geer and other parents did a good job soliciting donations.  Cora thanked our members who have made donations, especially Anne Martin-McCool.  This year Joy and Gary Walter invited three couples to join them at the dinner/auction and asked that they make a donation.
We have an incredible Sidney package worth over $2000.00 that the Sidney people have made possible and arranged by Duane. 
One case of Croatian Olive Oil (12 bottles) have been donated by the Vela Luka Committee.
Duane has asked each committee to prepare a display for our April meeting.  Anyone who has visited Kisakata is invited to bring an item to display.  A sign-up sheet was distributed for members to indicate what item they will bring or let Cora know by phone or e-mail.

LOMONOSOV: Don Lapworth, Chairperson, reported that Zoya Evseenkova will chaperone four students as they travel to Anacortes, July 25 to August 8, 2008.  After they return home, the students will write of their experiences in Anacortes to send to ASCA.       

Lomonosov, but there is still room for others.  If members are interested in attending this trip, please notify Don.  The tentative cost is $1500.00, total.

VELA LUKA:  Nikki Lovric, Chairperson, reviewed the beneficial aspects of olive oil…and particularly Croatian olive oil.  The Vela Luka Committee has Croatian Olive Oil by the bottle for $12.00 - or by the case, (10 bottles to the case) each bottle is $10.00.  Please let Nikki or Duane know if you would like some bottles…for gifts…..for home use…..for family…????

MISCELLANEOUS:
          Duane encouraged each member to go to the ASCA website at: www.anacortessistercities.com .  Critique it for “positive” and “negative” aspects and send your reaction to Duane at: dclark@capsantecourt.com or to Jo: fuqua4@comcast.net …as soon as you can...and don’t forget to “SIGN-IN” the Guest Book at the very end.  We will send any suggestions to John Lastar, Webmaster, who is on a 2 year RV trip – but is presently in Tucson, AZ and will be able to work on the website.

PROGRAM:  Duane presented a Power Point which began with delightful pictures of our Exchange Student now in Spain, Karisa Herrigstad. 
Next were pictures of the old “borrowed” and new costumes for the children of Comarnic, Romania, followed by pictures of our retiring Hospitality Chair, David Rapella.  Next came pictures and information about the Golf Tournament which will include a couple of new prizes: a fabulous prize for the Hole-in-One winner! And the new “Putting Contest” which has a prize of $5000.00 for a hole-in-one from 60 feet.

Duane, then reviewed the April 3, General Membership  Meeting which will be called ‘OPEN HOUSE’…..7 pm, Conference Room of the Library.

VISITORS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN ASCA.

NEWSLETTER:  Nikki will create the ASCA Newsletter with the help of chairs, officer, and members. Planned “News” includes: archival column; recipes from the ASCA  cookbook; special focus on Special People;  new members – Who, etc.; committee columns and a calendar of events. Please let Nikki know of any other ideas that you may have. The newsletter will be distributed via e-mail and hard copy to members, as well as hard copies to the Senior Center, library, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, etc. 

DUANE concluded the program with a thorough explanation of the Ferry Flagpole Project: The present West side ASCA sign will be moved to the grounds bordered by Highway 20, Sunset and a short access road between Highway 20 (to the Ferry) and Sunset.  He reviewed the costs of the established flag pavilion on the East side of Anacortes, Highway 20.  The total cost to ASCA was approximately $1500.00 with the Kiwanis providing the flag poles/flags and the city miscellaneous equipment/material including cement foundations.

The TOTAL COST of the present Flag Pavilion, Highway 20, was about $10,000.00.  With the help of the Kiwanis Sunrisers, the poles/flags for the proposed West side Ferry Flag Pavilion will be at a discounted cost and the city will help, however, the total cost will be considerably higher than the East side Flag Pavilion with 7 flags.

Duane has talked with the Mayor, Parks Dept and the Planning Dept. (all were very positive).

Respectfully submitted,
Jo Fuqua, Secretary