But it's three. Okay. So I'll call this meeting to order and we'll do a roll call. There she is. Um, I'm here. >> Beth here. >> [clears throat] >> Mike here. >> Anna here. >> Sarah here. >> Bella here.
>> Well, we know Christie's here unless she's got a really good AI avatar. Christie's here. So that's awesome. Um, Okay, so the first thing um, is to review the previous minutes. Did anyone chance [clears throat] Did everyone get a chance to look at the minutes?
>> That's the the email you sent was the were the minutes, right? >> Well, there was an attachment. >> Yeah, it was an agenda and it had the minutes also. >> The agenda. Okay. Yeah. >> Yes. >> I mean they were pretty short, you know. >> No, no, they were good. I just want to make sure I'm reviewing that. There wasn't like an additional thing. >> So if any if no one has any comments or
corrections to the minutes, um, we can vote to accept the minutes. I vote to accept the minutes. Second. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah, I shouldn't have made a motion. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. >> I didn't think you're allowed to. >> Um, what's that? I can vote, but I should have asked for
a motion first, but I think we're all good on the minutes. Okay. My brain is melting. >> Mhm. >> Um, so the first thing I wanted to do was just to say I'm sorry how the last meeting went. I never meant for meeting to get contentious that way
and and I think this goes to show that we should take full advantage of the time that we have for a lot of really solid planning this year. Um, I mean I think in the end we ended up moving in a direction that was one we didn't really want to do which you had pointed out which was we don't want to
duplicate the efforts of the local cultural council. Um, so maybe it behooves us to kind of own our projects more, but that's a conversation for all of us to have. I just wanted to say I want to clear the air and say that was not how I I wanted it to be and
I know we felt really pressed for time and everything is kind of crazy. So, um, and in future maybe on those meetings we do to discuss you know talk about having a longer meeting or or if we have enough time two meetings, but honestly anyway I think a longer meeting is more productive than two meetings spread apart. Um
>> Absolutely. >> So I think that is a good way to go for the future. So then we can move on unless anyone has additional you know wants to talk about how it went and all that. >> Yeah, I mean I I just wanted to make sure everybody felt like if you have anything that you want to talk about that we talk about it, you know, like
we're all very much aware that that was hectic and not fun. Um but I just want to make sure people have the floor if if there's anything that they feel like they need to talk about that they haven't had the chance to.
>> Yeah, I think generally like time is a big part of it and then procedure, you know, having a framework for evaluating things is crucial like because then it's it's on us as individuals to use that framework to evaluate things and then come back as a group and know that we're
all bought into the same set of metrics, the same procedure, the same you know, and that because that's more fair even to applicants. >> Sure. Yeah, and I think once we figure out I'm sorry, were you finished? >> No, yeah, yeah, yeah. So once we figure out whatever our new plan is and what our new goals are we can make a matrix
that makes it much easier for us to come to the meeting prepared with all our thoughts and ideas. >> And that presumes that we would even use the same approach in an RFP. >> Yeah, okay. I'll correct. >> not necessarily we might And the committee might not want to
operate >> That is at the end of our we can talk about that some more at the [laughter] end of our agenda. Um so did anyone else want to say anything? >> I would just add to that of like I think I walked away with this feeling of
it's better to have heated discussion and too many applications and momentum than nothing and I think we came into it not even knowing if people were going to apply and I feel like that in and of itself is a step forward in a positive direction and like
that that that's just the growing pains of like getting this to come alive and have you know um change and new structure and all those things. So, I think there's a million ways to to improve in that in that change and growth but like I think the
net positive is that there's growth and there's excitement in the community and excitement and commitment amongst this council that I think you know everyone should feel good about in the end. So, like a positive thing and >> Yeah, nice. Thank you. Anybody else?
Okay, um then we can move on to updates on grantees. >> Yeah, just a quick update. Um so, I sent out rejection letters to the five to the six um and then um
>> get one. >> Well, you are you knew here. >> [laughter] >> I didn't realize that. I was like, "Do I need to add this TO THE BUDGET?" >> [laughter] >> WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU. I If you want me to make it official. >> No, it's okay.
>> [laughter] [clears throat] >> But um and then I did send out to the 19 grantees um their grant agreement and just like the award email it's been a week and it's fascinating of
the 19 I've only heard back from six. >> Mhm. >> Oh. >> Um which is always very strange to me. And the reason why I wanted to talk to you guys about this is because like for instance on the LCC there's a couple people like we granted people that money
in December and there are still four people who will not get back to me. And what's so frustrating about that is that's over a thousand dollars that we could have granted to someone else. >> Right. >> Mhm. And so I wanted to come to the table here and say, you know, like in the grant agreement it says you have to get
you have to return all this stuff within two weeks. You know, I don't know like how hardcore we want to be about that, but I do think it's worth discussion of like if you guys are going to hold it up do we want to be able to grant that money to somebody else? >> What are the outreach methods just out
of curiosity? Is it just an email email call? >> It's an email and if I don't hear back from people then I call them. >> It's could you do we're a week right now you said? >> It's been a week, yes. >> So can we send out an additional, you know, it's been a week just a reminder
that the deadline for us to hear from you is X. Has >> [clears throat] >> have all the people communicated with you by email at some point so like do we know they're all, you know, using their email? >> They used the Google form. So they checked yes.
>> Because that [laughter] has happened at the GLCC many years ago but where you know, people are like, well, I just only really use my phone and >> Also, well, yeah, people really only use phones so like I think a phone call if it's possible I'm I'm happy to help make phone calls so that's a lot of effort for you.
Um but also I think it's a really quick turnaround. I would say most people probably may not think oh, I need to like if they rarely use their email they may not be thinking I need to be looking out for an email on this like immediately. >> Right. We're also giving them free money.
