PREVIOUS MINUTES: December 4, 2002

MEETING MINUTES:  December 4, 2003

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE
Miami Beach City Hall
Mayor's Conference Room
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, Florida

   Old Business
   New Business
   Committee Status Reports

I.  ATTENDANCE:

    
II.  MINUTES

      Sept. 25th, 2003-defer

III. OLD BUSINESS

i)    Status of SCI Council Membership- (attachment)

(a)  Discussion: City clerk’s list distributed; noted that Dr. David Lehrman, Claudia Dunin, Dr. Jorge Safirstein reappointments noted in City Hall

(b) Action:  All re-appointed members to report to Clerks office for swearing in and to parking department for parking decal. Vargas to send letter to mayor requesting reappointment of the other council members when their terms expire December 2003.

(a)  Discussion: members asked to update roster or note any incorrect information

(b)   Action: A. Vargas to update roster and post on the SCI-International website.

IV.   NEW BUSINESS

(a) Discussion: SCI – International now accepting applications for annual competition. Missing artwork from last year’s competition.Czech artwork is being returned. Nautilus Middle School artwork is lost.
(b) Action: S. Trinidad to coordinate application of students from Nautilus Middle School and Beach High. Application distributed. S. Trinidad to confirm return of Czech artwork. SCI to cover costs and fees for next competition

ii) SCI Annual Awards application

(a) Discussion: SCI- International now accepting applications for awards for individual committee and overall projects completed in 2003.
(b) Action: Applications to be submitted by each committee chair. A. Vargas will assist with application process upon request. A. Vargas will coordinate submission of application packages to SCI-International. Application and instructions distributed. Committees eligible for award application are:
1. Vargas / Hernandez-Cozumel Youth Conference
2. S. Trinidad / B. Singer- Teacher and Japanese Artists’ Exchange
3. Daniela Retkova -Czech Choir
4. Villar / - Ica – Miami Beach Fire Station

iii) New Affiliations

Nahariya, Israel                                                    Steve Polisar
(a) Discussion: Presentation by Steve Polisar on Nahariya, Israel as a candidate for affiliation with Miami Beach.
(b) Action: Motion made to continue exploration process with Nahariya. S. Polisar urged to proceed with affiliation process by making a formal and detailed presentation to the Council at the next SCI meeting Feb. 2004. A. Vargas to assist S. Polisar with process.

iv) SCI Tourism and Travel Workshop         Dr. Lehrman / A.Vargas

(a) Discussion: Creation of an SCI Summit on Travel and Tourism in Miami Beach with the participation of other SCI and local organizations. Target date is Fall 2004.
(b) Action: Motion made and approved to proceed with project. Dr. Lehrman and A. Vargas to create a sub-committee to coordinate project. Sub-committee to meet and report back at next SCI meeting Feb. 26, 2004.
 

V. COMMITTEE STATUS REPORTS

i) PESCARA, ITALY                                                                Gale/Nobel

(a) Discussion: No new activities to report.
(b) Action: Report new developments at next meeting

ii) FUJISAWA, JAPAN                                                 B. Singer / Trinidad

(a) Discussion: Report of Fujisawa Delegation Visit (Attachments Visitation a great success. Congratulations to coordinating committee extended.
(b) Action: None.

iii) SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA                                     Safirstein / Vargas  

(a) Discussion: No activity despite numerous attempts to contact in Santa Marta.
(b) Action : Motion made and accepted to formally deactivate committee.
Vargas to draft official letter to Mayor Dermer advising of deactivation ofSanta Marta committee.

iv) ALMONTE , SPAIN                                                         Datorre / Rey

(a) Discussion: No new activity.
(b) Action: Report new developments at next meeting.

v) RAMAT - GAN, ISRAEL                                                Brenner / Haas

(a) Discussion: No activity despite numerous attempts to contact in Ramat-Gan..
(b) Action : Motion made and accepted to formally deactivate committee.
(i) Vargas to draft official letter to Mayor Dermer advising of deactivation.

(a) Discussion: None
(b) Action : None

vii) Fortaleza, BRAZIL                                           Boen / Dunin

(a) Discussion : Update on Status of Affiliation - Rio / Atlanta (Attachments).
(i) Correspondence from SCI –Atlanta does not clarify affiliation status.
(b) Action: E. Boen and C. Dunin to communicate with Rio directly to
maintain current status of affiliation. Report any new developments at next meeting.

viii) ICA, PERU                                                             Yuken / Villar

(a) Discussion: None
(b) Action: None
ix) CESKY KRUMLOV Linden-Retkova
(a) Discussion: No new developments
(b) Action : None
 

6) ANNOUNCEMENTS/GOOD & WELFARE

(a) Discussion: City Of Hollywood SCI Events ( see attachments)
(b) Action: Invitations distributed: Flag Exchange Ceremony Dec. 12, 2003 and SCI Summit Dec. 13, 2003

7) NEXT MEETING

(a) Thursday February 26, 2004 @ 4:00 pm, Mayor’s Conference Room