HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-11-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
Virtual Meeting MINUTES
June 11, 2025
Members Present (12 members; no vacancy): Glen Bassett, co-chair; Linda Dixon; Yifang
Gong: Dave Grabel; Cerise Jalelian; Sondra Lucente; Lorain Marquis; Sue Stering; Karen Tyler
(Veterans Liaison); Geetha Padaki, co-chair; Sandy Podgorski. Absent: Mary Hutton.
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: None.
7:04 PM: Geetha called the meeting to order; then passed meeting to Glen.
7:06 PM: Minutes of May 21, 2025 were approved with modifications.
Memorial Day Wrap Up / Linda
- Linda strongly suggests that the Memorial Walk Ceremony and the Emery Park
Ceremony be split into separate leaderships for each. This would ensure that each Ceremony
receives the attention it deserves and that the responsibility would be better shared.
- Geetha commented that the Cary Hall flags are not in good shape. TCC should look into
who's responsible for their upkeep: Town? VSO Karen?
- Megaphones: The Town megaphones used for the Patriots' Day Parade were not in
good shape and could not be used for Memorial Day. Henry Lu, a former Lexington
Minuteman, lent TCC the better Minuteman megaphone. Should TCC purchase its own
megaphone?
Voting for Next Year (2025-2026) Committee Positions / Glen
- Glen (Co -Chair), Geetha (Co -Chair), and Gresh (Secretary) have all stated that they will
not run for re-election for 2025-2026. Thus these three leadership positions need to be filled.
- Dave and Sudha have both stepped forward to be considered as the new Co -Chairs.
Both were unanimously confirmed to assume these Co -Chair positions.
- Since no one has volunteered to be the full time Secretary, Cerise (September - October
- November) and Lorain (December - January - February) each volunteered to fill the position
for respective 3 -month periods. Committee members unanimously voted to confirm this
arrangement. New volunteers for this position will be sought next February.
- Three new members are expected to join TCC shortly. Three sitting members have
resigned: Steve Cole (As Lexington Minutemen Commander, he's too busy); Yifang Gong
(new job in Connecticut); and Mirela Vaso (job conflicts). Huma Wasim may also resign.
Lex250 Report / Cerise
The report regarding Patriots' Day by the Town is expected shortly.
- When to hold the 2026 Patriots' Day Parade is under discussion. Should it take place on
Saturday as it was this year, or should it revert to the Friday nearest April 19 as in the past? It
seems that holding it on Saturday will entice stronger attendance. Most folks don't have
Fridays open. The Minutemen suggestion that the Parade begin at 3 pm seems a non-starter.
A new Chair for this committee is being sought.
Other Business:
- All leaders of annual TCC events are requested soonest to submit a very brief overview of
their efforts on Veterans Day, Dance Around the World, Patriots' Day, and Memorial Day.
Geetha will submit them to the Town.
- Geetha will be inviting all TCC members to a Summer Social in mid-August. Stand by
for further details!
A Veterans Day planning group will be called by Lorain to meet in early July.
7:53 PM: Meeting Adjourned.
NEXT MEETING: September 10, 2025.
Respectfully submitted,
Gresh Lattimore, Secretary