>> Yeah, that's I I hear you. I hear you. >> Two weeks feel like an eternity like >> [laughter] >> It's true, but we weren't there's nothing on that form like in other grants like I they'll tell you you will hear back by this time or this, you know, I think it is a quick turn which
is a credit to you. That is [clears throat] super speed to get back to everyone so quickly, yeah. Um but just in some of this is a little more mom and pop. I mean, >> [laughter] >> Greenfield's not the most plugged-in, high-tech, everybody's on their email type of city. So, I can
imagine some people may not be checking >> Although, I would say >> once a week. >> Yeah. About half of those applicants are regular grant applicants. Yeah. So, certainly >> Okay. >> we'll be hearing we'll be hearing from people that are already know about these
systems. But, >> Right. Yeah. >> I feel like, you know, if we do the reminder, you know, like >> Yeah. >> Let's go, people. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would say I'm feeling fine to like extend the deadline. Like, I feel like >> Yeah. >> Oh, Chrissy, go ahead. Chrissy, just we're not always looking
at the screen. So, if you need to talk, jump in. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Um I would just offer up that uh again, one more week it sounds like and then we could all divide up if we each took a handful. >> Mhm. >> Susan, that might help you with the
phone calls if that's overbearing for you. [laughter] >> Cool. Thank you. >> Like, I know several of those people myself that we granted to that I work with like I was in with pride and military band. Like, I could easily reach out to them. >> Okay. >> That's helpful. >> Great. Could you tell us who the people who were who did respond?
>> The people who have responded are Hannah, >> [laughter] >> um Claire, William Art Street 3.0. I think that was like the sidewalk chalk. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Um the Greenfield Community Band,
um Danielle Lucier for the um Plein Air Club, and the Greenfield Makers Market. Um >> Did we give them half the money? >> We gave them half the money. >> What did Did they say we'll take it? >> Yeah.
>> Hello. >> [clears throat] >> And >> [laughter] >> Call the booth. >> Art Space. >> Great, huh? >> Cool. And then, the other one that we had already [clears throat] done of our the Art Walk. >> Indeed it is some of the more established or plugged in >> Yeah, people. >> some of those people.
>> can we text them outside of a formal channel? I Okay, I didn't know I hung out with somebody the other day and I didn't know if I could tell them. I was like >> Yeah, I don't think there's any problem with that. >> Now it's all out in the open. >> Okay, I will I will contact I can contact Mary Ann and let her know. >> She actually did so she filled out her
paper and then she took a photo of it which like I need the PDF like I purposely made these things like fillable PDFs like >> Yeah. >> the city can't just take like a crappy photo of your W-9, you know what I mean? So I I did write but she did she has been in
>> She's in the process. >> but she hasn't actually turned in the paperwork. >> Do you Yeah. Yeah. >> And then the other thing I will just say is that like the process with the city can take a while because they're on a every two weeks they cut checks. So like I would you know some of these
events are happening like now. But if they don't turn in their paperwork then they just have to wait. >> Yeah, then they get reimbursement. >> I need to do something for the Sunset on the Green. >> We'll talk about that next. >> Yeah, you know I would love to reach out to all of the businesses that got money cuz I wanted to talk to all of them
anyway as we talked about last time about like being aware of each other and collaborating and blah blah blah. So I could roll that into one outreach to business be like hey making sure you saw this. Also I'd love to talk about the fact that all three of you are playing music on the street. >> Right, yeah. Okay, I'm going to
um >> I know especially like Freedom Cafe like I have to text her after I email her to tell her that I texted her cuz she's serving every day and then she leaves to get kids and then she listens. So I'm always like hey I sent you an email. >> Totally. Yes. So I'm going to share with you right now which you probably already
shared on but it's um this tracking document that I'm using for everything for us and it has a tab that that grant tracking and it has everybody's info in there. So you guys can all >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Um So that's probably it for the grant
updates. >> Yes. >> And now on to Oh, go ahead, Bella. >> Can we decide what to do with the extra money for people who don't get back? >> Mhm. >> Or what the deadline is? Plan B, yes. >> You mean beyond the that week? We're
just giving them a week and then we're sending them an email that says never mind. >> I mean that's I'm just saying. >> I'm just saying. Let's talk about >> Yeah, yeah, I know we should talk about it. >> We have until July 1st. Right? >> And that's it. And then the money gets >> used or not. >> it just it it has to be encumbered by
June 30th, yeah. So like if they're not going to take the >> to agree to it. >> We encumbered all of it because we voted on it. So like >> Oh. >> Right? >> Now we're >> We count that our vote counts as encumbering it. >> Mhm. So then >> But I in the spirit of actually spending it on things that should be good and you should take place.
>> Yeah, that's a gray area apparently that our vote counts as, yeah. Follow-up question. Um if we don't hear back from some people, but we do hear from other people that we did not grant the full amount that they requested, do we offer them
>> more money? >> More money? >> I would go along with that. The question would be how do we decide who's getting what? >> There's going to be more people that we >> Yeah, I mean so basically we we partially funded so many people we're unlikely to claw back that much money.
