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III. OLD
BUSINESS
A. Affiliation status of Santa Marta
Safirstein advised that Santa Marta wants to continue
affiliation. Mayoral
decree created an SCI committee
consisting of Mayor of Santa Marta, Police
Chief, Dean of the University of Magdalena, Executive
Director of the Chamber
of Commerce. Humanitarian help requested for refugees
recent guerilla
activity in the area. Help requested in re-activating
Santa Marta as a cruise
ship port of call.
Action:
(1) Motion made and accepted to continue relationship.
G. Safirstein to draft
letter advising of same and requesting
more participation from Santa Marta
as SCI/ Miami Beach
is not a fundraising organization.
(2) G. Safirstein to provide a translation of correspondence
for SCI records.
(3) Examine economic impact of affiliation regarding
Santa Marta as a port of
call for cruise ships
ie: set up a trade mission with Miami Beach businesses
involved in cruise industry.
(4) Examine SCI humanitarian programs/ exchanges
involving children.
(5) G. Safirstein to draft letter to Colombian
Consulate seeking candidates fill
SCI Santa Marta committee vacancy.
B. Attendance/Vacancies
:: Bruce Singer
Attendance requirements discussed.
Appointment of Dr. Lehrman to an at large
position not yet confirmed by City Clerks office
despite recommendation to
Mayor's office. Mayor Dermer verbally confirmed
appointment during meeting
and requested recommendation be re-sent to his
office.
Action:
A. Vargas to re- send recommendation letter to
Mayor Dermer with a copy to
City Clerks office. Dr. Lerhman to schedule his
swearing -in at City Clerks
office upon receipt of appointment letter. A. Vargas
to order business cards
and parking decal upon confirmation of Dr. Lerhmans'
appointment
C
Website Update
:: Bruce
Singer
SCI/Miami Beach Web site is now
live at www.MiamiBeachSisterCities.com.
SCI members advised to view the website and offer constructive
criticism via
email.
Action: Council
members were asked to view the website and offer input.
D. Update
on Cesky Krumlov
:: Bruce
Singer / D. Retkova
D. Retkova received original official proclamation
Mayor of Cesky-Krumlov.
New Mayor is now in office. Seeking corporate sponsorship
for Arts & Culture
exchange projects in Miami Beach : (1) exhibit
of before and after photographs
of floods in Cesky
Krumlov. (2) Chef exchange exhibiting food and wine from
both countries.
Action:
(1) D. Retkova to draft welcome letter to new CK
Mayor for Miami Beach
Mayor Dermer's signature.
(2) D. Retkova to seek corporate sponsors.
(3) D. Kelsey to assist D. Retkova in implementing
photo exhibit and in
obtaining hotel and
restaurant discounts.
(4) J. Bradley to assist in obtaining grants. Report
back at next meeting.
E. Update
on affiliation of Basel, Switzerland
:: Bruce Singer
Discussion: Prestigious Basel Art Exhibit in progress
at Miami Beach
Convention Center and other Miami Beach locations.
Invitations to opening
reception and art exhibits distributed to council
members. Mayor Dermer
encouraged creation of Basel affiliation based
on BaselArt program scheduled
for the next 4 years in Miami Beach with support
from local and international
art collectors. Mayor Dermer advises this is first
time this prestigious event is
held in the US, which brings worldwide notoriety
and publicity to Miami Beach.
Art festival in Basel scheduled for June 2003 noted
as a good opportunity to
present reciprocal official proclamation. Mayor
Dermer meeting with Basel
Officials. In addition, Samuel Keller, Exec. Director
of Art Basel, has created
dialogue in Basel.
Action: Finalize affiliation
with Basel. Plan delegation to Basel for official
welcome and affiliation proclamation in June
2003.
F. SCI Awards
2003 applications
::
Bruce Singer
Young Artist Program 2003. Each member
encouraged to communicate with
SCI counterpart to seek artwork entries. Application
and guidelines distributed
to members. Possibly a local display can be set
up before shipping art to SCI
convention. This can only be accomplished if this
effort is started NOW.
Action: S. Trinidad
to compose email to B. Singer outlining process. This
needs
to be distributed to all local schools and
sister city contacts.
G. Update
on Ramat-Gan
:: Bruce Singer
Mayor Dermer advised he received correspondence
from Mayor of Ramat-Gan
requesting termination of affiliation with Miami Beach
based on non activity.
Mayor Dermer and Council very surprised by this assertion
since affiliation
with Ramat-Gan was established in 1971 by Mayor Dermer
Sr., and since then
numerous annual activities and exchanges have been held
both in Miami Beach
and Ramat- Gan, most recently annual visitations to Miami
Beach by the
Ramat-Gan Dance Troupe (hosted by members of Temple
Beth Sholom), which
were sponsored by private donations ( including
$1000 donated by council
member Jerry Goodman) and a $9000 grant obtained
by Miami Beach SCI. A
chronological list of activities and exchanges was
distributed to council. B.
Singer advised he received correspondence from SCI
headquarters in
Washington, DC advising that Ramat-Gan is currently
seeking a relationship
with Arizona and needs confirmation of our relationship
with Ramat-Gan since
no notice of affiliation is noted in the SCI Directory.
Ramat-Gan cannot pursue
relationship with Arizona if already affiliated
with Miami Beach. Mayor Dermer
supported dissolution of relationship if so desired
by Ramat-Gan despite
significant investment of time and funds for this affiliation.
Action:
(1) Mayor Dermer will communicate with Ramat-Gan's Mayor
to confirm desire
to sever relationship.
(2) Steve Haas to provide Mayor Dermer with a list of
activities with Ramat-Gan
and supporting documentation
and a draft letter for his consideration
(3) Haas also to explore affiliation with other Cities
in Israel (need to get
together with B. Singer).
H. Update
on Wheelchairs Project
:: Amparo Vargas / Alan Yott
Project accepted by the council as an appropriate
humanitarian project for all
SCI members interested in helping raise funds to
purchase and deliver
wheelchairs to the needy in Fortaleza, Brazil
and Santa Marta, Colombia.
Wheelchair committee created : Rony Curvelo, Dr.
David Lehrman, Amparo
Vargas, Nuccio Nobel, Stephanie Trinidad, Ed Boen.
Action:
(1) Committee to meet and create a plan of action to raise
funds for this project.
(2) Jeff Bradley to seek grants. (3) Ed Boen and Rony
Curvelo to communicate
with SCI / Rio and George Safirstein
to communicate with SCI Santa Marta
to determine need requirements
and recipients. Report back at next
meeting.
I. Update
on Grants in progress
:: Jeff Bradley
Federal, state and local grant application
in progress.
Action: Continue to seek funding
and report back at next meeting.
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