Welcome to the July 10th meeting of the cultural council. We'll start off with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. So, before we get going, um we have some new members here with the council. So, we're going to do some brief introductions uh during the roll call. So, council members, when you
introduce yourself, please be sure to turn on your microphones so that everyone can hear you. Uh, my name is Rocky Graziano. I've been a member of the council now for one year. I've been a River resident for 5 years. Um, other than this, I serve um I'm going blank
today. It's been a long day. I serve on the board of directors of the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation and by day I am um the head of learning for a robotics company. I will go to my right over to you. Uh good afternoon. My name is Laur
Logan. I am a New River resident as of a year ago, July 8th. And uh very happy to be a part of the cultural council and um inputting whatever I may be able to share with the talents I have in the arts and um
I'm going blank too. So that's basically it. Thank you. Thank you so much, Lark. And then we'll go over to the end and then we'll work our way back towards me. Thank you. Hello everyone. Uh good evening. My name is Haime Himenez. Um I am um we've been
a Riviera resident for about 30 years. Uh during the day I am the assistant vice president of committee engagement and workforce development for North Suffach Mental Association mental health agency. And that's that's me. uh looking forward to participating in this in uh
this council in supporting the city of River. Hi, my name is Debbie West. I'm a lifelong REA resident and a new member to the council. Um I'm a office manager and parallegal um in my day job and
looking forward to be part of this um committee. Thank you. Hi, my name is Joseph Hayitz. I live in the Beachmont neighborhood. I've been a River resident for about 13 years and this is my going on my third year on the
cultural committee. During the day, I am a librarian with the Winthrop um library. And uh when I'm not on the cultural committee, I am a security guard for Rock Venues in the Boston area.
Thank you all so much. Uh I am taking notes as well. We did call to order the meeting at 5:34 p.m. The agenda for today is to elect uh positions within the council. Um so we do need a new chair um since the position has been
vacant. um a vice chair and likely I think we need a secretary as well to start off. Maybe those will be the three positions we discussed. Um secondary we need to uh take a look at the priorities for the grant process. Um I do have up what is in the portal with the mass
cultural council that I will review for the team here and then provide afterwards. Uh then we're going to review what the grant um application process and key dates are so that that is public knowledge and then we can talk about next steps which I think should
include us coming together with an agenda for the August 17th meeting uh at 6 p.m. which will be located right here. So the first thing that we'll we'll start off with uh team is the position elections. So, I think the best uh way to start that off is just to have an
open dialogue here uh with anyone that has if you have a strong desire or need to express um your interest in any of the the three positions I think that we're looking at to fill right now. So, I'll open the floor for that.
I do have Rocky. Okay. Just a question or a statement. I'm still taking care of a lot of legal things in New York, so I'm going to be away a lot. Um, I will be out of town from the third week of August to almost the end of September. Okay.
So, I just want to put that out there. Thank you for sharing that with us. I think you shared that with us prior, so we'll make a note of that. Okay. Thank you. I think that the the goal, if I'm not mistaken, is for us to come together with a cadence of meetings that make sense um for the public u in
order to have a quorum, we need to have three members present to be able to vote and move forward when you know what might be a better use. I'm going to go out of order here with the agenda. I'm going to go over the key cycle dates so everyone on the team can understand when we actually do need to be present. uh because really the key is when we have
the the applications and we have to make the financial decisions is when we really do need the full quorum. So I'm going to go over out of order for with that. Um I do apologize that I'm reading from my phone. I hate when people do that but I'm asking for forgiveness as I go through it. Um so based on the uh
notification that we received from the mass cultural council um key dates that we need to know that the August 28, 2025 is when the cycle will start. um that is when we need to uh come together as a group and confirm what our guidelines and priorities will be. We'll review
what we have in the system from last year, see if we want to make any significant changes and then the chair at that time, whoever is elected in that position can submit them through the portal. Uh anyone that doesn't have access to the portal, we can ensure that that happens. I think that we just have to send our email off to the council and
then we can do a brief training around that. It is it is unfortunately Excelbased. Um but it is pretty um it is pretty easy. I'm not an Excel person either um but I'm able to navigate through it. Um and then you also can look at the applications through a manual process. So we'll go through that
with everybody and ensure everybody is on the same page. But just to throw out there that is the first milestone that we will need to meet. Um the application cycle will open for residents that fall and uh rever residents that you know hit
within our priorities or or or focus on that on September 2nd. On Thursday, October 9th, that's when we need to um have our financial report due. That's the deadline to submit our financial report within the system. Wednesday, December 31st is when our
denial notifications are due and grant decisions. Um the report and council final report will be due on January 16th of 2026. So once again major milestones coming up would be our our priority setting for
August 28th. The cycle will open on September 2nd. The financial report is due on October 9th which I do believe falls in the responsibility of the chair. Uh and then or if we elect a treasurer. I think at this point let's let's start with the three positions and then move forward
with that. um if that's within within quorum or guidelines, we can always um you know come back and amend that. And then October 16th being the date that the applications will close. It appears that the allocation amount listed within the portal, if you all bear with me.
