##VIDEO ID:MNhMEtaxAwM## e e e e e are you acting I'm well we need somebody that's all we can come up with Okay good choice where to go Larry good evening uh welcome to the sister cities commission meeting it is 515 p.m. Monday February 3rd 2025 first item is is to uh call to order we're going to do roll call we'll start here on my right Ron wendinger Ryan philson Larry Mack John vorick Carolyn Marty Smith Jane M Hwy and we have the mayor ex official Kathleen backer here in presence so item three is election of officers so Tom had resign uh with his newly elected position with the council so we're going to be looking for a chair to move forward here for 2025 for the sister for the sister City's commission and our vice chair is not here tonight that is uh dick SE Booth so I Larry Mack I'm taking the uh chair roll here until uh we appoint a chair tonight is there any interest from the Commissioners to be the chair for the sister City's commission I move that we table this for at least a month until we have the rest of the people here we just don't have enough I will second that motion Okay so we've got a motion and a second to table the chairman position tonight for the sister City's commission all in favor signify by I hi hi I motion carried so we are going to go on to item four would be approval of the minutes from the Jan January 6 2025 meeting um hope you all have had a chance to review it um I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes as posted I second that so we have a motion and a seconded for the 4.1 meetings any discussion on any items everybody signify by i i i opposed motion carried all right we've got item five financial report so I just kind of see one dispersements there and that was for our um sister City's um um membership membership for the national sister cities but uh had to entertain a motion anybody so move I will second that we've got a motion and a seconded for the financial report um any other discussion let's signify by I I I oppos meetings are approved minutes or financial report is approved so item six is the Hans Joseph culture Exchange program so the outborn outbound Hans Joseph intern interviews are scheduled for Wednesday February 5th I know I'm going to be their present we've got John vorick and Jane M so we will have three Commissioners and dick seuth will be gone but uh he gave his uh you know recommendation by email but we will conduct that meeting at 4:30 here at City Hall on Wednesday February 5th two days from off today is the third Jane So anybody have anything else to add in regards to that and then we will go to item 6.2 would be the inbound Hans Jose intern we have uh three applicants were submitted from mm Germany for the 2025 Hans jce Jones Exchange program and we've got to uh review applications and select an intern to travel to newal so we've got three resumés and if have has everybody had a chance to look at the resumés or or um in those regards s and maybe we entertain some discussion on that and anybody have thoughts for employers possibly within the community well we've gone to the city with the last couple of times haven't we we have I and that was it Samuel is looking at the brewery possibly right that's where he's got a strong interest in and I do know that aell brewering has done um they've done in the past they've they've hosted a couple times had a couple of the GS and I do know that the brewery has done um past uh Brewery uh work with the gold oon Brewery in all Germany okay and and he is actually employed there currently so but I don't know maybe we should reach out to shells and see if they would be interested in him as a candidate um for an intern okay and then move forward from there um when we have everybody here as well um we I'm not usually here at this time during the year do we select the people who come from Germany I thought that was they they select it these are these are the top three I guess and okay but we don't pick that person well we try to find a job job for them right but we don't pick the person so it could be any one of these three people that we have here and it could be you know we don't know the availability of you know sh's has someone to work with him for his qualifications you know and so it'd be nice to possibly have a couple alternants but um I'd be willing to call Ted and ask him if you would like yeah and then we could report that back for March do we make recommendations to who we feel would be best or' done well we've kind of got to tailor we got to find a job oh you know so and we could look at the other applicants here and one of them was like City Administration wasn't it both of them both I know one was okay that's why Samuel stood out to me when when I saw it was just something different and we haven't done shells in a little while right well I think it would be nice to have a look at a plan B too just in case you know so so have we ever done anything with the county any of the county off here and is that a possibility with the county yeah I guess have to check in with um Sam H Sam County administer administrator I mean sometimes that's the same level as city um positions so um maybe that's an option too yeah well it'd be nice to know for future you know whether it's you know it's one of these you know candidates here but I think we should bring at least uh a couple