2024-09-23 Sister City Commission MinutesEdmonds Sister City Commission MINUTES
Monday, September 23, 2024
6:00 — 7:00 pm
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ass�ster City Co
Pos. 1 Karen Reid
Pos. 5 OPEN
Pos. 9 Yuri Nishiyama
Pos. 2 Katy Renz
Pos. 6 Samantha Hopper
Pos. 10 Karyn Heinekin
Pos. 3 Kiwa Tashiro
Pos. 7 lyoko Okano
Pos. 11 Colin Torretta
Pos. 4 Anne Nadreau
Pos. 8 Michele Fellows
Pos. 12 OPEN
In -person attendance: Katy Renz, Karen Reid, Karyn Heinekin, Yuri Nishiyama
Virtual attendance: Kiwa Tashiro, lyoko Okano, Michele Fellows, Colin Torretta
Absent: Anne Nadreau (excused vacation)
Staff Liaison: Carolyn LaFave
Call to Order: Katy Renz at 6 pm
Guests: none
Administration:
1. Land acknowledgement: Katy Renz
2. Approve/Amend Minutes: Motion to approve August meetings minutes was made by Sam,
seconded by Karyn, and approved unanimously.
3. Approve/Amend Agenda: Motion to approve the September agenda was made by Sam,
seconded by Yuri, and approved unanimously.
New Business:
1. Presentation to Council on 11/26 should include 2024 ESCC report along with student exchange
report.
2. 2025 student exchange — Carolyn shared that she and Mayor Rosen discussed the City's budget
challenges, along with her upcoming retirement, and feel it is best to postpone a 2025 student
exchange. Carolyn will be notifying Hekinan and will report back at the October meeting. The
commission discussed spending 2025 on fundraising and on raising awareness of the
Commission and their work, and on looking into the process to become a 501 C. Michele Fellows
offered to provide information on this at the next meeting.
Continued Business:
1. Michele is scheduled to meet with Commission candidate, Nick Boswell, this week.
2. 9/21 Saturday Market recap: lots of interest; two past exchange students stopped by and shared
what a positive impact the program had on their lives; many brochures were distributed; there
was interest in the Commission giving presentations about their mission (Commissioners were in
favor of doing this but will need to first pull together a presentation for this purpose). Discussed
different opportunities to promote the Commission, i.e., Bellevue Japanese Cultural Fair, Seattle
Cherry Blossom Festival, Bellevue College Japanese event.
3. Recap of 2024 Hekinan Student Exchange visit
a. Comments from the Hekinan delegation have been received and lyoko and Kiwa have
offered to translate. Carolyn will tabulate and provide at October meeting.
b. Reviewed itinerary and discussed what worked/what didn't. MOHAI and Pike Place went
well, suggested that if we do it again, we should translate the MOHAI scavenger hunt
into Japanese for the students. No to Boeing, perhaps antique airplane museum instead.
Snoqualmie Falls and Boehm's Candy tour were a big hit.
c. Thank you notes will be sent to the following people:
i. Aly Osborne (past exchange student for her help w/orientation meeting)
ii. Dave Abbott (bus driver)
iii. Amanda (for providing notary services)
iv. South County Fire (for Fire Station tour)
v. Jenn Leach (for low -tide beach walk)
vi. Marlene (for craft project)
4. Adult Exchange Policy
a. Michele will work on this with help from Colin and Katy. Carolyn will provide agenda
memo information to the team. Ideas to cover in policy:
i. Interviewing of applicants
ii. Age range
iii. Criteria and expectations
Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm
Next meeting is October 28, 2024
Attachment: Karyn Heinekin 2024 Exchange Recap Report
2024 Exchange Recap Report — Karyn Heinekin
Students:
1. Phone policy- pictures ok; videos only of activities we are doing and need to be shared with the
chaperone. No other social media videos.
2. Need to participate in all events, activities and in their host family's homes.
3. Respond to all communication with chaperone.
4. Students need more Japanese practice.
Chaperone:
1. Our chaperones should be fully engaged in every activity, have field trip experience and help to
translate and communicate to the Edmonds students.
2. Chaperone needs to make a photo book of the trip.
Japanese Chaperone:
1. Chaperones need to fully engage in all activities and experiences.
2. Need to encourage their Japanese students to speak English as much as they can.
Activities to change on itinerary:
1. Add in tour of Boeing Everett plant, or the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle.
2. The Everett Boeing is boring, nothing really to see or do. Only a store.
3. They also did not enjoy Mukilteo. They loved Funko. I was wondering if they do tours?
4. The Art and Edmonds scavenger hunt in Edmonds- need to have a person in their group that
know downtown Edmonds. They enjoyed this day. The ice cream store was great for the end of
their day.
5. At Green lake- rent kayaks or canoes. Paddle boats are too difficult.
6. On rainy days- Have alternative plans to fill the day. We took the kids in a driving tour of the U of
W campus, and to the Schack Art studio/museum.
Commissioners:
1. Need to write down commissioner expectations for exchanges.
Fundraising:
1. Advertise- we may try asking for sponsors to donate for specific activities or outings. i.e., the zoo
or lunch
2. Sell items at the market. Calendars, magnets, bookmarks, cloth bags, photo cards.