08.g Sister City Meeting Minutes 11.30.22Scandia/Mellerud Sister City Meeting Minutes
November 30, 2022
7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Members present: Lynne Moratzka, Patti Ray, Cindy Higgins, Dave Bakke and Julie Morse. Guests: Sven
Sjostedt and Ann Rinkenberger.
I. Patti Ray, meeting brought to order at 7:04 p.m.
II. Patti Ray, approval of revised agenda and minutes from 10/26/2022 meeting.
III. Patti Ray, introduction of Sven Sjostedt.
a. Sven works with Chisago City’s Sister City program (Algutsboda, Sweden) and is a board
member of the Karl Oskar House in Lindstrom.
b. Chisago City is working with a museum in Algutsboda to identify families that have
immigrated to the Chisago Lakes area.
c. Sven suggested we contact Swedish travel agencies to promote our area.
d. Local Sister City towns in our area could work together to offer a more extensive travel
experience to those interested in our Swedish heritages.
e. Lynn Moratzka suggested that the online Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail be linked to
local towns’ websites.
f. Lynn is proposing that Scandia and Mellerud residents receive free admission to each
other’s museums and perhaps receive discounted offers at other businesses.
IV. Patti Ray, connections.
a. Ann Rinkenberger will be introducing the Photo Club to Scandia in January. It will be
offered to youth (grade 9 and older) and adults. A professional photographer will be
invited to present.
b. Ann suggested ways to reach out to the homeschool community.
c. Patti reported that Bone Lake Meadows Apiary has connected with an apiary in Mellerud.
d. Dave Bakke and Cindy Higgins volunteered to help create a Scandia/Mellerud Sister City
Facebook page.
V. Patti Ray, Best of Scandia Holiday Shopping Extravaganza.
a. The event was successful and very well attended.
b. Darlene Holtgreve handcrafted 300 tomte ornaments that were given away. Darlene was
recognized by this committee for her hard work and creativity promoting the city.
VI. Patti Ray, money collected for Ukranian refugees in Mellerud.
a. The complimentary giftwrapping station at the Shopping Extravaganza collected $40.00
for Ukrainian refugees in Mellerud.
b. The Lion’s Club in Mellerud is looking at using the money collected in Scandia to
purchase a generator.
VII. The next Sister City meeting will be on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
VIII. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Morse