>> It is possible too and and I don't mean this to sound at all snarky. I I mean this very factually. It is possible that some people are looking at the amount we sent them and trying to figure out if they can do what they were going to do instead. So that might be another reason that people are like >> Yeah. >> All the more reason to figure out what
to actually do with the money. >> Absolutely. Yeah. So do you guys think that then we need to know from these folks before the 30th whether or not they're taking the money, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So like what's the deadline is what? 20. >> Technically right now it's it's it's the
19th. >> The 19th. I mean I just don't see why >> Actually it's would be the 18th. The deadline would be the 18th and the funds we need to know what's happening with them by Tuesday the 30th. >> And in I mean in our follow up email we
could straight up pin it on the state. Be like we need to know by this date or we're not able to give it to you. >> Yeah, I think that's correct. >> And question on the them comers and I leave Chrissy you you should go If we go past that June 30th but with this
idea that the money is going to these things and then that money doesn't go away it just rolls over to the next year. >> It just stays in our account. >> Yeah, it stays in the account. I don't think it goes back to >> lose it but according to the Mass Cultural Council we are supposed to know
where every dollar is going. >> Right. Right. >> And I think to Bella's point we had a lot of good projects so if there's people who are still willing to do stuff this >> trying to make sure like how bad it gets if we don't >> Yeah, the main question is the logistics of it because we don't have another meeting before the money needs to be
encumbered. >> Mhm. Chrissy. I would say that um Susan I would make your deadline that Monday the 29th because we'll have to do a bill warrant then. Just so you know with with city wise instead of that Tuesday and then um I
would say that if if they don't respond then we just hold this money and this is something that either this group does maybe in the fall or the winter we put out another RFP um for people as well with whatever's left. Like it's not going to be tons of money, maybe a
couple thousand. I don't know what the number is of people who haven't responded. >> But it seems >> But theoretically that but then it is still not encumbered. Right. I mean we're it's just free floating money at that point. >> Right. I mean
>> We've done that before, um, Caitlin, if something didn't all get used up, and that's why we had, forget what the amount is, that little bit carried forward. >> Yeah, it's just always this weird gray area from the MCC about how they want it spent and recorded. And it almost seems
to depend on who the people are at the MCC at that time. You know. >> I mean, I have not been here for that long, but I haven't heard of that like them ever coming, you know, like Like right now, we have like $2,500 set aside for marketing, but that could be
a whole lot of different things, right? You know, so we could just have an idea, we should decide like are we going to grant that to other people? Are we going to hold on to it? Or like Christie's idea. >> I feel like the application indicated
how much was available in grants. So, if I'm an applicant sitting aside that I wasn't But like it's kind of shitty, it seems, if you're an applicant and we grant only a portion of what was stated in the application, and then you find out later there's going to be a whole other process to apply.
To me, that's not a good look to to applicant. >> I mean, I would >> Yeah. >> I would prefer that we could give it to the applicants who already applied. The problem is, how would we do it? Would we Would we vote, you know, on a priority
list now? And so that >> We have the spreadsheet. You know, we already decided who was a partial. Whatever the amount was, five >> divided equally between all the people on that list that didn't get granted their full amount. That That is their
hundred bucks or another two hundred bucks, but like money's money. >> I'm I'm not trying to make things more complicated. I just have a question for the Sense and on the green stuff, some of the things like with the planters and other things, the prices of stuff because of what's going on in the
economy now have gone up in a way that I was going to try and modify and like have not have those not be a part of it and I'm still trying to get some information about um electricity and some other things. So, it's like I >> [clears throat] >> I guess as someone who's never been through this process, it's like if my
amount changes, I no longer need the 500, I only need 250. Like what happens to that 250? Should I go ahead and talk about that now if we're thinking about the >> Yeah, why don't we jump to your number? >> Cuz like I just If we're going to be shoving money
around anyway. >> I mean, cuz your project was not part of the RFP. >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't know how this works. >> But if you are saying part of the money, you're saying what? That you would reduce the scope and some of the money would come back? >> Yes. Eventually. I mean, I can still try
and make it work with the planters. It just seems like not as easy bang for the buck and I just sort of felt like >> Yeah. So, you're saying they got too expensive, so you want to cut them? >> That's funny, yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What are you doing with the >> Oh, we talked about doing planters that
would be but we still didn't even figure out some of those things about like where they'd be stored. There was a lot of stuff that was like gray area, this is what we're kind of thinking, but I'm not sure about what the process is as I start to like really look into the logistics of things. Cuz I'm going through that for the first
time, so we don't need to take up the whole meeting for that. I don't want to if we have to do the vote on this, but I'm just throwing that out there. Maybe a few hundred dollars I might be able to shave off potentially from budget. If you were doing tables with the co-op and I've got a DJs are doing it for free. I
mean, I >> I would I would be comfortable personally with saying that whatever rolls back, we split evenly among the applicants that we gave all this money to. I think that that is the most equitable. I think
it's the least likely to make people feel like, "How come that one got more now and I didn't and even if it's $10, you know, we can >> Go ahead. I'd much rather just make a priority list. >> Well, >> that's going to take about as much time
probably as it took us last time, but also I don't I I don't think we agreed on the priorities. So, I think >> Susan, >> Was there anyone >> on the spreadsheet, how many of the 19, how many received partial funding? >> 13.
>> 13 received partial funding. >> Right. >> But you don't think that we could look at that list of 13 and rank the most impactful ones, the ones that we were all most excited about? >> We can try. >> How much money are we talking in the ones that haven't responded total? >> Uh I can't give you that number.
>> Okay. There's no >> And this is all this is all hypothetical, right? Absolutely. So, >> especially if we're we are on that, >> Right. You know. >> Right. >> Um we hope that people would wouldn't respond. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Is
the schedule of the events that are are and things we have funded? I mean, there's is there a way to be like the ones that are happening later in the year that if they were partially funded, it could just go to that that's based off of like calendar timing because if we're waiting to try and fund the events
that >> June, July. >> are currently putting in their submission and then they they fail to do so by the June 30th, then we can't fund certain ones that are time sensitive, but we could then divide the money evenly amongst the later. >> That feels unfair.
