Events Committee Meeting Minutes, 2/28/23

Host and chair: Alix Giannetti
Minutes: Doreen Miller
Also in Attendance: “K”, Vera Mbah, Heidi Moesinger, Celina Warot

Vera Mbah

  • Introduced herself as working for Pine Street Inn as a supervisor at the Tuttle Street location. 
  • Was interested in learning more about CSHCA, the local community and its offerings.
  • Will come to the general meeting on Monday, March 6, to learn more.

The Events Survey

  • Heidi presented the survey at the February general meeting and posted it on the website.
  • It wasn’t sent out on an email via Constant Contact. Have Des do this?
  • Alix will post on social media
  • So far there have been 9 responses with 3 interested in joining our committee.
  • All respondents were 30 or older.
  • How do we reach more people and younger people?
    • Find out how many people live in the CSHCA district.
    • Word of mouth with neighbors.
    • Publicize and have our May Events meeting outdoors at McConnell Park in conjunction with a BYO picnic at the tables there.

Guest Speaker (Heidi Moesinger)

Heidi will reach out to someone at the UMB OLLI program to

  • Come to an upcoming Events Committee and/or General meeting.
    • Talk about the OLLI program and its offerings.
    • Discuss coordinating events with the Events Committee for older people.

Events Calendar

  • Brianna from the mother’s group will request a donation from CSHCA at the March General meeting for the upcoming Easter Egg Hunt on April 1.
  • Spring Park Clean-up is generally in April, organized by Bill Walczak/Kirk Carapezza.
  • Alix will soon contact Southline about the Community Picnic, on the 2nd weekend in August. Shall we try to incorporate kayaking in the cove?
  • The Plant and Bake Sale with the Beautification Committee takes place in June.
  • Other possibilities include
    • A Dorchester Day Parade Float for June 4.
      • Alix will connect with Des Rohan for information.
      • Pick a theme for the float.
      • Secure funds to decorate the float.
      • Get the balloon lady to be on it.
      • Get kids involved. Have kazoos.
    • An Architectural Tour of Savin Hill
      • Heidi will contact Earl Taylor, president of the Dorchester Historical Society, to see if they would be willing to do this.
      • Reach out to some homeowners along the route to see if they would be willing to open their homes to an interior tour.
      • Control numbers with a certain number of tickets sold to members of CSHCA.
      • The event could take place in the spring or fall.
      • Alix will reach out to Leslie who lives in the Carruth street area to see how past tours were done there.

Finding Sponsors

  • Doreen created a shared Grants folder on the shared Google Drive for CSHCA in the Events Committee folder, which Alix will review.  It includes
    • possible grant sources and
    • information for 501-C-4’s in applying for grants.
  • The Greater Ashmont Main Streets Foundation does tiered sponsorships.
  • Save the Harbor Save the Bay – application deadline is in a couple of weeks for this year. We should plan ahead for a 2024 mini beach fest.
  • Alix Giannetti’s real estate group is interested in sponsoring an event.

Benefits for Sponsors

  • Create guidelines for what we expect and what the sponsors can expect.
  • All sponsors should be
    • Listed on the CSHCA website.
    • Acknowledged on advertising posters and posters at events.
    • Acknowledged on Social Media sites.
    • Included at the bottom of CSHCA newsletters.
    • Be sent thank you letters.
  • Sponsors may set up a table or booth at the event they sponsor to hand out information and materials.
  • A Decal to encourage sponsorship
    • Create a decal for them to display – i.e., Proud Supporter of CSHCA, and include it in any thank you letter.
    • There could be
      • a general decal for the CSHCA and any committee to use, and
      • one specific to the Events Committee.
    • Heidi shared a design worked on by the Outreach and Engagement Committee that could be used as a general decal.
    • Come up with a slogan for the Events Committee decal.
    • Use a local woman “Peel the Artichoke” who designs stickers and ask her to create a design for the Events Committee.
    • Get pricing.
    • Present to the E-board and at the general meeting for funding.

Other Ideas to Raise Funds

  • Sell T-shirts made with the CSHCA logo and QR code to the website.
  • Sell postcards or stickers/decals with the same.

Action Items

  • Alix will
    • Post the Events survey to social media and neighborhood pages.
    • Review the items in the shared Grants folder.
    • Write Des on the Dot Day Parade process for entering.
    • Will contact Leslie for ideas on the neighborhood tour.
    • Soon reach out to Southline for the August Community Picnic @ Patten’s cove.
  • Heidi will
    • Contact Earl Taylor of the Dorchester Historical Society about the possibility of their doing a historical/architectural tour of homes in Savin Hill.
    • Reach out to someone from the UMB OLLI program to come to a future meeting.

Next Events Committee Meeting: Tuesday, March 28, 7 PM on Zoom. Link on CSHCA calendar.