HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-05-02 Community Day Committee Minutes READING COMMUNITY DAY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
May 2, 1996
The Reading Community Day Committee (RCDC) met in the Employees Lounge at Reading
Town Hall at 7:30 pm on May 2, 1996 with the following in attendance:
Camille Anthony, Board of Selectmen
John McGrath,Reading Recreation Commission Member
Nancy Eaton, Reading Conservation Commission Member
Charlie Graham, Citizen
Abby Croyle, Citizen
Bob Salter, Citizen
Clayton Livingston, YMCA (944-7989)
Camille Anthony opened the meeting and distributed a tentative agenda. The following items
were discussed:
L. SCHEDULE-A decision was made to meet every Thursday at 7:30 pm until the event.
Next meeting will be in the employees lounge and the last two will be in the Berger room.
� 2. FIELD DAY ACTIVITIES - Clayton Livingston from YMCA and the RCDC reviewed
activities to be held between 2 and 4 pm at the practice football field. Activities will be serially,
not concurrent: 3-legged race, sack race, egg& spoon relay, wheelbarrow race, tug of war, stick
ball, horse shoes, water balloon throw. Suggested participation prizes. He will check with Joe
Connolly on quantity of prizes that exist. There could be special heats in different events with
open categories, family, children, adults. Need 8-12 volunteers of high school age to supervise.
Clayton envisioned 50 people per event in relays. He will come up with a definitive schedule for
the next meeting. He would need to meet with volunteers at 1:30 to review assignments.
Dixie cup lacrosse could be interesting. An event announcer or amplifier system would be helpful.
Materials will need to be acquired and potential donors were discussed for potato sacks(Atlantic,
Calarusso's,Longwood, sporting goods stores), rope(John may have or check with fire
department),broom handles, tennis balls, table spoons, eggs(72-96).
Price of$255 for a dunk tank from Taylor Rental was considered too high. Clayton will check
other sources for price. Suggested three throws for a buck and get local officials to volunteer to
be dunked. Can be a good fundraiser.
& MUSIC-The Jazz group will play from 3 to 5 pm. The Barber Shop Quartet is 99% sure
of participation and will play interspersed with Jazz Group between 4 and 5. Square Dancing
with Mel Dixon will held between 6 and 7 and end with the Virginia Reel, which needs a hard
surface.
4. IMAGINATION STATION-Bob Salter wrote a proposed article and it was discussed
that it might be good to write as a letter to the editor and perhaps an article on the building of
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imagination station and the community spirit in that project. Camille has discussed with Paul
Feeley coverage by the Chronicle. DPW will provide stone and sand. People need to bring tools
(shovels, rakes, sanders, carpentry, etc.) and time. Town will restripe the parking lot. Need 40
volunteers to work in 10 groups. Bob suggested the remaining "Friends of IS" to head the
different work groups. Town will provide electrical access on day of event. We can also double
check with Bill Hughes on support of RMLD. Need to devote some of funds raised to sealing the
wood. It is supposed to be done twice a year. Cost is approximately$700 for materials which
would be sprayed on (not on Community Day).
& RAFFLE-Jean Prato has volunteered to solicit businesses for donations. Tickets can be
sold throughout the day. People could write their name and phone number on the back and the
don't need to be present to win. A 50-50 raffle was also suggested.
s FOOD : PIE BAKING- Grace McGrane from the Reading Junior Women's Club has
volunteered to coordinate the solicitation and donation of pies and provide coverage on the day of
the event for receiving and serving. John McGrath will organize a tasting contest for those who
wish to enter their pies. Pies should receive a number when brought to the site and should be in
disposable plates. Charlie said volunteers would be needed.
LION'S DEN -Camille will check with Joe Connelly about gas grills and utensils, etc.
John McGrath will check with Legion about grills.
FOOD DONATIONS - Camille and Abbey reviewed their efforts at solicitation and the
roadblocks in not having a tax number. Camille filed for an EIN number for the Friends of
Reading Open Space and an individual from her firm designed letterhead. We will decide later
whether we want to incorporate as a nonprofit group and continue to run events and raise funds.
They will reapproach different stores with written letters. Shaws, Star, Harrows have all pledged
items. Camille will pursue a potential for beverage donations. Food subcommittee needs to meet
before the next full RCDC meeting. Jet sprays rent at $30 each, so probably is too expensive for
the lemonade. Consider igloo coolers. Biggest challenge is predicting attendance. We decided to
plan for 200-500.
MENU- Choice of one hotdog or hamburger
Choice of one drink
Potato Salad &Baked Beans
Pie or cookies or watermelon
Depending on quantity of donations, the group suggested $1 per serving.
L. PUBLICITY -Nancy will redo flyer and update information with more specifics.
John McGrath will submit a news story to Suburban News by Monday, May 6. May 10th is the
deadline for Reading Notes. Nancy will get revised flyer to Peter with times. Joan will work on
map of conservation areas for inclusion if possible. Camille discussed with the Chronicle doing a
series of articles on each aspect of the day. Suggested a call for volunteers in a "Chronicled"
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item. Cable should rerun Jack Cairl's Walk in the Town Forest. They have been given footage of
the original film converted to video on the first or second Community Day and its activities.
Camille is speaking at the Chamber breakfast and will solicit donations and volunteers. Nancy
will get her revised flyers and sign-up sheets. Sign-up sheets should also be posted at RMLD,
Town Hall, Atlantic, Library, etc. Flyer can be enlarged for poster size for library and other
potential locations. Flyer can be distributed through elementary schools. Need 2,113 for K-5.
Charlie will get superintendent approval and arrange for printing. Suggested bright color for
attention. We should probably get 2500 and have some available at the Town Hall and Library.
g. CONSERVATION CONSERVATION AMITIES -Joan reviewed sites and potential volunteers. She is
still trying to get people to commit. Sites will be Town Forest, Bare Meadow, Pinevale, Kurchian
and Xavier. Ida G. is considering the early morning "bird" walk. Joan and Nancy will work on
maps and descriptions of conservation areas for distribution to people the day of the walks.
9. LIBRARY DISPLAY-Joan and Abbey have been in touch with several individuals at
the library on space and content. There is the main area as you come in the entrance and a smaller
area outside the local history room near the information desk. Reading Art Association will loan
3 or 4 easels. Suggested taking 3 pictures of the early Community Days from the Conference
Room and place at library for the month. Abbey suggested a wheelbarrow, shovel, antique picnic
basket, a throw rug and place setting. There could be two posters: Then and Now with the old
fashioned and a new fashioned apron hanging on respective posters. There could be several
sports items indicative of the planned events. Joan and Nancy will work on maps for conservation
display. Jonathan Edwards is willing to let the RCDC borrow his colored maps from the Master
Plan for display and we can borrow the 3-D contour map from the conservation office. Librarian
will identify relevant books from the collection and display in the area.
10. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES - Camille has suggested that a fire truck or the ambulance
be present and that kids be given tours. Police could conduct a fingerprint or bike safety show.
RMLD could provide a line truck or an electric car. Solid Waste Committee could do a
composting or recycling display. We should have a donations board to acknowledge donors.
For Committee and Volunteer identification, suggested hats or shirts. Check whether RMLD
would provide visors or such for this purpose. Need to create lists of names and numbers for next
meeting so we can identify quantity.
11. CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE -We will need to have volunteers after the event is over to
help clean up the grounds.
12. CONTRIBUTIONS-Camille and Nancy will work on a fund raising letter for
distribution to local businesses.
13. MISCELLANEOUS-Just cause 13 is my lucky number.
�, J Respectfully submitted,
T Nancy L. Eaton, Scribe Pro Tempore
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