options to the table for where we could uh act on this for the first we meeting in March because there there we'll be acting on the candidates when we do the interviews on Wednesday also so then we can kind of Tidy this up for a plan in March so um acting chair what do we do if all three of these like let's say Linda is looking at Social Services and there could be a match at the county level like Jane said um but we also might be able to find one for Samuel and for Janna so how then how do we refine that I don't think we've ever done that part I think what was her name f what's her name from Germany she used to she used to Pi she used to she used to pick it pick the person and send it and then we found the job that fit I I I don't think we've ever we unless somebody else knows I don't think we've ever weeded it down to a small number fewer number people I don't think that was us does anybody else know but we've also hosted two candidates also and about in years past no you know we've had two candidates in a year through sister cities that one we had that went worked with Chris I I don't think that was I think we've only always had unless somebody else knows something I think we've only always had one okay cuz finding houses that was hostes yeah host families because we had that one that Chris wanted last year wasn't it the two that was two people we had to find places for correct and this but the guy who likes the brewery it's a guy that was always a harder thing to find a post for host family for have any of the Commissioners given any thought to or any options that they might know of or can start thinking of some options for you know ask some people if they're interested in hosting too you know so we can find some hosts potentially and you know we should know that a little bit if it's available you know for March also so I'd be willing to check around and I'm sure some of you have cont come back in March with potential housing and then great so Kathleen you're GNA check with Sam Hansen County Administrator if there's an opportunity there that they would be willing to contribute and then I will reach out to Ted Marty with the brewery and see if he's interested and I can pull off his uh resume here and email that to Ted at the brewery and so he could review it and see if it's something that they're interested if it works and and we can discuss timelines for March uh any other further discussion on the inbone or anything that might have stuck out I mean they're very they're all highly educated and they've all been very busy and eager and ambition that's how I'm going to interpretate it from the resumés and we're fortunate to have three willing and interested in coming really yeah even our outbound you know one that was previously from 5 years ago is still have interest and still yeah connected with our community so all right we're going to go back to any body else anything else on the inbone and out bone we'll go on to uh number seven here is our old business we've got 7.1 recognition award from John bori and Brian Filson so we've got the 2024 recognition recipiant has been selected select the date and location to hold the awards uh regular meeting will be held at the chamber following meeting travel and location of reception so well I contacted Kegel as far as uh what they had for those dates M the first Monday of next month is booked okay she penciled Us in for the following month on first uh Monday of April um I did get a hold of Kim Hansen Keith's daughter and I told her what was going on and she said uh the April date would work fine for their family okay and I told her I'd let her know what we decided and that's for the first Monday of April yes what's the date here I'm just s that's the 7th April 7th so any other discussion with the Commissioners if April 7th would work for our recognition good and then we'll do the kull club for our normal meeting at 5:15 and we'll probably adjourn about uh 5:45 and then we'll go to our reception and then have Lisa contact the friends is we'll have Lisa pisel contact the friends of the sister City's commission and then uh it's traditionally we've been bringing potluck and then um the C Club will have a water and pop and uh we'll have our normal appetizers that that they prepare for us uh it was suggested to me by Lisa that when we would have these types of combined events going forward that we would consider having the meetings here so that they can be recorded okay and so that's something we might want to check into and where we firm up uh that we would split okay I mean or have them both the meeting and the reception there we might have to meet here and then have a 10-minute break out that's fine would work that would work I mean can we just record it out there no here no here but I'm talking about going out there and just I mean can we just need a recording of it doesn't have to be on TV does it or I I I'm not sure that's where I was kind of reading her she's talking about hold a regular meeting at counil Chambers and then bring it you know I like one location okay well we can bring it back on if we just have to record it let's just record it I mean that's we can do that easy enough okay it's a pretty quick meeting too so do they have a somebody mobile here well we could ask our our uh technician back there if he'd be willing to