HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-09-TCC-min
Minutes
Town Celebrations Committee
March 9, 2016, 7:00 pm
Cafe, 201 Bedford Street
Members present
Rich McDonough, Co-Chair; Suzanne Caton, Kim Coburn, Linda Dixon, Karen Gaughan, Cerise Jalelian, Paul
Jenkins, Melanie Lin, Sondra Lucente, Julie Miller, Wayne Miller, Bill Mix, Henry Murphy, Sandy Podgorski
Members not present
Diana Bishop, Carol Flynn, Linda Levitt, Lorain Marquis, Geetha Padaki, Dave Taylor, Bob Tracey, Sam Zales
Business
The Chair declared that a quorum was present.
The minutes of March 2, 2016 were approved as corrected.
Brief Committee Assignment Reports
Cerise has had all parking tags, VIP invitation inserts, Reenactment tickets and Parade Reviewing Stand
tickets printed. The tickets are printed on holographic paper. If photocopied, the word VOID appears.
Linda reported that eight Parade Ambassadors have volunteered so far. She is trying to reach Hank
Manz to interview him for a feature article on being the parade Grand Marshal. Cerise offered to help.
Rich mentioned a future idea of setting up a separate entity apart from the TCC called "Friends of Town
Celebrations" that would be free to raise money for sponsorships.
Paul has been in touch with Dave Taylor. Dave won’t know for several weeks whether he will be
available for the parade. Dave usually lends us a pop-up tent and truck for collection of banners at the
end of the parade.
Sandy was able to print 5,000 programs at a very reasonable cost.
The parade judges are all confirmed, according to Sondra. The Roma Band is definitely in; she reported
their withdrawal in error.
Rich handed around a chart for members to indicate their areas of responsibility and completion status.
Lorain returns home tonight. She and Rich will meet prior to next week’s meeting.
Sponsor Letters: have all been mailed. Suzanne and Linda plan to meet with Dick Michelson next week.
Melanie asked whether letters had been sent to Chinese-owned businesses; she thought several might be
interested. She will bring some letters to the CAAL meeting on Friday night.
VIP Letters: nothing new to report
Patriots Weekend Program: Sandy and the committee brainstormed a detailed list of business and civic
establishments where we could drop off some programs. Sandy brought a large supply of programs to the
meeting and many members took a batch to distribute.
Float Judging: The judges are Colin Smith, architect; Laura Hopkins from Seasons Four; and Joe Rancatore of
Rancatore’s Ice Cream. Joe Rancatore donated 60 ice cream coupons for Parade Ambassadors. The Lexington
Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington Retailers Association jointly sponsor the float-judging contest. A
first ($100) and second ($50) prize are awarded in each of three categories: Best Youth, Best Commercial, and
Best Civic. The judges gather at about 12:30 when parade units have signed in and assumed their place in the
marching order. They walk up the entire parade line, consult on their decision, and hand it in at the head of the
parade.
Rich expressed his gratitude to everyone for stepping up and covering everything that needed to be done while
Lorain was away.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dixon, Co-Secretary
Applications
The committee approved the following applications:
No Fee
Lowell Spinners
Minuteman National Historic Park: 3 government vehicles (maintenance truck, patrol car, bus with centennial
message) and 18 rangers.
VFW - 3 vehicles carrying senior veterans (1963 Oldsmobile, 1972 Pontiac GTO, 1976 Cadillac sedan)
Fee Requested
George DeBonis WWII armored vehicles
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
th
His Majesty’s 10 Regiment of Foot – 25 marchers – agreed to our proposal
Aleppo Shriners Clown Unit
Windjammers
Of Note
Lexington Human Rights Committee, approved at last meeting, sent in a mission statement.
Lexington Youth Commission sent a formal letter requesting to hand out 7000 American flags while marching
in the parade. The Committee approved this request.
The decision on the Wailers is that, with the Roma Band confirmed, we will not invite them this year.
Future Meetings:
March 16; March 23; March 30; April 6; April 13; April 27; May 11; May 25; June 8; June 22.