I'm not used to having my two screens, so that's going after me. I believe I saw the grant allocation was around $41,000, but we can discuss that when we get closer to it. So, um, thank you, Lark, for that note around your availability. I'll open it back over to the floor as to anyone that has an
interest in in in taking on one of the leadership roles. Okay, I would have to say that um, no specific interest right now. I think it's important for us to consider someone with longevity and um familiar
with the process. So, I would like to put up your name for chair if you if that's something that you're interested in. I would be definitely open to being vice chair and supporting you 100%. Um and we can work together. Uh that would be my my suggestion.
I second that um nomination. Uh Rocky is very knowledgeable of the process um and he sat under the former chairs um and he was able to navigate the websites with no problems whatsoever
um and deal with the contacts with no problem um and he is very capable as a teacher for all of us. I agree. So um thank you all for your confidence in me. I do appreciate that. I will be, you
know, I think it's uh if the if the council thinks that that is the best option, I uh for right now, I will certainly um accept that. However, I want to be very transparent about my availability. I think I've been very clear about that. Um I am, as I
mentioned, on the board of directors for the Miss Massachusetts scholarship program. I don't think that's a conflict at all because of I'm not I'm not treasurer anymore. I'm not dealing with any finances. Um, Haimey, I think that I would need a strong vice chair and as long as we have people partnering there and then maybe another individual from
the three of y'all, uh, or you, I'm sorry, I'm using my my lingo here. I y'all is my catchall so that I'm being genderneutral and inclusive. I am not from the south. I'm from East Boston. Um, as long as I think we have strong people in place to go through the next
steps, I will happily accept um the position and work with Steve and and Lonnie on whatever the whatever I don't know to learn. Um, so I think we have to make a motion for that. So, I think the motion was made by Haimey.
Joe seconded the motion. Um, and then I think we I'm like I'm a little out of practice at this. All in favor? Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi. All right. Congratulations to me. Wasn't expecting that, but thank you. Um, so then I'm going to make a motion
now uh for Haimey to be vice chair. Um, do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Okay. Yes. I love that we're all getting used to the microphones. Look at us. Clark, you're doing great. Motion passes.
Congratulations, Amy. Um, so I think the next position would be secretary. Um, I'm taking notes now and I'm probably doing a okay job with that. Okay. All right. You can all hear me. I'm a loud typer out there in TV land.
Okay. Um, is there a member of the board that would uh a member of the council that would like to take on the secretary position? Um, I'll take on that position. All right. So, I make a motion to nominate Debbie West as secretary of the
council. Do I have a second? Second. All right. All in favor? I I We all got new jobs. Congratulations. Okay. Um I will check as I will check through the I will spend more time prior to our
meeting on August 17th to ensure that we are in compliance. Uh we may need a treasurer and other positions. So, I think Joe and Lark there might be we might be able to find positions where everyone um we don't have to be everyone having a title because we're all valuable and we're all be key members of
this process as we move forward. So, um um we'll move forward with those items and I'll go into the website and make those changes. Um Debbie, I'll take the notes this time for you. I got you. I got you. All right. So, to Haimey
nominated me. That was the motion. This it was seconded by Joe. We all voted all in favor with Haimey. It was me and it was seconded by I think it was Was it Lark that seconded that? And then
all in favor and then the same thing with Debbie. I made the motion. Who seconded the motion for Debbie? I did. Lark second and all in favor. All right. Thank you, friends. I will send a recap out to everybody include Ashley on it.
