HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-12-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
Virtual Meeting MINUTES
March 12, 2025
Members Present (12 members; no vacancy): Glen Bassett, co-chair; Linda Dixon; Yifang Gong, Dave
Grabel; Cerise Jalelian; Lorain Marquis; Sandy Podgorski; Sue Stering.
Absent: Getha Padaki, co-chair; Sondra Lucente; Karen Tyler, Veterans Liaison.
Honorary: Julie Miller, Robert Tracey. Quorum: 7Fu11 Members.
Subcommittee Members Present (15 members, 5 vacancies): Sudha Balasuryan, Gresh Lattimore, Pam
Winters. Absent: Steve Cole, Bonnie Karshbaum, Brianna Karshbaum, Jaime Lee, Ashley Rooney,
Mirela Vaso, Perla Walling-Sotolong, Huma Wassim, Hong Xie.
Guests: Elsie Xu (Lexington Council for the Arts)
7:00 PM: Glen called the meeting to order.
7:05 PM: The Minutes of February 19 and March 5 were approved with modifications.
DATW Debrief - Sudha Balasuryan & Elizabeth Xu
- Sudha proclaimed the event a marvelous success! There were 18 performances with 100 dancers.
Over 500 attended the event at Cary Hall. It ended at 8:45 pm. The food of complimentary snacks
was quite sufficient.
- Linda emphasized how much better Cary Hall was than the Lexington High School gym.
- Yifang commented that the event deserves much more and better publicity.
- Sudha will discuss with Glen the need to make a reservation for Cary Hall soon, even though the
next event will not take place until 2027.
Patriots' Day (April 19) - Glen
- TCC is to collect the tickets for the 4:30 am Battle Green Reenactment.
- TCC is responsible for the Big Parade, starting at 2 pm.
Patriots' Day Parade - Dave
- Dave attended the Chamber of Commerce's Gala at Wilson Farms, where he helped receive a
$2,500 check to the Town from Wilson Farms for its platinum gift to the Parade.
- John Carroll will have a new Bentley convertible available for the Grand Marshal to ride in.
- Unclear if the Army will lead the Parade. The Army Band will play at the 11:00 ceremony as well.
- Still have about 120 units marching. Nor will Pat the Patriot march in the Parade. Although 7 late
units have requested acceptance by TCC, we are remaining firm that these latecomers will not
march.
- A Free Speech area will be available for demonstrators near the Green.
- Linda, in charge of the float judging, will start judging at 11:30 am. Two golf carts will be available
to take the three judges immediately to the Reviewing Stand.
- Jamie will coordinate the four Dance Groups. They must not stop during the Parade as this action
will slow and discoordinate the flow of the marchers.
- Publicity is being handled by Lex250. There will be an interview with Rachel Dratch, a Sunday
appearance of Mo Rocca (either April 5 or 12) and Fox's Zip Trip as well.
- Yifang is coordinating the Ambassadors who will carry sponsor banners. Are there enough poles?
Have Lexington Christian and Minuteman Tech students been contacted?
- Regarding publicity / Sandy: Linda thanked Pam for great sign up sheets. Sancy confirmed that all
LHS students have been contacted too. We especially need 65 - 70 11-12-13 year olds.
- Omar's World of Comics has agreed to split his $5.000 donation into two $2,500 platinum
donations. This contribution ensures that the $34,000 goal for sponsorships has been not only met
but exceeded.
- Pam continues to follow the flyover options: with the F15's going to Concord, will it be 6-8 Black
Hawk helicopters or a KC -46 refueling aircraft?
- Credentialing of Vehicles: the vehicle list will be for TCC only and not given to the Police. TCC
will be responsible for handling out vehicle tags. If a vehicle does not have a tag, it will be
immediately pulled from the Parade.
- Tags will also be required for TCC members, unit section leaders, and all Ambassador pole bearers.
- Parking will be available at the Harrington School for Maple Street groups and at the Community
Center for Pleasant Street groups.
- At the end of the Parade, buses for the Harrington and Community Center will park in the
Lexington High School lot to await marchers. Private cars must go to Lincoln Street, perhaps using
the nearby Hayden parking lot or the Lincoln Field parking lot. This information will be sent out
next week.
- W 9's: all but one have been received with the final one in the mail.
- Car Signs: Bonnie is on it!
Volunteers will meet at Kilty Hall in St Brigid's Church on April 5. 86 volunteers are needed,
especially at the Review Stand and as Unit Leaders in the Parade. Send ideas of what these
volunteers need to know to Cerise.
Sandy emphasized that golf cart drivers must stay in the Parade! With 10 carts there will be a cart
for every 12 units.
Lex250 Update - Cerise
- The Police want all the military units at the beginning of the Parade. Not clear why. She and Glen
will discuss this order and then see if Sgt Bresnahan is willing to revise the decision.
- Dusty Rhodes heads CoVenture, which is helping with all Parade matters.
8:38 PM: Meeting Adjourned.
NEXT MEETING: March 26, 2025.
Respectfully submitted, Gresh Lattimore, Secretary