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Home My WebLink About2014-06-11-TOUR2-Antony-min Approved 12/10/2014 Minutes for Antony Working Group meeting of the Lexington Tourism Committee on June 11, 2014 Meeting began at 7:06 PM --- adjourned at 9:37 PM Present at meeting: Elsa Sullivan, Dawn McKenna, Fred Johnson, Marie-Tristan Rago, Kitty Galaitsis, Tony Galaitsis, Kerry Brandin, Sandy Gasbarro, Maureen Poole Documents available for review: Minutes of April 10, 2014 French Language Marketing information sheet Lexington-Antony Sister City Treasurer’s Report (Preliminary) 14 May 2014 Draft Committee Roles as of 6/11/2014 Wrap-ups th a)Discovery Day, May 24 --- Dawn reported on successful interactions from that day. Several people signed up for the Antony mailing list; met one man whose brother lives in Antony. To date 4 of the Liberty Ride discount coupons we handed out at Voyages en Francophonie have been redeemed. This data is helping us make the connections between the Tourism events we are planning and direct economic impact. Also, because of ties to Voyages (cards handed out that day) gaining better statistics about tourism. st b)La Musique en Fete, May 31--- A great event at the Fairgrounds and well attended! Got more sign-ups for the Antony mailing list. Through efforts of EFGB to create interest in La Musique, French for Kids at Follen Church plans to participate next year. Thanks to Marie-Tristan Rago, who is taking over for Sophie at EFGB, for all her diligence and expertise in preparations for La Musique this year and to Herve Seux, the Director of EFGB, who agreed to combine their year-end event with our May event!! c)Dawn advised that a site has been found and it seems positive that EFGB will have a Lexington presence in the near future, perhaps late fall 2014. This will expand our relationship with EFGB even further. Programming may evolve regarding “conversations in French” at the future site, for those interested in pursuing French Language skills. d)Speaking of contacts, cultural exchanges and communication, Tony and Kitty have been designated as the Antony Working Group representatives to Francohone meetings in Boston, held under the auspices of the French Consulate, and have met folks from other sister city organizations: Boston/Strasbourg and Winchester/Saint Germain en Laye. A few of the people from Winchester are meeting with Tony, Kitty and any th others available on June 26, for a casual exchange of ideas. The Winchester folks are also welcome to attend any of our meetings, though if they want to present anything they would have to let us know ahead of time to be included on the agenda. Future programs Dates set for Voyages and La Musique in 2015: Voyages en Francophonie will be on March 14, 2015; La Musique en Fete will be May 31, 2015. Discussion ensued about A French A Faire for 2015, noting pros and cons. Kerry let us know that Merriam Hill is willing to stay away from Valentine’s Day weekend. Sandy alerted us to a special program the Lexington Symphony is planning thth for Saturday, February 14. February 8 was chosen and tentative reservations will be made at both The Depot and Masonic Hall, if they are available. Then follow-up is needed at a planning meeting TBD to settle questions of “where” and “how” (given that we feel a larger “core group” of folks is needed for the many tasks that orchestrating and planning AFAF entails). Questions to support future possibilities: Approved 12/10/2014 Ask Heather for date of next school year’s Antony students group; we wanted to host something for the Antony students in October. Many people at the high school want to be involved in Voyages en Francophonie. Could Lexington students help out as “community service” for EFGB classes? When can the Program Committee get together to discuss their ideas and suggestions? French Language Marketing – tour guides Paid positions for bilingual (French/English) tour guides are going to be available for the Liberty Ride and also Battle Green. Seeking high schoolers 16 years old and up for Battle Green, and post high school and up for the Liberty Ride --- to be available for a French group visiting. Dawn provided information on a 2 and a half minute video (targeting French visitors) that will be created for DiscoverAmerica.com as part of the BrandUSA marketing that the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is doing. This film will be available on the Lexington Antony Page, www.tourlexington.usand any other sites we deem appropriate. This is one of three videos introducing French, British and Chinese tourists to the Town of Lexington, Lexington’s portion