Sister City board reviews Baumholder photo exhibit, Sakata exchanges and Dempsey trip funding

The Delaware City Sister City Advisory Board met April 1 and approved procedural items before discussing cultural-exchange activities with Baumholder (Germany) and Sakata (Japan), a possible Ken Domon photo exhibit, and feasibility and funding options for resuming student travel between Dempsey (Delaware City Schools) and Sakata.

Board members approved a motion excusing three absent members and approved the minutes from the Jan. 14 meeting by roll-call vote.

The board spent most of its substantive discussion on the Baumholder photo exhibit that was displayed locally in fall and subsequently distributed. Board members said the exhibit drew steady public interest, and volunteers helped organize photos into categories (landscapes, buildings, military, children, athletics) to make selection easier. The group discussed hosting a virtual meeting with representatives from Baumholder; members agreed a short Teams call would be practical, accounting for the six-hour time difference with Germany and likely lasting 20 to 30 minutes.

On Sakata, board members reported ongoing, lower-intensity engagement since the pandemic. A board member said a Japanese Rotary exchange student, Fuka, has expressed interest in helping produce a promotional video about Delaware; the board discussed doing filming in May so the student (in town until June 26) could participate. The board noted shorter promotional clips exist online for Sakata and that the Delaware video would likely be longer.

Members also revisited an earlier idea to bring photographs by Ken Domon—whose work documenting Hiroshima and Nagasaki is held in a Sakata museum—to central Ohio. Board members said prior planning involved the Columbus Museum of Art, the Worthington group, Dublin arts partners and the Ross Art Museum; any reactivation would require coordination and long lead time, with scheduling likely a year or two out (the board mentioned 2027 as a plausible target). The board suggested reaching out to area arts organizations and potential corporate sponsors to develop a regional traveling exhibit.

On the Dempsey student-trip feasibility, members reported that school-related costs have historically been financed outside the city budget. The Delaware County Foundation was identified as a likely local funder; the board agreed it would be useful to confirm how past trips were financed and to ask Dempsey and Suzanne Williams (assistant principal at Dempsey, not present) for details. A board member offered to contact Suzanne Williams to follow up.

Board members also discussed logistics and next steps: identifying photographers involved in the Baumholder exhibit, scheduling the Teams call to maximize participation, and contacting June Kawabe (adjunct faculty at Ohio Wesleyan) and other local partners about Sakata exchanges and virtual student exchanges. No new formal program funding was approved at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to excuse three absent members — Passed (roll call recorded: Mr. Alban: yes; Mr. Gruber: yes; Ms. Frey: yes; Chair Giebert: yes). Outcome recorded as approved; three members marked absent. - Motion to approve minutes of the Jan. 14, 2025 Sister City Advisory Board meeting — Passed (roll call recorded: Mr. Alban: yes; Mr. Gruber: yes; Ms. Frey: yes; Chair Giebert: yes). Outcome recorded as approved.

The board adjourned after agreeing to follow up on scheduling and outreach tasks and to consider a Teams call with Baumholder and planning steps for a potential Ken Domon exhibit and student-travel financing.