so that everyone has this and this is part of the record. So I am going to share now and I apologize that I did not get this out to you all earlier. We will um I will have hard copies going forward. The priorities of the coun cultural
council and I think it's important for us when we're thinking about this. These were the ones that were submitted on August 31st of 2024. Bear with me. This is what will guide us as we go
through the process of reviewing the grant applications to ensure that they are um in line with with what our approach is for 2020 um for fiscal year 2026 I think right Joe if I'm not mistaken keep me honest here keep me
honest here bear with me I thought I had it up holds out there in TV land our priorities um we actually already have FY26 six local priorities but we can I'm I'm assuming we can revise these priority will be given to the to
proposals I'm going to read verbatim and then we can discuss from rever residents uh proposals that benefit underserved populations and lesser herd groups proposals that prioritize rever youth
including at risk proposals that are about our local history and or serve serve our local community, promote education and mitigation regarding local environmental issues, involve new art forms or humanities
programs that would be beneficial to the community from new applicants and that that are live events rather than virtual. So those were the priorities. Before I go into the guidelines, are there any comments,
questions or statements about what I read to you? Yeah. nothing that popped up. Are you looking at it too on the website? Is that what you're doing? Um, so it is if you go to masscultural council.org and then you find our local council um
rever you'll see them listed there too. And I'll throw this um and haime and everyone I'll make sure that I have all your emails so that I can make sure that we we're all in in step with that. The other thing that is important is to know what has been
funded in the past. Um, every organization that receives any funding from us is supposed to have a follow-up report of when the program existed or some sort of who attended. um you know success is not
defined by one parameter alone but that the event actually happened and the money is just not like sitting on a table somewhere and never got used. Um, so may perhaps in the future we could kind of review some of those things or
positive things or so our TV land will know some of the things that we do fund and have funded and um would like more funding for or more project ideas for
I think you bring up a good point, Joe, and I think that that's something that when we look at um the proposals for next year and we look you know now there are more of us that can work together on that that that is something that we look at as a requirement of of the process after postevent that we have a report um
something that came up to last time while we're talking about it and I think we're all very busy people but when we're looking at the proposals I think one of the things that I'd like to see um now as chair I feel like all of a sudden now I get to throw things out there is that we try to divide and
conquer where we can be at a minimum of a few events each. Like I I know that I attended the Pride event, I've attended the Porchfest, I attended both the winter festival. I'll I think most of us will probably be at Sand Castle Festival, Sand Sculpture Festival, which isn't one of our events necessarily, but
it's still something within the city that we look at some of the events. Lark, I know you went to uh that event recently and you had a great experience. Had a wonderful time. Oh, it was great. So, if we can look at when we're looking at the at the proposals, that shouldn't be a condition of us uh accepting or
declining it, but look at while we're doing that, I want us all to think through like which are the ones that we'll commit to as an organization and as a council attending. um you know, a lot of them might be during the day and that might be a little challenging, but um even a followup afterwards to ask how the event went, even if it's a phone
call or a quick email. So that to Joe's point, we're documenting the great work that we are hoping and know that is happening within the within the city as a result of the the money that we're able to to grant.
That's a great idea. I think following through and trying for us to attend as many as we can or splitting up and like you say conquer, you know, divide and conquer and try to go to some of those events. I went down to the um pride event too which was a great event
earlier that day. The other thing is these are great great um events for PR. I don't want to steal the spotlight on that, but to for other people to know that we exist um and we're there for additional information.
Um like the porchfest, we did not fund it personally, but it's a great cultural event which in the future we may decide to fund part of it. Um, sand castle contest. We had discussed this before. Steve had brought it up. That might be
an a time when the most people assemble that they'd find out about us or we'd find out about them. It works both ways. Um, media is not just on your laptop. Media is shaking hands. It's it's getting to know people and getting to
know their needs. Um, you never know who the next person who is going to make a proposal is. You don't know where every artist is living in Revier. Um, our job is also to help kind of bring some of those artists forward um, into the
spotlight and help them to thrive in Revier. Thank you very much for that point, Joe. I think that that is well stated. Um, one of the things that I'm going to do in advance of our August 17th meeting. You can review it while you're running around doing all those fabulous things.
