Duane Clark, president, called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.  He welcomed guests, members and Mayor Dean Maxwell.  Diane Davidson introduced her neighbor, Jerilyn Caba.

Don Lapworth moved to accept the minutes of the April 2, 2009 meeting as distributed.  John Lastar seconded and the motion passed.

SAVE OUR FERRY:  Duane reviewed the conclusions of the committee.  He reported on the activities of the Washington legislators in Washington, DC regarding a possible increase in ferry funding.  He presented a “gift”, to ASCA, of a framed SAVE OUR FERRY logo that is marked with ‘SAVED’!  Duane stated that both the original logo design and the revised "SAVED" were created by Linda McGuire of Bayshore Office Products. The framed logo will be “housed” at Cap Sante Court Retirement Center.

BY-LAWS:  After a brief explanation of why the update is needed John Lastar moved to accept the revised By-Laws as distributed. Don Lapworth seconded. Motion passed.  (The changes are mainly “housekeeping” items.)

TREASURER’S REPORT: Mark Lijek reported:

Checking Account Balances:  $5,746.34
Savings Account Balances:
General Reserve:  $2,994.38  
Operating Reserve:  $23,281.26
Dedicated Reserves: $13,031.84
Golf Tournament Reserve:  $2,500.00
Official Travel Reserve:  $1,000.00
Cookbook Reserve:  $440.50 
Sidney Committee Reserve:  $116.34
Student Travel Fund:  $7,500.00
Vela Luka Reserve: $1,475.50

Total Assets:  $45,053.82

Custodial Funds: $2,999.56
Kisakata Student Exchange:  $2,107.00
Lomonosov Student Exchange: $892.56

Significant Items:
The Lomonosov Exchange students raised $892.56 at their car wash while the Kisakata students raised $591 from tulip painting and origami lantern sales.
The Vela Luka Reserve increased by $100 due to the sale of Kumpanija merchandise.
As Golf Tournament revenue is starting to come in, I set up the usual reserve fund which will be used to track the income and hold the net proceeds until the Board determines what to do with them.
After discussion with the Charities Program of the Washington Secretary of State's office, it was agreed that ASCA was exempt from future filings unless gross revenue exceeds $25,000 in a year or we hire a paid fund raiser.  We had been asked to continue filing reports as we had exceeded the limit in 2006.

LOMONOSOV: Maria Papritz, committee member, reported that the ASCA students going to Lomonosov will be selling cookbooks at the Market Grocery Store, 3 pm to 6 pm each Friday.

KISAKATA:  Co-chair, Cora Lijek reported:
Eight adults and 2 children will be visiting Anacortes from Sept. 25 to October 1.  They are:
KUNIAKI TAKAHASHI  ( prior visit to Anacortes)
IKUE KAWAKAMI                   “             “”
TAKAYUKI KAWAKAMI  (Ikue’s husband)
KYUYA SASAKI
KAZUEKO KATO   (a friend of Kyoko’s)
KYOKO HONMA
SATOMI SUZUKI
KOKORO SUZUKI   (5 years old)
SAAYA SUZUKI       (1 year old)
CHZUKO YOKOYAMA (Satomi’s mother)
Student Exchange to Kisakata:  There are three classes left before the students break for the summer.  The lantern fundraiser is in process.  Lanterns are for sale at several galleries including Scott Milo and the McCool galleries.  The students will continue to sell lanterns during each month’s art walk.  They are hoping to do some type of fundraiser during the Water Front Festival at the company booth of one of the parents.  They will also participate in Ship Wreck Days and hold a car wash sometime during the summer.  A few students will be starting a recycling program.  Katie Hudak, one of the exchange students explained this program as follows:
KATIE presented: 
SAVE OUR TAXES…SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
HELP THE ASCA JAPANESE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM!
DONATE YOUR USED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS!
The ASCA Japanese Student Exchange Program is conducting a recycling fundraiser.  There’s nothing to buy!  We are simply asking you to protect the environment by donating your used cell phones, inkjets, laptop/notebook computers, IPods, digital cameras, and digital video cameras.  Your used item(s) may be tax deductible and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations or refurbished and sold.  100% of the proceeds will help to fund the Student Exchange Program.   We greatly appreciate your support.
Best Regards
ASCA Exchange Students
Katie supplied Cora with a collection box for the CONSUMER ELECTRONICS which she will bring to each meeting.
The parents are actively planning the student exchange visit by the those Japanese visitors.  During their stay they will go to a Mariners baseball game, on a Deception Pass boat tour, to the Arts Festival, and to the Stillaguamish River Festival.  Of particular concern is transportation to and from SeaTac Airport. In the past, the School District has provided a bus at no charge.  However, with the current budget problems the District is facing, Cora felt that we should not ask the School District to continue to provide transportation for the exchange to and from the airport.  The total cost for two round trip bus trips to SeaTac Airport would be about $1200.  The parents are checking out other options.  The visit will include: Mariners baseball game, Seattle Arts Festival and Stillaguamish River.

SIDNEY:  Chairman, David Rapella reported that he is meeting with Mayor Larry Cross and Town Crier, Kenny Podmore on May 12th (as he takes Anacortes businesses brochures to Sidney) to discuss/plan activities that may be of interest to Sister City friends on both sides, now that our Ferry is saved.  One idea is to design around each of the two cities something like a ”Circle of Interesting Places” which lists points of interest and various activities in each region. These lists would be provided to Sister City members to enhance their visit when they travel to Sidney or Anacortes to participate in one of our events and stay for a day or two.
David indicated that the location of the “Little Ferry” (which was built by Sidney people, and has been enjoyed in both Sidney and Anacortes parades) has not been determined. 
Duane reminded members of the dedication of Mayor Larry Cross to  “SAVING OUR FERRY” even though he had only been in office 19 days when the problem arose.  

VELA LUKA: Student exchanges include 3 Anacortes students going to Vela Luka in 2010 and 3 Vela Luka students coming to Anacortes this July.

GOLF TOURNAMENT:  Duane provided Sponsor and Player applications for the Golf Tournament, Saturday, June 27, 2009.  He asked that members please call him, 293-8088, prior to contacting a potential sponsor, to avoid multiple contacts from ASCA members.

HOSPITALITY:  Stan Stewart, chairperson, reported that the committee is busy planning the menu for the golf tournament.  He distributed a “sign-up” sheet for people to volunteer to help at the golf tournament.

MEMBERSHIP: Diane Davidson, chairperson, reported 61 members have paid their 2009 dues, to date.  She has been contacting those who have not paid the dues.    Duane added that plans are now being developed for “new member recruitment”, to be presented at the June meeting.

PROGRAM:  John and Annie Lastar presented a beautiful Power Point Presentation of their RV trips to the Copper Canyon and west coast of Mexico, the New Orleans Mardi Gras, and the Rose Parade. 
The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jo Fuqua, ASCA Secretary