record mobile possibly is that something that we can um at the March meeting yeah we could print that up in March and that way we can check with Lisa just to find out what the what the issue was sure and get clarification going forward Okay so we will get better clarification in March about uh firming up uh where the meeting will be held alert it's two meeting I mean one meeting and then the and then the reception have to walk here first and then walk out there so that's going to take me a while to get there so you guys going have to start without me I'll give you a ride no no I'm walking we know you're a fitness buff too this doesn't happen by accident Larry all right all right so any uh other and John you've got the plaque in I haven't ordered yet because I wanted to make sure the date was going to be because we do put the date on the plaque okay okay so and I that is firmed up now we can use that date yes okay so I'll get it ordered we'll go for April 7th so I think we've thought of all that for the item seven and new businesses item 8 8.1 German language Day Camp 2025 Carolyn Marty Smith La Sweeney Jane M Hy so we have we have Peter here with us the German language teacher from public high school correct Peter um do you want to go on that mic there and talk to us about the two things and you can ask us all kinds of questions that we maybe won't be able to answer today but we can make our plans and I see that you have something too but let's do the German if I can let's do the German language campus I told him that uh Tom mz's cousin is coming to spend two weeks this summer and I gave him the date of when she's going to come and so um she would be like a an assistant at one of the helpers and I thought that might be kind of fun and she would let her meet some kids in town which I also thought would be a great idea so we talked about that so no firm date yet right yeah um I mean I'm out of the state I do a big bike event in Iowa ragb the last um week of that July but prior to that it should be good yeah so we had that okay and I told pet we could how many days we just there's no set date for how many days we would do or even set times we could do more we did mornings from 10 to 12 two hours is what we did the last time but that would be up to you no that's that sounds good for sure and I'd be willing to I um you know we have a German 2 class and uh my guess is there'd be a couple of kids interested helping out which would be super fun wouldn't that be ni those guys going and I did want to consider I mean you know a little bit of payment would be nice if we could throw it their way um but haven't talked to him about it just wanted to check in with you guys and see what the story with that is that idea right yes I think so too absolutely so when you just say payment I mean what do you think I mean I don't know um I mean just looking for what talk about this what do we yeah what do what do what's a what would be just to make it a little bit more attractive for those uh kids especially given that they're going to have jobs and they're going to be doing stuff already um I don't think it would it would have to be much but just something to say hey we really appreciate you and I'm kind of serious about um you know have getting some people to sign up for it um I don't think again I don't think it would have to be much um so we're probably looking at what three to five days for teaching the class five days for class Brian do you remember what we paid the last time you were on the commission with me don't remember I think I don't know I can't I truly do not remember how much but I can find out yeah again not much anything would be appreciated I'm sure even stiping even gift card or something along those lines I'm sure they would be happy with Y and we did lunches with them but we don't have to do that again we I went to like hiy and those places and they donated sodas for us and we did a lunch of we don't have to do that either and then we had a little presentation for the parents the last day okay well I mean should we take this a little further discussion in March maybe as a commission and we could put up a budget sure a budget I think you know then we have a full when we have a full Quorum yeah that sounds good and we can keep this as an act you know roll out and once we establish a budget and then uh whether it's going to be 3 days or 5 days and you know and if we can you think you can get a couple students and then once we have some of that set up then I would I would uh throw it out to the I have one section of two German 2 which is 20 kids and then we have two kind of small sections of one which is a total of about 30 so there are it's 50 kids who are kind of taking the language right now and I I would have to assume that a couple would be interested nice and I think it would be great just to get their interaction you know cuz they might they might be interested for our outbound you know because you know we need to get connected you know because it's hard to find candidates and age we track that and I you know really throw that out there and really try to encourage them to go after it um you know there's that little interim time where you know between when they graduate and then when maybe they can kind of go after the Hans use program so yeah until they're 20 21 but you know