Um, I just downloaded the local um, cultural council guidelines. I will attach those in an email. I think it would be really ideal. I I'm on a learning curve just as well. I sat here with Joe last year. Uh, but I think if we all could just like take a look at it, review it, we have some time so that
we're all understanding the guidelines at the same point. um so that we can keep each other honest as a newer a new team and a newer group that wants to do the right thing for the organiz for the for the city. I keep on thinking I'm in private sector in the city now. Hi. Um
so I do have that. I will share that with uh everyone via email as well with the uh the minutes that I'm taking for today so that we can be well informed with the choices and decisions that we'll make in the in the current in the fall. Yes. Lark,
can you hear me or do I need to push this? No, you're good. You have it on. So, if you see the red, if you see the red, you're on. Oh, okay. Um, I was just going to say even though I'll be away a lot now, I know going through the website with the MCC, LCC, all of that that there are
some things where you can't do them virtually. But if you're having a meeting, I can always join you either on Zoom or FaceTime. I mean, I'm just there taking care of legal stuff involving my house on Long Island. So, um
I will um take that as an action item to see what I'll work with Ashley from um the city clerk and see what we're allowed to do and what the capabilities are within the room. Even if I can just put you on my laptop. Sure. I mean, I I apologize for my lack of availability. It's just I'm just deal
I'm dealing with my parents estate and it's it's a lot. So um it you you will never have to apologize for lack of a availability because I understand that completely and that is a very important um activity that you have to take part in. So we will we will we will
definitely figure out times that we can get you for the especially I think when we vote on the proposals. I think you do need to be present if I'm not mistaken. I have to look at the bylaws. I think so. Yeah. So we'll have to make sure that we're all and that will be team what I would hope that we're going to do. So, I'm going to start writing down here
like an agenda for next time. Um, is us making sure that we're all on in line with the meetings that are coming up in the fall, especially for the process. um so that everyone can be present because especially the night that we do and Joe
will remember this the night that we actually go through the applications we might need multiple meetings because if we have last year we had a manageable number of meetings and enough funds to be able to fund the majority if not all of the projects so that wasn't necessarily a challenging decision that
might not be the case this year we might have to make some difficult decisions uh so we might have to figure out how we're going to divide and conquer when we go through that. Last year, what we did, we went through and we just agreed on which projects we were going to move forward on one meeting and then the second
meeting, we sat down and we actually determined what the funds would be and that that one was a longer one that was at uh I think it was at two hours for that one. So, we'll take a look at the scheduling for that when we get to um our meeting in August. Another thing that I think that we we discussed as a
council last year and um there wasn't a ton of traction on, there were two things. one was um having an actual event which we thought we were going to be able to get together and then with changes the miss it was the Miss River Beach contest but then with changes in the council and things that went different that didn't happen so I think
that starting to think about what events we'd like to fund with the with the monies that we have for next year I know Joe has been passionate about doing some things for seniors at the senior centers I I wholeheartedly agree that might be an approach that we think about for the fall considering that we do have money
allocated for that I think it's a little over2 $2,000. I pardon me for not having the exact amount on top of my head for us to be able to do something. So, that's one. The other thing is how are we going to advertise that grant applications are open
so that more groups, individuals within RER apply for it, right? Yes. As we said, if we're going to keep the priorities that we stated before, um, one of them is, uh, to look at new applications and new
groups that we can bring in and provide funding so that they can get their activities off the ground. So, in order to do that, we have to think about how we're going to market that. So, I do want to throw that out there. Yes, Lark. When we met um at uh Fine Line,
was it mentioned about possibly getting an intern who could handle um like social media or or getting information like that out there? Did that come up? Yes, because we had discussed it at a meeting last year that that might be an approach that's something that we should probably explor explore. uh whether it
is I I I don't know enough about the educ uh what what what internships are available for high school students in river but there might be uh some college student that's going majoring in marketing or something that might be interested in so we'll take that as a as
