HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-20-TCC-minTown Celebrations Committee
Minutes of Meeting
March 20, 2024
By Zoom Teleconference
Members Present:
Glen Bassett and Geetha Padaki, Co-Chairs; Steve Cole, Linda Dixon, Dave Grabel, Cerise
Jalelian, Sondra Lucente, Lorain Marquis, Sandy Podgorski, Ashley Rooney, Sue Stering
Members not Present
Sudha Balasuryan, Kevin Collins, Yifang Gong, Dabby Harter, Mary Hutton, Bonnie
Karshbaum, Julie Miller, Pam Winters, Hong Xie
Business
• Meeting called to order by Geetha Padaki at 7:02 pm
• Due to the Secretary’s absence, the minutes of the March 6, 2024 meeting will be
approved at our next meeting.
Patriots’ Day Detailed Planning
Sponsorships: Lorain reported that $15,000 has been received from 30 sponsors so far. Several
reliable sponsors have not yet responded and will receive a reminder message. Several other
first-time sponsors have sent in modest donations, under $500, a very encouraging sign for the
future. They will receive a special welcome/thank you message. Lorain is confident that we will
reach last year’s total of $20,000 and may possibly exceed it.
VIP Invites: Done by email this year, all have been sent out, a few have been received. Lorain
and Cerise will coordinate using the Google file.
Patriots’ Day Ceremony: Linda has met with Sarah Kochi and Sarah Chen, the Youth
Commission’s selections for Co-Masters of Ceremonies. A promotional story will appear in the
April edition of the Lexington Times. Linda has contacted all ceremony participants to confirm
their participation.
VIP Tickets: Cerise cautioned that in 2025, TCC likely will not have oversight of VIP ticket
distribution for the reenactment. Committee members will not automatically receive two
reenactment tickets; they must request them, maximum of two, mailed on April 1. All ticket
requesters will receive 2 tickets to the afternoon parade reviewing stand. Some will be saved for
Gold Star Mothers. Any leftovers will be brought to the Visitors Center.
Need for Reviewing Stand Monitors: We need a couple of volunteers to monitor the Reviewing
Stand to make sure seats are saved for the authorized ticket holders.
Approval of Parade Units: The Parade Working Group has approved the latest group of parade
applicants and sent out acceptance packages. Chair Glen Bassett has emailed this approved list
to the committee. On a roll call vote, the committee voted unanimously to endorse the Working
Group’s approval action. The Committee also voted to approve Pat Patriot; the Navy Band; and
Raney Aronson-Rath, Oscar-winning Producer of the Documentary, “20 Days in Mariupol”.
Aronson-Rath, a Lexington resident, will march with a family group in the parade.
Classic Cars and the Mummers are a no for 2024 but a yes for 2025. We are still awaiting word
from the Old Guard. The Spirit of ‘76 will march in the Youth Parade and the Afternoon Parade.
Sponsor Banners: Most sponsors are repeat sponsors and already have banners.
Signage: Sudha is responsible for producing all necessary signs. Lexington Graphics will once
again be the contractor. Lorain shared the description of sponsor benefit levels.
Parade Ambassadors: Outreach, with a new publicity poster, has begun, primarily aimed at
high school audiences. The TCC Committee website has been updated to accept online signups
and automatically generate email notifications. Some of March 20th are approved and I'll send
them to you early applications have already been received. Linda noted the need for monitors to
check the ambassador teams along the parade route just before parade start. Last year’s heavy
rain caused problems with the planned lineup.
Golf carts: Cerise has prepared guidelines for golf cart operators. For safety and security
reasons, each person patrolling a sector of the parade must learn it and patrol it diligently.
Publicity: Ashley and Sandy feel that publicity is going very well. Dave noted that Jonas Miller
and Craig Sandler of the Historical Society are helpful resources. Sandy reported that the
Schedule of Events is now posted on the town website, and will go to the Lexington Times, and
in a trifold brochure. We need photographers who are willing to share their photos (last year’s
professional photographers copyrighted their photos). Could we recruit high school students?
Registration Desk: DPW will provide tables, chairs, and David Grabel a popup tent for the
registration desk.
Lex250 Update: nothing germane to report.
Discovery Day: Lorain asked about Committee participation in Discovery Day this year. Given
that the Town no longer provides tables, chairs, etc., the committee’s attitude was “lukewarm”.
Memorial Day Planning
Geetha is writing a permission letter to the Town Manager. Linda and Sue are working with the
Never Fading Poppy Project, exploring having some students submit poems and artwork, and
whether DPW can plant poppy beds in several locations downtown.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Next Meeting: March 27, 2024
Future Meetings: 3/27/24, 4/3/24, 4/17/24, 5/1/24, 5/15/24, 5/22/24, 6/5/24
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Dixon, Member