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Minutes from the Commission
July 14, 2005
June 9, 2005
April 14, 2005
March 10, 2005
February 10, 2005
January 13, 2005
Thursday, July 14, 2005
PRESENT: Ellen Bearn, Bob and Madeline Brown, Linda Brown, Jennifer Creamer,
Phil and Deb and Alison Pilorz, Jane Schaffer, Deirdre Sumpter, Nancy Topping, Sharon Yoshida
- Minutes of June 9, 2005 were corrected and approved.
- Treasurer reports a balance of $523.43.
- Garden of Serenity is faring well. Progress continues on the Book of Honor and an event will be planned for the fall with the Bethlehem Garden Club.
- The van problem may need monetary help from the Commission.
- There will be 9 visitors from Tondabayashi to Musikfest. Bob and Madeline, Jane, and Ellen will take them on a requested visit to the Lehigh Valley Mall. We will have gift baskets in the hotel rooms. Sharon will collect Lehigh stuff for this. Those attending the picnic volunteered food. Bob suggested Ichiban Steak House be asked to donate to the picnic. The band performances are at 7pm on Friday and noon on Sunday. Commission members will greet them on Thursday at the airport at 6:34 pm and our returning exchange students at 9:29 pm.
- Other: Sharon suggested a Japanese film with a panel discussion be used
for a fund raiser; Ellen is teaching a course on Japanese films. Jane will check on the legality of charging for the event. * Sharon wrote a note of congratulations to Jose. Jane wrote to Olympus regarding the move to the Valley. *Deirdre will work on the traveling exhibit during August.
- Pending projects: Garden of Serenity Picture for sale.
Pictures for the Tondabayashi website.
First Night
Respectfully submitted by
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Present: Bob and Madeline Brown; Linda Brown; Jennifer Creamer; Alison, Deb and Phil Pilorz; Jane Schaffer; Deirdre Sumpter; Nancy Topping; Sharon Yoshida
- Minutes of the April 14, 2005, were corrected and approved.
- Treasurer reports a balance of $523.
- Correspondence: Sharon will send a note of congratulations to Jose Cruz on receiving the title of Kyoshi in martial arts. The staff of Tondabayashi’s Civil Activities Support and Gender Equality Division sent us pictures and notes. Jane is writing a letter to the vice president of human relations at Olympus to ask if our two organizations might form a partnership. Jane gave a presentation about the Commission to the Hi Neighbors program at First Presbyterian Church in early May.
- Library fundraiser generated some interest in the Commission and $168.30 for our treasury. This is a good venue for future activities. Phil Pilorz was asked to consider building display easels with the proceeds of the sale.
- First Night: We have been asked by ArtsQuest to join with the other sister city organizations to offer a program about how New Years is celebrated in those countries. We have expressed our interest in doing so.
- Musikfest: We need to gather information and make a plan to entertain the musicians and guests from Tondabayashi. Anne Dutlinger will host a picnic at her home on August 13. Gift bags may be appropriate.
- Website pictures are needed. The Pilorz’ have pictures of Bethlehem in winter, which Deb will send to Jane. Jennifer suggested that students in a Moravian College photography course might be a source. Jane reported the student who planned to work on updating the website started the project but graduated without finishing it. Jennifer has contact with a recent graduate in graphic design and will have her contact Jane about finishing the project.
- Serenity Garden: Twelve people including Linda Brown, Ralph Lindgren, and Sharon Yoshida and other members of the Bethlehem Garden Club (BGC) prepared the garden on June 4. Biographies of those proposed for the Book of Honor have been drafted; an event will be planned for the fall. Postcards of the garden will be sold during the BGC tour on June 18. Sharon will conduct a tour of the garden on June 23 for the BGC district meeting. Jane noted that those who attended the fundraiser did not appear interested in buying the large photo of the garden. Phil suggested we print two for spec at the Moravian Bookstore, as the clientele there would likely be more interested.
- Orientation sessions for our exchange students and their families are scheduled to begin Tuesday, June 14 and will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for a total of 6 sessions, running from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Jennifer needs a list of previous exchange students who can share their experiences and the data concerning the current group. First and last sessions will include parents. Ellen, Mari and Michiyo have volunteered to assist. Jennifer will send to all commission members the name of the website that is specifically designed to help exchange students with adjustment issues.