>> Yeah, I would say either we go through them and make a priority list or we do it evenly across the applicants. Um I I don't think I'd want to put other parameters on it that can seem arbitrary to the people who apply because even if
the even if their event has passed, it doesn't mean they don't have expenses that they still need to pay. >> If it's like $20, it seems like a lot of effort for you to go through to modify a contract to give people like 20 bucks more versus like a smaller number of events that might get $100. That's not a
lot of money. >> What does an investment look like? Like is it >> I I have to just do a new contract. >> Okay. So it is a whole >> It is It is It is >> pick one event to get all the extra money out. We could give it all to pride. It all any You know, like like a big >> would be a defensible
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Mhm. >> Or all to the mural project. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> I Also, one thing that just dawned on me, yeah, we said we're granting $10,625. Like is that is that considered
encumbered? >> Right. That's the gray area. Um >> Can we operate [clears throat] under that assumption? And then we don't neces- then we can take the time, see what happens, and then at our next meeting >> Let's come back to you and say
>> These are the three that didn't get back to me. What do we want to do with them? >> As you said, and in my experience, and Chrissy, maybe you can speak to that, too, and Anna, that they don't come after you. >> They don't. >> And to say like give us back that money. >> And and from a technical standpoint, if
contracts went out, that's encumbered. Because we can't like like in pro- you can't like >> We could go back now >> But it has a deadline. >> It has a deadline, but like on the back end of it, like something's still going to happen with it, but like in the eyes of the state, if we were like,
"Yeah, those contracts went out on >> Yeah. >> You know, are they going to come and be like, "Let me see every signature?" I don't know. >> [clears throat] >> Um I think probably >> What? >> If there's extra, we can do another round even after because it did it fell through. >> I don't want to do another round. That
does seem unfair to the people who applied and got partial money. If we had money left over, I would rather go through but not like spending all the time doing it right now it seems silly when there's a hole we don't laugh and we don't and and in fact they really have until the 29th. >> Yeah.
>> Um so for all we know we're spending time talking about this and everybody's going to say yes I want the money. >> Yeah. >> I I would rather just us make the leap forward and say yes it's encumbered. Good job us. >> Yep. >> And um at the next meeting we will know
whether or not >> Yeah. >> anyone didn't take this money and then we can go from there because for all we know it's going to be $100 or nothing. >> Right. >> You know, so um I think it makes sense if everyone's comfortable with that to just let it ride right now.
>> Yeah. If people respond >> And then in July we look at it again. >> Yeah. Sorry we took up the time for that. Sometimes you just have to talk it through. >> No, it's it's okay about it, right? It's part of our developing processes so >> Um so what I will do is I I will reach
out to everyone who has not gotten back to me letting them know that going with the like next Thursday is actually the deadline but in the back of my mind I know >> Tell them, yeah. >> Right that it's actually the 29th. >> for sure >> for sure >> And if I get to a point where I need
help I will email you guys and say hey here's a list of people I'm not hearing back from who do you know that you could try? Does that work for everybody? >> Yes. >> It's our plan? >> Yeah. >> Great. >> Do you mind if I don't wait to reach out
to businesses? >> You don't know. You don't have to. That's fine. You want to >> I have emails going out about other things to like some of these people. >> If yeah if you know one of the people on this spreadsheet feel free to remind them now and if they get reminded more than once because they know more than one person who cares. >> So some of them are going to hear it
from you and from me. That's fine. >> I'll say I'll just be like it's just because we want them to get the money. We do. >> Cool. All right. >> Excellent. >> All right, great. Um then, is there anything that you need to talk about for your >> I I don't know if we need to take up the
time here, but at some point I do need to talk to someone. It sounds like maybe you about like what the contracting process is, what you need for me. I know I've worked with Christie on the um the the application for the um the can
blinking over me. Permit, thank you. For the permit for the space. So, we have a date. Uh I have someone lined up to make the flyer. Um I have all the pieces in place, I think. I just need to start uh you know, really booking everything out
and letting the businesses around there know and [clears throat] >> I >> helping out these. >> In terms of like uh I think we should handle this as if this is a Crossroads Cultural District project in terms of like financials. So, like you can give me invoices that I will make sure they
get paid. >> Great. >> Rather than us granting you money for you to do >> I would much prefer that. >> I figured. >> That's great. So, then [clears throat] like if I'm the main person I'm paying at this point, and then I need to talk maybe about some of
the additional DJs. If I'm not spending money on planters, I was thinking pay for some of the other DJs who are not Michael to be present at the event. I think that would be nice. Um uh is Danielle is designing a custom flyer. >> Great. >> Um I really want her to do this in a way
that is like beautiful as she does. And ideally, I was hoping maybe it could go on the digital display. And I would also put it out on social media or whatever. Um so, I'm meeting with her soon to give me a loose quote. I do personally think she under priced herself slightly
um for what I want. So, I think I need to tell her more about like the art I want for it, and then we can kind of go from there. So, that would be like the first contract and pretty much only contract to set up outside of the >> I forgot tables and things. She would just have to send me an invoice. Perfect. Okay, cuz everything else I had
like line itemed. People have been like, oh, we can do that's we've got that, we've got that. So, if I don't have to spend money on those things, awesome. I may buy some tablecloths so it looks cute for the paintings that are going to happen. >> What is the date? >> Uh it's the last weekend or last weekend in
August. >> August? Wait, was it Sunday or Saturday? >> Saturday, I think. I can't remember. I'm sorry. >> The 29th, I'll look at my calendar. It's either the 29th 30th. I think if you asked for Sunday, so I think it's the >> I did ask for Okay, then I asked for
Sunday. >> That's not the harvest something? >> No, Saturday Saturday. Sunday's the one that I have a wedding. >> Yeah, the 30th I have you marked on my calendar. At 4:00. >> Okay. All right. Well, sorry that wasn't on there. We'll figure that out. >> The 30th?