just keep us in mind and and if if they have perhaps ideas how to you know to keep the next Generations you know you know intertwined you know yeah for sure stuff like that and maybe they want to be Commissioners one day there you go you know somebody would yeah and maybe our intern will be here at that time so they can have an opportunity to inter mingle with the um intern that comes from German sounds good I'm just so happy that we got you this year because last year remember we tried to do this we tried and you were already booked the whole summer by the time we started working on this so now we to find a place that we want to do it I thought Turner I was thinking Turner Hall is anybody else how many students were you thinking that would be interested in good question haven't you know haven't this is the first step in it so I haven't talked to anybody about that we would have an idea would help us to set the price or whatever yeah sure um I mean just looking if it's just 3 to 5 days couple hours a day I would have to assume that there would be plenty available at least so it's not an availability and then I I would say there would be I mean I'm sure there would be a number interested so we'd probably have to do like some sort of you know issue where we you know have decide who's going to be involved because too many would be get a head count and about how many you know I think that would be up to you okay I'll uh I'll throw it out to them and you know go go from there sure okay yeah and if you could uh you assume you got Lisa's contact you know pisel you could email her and she put that on here and we can discuss about that for March's meeting and that if you have two or three whatever you know to interested and yeah we keep that uh part of it open for discussion for March and we can set a budget good okay and then you have a part two that you wanted to talk about yeah so I mean just a little background I originally was hired here uh as a German teacher in '93 and so I've been here for 32 years at New Alm high school and you know been through a lot of changes with the program we had another uh teacher who kind of had it for a while and I was out for about 10 or 15 years of it teaching just English but then when we move built the new school um I took over the program again and we've been kind of building it up and uh some kids have been throwing out interest in a a trip a summer trip which is pretty common uh I've done three student trips in the past in the '90s early 2000s and they were nice um and but I I'm thinking we need to why not sort of revise that and it seemed like given that m i mean there are I mean you do I mean if Al is the The Hub of the wheel any direction you go an hour or less is worth going to and I was thinking why would it be possible to do a a trip where we home base in Alm and do um Family stays home stays potentially and or we in the past we've done youth hostels the yugan hair beran where we stay at that we've actually stayed at the the the gister sh yugan hair bear in in Al it's it's great um but that's a little I don't know that the you hostels I don't know if that's exactly where um kids want to be necessarily but there's that option uh and just wanted to see what the sisters cities commission is all about like mainly it was contacts M are there quite a few contacts that you guys have with Al Germany and do well we do have a fair amount of past people that we've hosted you know and then their families in the all area yeah I don't know if our past students would be interested to help host Andor their families but we'd have to keep the dialogue and kind of go how many students are you you know you're exactly and so this is totally all starting point here as I'm kind of throwing it together after students said there' be some interested in it I thought okay well let's let's start kind of poking around and and this seems like a kind of an obvious first First Choice does the high school let you do I mean to pull this all together for the summer might be hard but does a high school that you go during the school year I I lived overseas we took trips all the time and we would go during the school year is that a thing we do here in America not typically a thing that we do here it's a little tight that way to leave for you know 10 days um that's tough um and I know like the Spanish program they do a trip and then Rob but with social studies he does a trip and that's all summer okay summer actually I think maybe one time Spanish might have done a spring break during spring break trip um but yeah it's it's usually a summer summer deal yeah you we probably have to really look at the logistics of trying to keep your students together and try to get them on time in the morning when you're going to do your day trip and back sure and what that even would look like um I mean would it be excl you know exclusively day trips or would we maybe go to Munich and hang out for a while or you go to like Fen um um you know all that it's all open um you know sometimes it's kind of nice to have the whole crew together versus kind of spread out at different homes um so again I wanted to check in with you before and you know the other thing is um yeah the cost is kind of outrageous for some of those programs I mean it's $4,000 sometimes for um going through an organization and