Respectfully submitted by
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Present: Linda Brown, Jennifer Creamer, Phil Pilorz, Jane Schaffer, Deirdre Sumpter, Nancy Topping, Sharon Yoshida
- The approval of the minutes for March 10, 2005, was tabled.
- Treasury is currently $355.13.
- Ralph can reproduce his picture of the Garden of Serenity for $35 a copy; Jane can have it double matted with a back for $18. Jane will check with the Moravian Bookstore regarding their sales commission. She would like to start with four and profit $25 per picture. The garden work has started and Sharon will notify the Commission of the spring workday.
- Two proposals have been submitted by a Moravian College student for our website. As Jennifer has experience and questions, she and Jane will meet with the student.
- The Mayor's Office in Tondabayashi will no longer be our direct contact; there is a new department with whom we will deal. Kanetoshi will be bringing his rock band to Musikfest; we will plan an interaction. The band will play on August 12 at 7:30 pm in the Banana Islands local and August 14 at noon at Festplatz.
- The fundraiser in conjunction with the Bethlehem Public Library is May 5, 5-8 pm, and May 7, 10 am to 4 pm. Jane, Nancy, Linda, Ellen, the Browns, and Deirdre volunteered to set-up and staff the first day; Jane, Ellen, Linda and the Browns will staff the second day. The Pilorz family will also assist on one of those days. Jose Cruz is supplying the raffle tickets.
- Jane will be meeting on April 21 about reestablishing the tripships.
- Orientation for parents and exchange students is in the planning stage.
- Jennifer volunteered to help make a traveling exhibit about the commission and Deirdre has volunteered to take the exhibit traveling at appropriate times during the summer.
- Sharon will talk to Ralph about selling Serenity Garden postcards during the Bethlehem Garden Club garden tour on June 18.
Respectfully Submitted by
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Present: Ellen Bearn, Bob Brown, Madeline Brown, Ralph Lindgren, Joan Paul, Jane Schaffer, Deirdre Sumpter, Sharon Yoshida
- The minutes of February 10, 2005, were amended and approved.
- The treasury stands at $355.13.
- The Garden of Serenity Committee is preparing to place Charlie Brown, Joan Paul and Joseph Mangan in the Book of Honor. Jane will e-mail Sharon the way to contact Mangan's granddaughter. Ralph will interview Joan. Sharon has written the Mangan piece and is working on the Brown citation. The committee is also planning a spring spruce-up date and will request the help of volunteers in addition to the now 5 members. There will minimal plant replacement. Spring pruning will begin shortly.
- The renewal of the Cohen Tripships will be considered by Nancy Cohen Engels at the end of April,
- The auction of Asian items has been postponed until May 5 and 7. Thanks to Joan for her items. Items of Asian origin or theme are being sought.
- Deirdre volunteered to chair a committee that will consider how to construct a traveling exhibit for the Commission.
- Other Notes: Kodo performs at Lehigh on March 15. * Prints of the Serenity Garden for sale are still being investigated. * A Moravian student is preparing 3 proposals for our website. * The brochure is on hold as we have found some. We may need to make hand corrections. * No news on the orientation program. * The corrected membership list of the commission has not been received from the Mayor's office.
Respectfully Submitted By
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Present: Ellen Bearn, Bob Brown, Jennifer Creamer, Jose Cruz, Mari Giardot, Joan Paul, Phil Pilorz, Jane Schaffer, Deirdre Sumpter, Nancy Topping, Sharon Yoshida.
- The minutes of January 13, 2005, were approved.
- The treasurer reports a balance of $287.63.
- The Garden of Serenity committee will be meeting to plan for spring. Four season photos of the garden are requested for the commission.
- Jane reports the city's insurance director has asked the city's solicitor to become involved in the van rental case with regard to the excessive “loss of use” fee being charged by the collection agency. Despite paying $100 for the rental agency's insurance, which ultimately covered nothing, her insurance has paid for all of the van repairs, thus increasing her premium rates for the next three years.
- Moravian College students will be asked to design a new brochure for us at the rate of $15.00 per hour. We must also pay for the printing. This cannot be done until our 2006-2008 funds are received from the city. However, a box was found in the closet this evening that contained a substantial number of brochures, which makes this project less urgent.