August 30th? >> I think this was before that. Which is a Sunday. But it's I was trying to do like a >> When is harvest supper? >> I don't know when harvest supper is. I didn't look at that, but yes, let's do let's but yeah, that's not the same thing. Yeah,
yeah, yeah, let's make sure. >> I got my dates mixed up. >> We can get you DJs for pretty easy. Oh yeah, but we're using DJ equipment. >> The 22nd? >> Yeah, that's not a Saturday, I don't think. 22nd. >> 22nd or 22nd?
>> Okay, so it's the 22nd. >> Great. Um one of the other things we could think about as a project for that would love input from everyone, obviously collaborative on this, is like the plein air painting club will be painting the scene. And I think there could be some
really lovely pictures that come out of both the pies that are on the table as well as people picnicking on the ground as families with the pies and I was trying to think of a way to then encourage a display of the paintings that come from the event >> Somewhere here? We're showing at the library?
>> Um we're going to be looking to do some small shows at the co-op and the mezzanine in conjunction with um the arts walk. >> Okay, cool. >> I have to really figure out though we don't really I don't know that we actually have a hanging system so I have to figure out like how that would be but if you want to meet over there sometime
and >> Yeah, and we can loop in Danielle too who's agreed to just do that. >> club. We're We're already doing a show at the library. >> Okay, when is that? The show at >> In the fall I think. >> Okay. I know that she meant I mean I've gone
and painted with them but I haven't heard a >> Oh, the planet club is already on the library's calendar so that's good. >> Yeah, that's cool. >> Remember, okay. >> Okay, cool. >> So if it's after the event then it would work. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. So anyhoo >> Okay. >> Um that's the update I have and then I'm
I need to get in touch with uh Tracy Romano's. Um I feel pretty good about that their kids on my business partner's soccer team and um we need to find an electricity hookup cuz the electrical setup in the park won't be ready by the
time the event happens. So >> I want to see if they'll [clears throat] let you do it. >> Let us have the DJs there at right kind of outside of their um covered outside eating space. >> Doesn't that money have to be spent in this fiscal year for that work?
>> That's now by the parking benefits district not us. >> Oh, right. Okay. >> Yeah. >> So that's the the next piece I need to get that get that on and then just again connecting with the businesses around there to let them know it's happening and so like if they wanted if they're
not normally open then or if they wanted to um I've been [clears throat] talking a little bit with apartment one um but I didn't have the date locked in yet to It's on their radar. >> Yeah. >> And last ditch actually might be a They could be a good resource with equipment and things.
>> That's true. That's true. Yes. You can also reach >> I don't think they have a full PA. >> Do they have an outside outlet, do you know? >> When we When I wrote to them before, we always just used Miss Averill's phone. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's what I was thinking. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
Um doesn't matter to me. Um it's on my calendar to give this my much more of my mental effort starting next week. >> [laughter] >> And it is the 30th. We confirmed that Sunday the 30th, is that right? >> And that works for you. >> Yes, that works. >> Okay. >> Okay. There it is.
>> Sweet. >> Great. Um which can is a good segue into marketing money and how we want to use the marketing money. Um and um I can say in the past we have done uh
help me out Christian designed ads for the Recorder. >> Yeah, I have it here. I dug it out. Caitlyn, if you want me to handle this section. >> Yeah, yeah, great. >> Um so last year we used 2,500 of this budget for marketing. Um we did $690.
It's kind of a weird amount, but that was with Facebook and Instagram um ads running throughout the um event schedule. So as as long as um there was events, we we did this through the cultural district um page. Then we also
did RSI and WHAI um radio station ads. And then we did do a quarter page in the Recorder and a quarter page in the Gazette um that had the whole schedule of um events happening in the district.
Those are the probably the two that I'm not sure if we want to do. I know some people still do read the paper daily, but it It like most of the um response came from the radio and the social media posts. >> Did you have a Do we have a feeling
because I don't of how much we got from Hampshire County through RSI and RSI actually gets listened to all over the place, but the Gazette in particular is mainly read in Hampshire County, I would say. >> Um >> I don't know if we ever got any place or
information. >> No, I can tell you that the quarter page ad for the Gazette was $394 last year. Obviously, I haven't looked at pricing for this year. The Recorder last year was $285. So, it's about 100 bucks more.
But, RSI um was big and we had um I think last year Pride went down and interviewed like I get on-air interviews um with RSI and HCAI um with whoever we we want. But,
obviously, Pride's too late. >> Yeah. Mhm. Uh HCAI is really good about that. Go ahead. >> Um I'm curious how like what the Crossroads Cultural District's marketing outlets are
and how we sort of tie them together with Visit Greenfield cuz I feel like it'd be great if we were sort of channeling >> Those are the outlets. Those are the >> I I mean, like do we have a Facebook page? Do we have a website? Who's on the like who's managing the Facebook page?
Do we want to like bring Jonathan Mike Oh. >> Yeah, I know. >> No, it's me. I I I honestly forgot. >> Okay, are you Are you doing the cultural district? >> I do the Yeah. And and I and I'm I'm using the cultural district page to promote this art tour because >> Yeah. It needed something and yeah.
