Minutes -10/17/06 Treviso/Sarasota Sister City Meeting

Attendance:
1. Mirco Chiodi
2. Patti Dembs
3. Magdalena J. Picardi
4. Gianrico Filippetto
5. Tom Halbert
6. Dianne Brin
7. Dr. Joseph Polizzi
8. Miriam Gebhardt
9. Dr. Joseph Latona
10. Stefania Portofino
11. Carol Arroyo
12. Beatrice Jones

• We were graced with many new faces at the meeting, including Miriam Gebhardt, whose participation we had discussed/anticipated last week!
• Gianrico met with some of the Treviso delegation while he was there on a business trip. They are excited about this endeavor and will be working out the last of the details of their arrival at their meeting next week.
• Dianne has fixed the DVD of Treviso and Tom will add it to the Sister Cities website to be viewed there. Thank you Dianne and Tom!
• Our Blog has been set up by Suzanne. Thank you!
• Dr. Latona passionately conveyed the importance of the “higher education” connection with Treviso and the need to establish semester student exchanges in various fields of study. The idea of "pen pals" between students was also brought up. Dr.s Polizzi and Latona and Miriam Gebhardt agreed to be a part of this educational committee.
• We now have a good solid foundation of members in committees to begin focusing on priority projects: preparing for the Treviso delegation and arranging an event around the artwork we have from the children of Treviso.
• Riverview High School just started an Italian language course. Maybe we could go through our Italian contacts here in Sarasota and get them a guest speaker.
• Many local activities going on soon such as the Sarasota March, Marathon and Florida Studio Theater Group is also putting something together. Maybe we could include some Sister City involvement in these coming events.
  

Follow-Up Next Meeting:

• Flyer to be posted at ESCA
• Ideas for future projects
• Ideas for activities and sites for delegation to experience

Long-Term Projects:

• Sister Cities Discount Card for local Sarasota Shops, Restaurants, and Activity Centers – The same would go for our Sister Cities.
• Sister Cities Convention at Robarts Arena – Multiple booths for each of the countries to show: Food, Clothing, Jewelry etc.
• Local Treviso Clothing and Jewelry Fashion Show in Sarasota
• Set up a tour of Treviso for tourists and one for Business trips. Local places to stay, eat ,shop etc.
• Try and encourage some members of other local Italian societies to attend our meeting.
  

Short Term Projects:

• Meeting Information Flyer for ESCA
• Guest speaker for Riverview High School

Minutes -10/10/06 Treviso/Sarasota Sister City Meeting

Sarasota Sister City Association – Treviso Committee
Meeting Minutes
October 10, 2006

Present: Mirco Chiodi, Richard Storm, Lisa Brecher, Hart Torrell, Patti Dembs, Magdalena Piccardi, Michael Nelson, Dr. Polizzi, Dianne Brin
Next meeting: October 17, 2006 11:30am - Esca Restaurant


I. Discussions
· Mirco brought new version of organizational chart and positions were clarified/changed. Made changes to subcommittees and their respective responsibilities. It was decided to combine the PR and the Event committees into one. Cultural committee to include art, dance, photography, music and drama. Sports and Civic (local government, Boys/Girls Clubs) are other possibilities.
· Grants. Miriam Gebhardt was named for possible assistance. Dr. Polizzi will contact her.
· Dr. Polizzi showed us copies of his beautiful and informative new books. They are great ideas for delegate gifts.
· Local maps of our area were suggested as gifts also.
· Progress of delegate schedule. Many ideas were brought up for their time here.

II. Summary
· Need to get info to be able to start the Treviso blog!
· Need to get information on tourist information centers in the area of Treviso, Venice and Vicenza.
· Need to find out names/positions of each delegate coming in Feb.
· Flyer to be posted at ESCA
· Remaining Board Positions
· DVD on Treviso north America format (Dianne)
· Links to Italians organizations in Sarasota area

Minutes -10/03/06 Treviso/Sarasota Sister City Meeting

Sarasota Sister City Association – Treviso Committee
Meeting Minutes
October 3, 2006

Present: Mirco Chiodi, Richard Storm, Bruno Pasquali, Mary Lou Barber, Carol Arroya, Lisa Brecher, Hart Torrell, Tom Halbert, Patti Dembs
Next meeting: October 10, 2006 11:30am - Esca Restaurant


I. Discussions
· Mirco produced an initial organizational chart and brought everyone a copy of the requested SSCA “job descriptions”.
· Newsletter. A “blog” format on the SSCA website was decided upon instead of a newletter for communicating meetings/minutes/events with eachother.
· Gifts/momentos to give to the delegates to bring back a part of Sarasota with them. Not just touristy knick-knacks, but symbolic items to increase knowledge/awareness to promote further exchange in the future.
· Budget/grants…where they come from. ($4800/year)
· The need to get the delegates schedule organized in an hourly format as soon as possible.

II. Summary
Smaller group. Gianrico is in Italy. Great ideas coming out and the organizational structure is shaping up.

Minutes -9/26/06 Treviso/Sarasota Sister City Meeting

Sarasota Sister City Association – Treviso Committee
Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2006

Present: Mirco Chiodi, Richard Storm, Bruno Pasquali, Mary Lou Barber, Carol Arroyo, Gianrico Filippetto, Magdalena Picardi, Lisa Brecher, Hart Torrell, Suzanne Dameron, Dianne Brin, Rhonda Cesario, Tom Halbert, Patti Dembs
Next meeting: October 3, 2006 11:30am - Esca Restaurant


I. Each attendee introduced themselves and expressed their interest in the Treviso project and what they could offer to assist.

II. Discussions
· Time/place of lunch meetings. Discussed other options.
· Positions/titles of committee members. Asked for more official “job descriptions” to be brought from the SSCA.
· Looking for someone in the field of education. Carol knows a “Bridgette” who is teaching Italian at SHS.

III. Summary
Good first meeting. Pleasant surroundings. The “business” of paying for the lunch needs to be better organized to expedite things next time.

Treviso meeting at ESCA

Thank you Suzanne for setting this BLOG for the Treviso Team.
Mirco