Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-24-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington Tourism Committee Minutes March24, 2025 Hybrid Parker Room, Town Office Building and by Zoom 3:30 pm PRESENT: Marsha Baker, Margaret Coppe (Chair), Bebe Fallick, Ting Fang, Marie - Tristan Rago, Elsie Xu Absent: Gardy Desrouleaux, Pam Fowler, Melissa Robbins Staff Present: Sandhya Iyer, Jay Abdella Margaret called the meeting to order at 3:32 pm. She read the authorization for remote meetings. A quorum was present. Vote to call meeting to order: Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Bebe Fallick, Aye; Ting Fang, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye. The vote was unanimous Economic Development Report Jay Abdella/Sandhya Iyer • People counter Feb 2025, 1,100 down from 1,600 in Feb 2024 • Visitor's Center Feb 2025, $4,200 up from $3,000 in Feb 2024 (March sales ahead of March 2024) • Battle Green Tours Quiet in Feb • Liberty Ride Trolley: Did not operate • January website report: Ads down; after April 18 will be on Boston 25 • Sperling February report • Spring initiative/Plans 1. MOTT grant supported an animated 6 minute video of Paul Revere's ride which will be shown in the diorama room at the Visitor Center starting April 1, 2025 2. Sandhya attended the Governor's Conference on Marketing, March 18, 2025 focusing on Al, sports, and anticipated 2026 events. 11 3. The Historic Districts Commission approved way finding signage on Bikeway. Will go to the Select Board in April. 11 of the 9 proposed signs are in the historic district. Marsha Baker moved, and Marie Tristan-Rago seconded sending a letter to the Select Board from Tourism approving the way finding signs in the Center along the Bikeway. The vote was unanimous. Minutes Marie Tristan-Rago moved, and Marsha Baker seconded, approval of the February 24, 2025 minutes. Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye. The vote was unanimous. East Lexington Mural and Way finding Signs Marsha worked with the artists on two changes: 1. flowers on needlework 2. Color of Munroe Tavern 3. The style of the locomotive was also changed to make it accurate to the times 4. Changed Ralph Waldo Emerson to Robbins 5. Removed shawl from woman on the farm Marie Tristan-Rago moved, and Elsie Xu seconded, sending a letter of support for the project to the Select Board. Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye. The vote was unanimous. Second Meeting House Model Benjamin Soule and Deborah Weiner reported that the model is currently installed in the vestry at First Parish Church. They are producing a brochure about the model and its history. They would like to have it available in the Visitor Center. The committee is agreeable to this request upon review by staff. Goals Pa Members of the Tourism Committee are asked to volunteer to be in the Visitor Center on April 19, 2025 to help with questions. Time slots are 6 AM -9 AM, 9 AM - 12 Noon -12 Noon -3 PM, 3 PM -6 PM. Margaret will send out email for sign up. A second goal to establish a set of processes that enable better communication that improve the visitor experience was acknowledged. More work and discussion needed. Countdown Calendar April 2, 2025 Lexington 250th Bebe Fallick reported • Concord held a 250th themed quilt show March 22, 2025 • Witness flags were unveiled on March 12, 2025; map with walking tours being prepared • Event Planner has been hired • Ken Burns video on the Revolution will debut on April 17, 2025 • Parking and road closures will be posted on website soon Updates and Miscellaneous Center Committee: Contacted Jerry Michelson; waiting for response Lexington History Museums: • Two Seasoning Opening Training sessions; separate De-escalation Training for educators, greeters, and volunteers. Many also attended the "until Help Arrives" training offered by Lex250 • LHM board voted in favor of accepting the Mural Design for Columns on the Deport Train Shed for the next 5 years with an option to continue. Marsha Baker moved and Elsie Xu seconded sending letters of support to the Historic District Commission and the Select Board. Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye. The vote was unanimous. • Recent events continue to be sold out • Installation of exhibits in the Depot began last week • Ribbon cutting ceremony will be on April 12, 2025 at noon followed by open house until 4 PM • Annual Meeting will be held April 1, 2025 at 7 PM at the Church of Our Redeemer 3 • Paul Revere's Ride Reenactment will be on April 18, 2025 at 10 PM at the Hancock -Clarke House. Talks by Bill Poole (one of the oldest members0 • Buckman Tavern will be open on April 9, 2025 for walk-through tours from • Swept up in the Revolution exhibit at Buckman Tavern fro 8 AM -2 PM • April 21, 2025 programming ➢ Chat with Historical Re=enactors at Buckman Tavern ➢ Black History at Hancock -Clarke fromll AM -3 PM ➢ Meet British Redcoats at Munroe Tavern from12 Noon -3 PM • April 22, 2025 LHM sponsoring Naturalization Ceremony on Lexington Battle Green • Multiple sessions of Children's Re-enactment during school vacation week (April 19-23) • In March, the Lexington Select Board proclaimed that the Lexington History Museums are the stewards of Lexington's history and lead ambassadors for the semiquincentennial Website and emails: None Cultural District: Grant Applications due by March 28, 2025. Adjournment 5:05 PM Marsha Baker moved and Marie Tristan-Rago seconded adjournment. Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Ting Fang, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye The vote was unanimous. Next Meeting: Monday April 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM, Hybrid Respectfully submitted: Margaret Coppe April 6, 2025 L!