>> Great. This was like, okay, I'm going to When you post that So, there's a couple of Instagram accounts that I've seen seem to be pretty good right now about Western Mass events. I don't remember. One of them is it's like explore Western Mass and there's another one that's in [clears throat] tagging purposes. For
tagging purposes, I think it would be cuz the way social is these days, it is so hard to break through. So if you if there's already an account that's like getting good traction to just get on their list, all they do is put out these are the events in the area for the thing. I think that's like a really
hopeful >> Yeah. >> If we have connections to those accounts, all right. I mean that would be a Yeah. Yeah. And then I can also reach out to NEPM and see if they would promote stuff. >> That would be great. I I've reached out
to them, too, and I haven't heard anything. >> I have a friend who's the president. >> Nice. >> See what I can do for you. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> So >> Sorry. Just to go back really quick. Um I just can we like make a plan of how
we're sort of aligning assets? >> Yeah. >> That's all. >> And also what are we marketing? You know what I mean? Are we doing a list Are we doing a monthly list of events? Are we marketing what's already here? You know, check out
our public art. Are we you know, so >> Right. >> That's part of the focus of how is everything Yeah. work together. >> Cuz like Like we've put a lot of effort in the last couple of years By we I mean like the GBA and Susan and and Christian
before Susan on driving people to post their events on Visit Greenfield. >> Mhm. >> And there's a way on Visit Greenfield to like add something as a tag. So like when someone's put submitting their event, Crossroads Cultural District event would pop up as a way that they
tag it. So it's like this is downtown. This is the Crossroads Cultural District. I'm a member of Amuba. And then the event shows up and it has all those tags, but it's still on one site. >> Right. And but it we're also we need to the people that we need to train the people that are putting in their own
events to do that. >> Well, that's why I'm asking is because we could send out a thing that says like here's the way to promote your event and make sure you post it on Visit Greenfield and tag the Crossroads Cultural District and >> I would say >> And I have to approve all the things. >> So like I also sometimes I'm in there and I'm like, "Oh, they could have used
this tag and they could have used this tag." It depends on it depends on how busy I am. Sometimes like I'll look at that inbox and there's like 60 of them and I'm just have to like >> Well, we write an SOP at least for the our grantees. Right. Saying, you know,
>> to do by getting a >> Yes. So here's the logo [laughter] that you have to use. Here's where you should post and I there's no reason they wouldn't want to. They're all should all be wanting to promote their things. Here's how you post something to Visit Greenfield. Make sure to tag this, this, and this and um so that we have that
like a one sheet that we can give out to to people that are doing stuff in the district. Um >> Yeah. >> When are those flyer kiosks going to be done? >> Give them time out. Yes, they are. >> And it's like your flyer. >> [laughter] >> I was going to say something about that.
>> I can I can update you on that. Um I don't know if you walk by the end of the common, but they have holes in the ground and hopefully next week it will go up. It's in we had to fix it cuz it was received damage. Ed, who's our city electrician, is also a very handy carpenter. He fixed it for us cuz it
would have been a nightmare to try and send it back and get a new one. So it looks fabulous as always. Um And uh so hopefully next week cuz it weighs about 500 lb so we need some equipment to stand it up. So that should be in next week. >> Which makes me think we have not as yet
figured out how we are going to monitor and um monitor that, you know, who gets to put things up. What is the sign going to say, you know, um >> Well, it's is that really within the it's not in our purview now. >> Unless we want it to be, Kristy.
>> I mean, that was just a public interest. I think that we can have whatever we want at the top of those signboards. I don't think Hannah's going to object. Hannah's on the parking um district with me. Um but we can just have that at the top of the kiosk. We just have to have to figure out what it is and then we just put it in there.
>> Yeah, that's my thing. What's the language? You know, events, downtown events or you know, >> Yeah. Budget for those flyers, I think would be good to come out of the advertising budget because we had We want to have flyers for all of those
events as they happen and for someone to put them up, I would think. >> All of the events that we're granting? >> I would think so. I think we want this to feel like, "Hey, we funded all these things." Like >> I don't think we I I think there was Yes, a list. A flyer that is for the event, that's the responsibility of the
grantee. That should have been in their budget. >> I know. >> I >> I don't know. I think it would be cool if it was like a list of events and it was branded somehow with Visit Greenfield and the cultural district. >> Yeah.
>> And I And it's not a like >> You don't want so many lists that no one's not going to remember, but if you're like, "Here are the things happening this month by the you know, and it's you know, I think that we want to start having people see that." >> Yeah, be a monthly list. And then everyone can put up the flyers that
they've made, but I think the you know, I think >> There's only three or four things per month. Like you need three things per month anyway. It's not like a >> But I also think we could do that. Anybody having an event downtown >> Yeah, yeah. I think it's a yes and it's just more more visibility. Yeah, it's
better for this committee. >> Then the question becomes, who is policing it? You know, I walk by you know, anybody who walks by and looks at the whiteboard >> I mean, no policing as little policing as possible. We're not paying for it. So we're not Right? >> No, but what I mean is we're going to
get things for I'll mow your lawn for $50. >> I mean I just feel like it's like I just don't want it to be a garbage board. >> I don't know if it's our responsibility to do that. I mean people the the the ecosystem of the flyer, you know,
anarchy will will will work itself out, I believe. >> Well, speaking as as someone [laughter] who attempts to maintain the co-op flyer, all it does is people cover up a flyer that you want people to see with another flyer. >> But that's private property, too. But you're not
>> I think that probably this isn't our issue with the district and just looking at time, I think maybe we should go back to the >> You're right. It's uh we only have 20 minutes left, but >> But who would make these flyers if we made flyers for these events is a question I would have. Like are we paying a graphic designer? We have money.
