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 made key decisions regarding video exchanges with sister cities Sakata (Japan) and Baumholder (Germany), approved a budget request for a 2027 Sakata visit, and heard an early-stage proposal for a Girl Scout Gold Award postcard exchange project.

Consent Calendar

• Excusal of Mayor Riggle: Motion passed unanimously to excuse Mayor Riggle from the meeting.
• Approval of June 11, 2026 Meeting Minutes: Motion passed with one abstention (Mr. Reed) and all other members voting yes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments or email submissions were received.

New Member Introduction

• Mark Reed was welcomed as the newest board member. He previously served on the Historic Preservation Commission and the North Community Development Advisory Board.

Discussion: Video Exchange Projects

• Background: The board discussed a student video exchange initiative with Sakata, Japan. A promotional video of Delaware, created by former exchange student Fuka and student filmmaker Micah Georgie, had been prepared but not yet sent. The board also explored a broader video exchange involving high school students in Sakata and Hayes High School, coordinated by teacher Tom Herring. The idea is to have students create music videos or other creative videos to share, with potential to include Baumholder in the future.
• Motion 1: Approve sending the existing video to Sakata along with a draft invitation for further exchange. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
• Motion 2: Appoint Rand Gabert as the coordinator for the video exchange, working with Tom Herring. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).

Discussion: Sister City Updates – Baumholder, Germany

• Rand Gabert noted a planned private trip to Baumholder in late September 2026 and offered to informally explore potential connections. The board discussed setting up a formal video call with Baumholder contacts by the end of the year to discuss the state of the exchange. A motion to contact Baumholder for a video call by end of year passed unanimously (5-0).
• Challenges in engaging veterans who had been stationed in Baumholder were noted; some members indicated veterans often prefer not to discuss their service.

Discussion: Sister City Updates – Sakata, Japan – 2027 Visit Budget Request

• The board reviewed plans for a delegation from Sakata scheduled for October 28 to November 3, 2027. The delegation includes 15 people (5 middle school students, 5 high school students, the mayor, and a council member). Host families would cover costs for students; the city would cover interpreter services, transportation, group events, and some dinners. Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) offered to cover one meal during the visit.
• A motion to request a budget of $5,500 for the Sakata visit was passed unanimously (5-0). The board noted that the budget request would be submitted to the city's budget process, which begins later in the year.
• The board discussed liaisons to coordinate with schools: Jenny Nicely (middle school, pending confirmation of her availability) and a to-be-identified contact at Hayes High School. Todd Perry and Rand Gabert volunteered to assist with host families and school coordination.

Discussion: Girl Scout Gold Award Project Proposal

• Sarah McCula and her daughter Sophia McCula presented an early-stage proposal for a postcard exchange between Delaware and Sakata as part of Sophia's Girl Scout Gold Award project. The project would involve collecting handwritten or artistic postcards from the Delaware community and sending them as a batch to Sakata, with the hope of a reciprocal exchange. No official decision was required; the board discussed feasibility, potential costs, and community partners (library, local businesses, OWU Japanese students).
• The board passed a motion (unanimous, 5-0) to support further exploration of the project and to serve as the initial point of contact if the Girl Scouts approve it. The board will revisit the project at a future meeting to determine a more formal role.

Key Outcomes

• Video Exchange with Sakata: Approved sending the existing video and invitation, with Rand Gabert as coordinator.
• Baumholder Video Call: Approved motion to contact Baumholder to schedule a video call by end of 2026.
• Sakata 2027 Visit Budget: Approved a budget request of $5,500 for the visit.
• Girl Scout Project: Approved support and initial contact for the postcard exchange project, pending Girl Scouts approval.