ANACORTES SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION

MINUTES FOR MEMBERSHIP MEETING

June 5, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Duane Clark at 7:05 pm. He greeted all member and guests: Jane Davis and Tara Decrow of the Washington State Ferries.

MINUTES: Don Lapworth moved to accept the minutes of May 1, 2008 as distributed. Maria Papritz seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

TREASURERS REPORT:  Mark Lijek, treasurer reported:

Treasurer's Report
May, 2008

Checking Account Balances:  $7,064.75

Savings Account Balances:
General Reserve:  $2,718.03  
Operating Reserve:  $9,852.67

Dedicated Reserves: $12,974.34
        Official Travel Reserve:  $1,000.00
        Cookbook Reserve:  $65.00   
        Sidney Committee Reserve:  $116.34
        Student Travel Fund:  $7,500.00
        Golf Tournament Reserve: $4,293.00

Total Assets:  $32,609.79

Custodial Accounts:
Kisakata Exchange Reserve:  $12,916.50

Significant Items:
We awarded a grant of $1,000 from the Student Travel Fund to Cynthia Jonas.

We paid $8,416.15 for airline tickets for the Lomonosov exchange students and their chaperone.  The chaperone will reimburse us $1183.23 upon arrival, as we are paying only $500 of her ticket.

     Olive oil sales generated $780.
Golf tournament money has continued to come in and the reserve account is growing.  There is considerably more money in transit.
We received a $150.00 donation from Jackie Boss.

LOMONOSOV:  Don Lapworth, chairperson, reported that the official letter of invitation that is required by the Russian government for the students Visa has been mailed.  Maria Papritz will welcome the students for Don, who will be out of town on July 31st attending to family obligations.  There will be a planning meeting of the committee to develop plans of activities for the students.  One girl still needs a homestay.  All of the students speak English.  If you can welcome this student for ONE WEEK, TWO WEEKS OR the full THREE WEEKS, please call Don or Maria.
The four students and their teacher/chaperone are:
Andrey Ruzhitsky
Alexander Cherednichenko
Eliza Rakovets
Nastia Marchik
Teacher of English/chaperone is Zoya Evseenkova (also chairperson-Lomonosov Sister City, “Kalinka”.)
Maria passed a “Get Well” card for Tatiana Proshkina of Lomonosov.

HOSPITALITY:  Duane reviewed the new committee which includes Stan Steward, Joy Walter and Darcey McKinley.  David Rapella will remain on the committee as chair.

KISAKATA:  Cora Lijek, Chairperson, reported that one of the adult chaperones had to withdraw due to automobile accident.  Joy Walter will substitute for her.
The students will continue fund raising by holding a car wash at the Radio Station on June 21st.  Tickets are $5.00 each and can be secured by calling Cora.
In order to raise more funds for the trip, the Chaperones will have a table at Shipwreck Days on July 19.
Brian Geer, committee member, reviewed the trip to Kisakata that he took to represent ASCA.  The mayor of Nikaho (new name of Kisakata) presented a gift to him for ASCA.  It was a beautiful carved apple made of cherry wood with the Japanese character for “Happiness” on it.  He further explained that the reason he is late delivering it is because it was stored in a box for his recent move.

 SIDNEY:  David Rapella, chairperson, reported on our planned trip to Canada Day to participate in their parade on July 1st.  We will go over on the ferry on June 30 – returning July 2.  Please contact David at: phone: 588-8781 or e-mail:  fuqua4@comcast.net.  The folks from Sidney are arranging homestays at this time and need the information.  The Sidney people will come to Anacortes for the July 4th parade and some will come for the Golf Tournament. Homestays are being arranged for their June 28th (Golf Tournament) and July 4 (parade) visits.

THERE WILL BE NO JULY ASCA MEETING BECAUSE OF THE TRIP TO SIDNEY AND THE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS.  POSSIBLY A BAR-B-QUE WILL BE HELD TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY!

     Duane reviewed the trip he and David Rapella to a meeting on May 8th to Sidney when he shared some of the activities of ASCA.  Sidney has a new sister city – Nimi, Japan.

VELA LUKA:  Duane reported for Nikki Lovric, chairperson, and reviewed the last 3 Farmer’s Market days when ASCA sells Olive Oil from Croatia.  He passed sign-up sheets asking members to commit a Saturday to help out.  We are located next toJohn Baker’s sour dough bread booth and, having the two products together has increased the sale of both.
Approximately two cases have been sold per Saturday for $12.00 per bottle or $10.00 per bottle if a case of 12 bottles is purchased.  Samples of the bread are dipped in the oil as a taste treat….which works.

GOLF TOURNAMENT:  The Golf Tournament is June 28th.  We have some excellent sponsors – both Corporate and Hole.  The “Hole in One” winner will receive a 2008 Honda Ridgeline which will be parked next to the tee at hole #2.  There will also be a closest to the hole Putting Contest.  Duane presented a Power Point of various ASCA events including the 2007 Golf Tournament.  He then distributed posters, applications, reminder cards, etc.

PROGRAM:  Duane introduced Tara who is the Promotions and Events Coordinator for the Washington State Ferries.  She has been planning the 2009 spring ferry opening event and explained that she wants to change the schedule of the Ferry Opening trip to Sidney to provide an overnight opportunity.  (The 2008 opening trip allowed 45 minutes between arrival and return).

       Jane Davis reviewed the status of the Sidney terminal and the use by WA State Ferries.  She indicated that the lease was signed under protest, because, among other things, the rent is twice the 2007 rent.  They hope to negotiate an improved lease and will continue to pursue the matter.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Fuqua
Secretary of ASCA