Sister City Advisory Board Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Sister City Advisory Board held its first meeting of 2026 on January 13 at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved previous meeting summaries, received updates on sister city activities, reflected on 12+ years of progress, and elected new officers for the coming term.

Consent Calendar

• Motion Summary (July 8, 2025): Approved with two abstentions (Ms. Ho, Mr. Perry) and five votes in favor.
• Motion Summary (October 14, 2025): Approved with one abstention (Mr. Perry) and six votes in favor.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were submitted or received.

Discussion Items

• Baumholder, Germany: Photos from Baumholder are on display in the community (MASH, Slocum Hall, private homes). The board noted continued positive contacts, including a personal Christmas gift from a visiting family to one member. No major updates were reported.
• Sakata, Japan: A delegation of eight students and two faculty visited Sakata in December 2025, hosted by the city and university. June Kowabe, the faculty lead, has requested to present to the board at its March meeting about the visit. Sakata confirmed it still plans to visit Delaware in 2027, and Ms. Kowabe has volunteered to serve as translator if needed. The board also discussed ongoing video projects, including a “promotional video” contest where students from Sakata submit videos to attract visitors; 15 entries were judged this year.
• Paraguay: No new developments. A conference room dedication in honor of Hayes, following the donation of a bust, has been mentioned by embassy staff but not yet scheduled. Three students from Paraguay are currently enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan University.
• Review of the Past (12.5 Years): Chair Rand reflected on the board’s origins in 2013 after a city council trip to Baumholder, the formalization of the Sakata sister city relationship in 2017, and the ongoing partnership with Ohio Wesleyan University. Members discussed challenges including low public awareness of the sister cities, difficulty engaging local schools, and limited veteran and business connections. Ideas for future growth included partnering with the high school’s Global Scholars program, creating school clubs, collaborating with Main Street Delaware on events (e.g., an Oktoberfest), and reaching out to veterans who served in Baumholder.
• Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson:
  • Chair: Lisa Ho was nominated and elected unanimously by roll call vote (6 yes votes).
  • Vice-Chair: Monica Ray (Ms. Ray) was nominated and elected unanimously (6 yes votes). Outgoing Chair Rand was recognized for 12 years of service and will remain on the board.
• Future Meetings: The board typically meets quarterly on the second Tuesday of the first month of each quarter. The next meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Approved both motion summaries from previous meetings.
• Elected Lisa Ho as Chair and Monica Ray as Vice-Chair.
• Noted upcoming presentations: Sakata delegation report (March meeting) and possible follow-up with Paraguay embassy on conference room dedication.
• Directed chair to continue outreach to schools (Global Scholars, clubs), veterans, and Main Street for future engagement.
• Next regular meeting: April 14, 2026.