President Duane Clark called the meeting order at 7:06 pm.  He welcomed old, new and visitors: Alice Clark (Duane’s mother), Bobbi Ordelheide (Duane’s sister), Cynthia Jonas and her mother, Claudia Jonas.  The members recognized Alice Clark’s birthday, yesterday, and sang, “Happy Birthday."

MINUTES:  The minutes of March 6, 2008 were approved as distributed.  The April 3, 2008 regularly scheduled General Membership meeting was cancelled due to the ASCA Open House held on that date.

Duane read excerpts from a letter from Karisa Herrigstad, ASCA Travel Student now in Spain, who will return to Anacortes June 17th.  He then introduced the newest ASCA Student Travel Fund recipient, Cynthia Jones.  Cynthia, who will be graduating from the University of Washington next month, spoke about her trip to Kisakata in 1999.  She will be traveling to Switzerland this summer to spend one month, for a “Communication Seminar”.  She will also be studying German.  All a part of her UW studies.  The total cost of the UW course is $6000.00 to which the ASCA funds will contrbute part. 

The ASCA Travel Fund Selection Committee included: Duane, Nikki Lovric and Cora Lijek. 

HOSPITALITY:   David Rapella, Chairperson, has submitted his resignation.  A committee will be formed to organize the ASCA social events (dinners, etc.)  If you are willing to serve on this committee please let Duane know.

TREASURER:  Mark Lijek made the treasurer’s report:

Custodial Accounts:
Kisakata Exchange Reserve:  $12,916.50

Significant Items:
Kisakata Exchange fund raising brought in $2,499, of which $1,999 was from tulip painting and $500 represented a donation from the Kiwanis Sunrisers.  We also placed a $2100 deposit with a travel agency for airline tickets.
Olive oil sales generated $264.
Golf tournament money has started to come in and I set up a reserve account to track it.  We spent $394.88 on tournament expenses.
We received $275.00 in dues income.

ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT:  Don Lapworth, Assistant, reported on significant preparation for the 2008 Golf Tournament.  There is a MYSTERY:  what happened to the updated date for the Golf Tournament installed by the sign maker on Highway 20 that DISAPPEARED?

SIDNEY:  Duane and David go to Sidney, BC to speak at their sister city meeting about the Anacortes Sister Cities Association: the organization, sister cities, events, membership recruitment, etc.

KISAKATA:  Cora Lijek, chairperson, reported that ASCA has been asked to demonstrate/teach “origami folding” at the first, annual ASD VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION FAIR on May 20th, 4:30 to 6:30.  Duane included the appeal for more “teachers of origami” when he recently spoke at the BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB   Please call Cora if you can help!
The also reported that the students fund-raising efforts for their July 29, 2008 trip to Kisakata has been VERY SUCCESSFUL. 

VELA LUKA:  ASCA member, John Baker (a very good baker) who will have a booth will join sellers of the Croatian Olive Oil at the Farmer’s Market, beginning May 17th will allow us to sell our Olive Oil at his booth.  The booth will incude a “tasting” opportunity – John’s bread dipped in the delightful Olive Oil.

LOMONOSOV:  Chairperson, Don Lapworth gave a progress report on the four Russian students and their chaperone who will arrive July 30 and leave August 18th.  Airfare for the five travelers has been arranged with Northwest Airlines at $1650.00 per person. 
HOMESTAYS ARE NEEDED!  If you think you are interested, please call Willy Evans or Maria Papritz to get more information, ideas.  This is a very special, rare, opportunity to enrich the life of a Russian student as you enrich the lives of you and your family.  And, understanding each other is no problem….They are High School students who speak English quite well. 
Don announced that there is still room for more adults to go to Lomonosov, Russia, September 20 – October 2nd, 2008.  Airfare is approximately $1400.00.  There are other miscellaneous expenses, such as hotel while in St. Petersburg, etc.

GOLF TOURNAMENT UPDATE:  Applications (to play or sponsor) and postal cards have been distributed.  Alice Clark (Duane’s mom) addressed some 400 applications/cards and folded the applications in preparation for mailing.  ONLY 132 GOLFERS CAN PARTICIPATE….SO LET YOUR FRIENDS KNOW…GET THE APPLICATIONS IN EARLY!  There is NO LIMIT to the number of “sponsors” that can be accommodated.

PROGRAM:  ASCA member, Doug Everhart shared his Power Point presentation of his recent trip to Turkey, “A Journey to Turkey”.  (Doug is the recently retired Director of the Anacortes Library – after 33 years service.)

UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 20 – School District “Volunteer Appreciation Fair”
June 17 – Karisa Herrigstad returns home from Spain
June 22 – July 19 – Cynthia Jonas in Switzerland
June 28 – Doyle Geer Golf Tournament
June 29 – Trip to Sidney – Celebration of Sidney’s new Sister City -  Nimi, Japan
July 1 – Canada Day Parade in Sidney
July 4 – Fourth of July Parade in Anacortes
July 29 to August 7 – our 12 students (& 4 chaperones) in Kisakata
July 30 to August 18 – Four students (& chaperone)from Lomonosov, Russia in Anacortes
December 25 – Christmas

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Fuqua, Secretary