>> Hold on. That's what I'm >> I don't understand, yeah. >> You mean like our list of things we're doing like Yeah, if we're doing like once a month, these are the >> I think who's doing it. The same >> The same way that River Culture does >> Yeah. >> highlighted like funded by the Cultural
District and >> All we need is a template and then it's going to be no work, you know. >> Yeah, but someone has to put it together and then print it or >> If you want to do it, I'll do it. I can do it. >> flyer and to make it look cool. >> Yeah, I think well, I am a graphic designer. >> Okay. >> Okay.
>> Um >> Is that rain belt? >> So what's that? You want it to look matchy? Yeah. So that Yeah, yeah. >> We can come up with a template and then we can present it at a future meeting and then we can >> And I can send it around. I can send versions around to people. We just can't
discuss it via email. I can send it to you ahead of a meeting, but >> Possible to build the template in Canva so we can share that with the recipients and say here's a template. >> If that can't, the problem is Canva Pro versus Canva >> The free Canva is pretty pretty open.
>> But I have Canva Pro. >> You can share with non-free with accounts and it's fine. >> All right. Um, the other thing that you had said you wanted to talk about was our logo. >> Oh, yeah, that was on the agenda, but yeah. >> Um, that falls under marketing to me.
>> Yes, it does. Our logo I do not like our logo. It was designed by a previous committee member and it kind of slipped through the cracks. It doesn't function well Facebook. Yeah. And I think we need to It's not really a
logo. It's like this, you know. It's like a picture. Yeah. >> Oh, oh yeah, that's not a logo. >> It's just a It's just a It's a graphic. So >> Um, you know what it looks like. What's been used on the hanging banner things on the light poles?
>> They're all different. Well, no, oh, they all have the same I've designed those. They all have a poet seat on them. Which It is nice. The conversation we have had in the past is the confusion about the poet seat not actually being downtown. Right.
>> It is not downtown. I mean, if the district is a specific geographic place, it would be nice to have even just like the you know, suggestion of a street grid that reminds like >> That was the one that was deemed not
fitting up in that was changed. So, I am happy to try to also come up with a couple of proposals for that that focus on the fact that it's two roads. Right. You know, it doesn't have to look like the roads that are here. It's just two roads. It's the crossroads. Um, and I mean, it's really named after
the crossroads of 91 and Route 2, so which is not in the cultural district, but that's the idea of it. >> That's the two roads. >> Hm? >> That's the two roads in the logo. >> But that's not a logo. You could not, for instance, reduce that down in black and white and make it look like something.
Yeah. It's a It's an illustration. >> Yeah. >> Um I like the light bulb, too. >> The light bulb's cute. >> It It's our nature something in it. Just for the nature. >> [clears throat] >> Uh there's not a lot of nature in the
cultural district, I got to say. >> He's not the first to say. >> I'm not talking about a place with really no nature. There's views of of hills and trees. There's stuff around. >> trees, but it's not the first thing I think of when I think of downtown Greenfield. Although the trees have gotten really big in 20 years.
>> Let's see on it. >> Um So uh we're not going to be able to figure out exactly what how we want to market things this week, but I I um I think that we all seem to be on the same page about talking about a monthly list.
>> Mhm. >> If I can come up with this template and put in the the you know the the uh I guess it'll be July at this point by the Well, actually, no. Our next meeting is already >> in July.
>> It's into July, though. It's It's >> Yeah. >> Wouldn't that be unfair to all of the events we that would have already happened? >> Well, I mean >> Here's the question. >> Um God, I hate that we're a city committee. It It just can't brings us so badly
because we can't discuss things outside of this one hour a month. >> But this is like the one meeting in my life I feel like I would do every two weeks. >> I don't know. I think it's hard for people to you know I could probably, but you know, it's it's We could meet
you know, once on Zoom and once in person if that made it easier or more palatable. >> Can those be sent and they can't be sent over email. There can't be communication over email. >> There cannot. >> Right. >> The only time we're allowed to communicate as a group
or like even more than a couple of us is in these meetings. Which is why it sucks to be a city committee. And many cultural districts are not. >> Which starts a conversation. >> Well, I don't The city is not
I tried to float this I think before you were here Susan and the city was not really jazzed about not having it be a city committee. What I don't know is how the cultural mass cultural council feels about a committee rebelling and [laughter] saying we don't you know
>> Yeah, I mean yeah, you guys could look into that. You would then you would lose me. >> Right. >> But then I could just be a member which I would prefer to actually be able to have a say in things. >> Yeah. >> So Um you know, yeah, we'd have to have a a treasurer and all that stuff.
>> Can we just meet in two weeks then? >> If everyone can meet in two weeks. Can everyone meet in two weeks? >> Yes. >> I can actually. >> Yes, I think I think so. I mean >> What is two weeks? >> The summer is June. >> I should actually look at my calendar before I go blabbing. >> Yeah, yeah. We can meet in two weeks.
>> Two weeks from today is the 25th. It is actually the day of Daniel's show. Um I could meet. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> That is the day before our tour. >> Yeah. >> Um >> It's the night of our fireworks trivia.
So I probably will not meet. Plus camp training, yeah. >> And I don't have school constraints. So I could meet earlier. >> Yeah. >> Later. >> I can meet anytime. >> I can meet anytime. I can meet earlier.
>> But Chrissy, could you meet earlier? >> I can't meet between 1:00 and 2:00. That's basically my only parameter. >> I can meet at 11:00. I can meet at 11:00 and squeeze in 11:00 to 12:00. >> Hannah can't do 11:00 12. Is that the only one? >> Um
Yeah, we have CPR 8:30, 9:00 meeting, 9:30 meeting. Um Can somebody hear me? >> 1:30 is the afternoon really >> training um Yeah, and Kelly's not here to see if I
can disappear. What What is two to maybe three? >> I can do it. Two to three on the 25th. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> As long as you all come to trivia. >> I can't.
