HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-24-TCC-minTOWN CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES (virtual)
September 24, 2025
Full Committee Members Present (13 members; 1 vacancy):
QUORUM: 7 full members
David Grabel, Co-chair
Sudha Balasuryan, Co-chair
Cerise Jalelian
Lorain Marquis
Susan Stering
Sandy Podgorski
E. Ashley Rooney (and Ashley notetaker icon)
Linda Dixon
Sondra Lucente
Absent Honorary: Robert Tracey
Subcommittee Members Present (10 members, 5 vacancies):
Elizabeth Elsie Xu
Simon Rubenstein
Sharon Spaulding
Pam Winters
Bill Kelm
Hong Xie
Seema Badaya
Jamie Lee (sub)(arrived late)
Absent:
Bonnie Karshbaum (sub)
Mary Hutton (full)
Brianna Bennett-Karshbaum (sub)
Karen Tyler, Veterans Liaison
Geetha Padaki (full)
Glen Bassett (last day September 30, 2025)(full)
Guests: Douglas Lucente, liaison to the Select Board
7:05 PM: per the Meeting Agenda, Sudha called the meeting to order and recited the zoom introduction
and then passed meeting to Dave Grabel. Dave welcome everyone and pulled up the Minutes of
September 10, 2025, as revised through 9.24.25. Sue Stering had more comments and Cerise updated the
minutes with Sue's comments. Votes were unanimously approved. Dave instructed Cerise to finalize and
send the minutes to Sudha to send to the town.
VETERANS DAY EVENT:
Presenter: Lorain Marquis
Veterans Day planning sub -group is working on:
Breakfast on November 1, 2025 at Knights of Columbus Hall.
Volunteer list to be circulated so everyone can participate.
Publicity going along nicely.
Neillios is going the breakfast at same price as prior 2 years.
Rotary Club will be serving the breakfast with compostables.
Scouts will be around to help out.
Photographer will take photos of vets with flags.
Details to follow.
Everything is under control.
Need volunteers for the desks and more volunteers for the rally.
Lorain fielded questions from the committee and will check Al for details of the Q&A.
Antique Car Rally (non -rolling) on November 11, 2025 at Church of Our Redeemer parking lot.
Dave updated us on the rally with groups to be providing cars.
Ashley will confirm with the Church at the estimated costs. Dave discussed logistics for the sound system
and speakers for the ceremony. Max 15 minutes. Sharon asked about other activities to honor the vets on
this sacred day, such as writing cards on the Green, so that the celebration is not just a car show. Dave
explained some of the options to the car rally, including the indoor ceremonies, car show, LHS marching
band performance outside the church, requests to Simon to have attendance by William Diamond Fife &
Drum Corp and Minute Men at the event. Ashley will add this to publicity, including possibly providing
white socks and excess calendars for the VA. Linda will coordinate with the VA Hospital. We are
working on local vendors for donations. Ashley asked about timing -Dave thinks we need 1 hour before
and after the indoor ceremonies. We discussed detailed logistics to be included on the MOU
(memorandum of understanding). Question whether we are having Scouts to write on car windows for
discussion at next working group.Sharon also suggested having a sock drive with the thank you cards
for Veterans table.
Next working group meeting will be held every other week instead of trying to have 3 solid hours for
working group and full TCC meeting.
PATRIOTS DAY PLANNING
No updates while we await Select Board decision about date of parade.
Doug updated the committee about uncertainties in determining a firm date at this time.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
-Question from Sharon about TCC Mission statement
-Ashley question about terms of members.
-Dave asked Lorain if she can share an overview of finances and budget at next meeting including the gift
account. Doug suggested having a meeting with Kim next week.
-Glen Bassett has resigned so we have a vacancy on the full TCC.
-Ashley asked if veterans have received personal invitations; TCC can invite veterans.
ADJOURNMENT
7:38 PM: Meeting Adjourned by unanimous vote.
NEXT MEETING: October 8, 2025
Respectfully submitted on September 24, 2025 as revised on 10.8.25
Cerise Jalelian, Secretary Ad Hoc
September, October, November 2025