HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-24-LEX250-minSemiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
April 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Pursuant to notice duly filed with the Town Clerk, the Semiquincentennial Commission (Lex250)
convened in a hybrid format in the Parker Room at the Town Office Building and via Zoom video
conference on Wednesday April 20th at 4 PM by Ms. Barry as allowed by legislation (S.2475)
extending the suspension of certain provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.
Present in person:
Suzie Barry, Select Board Member, Chair
Doug Lucente, Select Board Member
Noah Michelson, Community Representative, Clerk
Cleve Coats, Community Representative
Cerise Jalelian, Town Celebrations Committee Representative
Bebe Fa!lick, Tourism Committee Representative
Julie O'Leary, Civic Representative
Steve Conners, Reenactment Community Representative
Barry Cunha, Business Representative
Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director
Present remotely:
Mona Roy, Community Representative, Vice Chair
Jane Hundley, LPS 6-8 Social Science Department Head
Ashley Rooney, Community Representative
Jillian Tung, Music & Arts Representative
Bridger McGaw, Community Representative
John Rossi, Commission on Disability Liaison
Staff from John Guilfoil Public Relations (JGPR)
• The meeting was called to order at 4:07 PM by Ms. Barry
• Announcements
o Article 24 to appropriate funds for the 250th is on the agenda tonight for Town
Meeting.
• FAQs
o JGPR is working to create a list of FAQs for Commission members to have
access to in order to consistently communicate information to the community and
partners.
• Calendar Update
o Some peeling has occurred on the lettering which needs to be addressed, and a
lead cap is going to be added in order to prevent rotting of the wood.
o Sign-ups for dates are being put out one month at a time in order to ensure all
days are filled. April and May slots are currently up.
• Website Update
o Analytics showed a total of 750 users with most users visiting the homepage,
events, and the most recent press releases. The full report will be shared with
Commission members.
o There is a temporal correlation between marketing efforts and site traffic.
• July 14, 2024 Parker's Prelude Event
o The small group is working on the geography of the event, activities for
attendees, and food logistics including the possibility of food trucks.
o Marketing considerations include a possible ad in the May edition of the
Lexington Times, and the possibility of a wider community invitation.
• Kickoff Event Debrief
o Thank you to the small planning group and to the JGPR group for their work
leading up to the event and on the day of.
o JGPR Debrief
■ There was good turnout from local and some international media. The
audience numbered in the hundreds with all chairs being taken.
■ The website launch and kickoff event mark end of Phase One, with the
team looking at lessons learned and looking forward to the next steps.
o Afternoon Program
■ The last minute marketing push made a large difference in attendance.
Attendees enjoyed the tea and talks. The possibility of recording future
speaking events or holding them virtually/hybrid was raised.
o Lexington Bicentennial Band Concert
■ The open nature of the event may have led some to assume the hall
would fill up and therefore did not attend.
• Community Meeting Information Next Steps
o Arts and Exhibitions
■ The question remains open on how the Commission can help promote
historical exhibitions from partners such as the Lexington Historical
Society and Scottish Rite Masonic Museum.
■ Multiple groups are working on bringing forth quilt shows during the 250th
celebrations.
■ Alethea Roy is spearheading art projects in the schools including a
possible mural.
■ Munroe Center for the Arts is planning an illumination light with artwork
protected on buildings in town.
• JGPR Update
o The meeting this upcoming Friday will cover how to get maximum value from
events.
• Anthem Update
o Anthem Group staff attended many events across all four towns during Patriots'
Day weekend. They have also met with Rob Munro of Concord to define the
scope of events and role of Anthem in the leadup to Patriots' Day Weekend
2025.
• Economic Development Update
o The Visitor's Center say 2500 visitors on Patriots' Day 2024.
o The 250th was the number one topic at the Discover New England conference in
New Hampshire, with interest expressed in visiting the area in the lead up to
2025.
• Miscellaneous Updates
o Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, and Arlington have been invited to present at the
May 14 state 250th meeting.
o On May 6th the four IMA towns will meet with the state Secretary of
Transportation and respective State House delegations regarding transportation
needs for the 250th celebrations.
o Lexington will be hosting the next collaborative 250th meeting on Thursday, June
6.
• Next meeting: May 8 at 4:30 PM
• The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Noah Michelson