I have to run catch a bus. Sorry. >> No. We still have a quorum and you will get information about the next Yeah. Bye. >> Bye, Steph. >> Take an hour. >> But that's >> As long as it takes me.
>> Susan, will you send a hold over? >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I'm doing it right now. >> So, what my goal will be is to make template and send it out before the next meeting so we can make a few of them so that we can say
yes, no. >> Social media ads? >> For the calendar that we're talking about, for the listing. Yes, it would be for all the things. It would be for a flyer. It would be Yeah. And uh we can use it for social media
etc. >> Mhm. >> What is the ex- >> Well, we don't know yet. >> Yeah, we don't have to decide what the etc. is. >> One thing that, you know, like I understand the frustration of like, oh, this is going to take us a while, but this is setting us up for to being that much more prepared for next year.
>> Yeah. >> Being able to >> are starting from scratch. Yeah. >> Kind of. We're looking at what we did in the past, but we We necessarily want to do that. We want to So, >> What's the process for getting on the digital display? Can we add that in addition to saying, "If you're posting
on social media, you >> There There isn't a um >> giving the grantees information on how to promote their events. >> They email me. Yeah. >> We want but we want to let them know like in whatever we write. We would want them to know that. >> They would just They can just send me a
flyer that needs to be you know like 9 by 16. >> Okay. >> 9 by 16. >> Or it's 1080 by 19. What the kiosk? The one on the common. Yeah, which is finally back. I finally People like it. >> Yeah. >> People love it. >> I like that selfie wall there.
>> Yeah, I love that selfie wall. >> I mean photos from that thing. >> So funny. I'm jealous of your Instagram photos. >> [laughter] >> I should one day. >> Right. >> Maybe. >> So, yeah. So, I will and logos. I will get something to you
by a few days before the next meeting so that we can talk about it and it with any hope with any luck either say yes, this works or we need these couple of changes and then and and it's not like we're locked into stone. If we can get one out there, we can
always adjust it you know later. Yeah. Um >> I'm happy to draft like a marketing guide. >> Yeah, you do like Same. Send me the same. >> Yeah. >> If you could do the same thing and do something like that send it a couple you know by a couple days before the next
meeting so that we all have that stuff to look at. >> that's like the SOP. >> Yeah, yes, right. You're talking about the SOP. >> Well, I mean I guess I'm thinking about it more as like an an invitation to the grantees. It's just like when you're marketing your event, don't forget this outlet and this outlet and this outlet.
>> That's an SOP. It's It's got a nicer name. >> SOP, yeah. SOP. Yeah. >> And then we can we could always rework it but like this is specifically for these people but then >> yeah. But honestly I it shouldn't be really very different for those people than anybody else who has an event that is getting
>> Yeah. Like ahead of Bayfest we sent out a thing to like all the market vendors and all the people that's like tag these people, post this. >> And it sucks that they just made it that you can only tag five things on Instagram. >> What? >> Yeah. You can only add to five tags now. >> Oh. Why?
>> Because they suck. >> Hashtags? >> Yeah. >> Oh. >> You can put as many as you want but only five only you can only use five live hashtags. >> Hm. >> That's really weird. >> I don't think think the algorithm is kind of down playing it. >> Yeah.
Yeah. That's part of it. They're like >> That's what I was told. >> They want it to be the content that's driving the interactions and not the hashtags. And his young interns told told me that it that is the one >> We tested it. >> Yeah. >> The was a good takeaway from that. So I
don't use them anymore. >> Hashtags don't do anything. >> I use hashtags as a snarky comment. Like I have a hashtag that's not and no one has ever made before. >> Some of them are really long. >> Yeah, exactly. They're always like full of little words. Inside joke. >> Yeah. It's like no one else is using it. Like
>> Um And so this will I hope this will also we don't really don't have time to do uh the last thing and we don't want to do it without test but we should be able to talk about it in the next one which is how what changes are we going to make in in in give in giving money or
doing our own projects next year or a kind of a symbiotic relationship where we come up with the idea of a project and then ask people to say how would you do how would you do that project? >> Is that for our meeting in two weeks that we should be prepared to talk about that or >> I don't think we're not going to finish it but I think we can start talking
about it. Yeah. >> Yeah. The meeting next time is really to go over these marketing materials. >> Right. >> And if we have time after that then I think we can start talking about right now, what are we thinking big picture and then we can start narrowing it down.
Because we want to have it all in place by the time we find out how much money we're getting. Not even getting it, just yeah, when we know how much we're getting so that we can hit the ground running with whatever it is we're doing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah,
so next next week is going to be oh, I have a charley horse. It's going to be the logo, the marketing, but also deciding on if we don't get a response from these handful of people we're passing out, right? >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Just want to make sure. >> Yes. Thank you for that. >> Yeah, thanks for the reminder. >> In fact, that's kind of the number that and the and the how are we going to promote it because we're going to want to start promoting it ASAP. Yes. >> And we always forget about Michael's
radio station, so I'm sure he could do stuff for us, too. >> No, we just assume we can. That's the problem. >> [laughter] >> Well, it's commercial free, but we can sponsor it. >> People could be like, "Hey, these are the cool things I'm looking at this week." >> Yeah.
>> [laughter] >> Yeah, if we're going to give money to anyone >> a cell DJ that comes on and plays like one or two songs and then just talks about Let's all do it. >> Wait, what? >> I got to go. All right. All right, so we're going to go I make a I will take a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> I motion.
>> Does anyone second? >> Us. Second. >> I vote yay to adjourn. >> Yay. >> Yay. >> Yes. >> Yes. Thanks, everybody. See you in two weeks. >> I miss you. All right, guys.