HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-10-TOUR2-Antony-min
Approved 12/10/2014
Minutes for Antony Working Group meeting of the Lexington Tourism Committee on April 10, 2014
Meeting began at 7:00 PM --- adjourned at 10:02 PM
Present at meeting: Dawn McKenna, Sandy Gasbarro, Sophie Camard, Marie-Tristan Rago, Christina
Gamota, George Gamota, Hervé Seux, Tony Galaitsis, Kerry Brandin, Maureen Poole
Documents available for review:
Minutes of March 12, 2014
Draft Committee Roles as of 01/08/14
VEF 2014 --- List of attendees by town/zip code, with numbers of adults and children
Draft 2012-13 Fundraising Goals --- Tony’s preliminary results/more to follow
Events:
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a)Discovery Day, May 24---Discussion of whether Antony Group should have a presence on
Discovery Day this year. What would we share currently with folks? Would the park be built? It
was agreed that we would not take part this year.
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b)La Musique en Fete, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, May 31 --- Looking forward to participating at this
venue, tying in with EFGB’s year-end school celebration. Many considerations: Flash Mob Tap
Dance (starts at Visitor Center, ends at “Fairgrounds”); music for event; trapeze?; “street
pianos” --- maybe for the week, from Discovery Day to La Musique en Fete.
c)Program Committee: Christina offered many suggestions for fun events in future, beginning
with possibility of a picnic in their (Gamotas’) backyard. She and Kitty are co-chairs of this
committee, and will need others to join in. Maureen added her name to that list. As a Town
Committee we have to follow the Open Meeting. Planning meetings for events are not required
to be publicly posted.
d)More discussion ensued about potential “French” events for those in group who would be
interested in attending. Ideas for French music during summer concerts (Visitor Center,
Bicentennial Band/Gazebo) where discussed. Sophie meets regularly with the Cultural Attaché
at French Consul, (Emmanuelle Marchand) about French events in the Greater Boston area. This
might be a resource for us to find events that are already planned that we could share with
people in the town/community;.
Wrap-ups:
a)A French A Faire --- Discussion about improvements regarding tickets, volunteer assignments,
lowering costs of music, of bartenders, of the Depot rental. Talk was of sounding out others in
the group as to AFAF in future, or another venue instead. Most believed that we would need
one fundraiser a year for expenses of various types, and would also want some events to not be
about raising money.
b)Voyages en Francophonie --- Sophie is moving (out of country, I think to Montreal) and Marie-
Tristan will take the lead on Francophonie for next March of 2015. (Sophie!!! Don’t go!!) But
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Sophie promises to return for the event on March 14. They are asking to be scheduled at the
high school for next year, and we will continue to co-sponsor Voyages. It was a very positive
experience for them this year at Cary Hall, and Tourism Committee was a large help. Sophie and
Hervé spoke of many plans for the operation next year, if given a large space at the high school.
French Language Marketing—tour guides:
Town Meeting approved the budget request of the Tourism Committee for international marketing to
France. By partnering with Brand US, the cost will be reduced. Suggestions from this group on what
Approved 12/10/2014
content would encourage people from France to come here would be helpful. A Two and a half minute
video with professional actors will be produced. We will be given the raw footage, as well as the
finished produced, 20 photos, and a news article written in French. Because of the international
marketing to France, The Tourism Committee is seeking French speaking Battle Green guides and Liberty
Ride guides. These are paid positions and the job descriptions and applications can be found on the
Town website. Additionally, Buckman Tavern now has self-guided audio tours with many languages
including French.
Minutes
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Minutes of March 12, 2014 were approved.
Antony Park Update
All plants were saved over the winter and trees reordered.
Phase 1. According to Dave Pinsoneaultthe digging, trenching, water line, etc . . . the week after
Patriots’ Day. (Need to ask Dave about the cost of underground sprinkling system.)
Phase 2. Next after excavation will be the stone scape contract and prep for the plantings.
Phases 1 and 2 should be a three week project. Will get a better definition for Phase 3 for the next
meeting.
Phases 1,2 and 3 cost about $10,000 each. We have sold 5 of the 13 trees. If we sell the other 8 trees
we will have sufficient funding to complete Phase 3, and to potentially add a sprinkler system,
depending on the cost.
Subsequently, there will be additional need for funding for Phase 4, and a maintenance fund.
Phase 4. The art work and sketching for the stone centerpiece with four quadrants is still to be funded.
Our next step is to create a long-term maintenance plan.
Financial Report
Tony (who has taken on the task of Treasurer!!) went over with us his very detailed draft, which elicited
lots of questions and discussion. We will come back to it after he has chance to meet with Lynne Pease
and add more data. Some of those present felt 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. Tony will work towards presenting reports that are easy to understand with
all relevant and helpful data.
Respectfully submitted, Maureen Poole