of the project is $20,000, and the balance is being funded BrandUSA, and the MOTT. Filming crew producing the video will be in Lexington in July. In addition, we will receive 20 photos, a French travel article, and an enhanced Lexington listing at www.discoveramerica.com Dawn’s reason for sharing the promotional information about the 2 and a half minute upcoming video was to solicit our suggestions about what else might be worth including. One suggestion was noting the 1775 Herb Garden at the Hancock Clarke House. Another was to highlight that Buckman Tavern now has audio tours in different languages, French being one. A third was to mention the transportation available from Boston to Alewife Station, and from Alewife to Lexington. Tony strongly objected to the item of the Inn at Hastings Park being included in the video, philosophically opposing any single merchant being highlighted and not others Dawn and Marie-Tristan supported it as acceptable since the message/purpose of the video includes interesting tourists in staying overnight in town. The Inn is centrally located. French visitors to New England look for Inns rather than typical hotels. Also the Inn has contributed the housing of the crews while they are here which is saving the Town $2,000. Minutes of April 10, 2014 th The Minutes of April 10were discussed. There were questions about some specific language. We’ll come back to th those April 10Minutes at a subsequent meeting for discussion and approval. Tony took exception to the following sentence, which he did not believe accurately described what was in the first draft of the minutes. “Those present agreed that Tony should focus his work on the budget for the time going forward, rather than going back and questioning the records that have been verified and maintained by the town.” He believes the purpose of Treasurer involves being able to provide information to answer questions about income and expenses in the past. Dawn reiterated that all income and expenses up until now have been verify by the Selectmen’s Office and Finance Department. Approved 12/10/2014 Antony Park Update Phase 1, site work, has begun, with the majority of work still to do. This is being done by Jim McLaughlin, a private contractor who does work for the town. Phase 2, stone work, can’t begin until phase 1 is completed. Architects have been paid in full for the design --- approximately $25,000. Phase 1 at $10,000 for grading, digging, site prep. Fred set forth position that, for true understanding, we need clarification with documentation which defines the park project phase by phase with each of these connected to the budget. Have 3 contracts, each under a certain dollar amount. Tony proposed that the next meeting should focus on the park, with whole budget laid out, expenses for each phase, so we can see through to the end. Sandy, Kerry and Dawn all expressed massive frustration and distress at the lack of progress with Phase 1. Good News! - -- Laura Hopkins at Seasons Four has been helping with all the plantings that are waiting for Phase 3 to be finally placed into the park. Discussion about price of an underground sprinkler (in ground irrigation system) ended with decision that it would be needed and now was the time to put it in. Upon Motion duly made and seconded, with 1 abstention, it was voted to pay up to $6000, maximum, for such a system. Dawn will ask Dave Pinsoneault to attend the next meeting. The agenda will focus on the Park, and include new th fundraising goals for 2014-1015. Meeting scheduled for Monday, July 7. We should bring our calendars and work on creating a schedule through June of Wednesday night meetings, unless Town Meeting takes precedence, which will then move us to Thursday nights during Town Meeting weeks. Fred shared news from Antony, and discussion ensued about what we might do to recognize Madame Marlet, upon the occasion of her retirement. Not sure . . . retirement or resignation? Need more information before we proceed. Financial Report Tony led us through the 5 pages. Questions were answered. Money amounts received, spent, and left --- have not changed since previous meeting. Committee Tasks Ask Christina and Kitty to update us on Program plans/concepts. Noting the “OBJECTIVES” at the end of each agenda, Tony asked that we place them on the next agenda for additional consideration. Discussion would relate to using specific wording consistently, to preclude any possible confusion or misinterpretation of said goals. Proposed: that each of the 5 objectives would end with the identical wording “between Lexington and Antony.” Respectfully submitted, Maureen Poole