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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-07 Cultural Council MinutesTown of Reading RECEIVED Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK READING, MA. elk 2022 APR -6 AM H: 28 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Cultural Council Date: 2022-03-07 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Monthly Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Brian Kimerer, Katherine Lopez Natale, Sherilla Lestrade, Kerri Perry Members - Not Present: Megan Fidler -Carey, Steve Theodoridis Others Present: none Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kern Perry Topics of Discussion: Meeting of the Reading Cultural Council March 7, 2022, 7:00 PM Via Zoom Called to order at 7:02 PM. Review of meeting minutes from January 3, 2022, took place. Sherilla motioned to approve the minutes, Kathy seconded, and they were unanimously approved. The November 1, 2021 minutes have not yet been submitted by Megan and she was not present this meeting so this will be a topic for our next meeting agenda to have them reviewed. Treasurer's report was presented. It was noted that the Massachusetts Cultural Council has not yet sent the funding to us as It is subject to a signed contract by the Town of Reading Finance Department which is still in review. Sherilla motioned to approve the Treasurer's report, Kern seconded. Vote was unanimous to accept the Treasurer's report. The Grant approval letters were sent out by Kathy on January 15th. We received some thank you responses. Our Press Release, that included list of grantees and projects, went out about January 25th to the Reading Post, The Reading Patch and the Selectboard. Mark Dockster replied that he would mention it in an upcoming Selectboard meeting. Brian shared that has been working to update the mailing list and has entered in all the contacts for the new grantees. It was discussed if we were Interested in doing a reception. This was in the past done in June and used to be done every other year. Due to Covid this was not an option. Brian clarified that the community survey we will do this year will formally satisfy our community outreach requirement and the reception would be something additional the committee could also consider. In the past the different organizations who received grants had come In and presented via a sideshow hosted at the Senior Center. It was discussed that the Fall may Page 1 1 be the best time for this if the committee does decide to pursue as that is when applications open again. Options were discussed such as students that work with RCTV could make a video of pictures leading up to this event to help with the slideshow presentation. Grantee organizations could submit content for the students to utilize. It was decided a Fall event would remain under consideration and Sherilla said she would reach out to the RCN teacher and invite her to our next meeting. The community survey went out last year from March 15th -May loth. Last year's survey questions were reviewed for feedback, and it was discussed to add in Eventbrite and Facebook Events as additional options for where people find events. It was mentioned that our new member Steve Theodoridis does event promotions so we may want to talk to him so he could also weigh in on options for finding events. Brian will email him about his as Steve was not able to make the meeting. The committee discussed targeting April to kick off the survey and have it run through May. It was discussed that last year's venues and dates were vague with submittals and the goal would be to nail that down better next year. Going forward dates will be required so the committee can have a better calendar of events and follow up on what was committed to by those granted funding. The town has extended the time to be able to meet via zoom versus requiring in person meetings until July 15th. The next meeting will be April 4, 2022, via Zoom. Meeting was adjourned at 7:46 PM Pa9e 1 2