ARVADA SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL PLANNING RETREAT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

Transcription

1 ARVADA SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL PLANNING RETREAT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012 The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Gordon Reusink at 8:00 a.m. Members in Attendance: Ed Bentzen, Nancy Bentzen, Bernie Burgmaier, Karl Burgmaier, Doug Gordon, Edna Gordon, Jodie Haslam, Bob Jackson, Shirley Jackson, Mark McGoff, Nancy Munn, Bob Pfifer, Gordon Reusink, Sharee Wichmann and Eva Zerr. Edna Gordon, President, welcomed everyone to the goal-setting retreat. Edna reminded everyone that as a Board member of ASCI, each member is to serve on at least one of the committees and attend all the ASCI sponsored functions. Gordon stated that the City of Arvada, under the new City Manager and City Council, want each department and City organization to look ahead for 10 years to see what the City should look like. What will our future be? What will our City look like 10 years from now? What would ASCI look like; i.e. do we foresee a sister city in every continent of the world? The City is asking for Performance Based Outcome Budgeting. What should ASCI be giving back to the community? What goals do we need to set to get there? Today, let s listen and discuss ideas. Gordon further stated that he keeps hearing several goals that are both external and internal focused; i.e.: 1. Broaden and Expand the Membership Base of ASCI 2. Increase the presence and visibility of ASCI in the community 3. Focus on how we do the business of our business 4. Responding to the call for performance outcomes and transparency Gordon distributed copies of the Resolution Authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement Between the City of Arvada and Historic Olde Town Arvada (HOTA) for Fiscal Year 2012 Programs and Services in Downtown Arvada as a guideline for ASCI. Gordon then proceeded to ask members of the Board what they envision for ASCI. - Bernie stated that one focus should be on 2013 when China has the World Expo. Also, there are cities in China that would like to be friendship cities with ASCI. - Nancy Bentzen stated that she would like for ASCI to have more sister cities. This involves a lot of work. We currently have 24 Board members but not all are active. - Edna stated that we do need to look at other cities. Also, the Arvada Festivals Committee has annual sponsorships from the businesses in the community where ASCI have none. - Bernie suggested that we spread outside the Arvada area into the Metro-Denver community. As we get sponsorships, we need to support those businesses.

2 Page 2 - Mark stated that within Arvada there are several ethnic church communities; i.e., Japanese, Korean, Russian and Laotians. Perhaps we can strategize ways to reach out to them. We should learn more about what is within those communities and attend their programs. The City Council is very interested in neighborhood development; i.e., ASCI attend the annual Simpson United Methodist Church s Japanese Festival. - Bob Pfifer stated that Arvada is a diverse community. We need to learn the cultures within our community and then market the culture; i.e. Chinese New Year Festival. Bob further stated that he and his family thoroughly enjoyed the Festival at the Arvada Center. - Ed stated that before we can envision 10 years from now, we need to ask: What are we as a group? Are we a cultural group? Are we an economic development group? What are we offering to our sister cities? Ed further stated that if we are here to develop business within the City, we will grow. If we are just promoting Arvada, we will not grow. If our mission is to develop business within other countries as well as Arvada, we need to plan for that. Discussion ensued on what other sister cities in Colorado are doing. - Jodie stated that each sister city has its own dynamic focus - Nancy Bentzen stated that Lakewood does education and student exchange programs. The City of Denver has multiple cities and large committees for each sister city s focus. Gordon asked: Do we see our mission statement changing? - Nancy Munn stated that we need to be more diverse. We need to get a country that the average person in Arvada would be interested in and then get the Council s approval. - Eva stated that we need to keep in mind that some of Arvada s small businesses do not want to do business with China. - Bob Jackson stated that he and Shirley joined ASCI to volunteer in the community. They enjoy setting up, serving and cleaning up for the various events, including the Arvada Harvest Festival Committee. Gordon stated that the Arvada Economic Development s new vision is to develop retail. - Bob said that through education and culture we will foster relationships for economic development. He stated that you build relationships by understanding each other. - Doug said we need to define who ASCI is and our goal; culture first, education second then economic development might follow. Once we have made the contact and a country wants to develop here; Where do we refer them within the City of Arvada? ASCI might be the Facilitator. - Edna stated that ASCI might be the starting point or forum.

3 Page 3 Gordon asked these questions: What is the job description for our Board members? Do we just volunteer? Do we not participate but donate money? Do we have an Honorary Board? The City of Arvada appoints the Board members for the Arvada Festival Committee after reviewing applications and conducting interviews. - Bernie questioned if that were to happen to ASCI, Would we lose our 501 (c) (3) status? Gordon said we would not. Bernie stated that we are an aging board and need some younger members. Our Board and members are Ambassadors for ASCI. - Edna said perhaps the Council can find two or three people from their list of volunteers that they interview and ask them if they would be interested in serving on the ASCI Board. - Mark cautioned that there may be a better way of contacting these people perhaps a letter from ASCI inviting them to serve on the Board. Gordon asked Sharee, as a new member, what she had observed the last year. - Sharee stated that it is important for the Board to operate more as a team and our main goal should be a commitment to excellence in making ASCI look good. She also stated that in her solicitations of the small businesses in Olde Town for sponsorships and donations for the Chinese New Year Festival that many commented they are always being asked to donate for something. We need to remember the economy and that some are struggling to stay in business. Further, we should do better planning and try not to get back-to-back with other functions in the City; i.e., Arvada Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese New Year Festival at the Arvada Center. Sharee stated we should market ASCI through social gatherings in the Arvada business community; i.e. reserve a few tables in the name of ASCI and have wine or soft drinks and appetizers. We could make a table top and bring brochures. - Edna displayed a perfect ASCI page that she prepared which could be inserted in a plastic stand and used as a table top. - Ed stated that after one of our ASCI Board meetings, we could go to dinner at one of the businesses in the community. - Bernie stated that Edna, Nancy and she spoke at a recent Kiwana s Club meeting. Gordon suggested that we now add suggestions under each of the four goals. 1. Increase the presence and visibility of ASCI in the community a. Presentations in Speakers Bureaus b. Socials in the Arvada Community c. Movies/videos of our sister cities

4 Page 4 d. Travel Bureau/Presentations e. Participation in community faith-based festivals f. Cultural Fair g. Booth at the Arvada Harvest Festival and the Arvada Harvest Festival Commission s events h. Contact ethnic churches on behalf of ASCI as to whether ASCI could participate i. Work closer with Arvada Economic Development j. Update and rework the ASCI web page (Social Media Presence) 2. Broaden and Expand the Membership Base of ASCI a. Establish a membership plan (covering what is included, why join ASCI and recruitment) b. Write a quarterly newsletter 3. Focus on How we do the business of our business a. Are we organized? b. Job descriptions c. Ambassadors for ASCI d. Models of other Sister Cities International (how are they structured) 4. Responding to the call for Performance Outcomes and Transparency Prepare for the City of Arvada: a. How we are working b. What we are working on c. We will commit to the following goals over the next 10 years The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m. with applause to Gordon for moderating our meeting. Respectfully submitted, Sharee Wichmann, Secretary

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