.: Special Events
8th Annual Meeting, 1999
The Eight Annual Meeting of O.P.E.N. was called to order at the Congregational United Church of Christ at Newton, Iowa at 2:00 PM on Sunday 5 December 1999.
President Jane Ann Cotton reviewed the year's developments and introduced special guests. Special guests included: Mrs. Lyudmila Protasova, Deputy Consul of Ukraine in Chicago; Mr. Hank Liu, representative of Taiwan in Chicago; Senator Dennis Black; representative Paul Bell; Mrs. May-May Ng, a native of Woo Chi Town, Taiwan; and Mrs. Eleanor Verwers, President of the Iowa-Cherkasy Sister States Committee.
President Jane Ann Cotton recognized host families for the exchange students: Dorothy and Don Faidley, host parents for Marina Mazurenko, and Pat and Deb Griffin, Shane and Brenna, host family for Marina Baliuk.
Treasurer Maurice Phillips made an oral report of O.P.E.N.'s finances, and offered the audited accounting for public inspection.
It was moved and seconded that board members David Gallaher and Dave Pitz be elected to three-year terms as directors of the organization. It was also moved and seconded that board members Larry Hesson, Paul Bell, Joan Tyler, Tom Mott, Marvin Campbell, John McNeer, and Jane Ann Cotton be reelected to three-year terms as directors of the organization. The motion carried by acclamation. There were no other nominations placed.
Vladimir Bassis reported on the progress of the two Ukrainian high school students still studying in Jasper County this school year, and introduced each. Marina Mazurenko and Marina Baliuk each spoke in English about their experiences and expectations for their stay in Jasper County.
Marvin Campbell introduced and narrated the video he had assembled from images he and John McNeer took in their November trip to Ukraine as international observers of the presidential elections. The video included shots of the regional hospital and the boys' orphanage where prior efforts of O.P.E.N. had been directed.
The meeting concluded with refreshments provided by members of the O.P.E.N. board.
Tom Mott, Secretary
Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack and Consul General Bazylevskyi in Governor Vilsack's office at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines
Consul General Bazylevskyi by a large poinsettia plant
John McNeer, Vice Chair of OPEN and Consul General Bazylevskyi at the Botanical Center
John McNeer warming his hands at an elf display
Consul Protasova and Consul General Bazylevskyi at the Iowa State Capitol in; Cousul Bazilevskyi in Botanical Center in Des Moines
Consul Protasova observes seed separation process
Mary Jo Bennett, Paul Bell and Carroll Bennett and Curran Cotton in Grinnell at dinner
In Grinnell at dinner
Director of Prairie Learning Center and Consul Protasova
Jane Ann Cotton discusses with Representative Paul Bell and Senator Dennis Black
OPEN Annual meeting guests
Marina Masurenko and Marina Balyuk with Liudmyla Protasova, Consul from the Ukraine Consulate in Chicago
Ms. May-May Ng, Senator Black, Hank Liu (Assistant Director of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago) and Representative Bell, who is also on the Board of Directors of OPEN