- Jane has set the schedule for exchange student orientation : June 14, 16, 28, 30, July 12 and 14 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, with the first and last sessions including the parents. The families have been notified. Bob will provide his video of Tondabayashi. Jennifer will chair a committee to develop the program that will include Mari and Deirdre. Ellen has suggestions for materials.
- Fund raising will include our auction in conjunction with the Bethlehem Public Library's March book sale – Thursday, the 17 th (5-8 pm) and Saturday, the 19 th (10 am – 4 pm). We selected auction objects and methods. There will be $1 and $5 dollar tickets to deposit in containers for each item; small items will be for direct sale. The library will provide publicity, for which. Jane will write copy. We need posters or an exhibit to draw customers into the room provided for us, and posters for the elevator and other entrance sites. Our brochures will be available. We will sell postcards. Nancy and Jane volunteered for Thursday; Jose and Deirdre volunteered for Saturday. Additional help is needed.
Sharon will contact the Moravian Museum re: money due for sale of postcards to them.
Jane will check into less expensive ways of mating and backing the reproductions of Ralph Lindgren's photo of the Serenity Garden so that we can sell them at the Moravian Book Shop.
- A Moravian College student will remodel our website as a project.
- Jane continues to seek reinstatement of the Cohen Tripships.
- Sharon will draft a letter of thanks to Cas Sowa, who has resigned due to a move away from Bethlehem.
- We continue to need a traveling exhibit . For example, Jose has five exhibitions coming up where we could exhibit, and sell postcards, to promote the sister city relationship: April 3-Karate Tournament in Fountain Hill; April 23-Budo seminar in Allentown; August 12-14--Martial Arts Seminars in Bethlehem; September 9-11—Seminar and Tournament in Bethlehem; November 5-Martial Arts Exhibition in Bethlehem. For further information call Jose at 610-317-8094.
Respectfully Submitted By
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
Thursday, January 13, 2005 7p.m.
Present: Ellen Bearn, Jane Schaffer, Deirdre Sumpter, Nancy Topping,
Sharon Yoshida
- The minutes of November 11, 2004 were amended and approved.
- The treasurer reports a balance of $287.63. Sharon will contact Moravian museum regarding a check for the postcards they purchased.
- The Garden of Serenity has been put to bed. The committee will meet soon to plan for spring and to work on the Book of Honor.
- Jane reports that the difficulties with the van rental during the student exchange still have not been settled.
- The Website project has not moved forward. Jane will investigate if a web design class at Moravian College would adopt this project.
- Jane will also investigate if the students in another course at Moravian College can design a new brochure for us.
- The repair of the commemorative sculpture in Tondabayashi will be undertaken by that city instead of the Cohen family, who had volunteered to take on this project. Tondabayashi also plans a garden surrounding the sculpture.
- The idea of an artist exchange between the Banana Factory and Tondabayashi is on hold until we hear from Jill Schimmel, a former exchange student who teaches English in Tondabayashi. Over the summer she had agreed to inquire at a renowned art school in Tondabayashi about this.
- Although grade school cultural interchanges do not appear appropriate at this time, Lehigh Valley Academy (new charter high school) is interested in contact with students in Tondabayashi . We will try to pursue sometime during 2005.
- Orientation for the students going to Tondabayashi needs to be planned now. Past orientations included 1 or 2 sessions with the parents and 4 to 6 one and one half hour sessions for the students. It was suggested that the initial session include parents and students, and that a second session with the parents be nearer the leave date. Deirdre has materials and recommends a new book titled, “Japan Point and Speak.” Jennifer and Mari need to plan a timetable for these sessions ASAP and notify the families involved.
- Other: Sharon suggested that Jane contact Charlie about building our credenza since snow is not a current problem for them.
- Ellen suggested we deaccession some of the items in the Tondabayashi Room at an auction in conjunction with one of the library book sales as a fund raiser . Jane will contact the library.
- Deirdre is going to Japan with a small group of students for 9 days and 7 nights about June 20. The fee for adults including airfare, lodgings, breakfast and dinner is $2871. Anyone interested in going should contact Deirdre (dksumpter@earthlink.net.)
- Sharon will check the accuracy of the list of commission members and their contact information given to us by the City.
Respectfully Submitted By
Sharon Yoshida, Secretary
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