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| | | | Meeting Called to order at 1:39 P.M. | | | |
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| | 1. | | Roll Call
Minutes note: Present: 3 - Silletti, Durtka, Davis
Excused: 2 - Vang, Gass | | | |
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| | | | Also present:
City Clerk, Ron Leonhardt
Amy Hefter, LRB
Curtiss E. Harris, Executive Director, African American Chambers of Commerce
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| | 2. | | Approval of minutes of the December 18, 2009 meeting
Minutes note: Mr. Durtka moved approval of the December 18, 2009 minutes. There were not objections. | | | |
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| | 3. | | Discussion relating to the Sister Cities relationship with Patiala, India.
Minutes note: Ald. Davis moved to place this item on file, since there has been no formal application submitted for a relationship between Patiala, India and the City of Milwaukee. There were no objections.
Mr. Durtka moved to invite the delegation from the city of Kanpur, India to attend a Sister Cities Committee meeting to offer a status report on their wishes to be part of the Sister Cities program. There were no objections.
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| | 4. | | Discussion relative to Sister Cities relationship with uMhlathuze, South Africa
Minutes note: Ald. Davis said that he appeared at the National Sisters Conference in July 2010, there was a representative of sister Cities International speaking on sister Cities in Africa, and it came to Ald. Davis' attention that due to the inactivity of the Business Council in Milwaukee, the African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) have expressed an interest in being the lead sponsorhip agency for Africa. The AACC have submitted a letter to Ald. Davis informing him of its interest up to fulfill the duration of the agreement.
Chair asked Mr. Leonard if there is a process that the committee would have to follow to subsituting a sponsoring organization.
Mr. Leonhardt said that based on the ordinance there is no process for substituing a sponsor. However, he recommended that the committee request additional information from the AACC such as proof of the nonprofit status, the name of the person in charge of the organization, its goals with regards to the sister city relation, the methods it plans to use to meet the goals of having a sister city relationship. He noted that the resolution that was adopted by the Common Council does reference the sponsor organization. The Common Council could introduce a resolution changing the sponsor organization.
Ald. Davis introduced Mr. Curtis Harris from the African American Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Silletti asked Mr. Harris why is he interested in the sister city relationship and what methods will he used to meet the goals?
Mr. Harris said that AACC is an organization that has taken on a mission of developing the African American Business community, so is a mayor contributor of the economy of Milwaukee. The ways that AACC works is by combining information and access opportunities to our business members. The goal in working with the sister city program is having a longer vision with the notion that this is a global world economy and many members have joined that could do business across the world. Also members need to know more about how business is done across the world, so the AACC would look into and assist its members in this area. The ultimate goal is to benefit the community; we want and expect to be a member of the fabric of the economic development capacity of this region.
Mr. Harris also said that he was one of the founders of the Business Council back in 1998. A few years ago, the AACC affiliated with the Westown Association of Commerce. The mission of the Business Council is a little bit different than the African American Chambers of Commerce itself; the AACC have a broader perspective in its business involvement.
The committee requested that Mr. Harris submitt an application requesting a sister city relationship before October 25, 2010.
Ald. Davis said that this particular sister city has received the Gates Foundation grant. Sister Cities International informed us that a delegation needs to be put together in the month of December for our first visit to our sister city to identify the project on which the City would like to work. It will be beneficial for the city to have a legitimate entity in place that would continue that relationship.
Ald. Davis moved to Hold this item to the call of the chair. There were no objections
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| | 5. | | Approval of the 2009 Annual Report
Minutes note: Amy Hefter, Legislative Liaison, present at the table.
Ald. Davis requested that all institutions participating in the Sister Cities program be sent a request to submitt the 2009 annual reports to this body and have compiled together be ready to be presented at the next Sister Cities Committee meeting.
Ald. Davis moved to Hold this item to the Call of the Chair. There were no objections.
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| | 6. | | Next meeting date, time and agenda
Minutes note: Ald. Davis asked the members to take a look at their calendar for the week of October 18, 2010.
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| | | | Meeting adjourned at 2:11 P.M.
Joanna Polanco
Staff Assistant | | | |
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