the organization they they don't you know they kind call the shots which you know that's totally part of the deal but doing a kind of a tailored trip where it would be um based out of you know because it's our sister city and all that that's a unique experience and I'm not sure that we could do that through there are all sorts of other issues like Insurance travel insurance you know things like that that would need to be considered but I I wanted to throw it out just to see where where things stand well you know we had uh some Commissioners and Friends of the commission go to Germany in 2023 and did a tour we we used a uh Joel Meyer locally and we also had another contact Wade Olson and uh Joel LED that and actually Joe's there right now actually with our narn the narn yeah and that uh we helped with facilitating a couple details of that with the city of M and and Anna Maria our contact there in m Germany for welcome reception and things of that nature which will be on Wednesday I think on the 5th here it's coming up fast so you know I think you know it would be nice maybe if we could get you Pete involved with uh possibly with Joe Meer to kind of okay you know cuz uh he's helped put together many a trip expensive trips inexpensive you know you want to make it affordable otherwise does a good job with it yeah and I think it would be you know start dialect with your students and say you know we're looking in 2026 you know and start budgeting and you know saving your funds and how many students are interested and you know there's the logistics of it is is it going to be for two dozen people or you know you never want you never want to exclude anybody parents are they part of it too I mean I think parents are excellent you I always like the trips absolutely you know so I mean I think we've we've got some contacts that we could definitely share with you we'd love to go to the school there I know there are probably a couple but you know a couple of the schools the gymnasium or whatever or the real scho or whatever it is and that would be a big part of it uh as well just to get that you know that little educational fact yeah but uh maybe we can reach out to Anna Maria and see if she has any ideas or thoughts you know well we have plenty of other contacts you know like franker yeah and hoger we've just awarded with a lovely certificate theyby buying their larest for the rest of our lives I'm we do have contacts out there and we have plenty of um our people that have come here that are talking about they would always open their homes sure so yeah I mean and like I say we they when we were Jane and I were together on a tour there and I think it was 2018 and we had a welcome re and all and it was excellent yeah something like that right and then like a little bus thing where we could do tours that way do the the danu river thing someone that knows and all the little day trips are they're just awesome but you know I think my out loud is you know using somebody like Joe Meyer that's in the tour business and handling the trip insurance and things like that nature and those details and he tries to put together a full package that could be very informative that sounds good educational as far as uh hosting these would maybe some of our former uh people here would like to reciprocate we think so thinking yeah yeah great okay thank you Pete all right yeah good deal we'll be in touch we will you and next is going to be the next meeting be thanks thanks thank you the next meeting will be held on Monday March 3rd 2025 at 5:15 at the City Hill conference room before we adjourn I just want to tell you what happened with the certificate Kathleen what did we call the certificate what was it it's a certificate of commendation it's it was absolutely wonderful it was beautifully printed out so I took you know ulie and hoger te are ulie is Denny Ward's niece anyway so I took I took it out to Denny and read it to him and took a picture of him with it so that hogar and ulie would have that and then um this how much Joe Meyer cares about it it's the morning that the bus is leaving to go to Minneapolis to to fly to Europe and he calls me in yoga class to ask me if did I get it to somebody the certificate he was so worried that I wouldn't have because he he had to in he had to get the mayor of M to invite ulie and hogar to the party otherwise they wouldn't have been able to get their certificate and they wouldn't come show up at the mayor's place without formal invitation so Joe handled all that for us which I thought was a really terrific thing and the fact that he cared about it that much before he had to get on a plane pleased me immensely so we'll everybody said they'd take pictures for us so it was a really nice thing we did and and now like I said we probably have it is a little bit different because I would show up on Kathleen's doorstep anytime without an invite give me a certificate please but would the door be unlocked okay all right wonderful and we're anyway thank you Kathleen for doing that for us and that was a very nice thing to do yes a lot of little details that hopefully it's making these special connections more memorable exactly and strengths and we'll look for maybe March that we'll get a report back from the Nar and how things went yeah so all right any further business meeting adjourned