Chairs: Alix Giannetti, Michelle Miller
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Also in attendance: Heidi Moesinger
Review of Caroling Event
- Well attended by families with children
- Ideas for next year
- Start a bit later to accommodate working parents.
- Rehearse a core group of singers beforehand to lead the songs.
- Combine it with the tree lighting ceremony/mayor’s trolley tour.
- Eases up people’s schedules during the busy holiday season.
- They provide a Santa on the tour.
- It’d be nice to include our reps.
- Stay in one spot to sing carols, have hot cocoa and snacks.
- Late arrivals will know where to find us.
- It keeps the group together.
- Have it on the avenue side of the bridge.
- We can revisit ideas for updated plans next autumn.
Planning the 2023 Event Calendar (*designates new event)
- April – Easter Egg Hunt (Mothers’ group) -Set up a table.
- April/May – Spring Clean Up (Savin Hill Park and Patten’s Cove)
- June/Dorchester Day – Plant and Bake Sale (with the Beautification Committee)
- July– *Kayaking event at the beach (possible grant from Save the Harbor Save the Bay)
- Summer – *Art in the Park (collaborate with Dot Art)
- August – Community Picnic
- September – The Neighborhood Yard Sale with a Free Book table
- October – Music in the Park
- October – Kids’ Halloween Parade (Mother’s group) – Set up a table.
- November/December – Christmas Caroling
Ideas for new events and needs
- A series of social opportunities for seniors (55+)
- Coffee hour
- UMB boat ride (coordinate with the OLLI program)
- Lunch or Dinner at a local restaurant
- Local Libraries – seniors read to kids
- Reach out to Age Strong Boston for ideas, coordinating, and possible funding.
- Research organizations that offer senior services in the area.
- Kayaking at the beach – small beach event
- Art in the Park coordinated with Dot Art
- Buy a large plastic bin to store all the event supplies together.
- Left over snacks, coffee and cocoa packets that are soon to expire could be donated to the Dorchester Fridge. Ask Des if we need to get membership approval to do this.
Brainstorm Survey Questions to Send out to the Membership
- Include a short introduction of who we are as a committee.
- Are you a member of CSHCA?
- What is your age bracket?
- How much would you be willing to pay for an event?
- Are you interested in senior meetup events?
- Are you interested in a Food Tour of local restaurants?
- Select the events you have attended in the past.
- Open ended question: What kinds of events would you like to see offered?
- Are there any barriers to your attending events?
- What accommodations could be made to make it easier for you to attend events?
- Are you aware of any funding sources or grants? If so, please list.
- Are you interested in joining the Events Committee?
Alix will type up the survey and share it with the committee for feedback before we present it to the general membership in February with subsequent mailing of the link to the survey.
Going Forward/Action items
- Do a better job of dividing up tasks and responsibilities for each event.
- Before the next meeting: research organizations with which to collaborate, to apply for grants, and to scope out possible funding sources.
- The City of Boston – Grants and the Live Strong program for seniors
- Save the Harbor Save the Bay
- Google “local grants in the Boston area”
- Other organizations for collaboration and/or funding
Next meeting: Tuesday, January 31, 7 PM on Zoom, link on the CSHCA calendar.