Sister City Blue Ribbon Committee plans reception and film screening for visiting delegation

The Sister City Blue Ribbon Committee met to plan hospitality for a visiting delegation from its friendship city, confirming a film screening and a reception tied to the group’s March 29 visit.

Committee Chair said the delegation includes four city‑connected guests and that University of New Hampshire (UNH) escorts will accompany them. “We have a film at the music hall lounge from 10:30 to 1:30 and then we are instructed to cater an event or host possibly at the library,” the Chair said, summarizing the day’s schedule.

Members discussed showing the documentary Lost North End after the reception (about 3–4 p.m.), ensuring someone can help with translation because some visitors speak limited English, and inviting filmmakers or participants to speak. The committee agreed it would be useful to invite members of the public art review committee to meet the visiting artist, Titiano Corbelli, who was identified in the meeting as both a town council president and the artist behind the work under review.

Logistics settled in the discussion included using the Levenson Room for the reception and film, arranging audiovisual equipment (projector/PC/TV), and coordinating transportation from the music‑hall lounge screening to the library for the reception. The Chair noted the music‑hall screening runs 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a reception target around 2–3 p.m. and a subsequent film showing from about 3–4 p.m.

Catering options were debated with attention to Sunday service availability. The committee considered asking local vendors such as Stephanos or Destanos to provide paid catering for roughly 25–30 guests rather than relying on donations, and discussed light options (fruit, cold platters, or room‑temperature offerings). The Chair noted the committee has paper tableware from past events and suggested coffee, tea and drink arrangements could be handled similar to prior visits.

Funding for hospitality will rely in part on UNH’s support: the Chair reported UNH has offered “$500–$600” for the visit and that a prior event’s outlay was “under $300.” Committee members said they would check vendor prices before committing funds and prefer to pay vendors where possible.

The committee also agreed to extend courtesy invitations to the city council and to manage guest lists carefully; the Chair asked members to email suggested invitees and contact information. The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn was moved and seconded.

The committee did not make any formal spending decisions at the meeting; members plan to finalize vendors and costs by email and to report back at the next meeting.