HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-06 Cultural Council Minutes rP4 Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: u�� JljL
Cultural Council 2. 23
Date: 2020-01-06 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Arts and Crafts Room
Address: 49 Pleasant Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Donna Schenkel, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Nora Bucko, Brian Kimerer, )ane
Soloway, Nancy Ziemlak, Kathy Natale, Rosemary Lewis
Members - Not Present:
Megan Fidler-Carey
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Rosemary Lewis
Topics of Discussion:
Call to order at 7:00 pm.
Minutes were approved.
Treasurer's report was presented by Jane. We have $1,200 plus interest in our administrative
account. Jane and Donna clarified that after checking with MCC, all of the State funded grant money
must be awarded, and it is recommended that all of the town funded grant money be awarded. That
total is $14,000. At the last meeting, the council approved awards in the amount of$11,755.
Therefore, based on the new information about distribution of funds, a motion was made and
approved to increase the amount of some grants.
After deliberation, the revised grants were approved, with members recusing themselves during voting
when necessary for conflict of interest reasons, (ie. Brian has involvement with the Art Walk; Norah
and Rosemary have involvement with Irish Set Dancing.) The following is a list of the revised grants:
Reading Community Singers Holiday Concert $1,605
Killam Susan Hood Author Visit 1,000
Senior Center The First Lady performance 283
Colonial Faire at Parker Tavern 700
Reading Concert Band Spring Art-Themed Concert 500
Birch Meadow Poet-in Residence 2,000
The Ivy Chord Coffee House 800
Coolidge Science Olympiad 1,500
Reading Porchfest 500
Arts Reading Discover The Arts Day Cultural Festival 277
Downtown Reading Art Walk 500
Killam 3' Grade Field Trip to Decordova 530
No Suburban CFRN Hula La Family Concert 660
New England School of Ballet 2019 Fall Series 750
Reading Irish Set Dancing 945
Killam 501h Celebration 1,000
New Repertory Theater Romeo and Juliet 450
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Total $14,000
Discussion ensued about the need to encourage more grant applications. Kathy suggested having
Flyers around town. Mary Ann recommended advertising through Reading Rec, or an insert in RMLD
bills, tax bills, etc. Another suggestion was to allocate advertising money for spots in the various
cultural club programs, such as the drama club's playbill.
Jane will submit the Annual Report. Donna will send emails to the grant recipients.
There was discussion about the ByLaw Committee's proposed revisions. We were asked to weigh in.
The consensus was that it should be clearly stated that Town Committee members should be residents
of Reading. A motion was made and approved to recommend that the town adopt explicit language
requiring Reading residency in order to be a member of the town's boards.
Discussion turned to the reception in the spring. Nancy proposed trying to pair our reception with
some other gathering to increase interest and participation. One suggestion was the Art Walk that we
are supporting with a grant. Nancy will contact Ace or Allen Foulds to inquire about the feasibility of
that.
We received a letter from Matt Kraunelis, Director of Administrative Services for the town, asking if all
the town funded money ($5000) was spent. Donna will reply to Matt, thanking the town for the
contribution, and showing the allocations.
Mary Ann will have a press release ready by the end of the week. Nancy will send it out.
Nancy offered to work on the survey with someone this year. Brian offered to help.
Kathy presented a color-coded duty roster for the Council's tasks. This could be uploaded to Google
Docs. Nancy presented a chronological list of the tasks. There was discussion about the changing
roles with each new council group.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
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