Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
AGENDA
Meeting April 20, 2021
Zoom

I. Approve March 16 meeting minutes

II. Updates on funding: the city budget request did not move forward for final approval. A question was brought
up last month concerning the $1000 allotted to cities for approved expenses. Let’s discuss this matter further.

III. One of our grant recipients, Rachel Mclaughlin, would like to make some changes to her original proposal
as mail in Huehue is not super reliable. Kate is meeting with her on Friday afternoon (4/16) and should have
specifics to share. If there is additional funding needed, we can vote on those requests.

IV: Nominating/selecting a CSCC Secretary - a permanent position would be ideal. Please consider this and let
us know if you are interested in taking on this important role.

V: Quarterly committee meetings - let’s set a spring date!

VI: Young Artist and Author Showcase/Besancon news - update from Elizabeth.

VII: It was brought up that each monthly meeting should have a designated time for each city rep - I believe
we’ve done this in the past. Should we add this to the agenda each month?

VII: Gary O’Connell wrote to Brian Wheeler about Pleven’s “City Day” in May - they celebrate their sister
cities on that day. Apparently the reps travel to Pleven for this. Is this something we are interested in, or are we
no longer taking part in Pleven activities?


Next Meeting:

Tuesday, May 18 at 4:30 pm
 Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission
 AGENDA
 Meeting March 16, 2021
 Zoom
 Minutes of the meeting of March 16:

 Present: Joan Clarke, Amanda Folsom, Nana Ghartey, Michael Grinnell, Daman Irby, Kate Kogge, Stella
 Mattioli, Dave Norris, Elizabeth Smiley, Adrienne Ward, Maxicelia Robinson (Staff Liaison), Communications
 staff person

 Call to Order: 4:33 p.m.

   I.   First all the members introduce themselves to Nana Ghartey, the representative for the Winneba sister
        city.
  II.   There are no new members to approve, maybe there will be some in the summer.
 III.   Then we talk about the Festival of the Book, in which the commission is sponsoring two events. Nana
        Ghartey proposed to find a way to have an event for each sister city in the next edition. This can be a
        goal for the Outreach Committee, and the committee decides to start the conversation about it. Nana
        Ghartey may join these sub-committee.
 IV.    Approval of the minutes of last meeting. Kate Kogge motions to approve; Elizabeth Smiley seconds -
        and the minute is approved unanimously.
  V.    Sister Cities International Youth Artist and Authors Showcase 2021: Elizabeth Smiley explains that the
        Sister Cities International has been sponsoring for 20 years young artists and events related.
        Charlottesville probably never participated, and this will fit with the goal of the education sub-
        committee. Young artists can submit their original works every year to the showcase organized by the
        Sister Cities International, who has the mission of empowering the youth and involving them in the
        community. There have been talks with the school system of Charlottesville, and the information has
        already been sent to the teachers of the different schools. The deadline is May 1st, and the students
        interested will be able to submit their works. Elizabeth says that this year could be considered as a pilot
        year: if there is interest amongst the students and the teachers, we can consider it as an annual
        sponsorship. With more time, it can become a community-wide event. Elizabeth offers herself to be the
        contact person inside the Sister Cities Commission. The commission decides to approve this idea.
VI.     The Festival of Cultures is doing a virtual celebration this year in May.
VII.    Update on Funding. We should send the letter again to the City Manager, but also to the council, in
        order to see if more people will be interested in funding the Commission. The recommendation for
        funding was not approved by the Acting City Manager, so it is a matter of trying again. In order to be
        more successful, Dave Norris explains that it is possible to write emails to the council and talk to the
        public meeting.
VIII.   Student Exchanges. There are no updates about possible student exchanges with the French sister city. It
        is not an officially sponsored event and it has nothing to do with the Sister Cities Commission.
 IX.    We speak about the 1000$ allotted for each sister city, that has been used in the past. Each sister city
        representative can ask up to 1000$ to support that specific relationship. It has to be a submitted request
        for an approved expense. It is decided to have a more deep conversation in the next meeting, in order to
        better understand this possibility.
  X.    There is the possibility of an exchange of musicians between the French sister city and Charlottesville.
        Everything has been put on hold due to the pandemic, but there is going to be a live Zoom event of
        recorded material. Every person can attend, and the event is for free.
 XI.    Meeting Adjourned: 5:53 p.m.