a note to discuss further or it could be an a position within the council where we have a social media manager that manages an Instagram account again don't want to step out of line here. I'm sure there are guidelines with it being a public account that we'd have to follow. So, I think a little bit
more research uh needs to be done before we just sort of start it. I don't think we can just go on and do it. Do we um do we have ability to gain support through the community liaison here at the city of Riviera to to do more marketing or do marketing with them or have us participate in some of their
tableling events, things like that. I think that's a good approach that we should probably explore. I'm I'm not sure what is I mean I can speak to what happened last year and I think again we were forming to get our group together which is now has has changed a little bit as well. Uh so figuring out what is
allowed I I'm I'm pretty sure we can we can definitely at least promote it through an through an email blast. Debbie I think you might have a little bit more context. You're nodding your head over there. I usually contact Maddie from the community liaison's office and we we stay in contact because of my you know daytime
your daytime position. So, would you take that as a as an action? Maybe you could research or or check check with Maddie about what the process would be for that. Yeah. One of the conflict of interest we had is one of our cultural um board, Lonnie,
worked at the high school, so she could not technically solicit high school kids to be members of the cultural board. Um, so somebody else could do that. They do do internships. They do community work at the high school. I do know that. But
how many um students opt to do this? I do not know that information. So, we'd have to go through the principal the high school to see if anybody would be willing to work and they could sit on the committee with us here in the chambers um to be in the chambers and
kind of to help with the media. I think that is great because then you bring another generation of people to leadership. um down the line somewhere and it's it's great resume fodder for them. So it
works both ways. Yep. I So I'm adding that to So on the agenda for next meeting, we're going to discuss and confirm our availability for the meetings for the fall, especially when it comes to grant decisioning. We're going to discuss marketing um
grant applications being open as well as a social media. I'm going to put manager slashin intern position. The requirements uh I will reach out to the cultural council as
well as Ashley to see um if we can start an Instagram page if that's allowed, what what is the criteria for doing that um and who has to run it. May I add also the I don't know and excuse my I don't know how it worked last year but when we actually dividing
and conquering and reviewing applications it was there a process of like internal communications for us to stay connected if there's a question we want to ask the console like I don't know a group a WhatsApp group something was there something like that so it's thank you for asking that
question so we we have to um we have to decide on everything in the public forum like this right here um We also have to be um pro uh publicize it so people can come and speak uh if they want to advocate for like while we're while we're doing that. So the process that we
had last year was everyone at least reviewed it on independently because we'll all have access within the portal. So once the applications closed you'll have access to uh both a spreadsheet Excel if you're an Excel person um or you can actually see each individual response. And I think it's really
powerful to spend the time on each individual response because individuals may upload additional documentation um whether it be a financial report, a plan, uh videos, all types of things. So looking at the individual application within the portal will allow you to see all that whereas the Excel spreadsheet
really just kind of gives you a highlight. So when we outline what our what our fall will look like, that's something that we just need to make sure that when we say, "Okay, uh applications closed in October." when we have our November meeting, everyone should be prepared that they have at least looked
at the portal and read through it. Um, I will say, I think Joe can speak to this too, we all came prepared. We had all looked at everything last year. So, when we were going through the decisioning process, it was it was easier for us to if you had a comment or uh something you were able to
you had already prepared that. So, I think that that's we do have to decide it in a public form, but you can work independently prior to. Thank you, Rick. Appreciate You You're welcome. And I'll review the guidelines and report back on that for the for the meeting in August so that we're all aligned. Rocky, yes.
Could you please send me something to review? I reviewed a bunch of things that I found that Stephen had sent me in terms of like the MCC, LCC, all of that. In fact, I have 10 pages of notes I took. You do? I love that. Yes.
But um in in terms of really becoming familiar like with those Excel sheets, etc. if if you could like send me something to look at. Absolutely. I think there actually was a training video too that I will pull on the portal. I'm going to write that as a next step here.
So, we're still on priorities. You'll all find that my I use AI to do all my all my meeting minutes. So, I apologize that I'm multitasking here hard doing that. But, uh Lark requested more materials.
