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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-17-TCC-min Minutes Town Celebrations Committee February 17, 2016 Cafe, 201 Bedford Street Members present Rich McDonough, Co-Chair; Diana Bishop, Suzanne Caton, Kim Coburn, Linda Dixon, Carol Flynn, Karen Gaughan, Cerise Jalelian, Paul Jenkins, Linda Levitt, Melanie Lin, Sondra Lucente, Julie Miller, Wayne Miller, Bill Mix, Geetha Padaki, Sandy Podgorski Members not present Lorain Marquis, Co-Chair; Henry Murphy, Dave Taylor, Bob Tracey, Sam Zales Business Committee member Linda Dixon chaired the business session while Co-Chair Rich McDonough operated the computer and projected working documents onto a screen. The Chair declared that a quorum was present. The minutes of February 3, 2016 were approved. Discussion with Tourism Committee on Possible Collaborations Linda introduced Dawn McKenna, Chair of the Lexington Tourism Committee, to discuss two possible collaborations between TCC and Tourism that were brought up at the January 28 Stakeholders Meeting. The first involved marketing and promotion of Patriots’ Weekend through a more widely distributed, and more professionally designed, TCC weekend schedule. Dawn reported that, next to Boston and Cambridge, the Lexington-Concord area is the most-visited tourist area in the state. At the professional tourism gatherings she attends, Patriots’ Weekend is always the #1 request for information about Lexington. Using the marketing logo, “Linger in Lexington,” the Tourism Committee promotes Patriots Day as a full week of activity. The TCC Weekend Schedule is a key part of their marketing materials. Dawn offered to redesign the weekend schedule, which consists of an 11x17 sheet folded in half to make a four- page booklet, to make it more user friendly and to blend with the overall Tourism marketing effort. Their designer, a Lexington resident, would provide the new design at no charge. If the Committee chooses to continue with the same design, the Tourism Committee can fund the cost of printing extra quantities and distributing them to a wider audience. In the discussion, the Committee’s main concern was the loss of editorial control by entering this partnership. Other concerns raised included changing content after the schedules were printed; lack of time to complete the redesign; and conflicting target markets, i.e. TCC’s target market is local and inward while Tourism’s focus is outward and broader. In response, Dawn suggested printing in two batches a month apart and maintaining current information on the committee website. She was confident that she could produce a draft design for Committee approval within a short time frame. She explained that the tourism community recognizes that a town’s strongest market is the town itself and its surrounding communities, so Tourism and TCC have similar outreach goals. She discouraged a suggestion to create a short version of the schedule because it will only confuse visitors. After discussion, the committee consensus was not to enter into a collaboration with the Tourism Committee. The Committee was, however, very interested in updating the design of the weekend schedule booklet. Dawn agreed to speak with the designer, who is away until February 24, and let us know. Her offer to print approximately 3000 additional copies of the program still stands. The second idea from the Stakeholders meeting involved obtaining permission from private owners to use their th parking lots for public parking on April 18 and to offer a complimentary shuttle service to Lexington center, sponsored by the Tourism Committee. After describing the concept and the role of the Liberty Ride in more detail, Dawn McKenna left the meeting. The Committee felt that this idea had merit and should be explored, but not this year as it was too late in the planning cycle. This item will be placed on the committee agenda early in the 2017 Patriots Day planning cycle. Committee leadership will meet with the Director of Economic Development to solicit her feedback. Patriots Day, Monday, April 18, 2016 The Committee took the following actions on recently received applications: No Fee - Approved Lexington Historical Society antique fire pumper National Society of Daughters of American Revolution, Lexington chapter, 2-3 vehicles, 30 people Indian-Americans of Lexington, 30-35 marchers Lexington Education Foundation, 4 marchers LexFun! 20 marchers, 14-foot float, want to be judged (sent a contribution) Middlesex Sheriffs Office honor guard, 6-8 marchers, 1-2 vehicles Minuteman Cane Selection Committee, 2 vehicles US Submarine Veterans Marblehead, 15 marchers, 20-foot float (memorial to USS Thresher) Wilson Farm, float, 48 feet Menotomy Minutemen, 15 marchers Bahkti Center of Lexington, 15 marchers pulling a 7-foot wooden cart. Fee – Approved Immaculate Heart of Mary Jim Kilroy's Jambalaya Jazz Band Lexington High School Marching Band Waltham American Legion Band, 20 musicians plus color guard Roma Band, has agreed to Committee’s recommended terms Tabled, Pending Further Committee Negotiations Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot Wailers and Windjammers Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, WWII Military Vehicles Still Waiting to Hear From Norwich University Marching Band Massachusetts Maritime Academy Marching Band Third Legal Operations Detachment Ancient and Honorable Artillery Society Hanscom AFB Honor Guard Lexington Community Farm Lexington Fire Department Honor Guard Lions Club (Lion) Minuteman National Historic Park, New England Military Historical Vehicles Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band USS Constitution Spirit of ’76 (Tanya Morrisett will return from Ithaca to participate). Cancellations Clowns for Kidz - Assumed parade was on Sunday, unable to participate on a weekday. Other Business The Hallamore Clydesdales have confirmed their participation this year; paperwork should follow shortly. Cerise distributed proofs of tickets for the reenactment and the afternoon parade. Several members recommended that she have the tickets printed with an embedded hologram to prevent counterfeiting. Kim reported that the Best Buddies organization is working on a float that will carry mounted bicycles. They need a truck with a flatbed or a trailer and truck to haul it. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda Dixon, Co-Secretary Future Meetings: March 2; March 9; March 16; March 23; March 30; April 6; April 13; April 27; May 11; May 25; June 8; June 22.