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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/29/2014 SCC Subcommittee Minutes Mount Prospect Sister Cities Commission German Subcommittee July 29, 2014 Meeting Location: Mount Prospect Public Library Conference Room 130 I. Call to order by Skip Farley at 5:44 pm II.Roll Call: George Busse, John Eilering, Skip Farley, Georgia Mitchell and Paula Randant III.Approval of Minutes: Accepted as submitted IV.Citizens to be heard: None V.Old Business: A. The email received by Arlene Juracek from Jean Murphy was reviewed. Our subcommittee will focus on historical perspectives and not on geographic religious breakdowns. An emphasis will be placed on Mount Prospect family roots. Georgia attempted to speak with several people during her trip to Bosch Power Tools Headquarters in Lernfelden-Echterdingen. She found that many of her key contacts were on holiday. She will continue to research who is best to speak with. Bosch has several offices in the Northern part of Germany. Georgia located all of them. George sent a letter on plain stationery two weeks ago to the mayor of Hamelin, a city of 51,000. He believes that using Sister City stationery may be more practical to illicit a response. Paula will get the stationery and deliver it to George. George stated that most of the founding families of Mount Prospect were from this city. Paula will research Wolfenbuttel, which is currently sistered with Sevres. This city is also sistered with Kenosha, Wisconsin. There is a park bench on Lake Michigan with this city’s name. George will continue to focus on Hamelin. Georgia will research Hildesheim, a city of 102,000 with a Bosch office. All three of these cities, Hamelin, Wolfenbuttel and Hildesheim are in close proximity. B. As far as desirable qualities for an affiliation, we all believed that acceptance would be best if there existed a Mount Prospect flavor. This would factor in cultural amenities, business emphasis, and city size (i.e. 25,000 - 100,000). John stated that he would be uncomfortable with a city that already had multiple sisters. Paula did not feel that this would be an issue. VI. New Business: A. Our primary goal for a German Sister City relationship would be to make it as successful as our current relationship with Sevres France. In addition, we hope to promote cultural and business opportunities with the selected city. B. After completing the research conducted by members of the committee, four of us are willing to visit with selected officials in the German city(ies) that are interested in pairing with Mount Prospect. VII.Other Business: A. The committee structure will remain as is. However, setting up liaisons for both committees would further effective communication. It was suggested that an executive committee including Skip Farley (German subcommittee chair), Judy Thorne (Sister City Chair), and Paula Randant (past Sister City Chair), and currently German Sub-committee member) be formed. Paula would be the ideal committee liaison. We see the Sister City Commission consisting of an Executive Committee and separate German and French Committees who report to the Executive Committee, and through the Executive Committee to the Mayor/Board. The Executive Committee would be comprised of a Chair named by the Mayor and a liaison from each of the French and German committees. B. The three German subcommittee members who are researching potential cities will diligently complete their tasks to expedite the search process. VIII.Next Meeting: August 25 at 7:00 pm Mount Prospect Library IX.Adjourn: Chairman Farley adjourned the meeting at 6:44 pm.