Rocky will email and I know I'm pretty sure there was a recording that that was a training recording that walked you through it too. So I'll find that because I did I did watch it last year because it is a little fickle. Joel could probably speak to that too. It's once you get in it and you play in it and you actually use it,
you'll feel more comfortable. It's just you know it's a it's a live Excel spreadsheet that you know you can make changes to and and that type of Okay. Yeah, Excel is not my forte but okay. But we'll find another way for you to look at it. I promise you. Okay. Okay. Was portal access given
to us directly by the mass? So, I'm going to follow I'm taking that as a followup to uh to see again I think where we are and out there in um anyone that's watching us and we do have someone uh live in the gallery. Uh the council we we did have additional
members uh join the council and elected by the by the city hall at different times in the past spring. I think it was March, April, May. I think everybody kind of got um added at that point. So, this is our first time meeting together as a group, as a new council now with a
new chair, new vice chair, new new group together. So, we are going to need a little bit of ramp up time to get everybody together and on board, but our commitment is that everyone will be ready by the time we get into grant uh approval. So, I will uh work with uh
Steve and or Ashley or the or Greg from the uh Mass Cultural Council to ensure that everyone has access to the platform. Um I believe that the platform access does come directly from the cultural council. I don't I don't remember Joe, maybe you do. Um how we
got access. I don't know if if Lonnie just sent it to us or not, but I'll get that and and share it with everybody. Thank you. You're welcome. All right, friends. I do we do have um an individual in the gallery that I do want to address if there if there are questions. So a couple of the one other
thing we had on our agenda. So we did the election, we did our grant key dates. Um I do want to go over the guidelines. So I I went over the priorities and the guidelines are because there are two separate things listed here. Again, these are on the
website. The guidelines were and pardon me, there are 16. So join me as I read along. Applicants must live in Rivier or be sponsored by an organization in Rivier. So the priorities are the grant applications that we will prioritize.
The guidelines for people that are going to be submitting a grant application are as follows. Must live in Rivier or be sponsored by an organization in Rivier. Project must be in Rivier about Rivier or benefit Rivier residents.
Applicants must document how the granted funds will be used. So when you submit the application, ensure that it's very clear how you're going to be using the money that you're requesting. More information is better than less information. Applications must have a project timeline. When are you
going to launch it? How you going to get there? You should include a detailed budget. If equipment or capital improvements are part of a grant proposal, the grant must demonstrate a cultural purpose, be for a one-time or special need and should be
clearly justified by some longer term public benefit. Applicants should be aware that our council makes reimbursement grants and they will not have the funding immediately after being approved. This should be considered when planning the project timeline.
Projects must be completed within one funding cycle unless a demonstrated need is presented to the council for a one-year extension. All programs must be held in locations that are accessible to those with disabilities. Funding of grants is contingent on both
availability of sufficient funds and relative benefit to the community. Field trip applications must include a statement that is that the project there was a there was a typo here so that's why I paused everybody. Um must include a statement that the
project is not already fully funded by the school. This will be determined by a case-byase basis. Funds must not be used to substitute or replace existing publicly funded programs. Funds are not to be used as the sole
means of support for programs of a continuing nature. Applicants may not be discriminated against the basis of including but not limited to race, sex, religion, creed, color, national origin, disability, or age.
All advertisements, brochures, etc. must include a statement that the activity program is supported by a grant from the River Cultural Council. A local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Inability to fulfill guidelines may result in disapproval.
So those are public on the Mass Council website if you look up the reviewer. So I know I read a lot. It's a lot of me talking today. Um, so I'll look to the council now for any comments or thoughts on the guidelines that were listed.
I just want to add one more thing to your um, comments, Rocky. First of all, a grantee can apply to as many cultural committees in Massachusetts as possible. So, they can also apply to cultural committees in Winthrop, Lynn,
um, Swampscott, as many as they want to put it on. That does not kind of discredit them in any way, but they can do that. The second is sometimes organizations may be funded retroactively, but they I say that as a
caveat, meaning that they may not get the total amount that they requested if if it is done retroactively instead of proactively. Thank you for that, Joel. Anyone else? Was there any surprises or anything missing on the on the guidelines?
