Sister City Advisory Board Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Sister City Advisory Board of Delaware, Ohio, met on August 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The board approved prior meeting minutes, advanced a student video exchange with Sakata (Japan), discussed upcoming visits from both Baumholder (Germany) and Sakata, and explored a potential Girl Scout Gold Award project. Several votes were taken, including approval of a $5,500 budget request for the 2027 Sakata delegation.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of June 11, 2026 Meeting Minutes: The minutes were approved with 4 in favor and 1 abstention (Mr. Reed).
• Excuse Mayor from Meeting: A motion to excuse Mayor Riggle from the meeting passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received, and no emails or petitions were submitted.

Discussion Items

• Student Video Exchange Project: Board members reviewed a proposal to send an introductory video of Delaware (created by student Micah Georgie and former exchange student Fuka) to Sakata. The video exchange aims to build on Sakata's existing promotional videos and establish a broader relationship with high school students. Tom Herring of Hayes High School will facilitate the filmmaking collaboration. The board discussed language barriers (Sakata students are learning English) and agreed to proceed with sending the video along with an invitation for further exchange. Rand Gabert was appointed as the board's coordinator for this project.
• Sister City Updates – Baumholder, Germany: The board considered scheduling a video call with Baumholder representatives to re-energize the relationship. Rand Gabert noted a planned private trip to Baumholder in late September 2026 and offered to informally discuss the exchange. The board voted to contact Baumholder to arrange a video call before the end of 2026. Discussion also touched on challenges engaging veterans stationed in Baumholder due to privacy concerns.
• Sister City Updates – Sakata, Japan: The board finalized plans for a delegation visit from Sakata scheduled for October 28 – November 3, 2027. The delegation will include 15 people (5 middle school students, 5 high school students, their mayor, and a city council member). The board discussed logistics: host families, school liaison (Jenny Nicely potentially continuing), activities (water treatment plant, state house tour, industry visits), and translation services. A budget of $5,500 was requested to cover group meals (dinners for adults), interpreter costs, and local transportation. Ohio Wesleyan University offered to sponsor one meal.
• Girl Scout Gold Award Project – Postcard Exchange: Sophia McCulla, a ninth-grade homeschooled Girl Scout, presented an early-stage proposal to organize a community-to-community postcard exchange between Delaware and Sakata. The project would involve collecting postcards from local residents (artwork, day-in-the-life, recipes) and mailing them to Sakata, with a reciprocal exchange. The board expressed strong enthusiasm for the idea and offered to act as a point of contact with Sakata once the Girl Scout organization approves the project. No formal vote was taken; the board agreed to place it on a future agenda if pursued.

Key Outcomes

• Approved video exchange with Sakata: Unanimous vote (5-0) to send the introductory video and invitation drafted by Rand Gabert, and to appoint Rand Gabert as coordinator.
• Approved contacting Baumholder for video call: Unanimous vote (5-0) to set up a virtual meeting by end of 2026.
• Approved $5,500 budget request for Sakata 2027 visit: Unanimous vote (5-0) to request this amount in the city's budget for the delegation's expenses.
• Supported further exploration of Girl Scout project: No formal motion, but the board agreed to provide a letter of support and serve as a liaison pending project approval by Girl Scouts.
• Next steps: Sarah (city clerk contact) will reach out to Sakata with the video invitation and to Baumholder to schedule a video call. The board will continue refining the Sakata visit itinerary and seek additional community partners. The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 2026.