2017-02 Friendship City MinutesRichfield Friendship City Commission, Meeting Minutes – February 16, 2017
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM by Ahmad Ansari, Chair.
Those in attendance: Marty Kirsch, Sharon Amegee, JoAnn Boraas, Hadiya Bakar, Ahmad Ansari, Mary
Olafson, Dave Delzer, Cynthy Mandl (RFCC Ambassador), Jim Topitzhofer (staff liaison), Roger Swanson
(former RFCC member)
Absent: Pixie Pixler, Rori Coleman‐Woods
Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the January 19, 2017 meeting were approved as drafted.
Treasurer’s Report: Checking account balance as of 1/31/2017 was $3407.12. Report was approved.
Treasurer Mary Olafson reported that a spreadsheet has been done to account for all monies from the
March, 2016, trip to Costa Rica.
Old Business: Heredia Park Sculpture Report – Prior to the dedication ceremony, the sculpture will be
set on a granite base, with the name of the sculpture, identification of the sculptor, and date
commissioned. There will be further discussion regarding inclusion of the poem written by the sculptor,
which may be added in part or in total, alongside the sculpture.
Sculpture Dedication Ceremony – The ceremony will be planned for Saturday, June 24. Mary
Olafson will head the committee to plan the dedication, and others involved will be Cynthy, JoAnn, and
Dave. A meeting will be scheduled soon to include them as well as staff liaison, Karen Schragg. Jim and
Cynthy will contact the PTO President, dual‐language school, and Richfield Arts Commission to inform
them of the ceremony date and other plans as they are made. Andrew Wig of the SunTimes will be
contacted when appropriate, as well as the local cable TV station, and StarTribune newspaper for
announcement of the event.
Art in Heredia Room – Jim will follow up with the City Manager on viewing of the sculpture as
well as discussion of hanging 3 collages of Costa Rican photos in the Heredia Room. The three photo
collages measure 30”x24” and would seemingly fit well onto open wall space in the room.
New Business: Election of officers – The new roster of officers elected are as follows: Chair – Ahmad
Ansari, Vice‐Chair – Martin Kirsch, Treasurer – Mary Olafson, Secretary – JoAnn Boraas, Historian – Dave
Delzer, Ambassador – Cynthy Mandl.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM.
Next Meeting: 7:00 PM, Thursday, March 16, 2017.
Submitted by JoAnn Boraas, RFCC Secretary