Do we feel pretty comfortable with those? So, a motion from I'm going to make a motion now that we're going to accept the priorities and guidelines. Well, I'll make two. We'll start with the priorities. Motion to accept the priorities that we discussed prior.
I'll second that motion. All in favor? I I priorities will remain unchanged. Now with the guidelines, um motion to accept the guidelines as listed. We have a second. All in favor?
I. Motion passes. I do now want to open up the floor because we do have someone there. Do you have anything that you'd like or you're just here looking at us? I'm vice chair. We're next. You're next. But I would just state one quick thing.
Yes. Um I have absolutely no idea what that grant was for. Okay. I just didn't know what it Yeah. So, I think what we're doing right now is just re revising what our priorities and guidelines are for the grant application. So, it wasn't for any grant in particular. It was in general. Oh, that was a blanket.
That was just the BR. Yeah, those are Thank you for that. So, we So, out there in TV land, we just got the clarity on that. So, the in case you couldn't hear it off the microphone, we were asked what grant was that for? It wasn't for a particular grant. It was just to review the priorities and guidelines. Thank you for that.
All right, team. Um I'm very corporate today, team. Been saying that all day. So I just want to review before we uh motion to um to adjourn the agenda. So a the takeaways that I'm taking going to figure out what the next steps
are in terms of our elected uh positions that we just made. I'm going to review and send out more materials to the council. make sure I have everybody's email so I can do that. I will send the minutes to Ashley and everybody uh by tomorrow morning so that that is done.
Um we will take a look at what our I will confirm what the budget is. Uh Haimey, you're going to speak with the community liaison to discuss what what the criteria is to share information. I will check with uh both the mass cultural council and with um the city of
River, Ashley from um the city clerk's office about guidelines on social media accounts and that type of thing. Um and then see if it makes sense for us to have an intern or another another body on the council that focuses on that. For the agenda for next meeting, which is
August 17th at 6 PM, right, Debbie, keep me honest. Yep. Um we're going to discuss the fall meeting cadence. I think we're we've committed to the second second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Is that what it was, Debbie? Yes. But we'll confirm what those dates are so that everybody is on the same page.
We will discuss in detail um the marketing um marketing the grant applications and the criteria other than what we've set forth in the two uh guidelines and priority sections that we just discussed. And we'll explore more the social media marketing. Is there
anything else from the council that we should add to the agenda? Yes, sir. Just a quick question. Um, excuse me. Um, until we get like an intern to do the social media, probably a lot of us have a pretty good
size social media presence. So maybe you could come up with some verbiage that we could use on our own social media to put it out there that these, you know, uh, applications are coming up, etc. I'm happy to do that on my Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, etc. Um because it will get seen and absolutely and on threads. I think there are tools and resources that we have within the Mass Cultural Council that we can use. I'll take a look and explore those otherwise we'll come up with some some approval approved
um verbiage and to the link that we can all share. I think that could be helpful if we all did that with our accounts. The council itself does have a Facebook presence. The question was who had access to that Facebook present. So I think that Lonnie
had access to it last time. You can look online on Facebook and see what other cultural committees do. You know, they list when the deadlines are, 19 days coming up, seven days coming up, whatever. They kind of have teasers um
and things of that nature. Um, also I want to stress that um, for those of us in the TV audience, you can you can comment, you can send comments to us, we can react to your comments at home. We
we do kind of like um, feedback. Um, communication is foremost. So, it's not just we're taking notes this meeting, it's getting access to those notes that is going to be important moving forward. So if a secretary takes the notes, we just kind of see a general frameworks of
what happened and then the new the new business or if somebody who wants to join and find out about us, they can look into what happened on those notes in some way. Very good point, Joe. Thank you. Uh so team, I think we've we've done a good
foundational job today. Um we have some work to do. We have some selfwork to do. uh commitment will be to get out those materials. Um so I'm going to make a motion to adjurnn at 6:14. Do I have a second?
Mark. All in favor? I I I. All right. Uh Rever Cultural Council meeting on July 10th, 2025 adjourned. Thank you.