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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/2014 SCC Minutes DRAFT MOUNT PROSPECT SISTER CITIES COMMISSION st 1 floor Village Hall Community Room Minutes: Sept. 18, 2014 Attendees: Mayor Arlene A. Juracek, Evelyn Dorman, Janice andSkip Farley, Patricia Fusilero, A. John Korn, Judy McGinnis, Paula and Gary Randant, Diana and Rafi Sahakian, Paul Seils, Mary Ann Sibrava, John Sibrava, Judy Thorne, Rachel Toeppen, Robert and Pat Usnik, Barbara and Steve VanArsdale, Irvana Wilks. Not Attending: Lorrie Huber, Marianthi Thanopoulos Guests: None I.The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. by Judy Thorne. II.The minutes of the July 17, 2014, meeting minutes were approved by consensus on a motion by Rafi Sahakian, seconded by Barbara VanArsdale. III. Citizens to be heard: None. Mayors Comments: IV.Mayor Arlene A. Juracek reported that the Commission hasnt heard from its French contingent in S è vres due to the political fallout from recent elections in France, whereby French President Fran ç ois Hollande fired his entire administration. The next visit to France will be in 2015. The Commission hopes to hear from its counterparts in France soon to resume joint activities. Chairs Comments V. : Judy Thorne reported that the former chair, Dorothy Kucera, attended the recent Mount Prospect March é Fran ç ais that was well attended by area residents. She also thanked Judy McGinnis and Barbara VanArsdale for their help and generous donations that were sold at the Mount Prospect Sister Cities booth. Treasurers Report VI. :Skip Farley presented the report which was approved on his motion and seconded by A. John Korn. The cash balance as of Aug. 31, 2014, is $11,011.85. Committee Reports VII.: French Market a. Judy McGinnis reported that this years event was well attended due to the nice weather. Fourteen vendors, including the Commission and the Mount Prospect Library participated this year selling a range of items from French cr ê pes, linens, jewelry and art work to language th lessons. This is the 6 year of the event, which was held Sept. 7 at the Mount Prospect Farmers Market. The VanArsdales donated many gifts from jewelry to hand knit shawls. Items such as Parisian note pads sold out and there was interest in other items, such as the black Eiffel Tower d é cor pieces that werent for sale. The Commission received many compliments from vendors, who said they found the market was well run compared to others. Revenue from vendors fees and booth sales totaled $1,127. Not all expenses have been accounted for so a final report will be made at the next meeting. The Commission suggested seeking musicians who could donate their time or using recorded music to keep costs down for next years event. Barbara VanArsdale would like to set the date for next years event on Sept. 13, 2015, or the first Sunday after Labor Day. French Cooking Demo b. Co-chairs Judy McGinnis and Diana Sahakian reported that the upcoming cooking demonstration at Retro Bistro for Oct. 5 was all set. The event will be held from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and so far 40 tickets have been sold. The establishment has tables of 10 and can host up to 80 people. Wine or soft drinks are provided during the Chef Chris Barths demonstration that encompasses a lesson in preparing the main entr é e a rustic heirloom tomato and goat cheese tart. Retro Bistro is offering a slice of tart with $15 gift certificate to attendees. Tickets must be purchased in advance since space is limited. Rafi Sahakian recommended that commissioners request tickets they think they can sell. Fall Wine Tasting c. The next event is scheduled for Thurs., Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., at Fresh Thyme, reported Paula Randant. She said would try to get tickets out to commissioners after the French cooking demonstration. Posters advertising the event would be put up next week. Fresh Thyme will offer the same set up as in previous wine tastings a variety of cheeses, appetizers and crackers will accompany several wines to be tasted. Some have criticized the small samplings of wine, but Paula said Fresh Thyme was following the law by providing the small samples. Library-related Events d. Mary Ann Sibrava stated that the library was half-way through its annual programming, with the Book Crossing running currently. September is Show Your Library Card month with discounts offered at participating stores. Family time at the March é Fran ç ais was well attended with about 83 people staying for story time. Promotions online and through Oaklees Guide helped attract people to the event. Grade school book discussions on The Little Prince and Wonder are slated for October; teen discussion will highlight The Fault in Our Stars. German Sister City Subcommittee e. Skip Farley presented his findings to date. The Subcommittee is seeking a partnership with a Northern German city. It has been difficult getting people to respond. There has been one exploration so far into Southern Germany through the Commissions ties with S è vres and its Sister City in Wolfenb ü ttel. Brochure f. no report Facebook connection g. Rafi Sahakian presented results from launching the Mount Prospect Sister City Commission page to publicize the March é Fran ç ais and related events. Two ads were placed at a cost of $50 on July 31 and Aug. 21, reaching about 7,290 people who saw the ad within a 25 mile radius around Mount Prospect. Rafi said the Facebook page exposure helped contribute to the success of the market. He will talk to Marianthi Thanopoulos to find out how effective Facebook was compared to the online ad in Oaklees guide. Tricia Fusilero suggested tagging vendors in Facebook to increase participation at next years event. Plans for 2015 VIII. The following dates are tentative for next years events: Jan. 23 Trivia Night. Tricia Fusilero to chair April 23 Potluck Dinner. Judy Thorne to chair May 21; Nov. 5 Wine tasting. Paula Randant to chair July 4 Parade Paula and Gary Randant to co-chair July 8 - Family French Festival Sept. 13 March é Fran ç ais Undecided dates Book Crossing during Bastille Day pending on willingness from S è vres as their library is being renovated; Retro Bistro Cooking Demo. Mayor Arlene A. Jurasek also asked the Commission to consider activities for the upcoming Centennial in 2017. Open Discussion IX. Bob Usnikspoke about the difficulties in obtaining Air France sponsorship, since the company is now represented by Delta Airlines in the U.S. and KLM in Europe. Air France has subsequently closed all U.S. operations. Usnik said it may be more fruitful to pursue sponsorships through American Airlines for some of the Commissions events. All requests for sponsorship must be made in writing. In recent Illinois Sister City organization news, Decatur, Ill. won Sister City of the Year award, reported Paula Randant. Fifty-five cities in Illinois currently have Sister City programs and some cities have more than one Sister City. The 2016 Conference will be in Decatur, which has a German and Japanese Sister City. Adjournment X. - The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:01 p.m. on a motion by John Sibrava and seconded by Paul Seils. The next meeting will be Thurs., Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m.