HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-07-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
Virtual Meeting MINUTES
May 7, 2025
Members Present (12 members; no vacancy): Glen Bassett, co-chair; Linda Dixon; Dave
Grabel; Cerise Jalelian; Lorain Marquis; Karen Tyler (Veterans Liaison); Geetha Padaki, co-
chair; Sandy Podgorski. Absent: Yifang Gong, Mary Hutton, Sondra Lucente, Sue Stering.
Honorary: Robert Tracey. Quorum: 7 Full Members.
Subcommittee Members Present (15 members, 4 vacancies): Sudha Balasuryan, Bonnie
Karshbaum, Gresh Lattimore, Jamie Lee, Pam Winters. Absent: Steve Cole, Ashley Rooney
Mirela Vaso, Perla Walling-Sotolong, Huma Wasim, Hong Xie.
Guests: Thelma Goldberg (Dance Group), Elizabeth Xu, Deepka Sawhney (potential
volunteer)
7:01 PM: Geetha called the meeting to order; then passed meeting to Glen.
7:05 PM: Minutes of April 16, 2025 were approved with modifications.
Lessons Learned: Patriots' Day (April 19) / Glen & Dave
- TCC member comments are captured on Dave's Update, a shared document. Dave has also
created a "What Went Well" tab on this document.
- Among the things that didn't go well: too many issues to deal with by Dave just before the
Parade stepped off; registration technology needs further work (a Town iPad didn't work);
simply need more volunteers to help with the many details involved; some TCC members
were not involved.
- Thelma wants TCC to see how her dance groups can perform before more Parade attendees.
She feels that only 300 attendees saw her groups this time. She understands why her groups
had to limit their performances this year. This is an issue for next year's Parade / 2026.
Finances / Lorain
- The numbers are unchanged: $54,000 from the Town; $10,000 from an anonymous donor;
and $55,000 from sponsors = $119,000. 65 banners were newly bought. We expect to
breakeven after all expenses are paid.
Glen cautioned anyone with an expense to be reimbursed by the Town needs to have all
paperwork in precise order. Any taxes paid will not be reimbursed.
Other Parade Comments:
- Cerise expressed great appreciation to Dave for his gathering shortly after the Parade. She
noted how helpful it was to discuss Parade critique issues in a relaxed setting.
- Linda wants both Cerise and Bonnie to sign all letters going to the Scouts.
- Jamie, also a Lexington Minuteman, expressed the group's satisfaction with how TCC worked
with them throughout the Parade.
Memorial Day (May 26) Planning / Linda
- Ceremony sequence:
8:15 am: 4 stops / 4 wreathes: World War II memorial, Obelisk memorial, Fire Station, Westview
Cemetery.
9:30 am: Munroe Cemetery for Civil War Fallen / 2 wreaths (Medal of Honor recipient; at
Gazebo). Steve Cole, Minutemen Commanding, will read Gen John Logan's 1868 letter creating
Memorial Day; Sam Doran will read the bio of one of the interned Civil War soldiers; Reggie
Gibson will read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. (This is a very moving ceremony.). Participants
then march to Emery Park, laying 4 wreaths at New Police Building, Korean War Memorial,
Vietnam Memorial, and Town Pool Memorial.
11 am: Emery Park Ceremony / 1 wreath. Pam will coordinate this event.
- 150 chairs have been ordered. Maybe an additional 75 chairs (225 total) should be ordered
from Taylor Rental?
- 4 Town bullhorns are available at Cerise's.
- The Never Failing Poppy Group will read poems.
- Songs should be familiar to all; perhaps print the lyrics in the handout? At lease show God
Bless America?
- Karen will get the flags from Cary Hall. (Batten Hall will not be used in case of inclement
weather.
Other Business:
- June 11 is our last TCC meeting this season. We will vote on the List of new Officers then.
- TCC Leaders of each major event are asked to submit brief summaries to Geetha and Glen
for inclusion in TCC's annual report to the Town.
- The Knights of Columbus will host an Armed Forces Day Breakfast on May 17. All Veterans
are welcomed to attend.
- A Coffee Social will be sponsored by Veterans Liaison Karen Tyler on May 22 at 10 am.
8:21 PM: Meeting Adjourned.
NEXT MEETING: May 21, 2025.
Respectfully submitted,
Gresh Lattimore, Secretary