Sister City MINUTES 02.12.2025

Unverified text extraction. Check the original page for numbers, names, and layout.

 
 
 
 
 
SISTER CITIES PROGRAM 
 
MINUTES 
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 
12:00pm – Trinity UMC 
 
I. Welcome  
a. Roll Call: 
i. Present: Victoria White,  Lindsey Ferguson , Austin Fesmire, Ersa Henry,  Larry 
Eaton, Randy Dowling and Betty Ruleman 
1. Visitors: Sandra Kinney (Main Street) 
ii. Absent: Becky Simpson  
II. Approval of Minutes 
a. Motion was made by a non-voting member, therefore, approval is not valid. 
 
III. New Business 
a. Request to Sponsor JapanFest at Athens City Primary School – Board agreed to sponsor 
program again once invoice was received, last year’s donation was $500. 
Motion was made by Betty Ruleman, seconded by Ersa Henry, to approve the funds be sent 
once invoice was received. 
 Motion carried 
b. Potential scholarship to attend TWU trip to Japan for SCRA Jorja  – Jorja has been an asset 
with the TWU Chinz ei Gakuin program for the last two years and would like to receive the 
scholarship to attend the trip to Japan , even though she resides in Polk County . Only one 
scholarship has been awarded of the three the Board approved, for the program. 
Motion was made by Lindsey Ferguson, seconded by a non-voting member, for a one-time 
exception, since there were no other McMinn/Athens/TWU student applications, to award 
Jorja Lewis the $1,000 SCRA scholarship. 
Approval not valid 
c. Prep for Chinzei Gakuin visit 2025 – Betty Ruleman explained the program has received five 
(5) applications from MCHS students  for SCRA’s this year and is wanting to build the 
relationship with the school and not reject any applicants. She is requesting additional funds 
for two additional SCRA’s and the program will fund the fifth student as he is only able to 
attend the second week. 
Motion was made by Ersa Henry, seconded by a non -voting member, to fund two (2) 
additional SCRA’s for a total of $2,140. 
Approval not valid