out of practice. >> Good evening everyone. Welcome to the March 12th uh meeting of the cultural council. We'll start off with the pledge of allegiance and then we'll go into roll call. 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. >> We all we are not laughing at the pledge of allegiance. We are laughing at the fact that something that we have done 450 million times we could not get
together right. Um, so I'm going to call this meeting to order at 601. Roll call. Chair Rocky Graziano, present. >> WS present. >> Joe Hayitz, present. >> Hi Menz, vice chair.
>> Present. >> And we are missing Lark Logan for today. Uh, we do have a pretty quick agenda for tonight. Um, and then some reminders for for you folks out there in TV land. Uh the agenda tonight, we are going to review some of the reports that we
received from our grant recipients. Um we are really excited to see these. So for those of you out there that haven't done your events yet, the council is very happy when these come in. The link to the form is in your approval email that came from me um for my u argor.org
account. So please go back there, click on the link. Uh also, because we got some questions about this recently, uh your reimbursement form is also linked in there. And then those uh reimbursement forms do go back to Steven Morabido. It is also in the in the form as well. So please uh read that if you
have any questions. But the agenda will be reviewing these items and then discussing briefly the upcoming event that we'd like to organize to recognize our grant recipients. And then we have a request. And if you see me looking at my phone, I promise that I'm I'm not being
ignorant here. I do not have my rever email on my computer, but it's on my phone. And we have um a question that came up from one of the schools that we funded that they have to pivot. So we'll talk a little bit about that program from Melissa Randall. Uh so
I will start off with the reports that we received uh just to report out. So we received one from Bridget Shepard whose project was Hamilton at the Boston Opera House School. 43 people went, 36 of which were children, which is a priority
of ours. And the review about the event, students rode the blue line from rever. I don't think we need all that detail. Okay. For many students, I'm thinking that I'm out of meeting. Sorry y'all. I'm just like going from one thing to another as we all are. Uh for many um GMS students, it was their first time experience the Boston Opera
House and seeing a Broadway produced musical. Um, everyone was very excited to see it live and we were the students which re which reflect our diverse population here in River. We're very proud and excited to see a diverse population on the stage in the cast
which is really important in Hamilton. Uh, we were the only sponsor for the event. So, good job council. We gave money to a to an organization that really needed it. And we will be posting up uh some a review of this in the coming weeks. So, any comments from the
council regarding that project that came through from the from the GMS school to see Hamilton >> Yep. Sorry. So, I'd like to thank them for taking uh their students to theater
and um impress upon other teachers uh to look into grant the grant next grant cycle and maybe take your class to the theater. Well said, Joe. Anyone else? Okay, thank you for the report. We love
we love seeing them. Our next one came from Ed Sh. Is it Shoot or Chute? If I said it wrong, I apologize. The project was uh from the Susan B. Anthony Middle School and it was healthy vocal habits for young singers. 42 students were present for the initial
uh workshop and master class. Um which is very good. 42 of the participants were also school age children. So bravo once again council. Um Mr. Baxter and the students began with an extensive warm-up session. This was done in a very interesting manner. all call and
response. Following the warm-up, students learned how sound is produced in their vocal cords and learned about the many myths and truths around vocal health. The second half of the workshop was dedicated to master classes where Mr. Baxter worked with three singers. Each singer had a particular challenge
that they wanted to work on. These were challenges that most singers encounter. Mr. Baxter worked with the singers using v various tech techniques. Um the only other sponsor here was Mr. Baxter um donated a portion of what would be used
for the usual fee and then the rest of of it was was provided by us. I do recall team this was a lowerc cost ask if I'm not mistaken. So I do want to encourage those of you out there when you look about the next grants I can't believe that we're talking about this but in the four short months the new
grant cycle will begin in the summertime right it's March is my math is right July August we'll start educating and promoting that for the cycle to open up in September. So, uh, take note that sometimes you can think of projects like this that are smaller
focused, um, on on upskilling, you know, in in the arts community. Um, so once again, we will share this on socials. Any other notes from or comments from the council? >> Once again, uh, singing is for everyone. So, this type of program was done in a
school. It can be done in an old age home as well or an assisted living home. it can be done in a community-based as a kamini based program as well. So there's many different aspects to the programming. Um so think about that and
maybe give us a grant proposal. >> The only thing I wanted to say if I'm I'm not sure if it was done in the past having a feedback form like this, but I think this is great. Uh please please please send us this information. and
this is great for us to review and to see. Uh especially if we're aren't able to attend your event. So, just wanted to put that out there that use the form, get the feedback back, send us pictures. Um it's it's wonderful to to to see. >> It's also really helpful for us,
friends, is that if you do apply again next year, we can take a look back at the report and say, "Oh, okay. They said they were going to have 10,000 people and 10,000 people showed up." So even though some of our priorities might be to give preference to uh first-time
applicants, having this information will help us make better decisions. Uh and again, I want to point out that this was a really hard grant cycle to uh come up with the we we we had $44,600
and for us to be able to give all that out with 50 some odd applications that were really fantastic all overall. Um, yeah. So, hopefully the more that we we reproduce this, hopefully next year we can get a little bit more money. No guarantee out there, but uh please please keep in mind that these tools
that we're providing you with will only help us make better decisions. Um, Debbie and Joe, I think you went to another project that we funded. You they may not have they haven't submitted their form yet, but would you like to report back on what that experience was like? Uh, it was last Friday, I believe.
>> Yes. I went to the uh Ramadan dinner that was hosted at the Re Senior Center. It was um very nice, very well done. Um they they did a great job, good attendance. There was probably about 80 to 90 people.
>> Excellent. So, uh we look forward to see I think we got some pictures from the event. We did get some pictures from the event. Um so, thank you so much for inviting us. Again, invite us to your events. I know the summer months are coming up and it gets a little harder for people to get on the calendars, but we will do our best to send a representative if we can.
I did want to add Rocky said that um maybe we get some more money. Money within the community is based on how many people are in the community. So River in general has expanded. So that may or may not affect the monies that we
get in the upcoming year. >> Fill out your census. I just got mine wet last month. Make sure you fill out your census. All right. Next item on the agenda while we're closing out the events. again. Keep sending us that information. So, um, we did hold, um, $851.
I believe it was the $851 or $849. I can get that exact amount. Uh, I'm good for the $2 if we need it either way. Um, right. I think we could do that. We want to uh organize an event where we recognize our grant recipients, have them come meet the council, probably something in the summer. So, I think
that we could take a few minutes here to um maybe divide up responsibilities in terms of planning the event. Um, I am looking to the council here to take the lead on this. Um, as I I am pretty I am pretty full my agenda my my thing my uh
my bandwidth for the next couple of months. But I think what we would we would need from a basic perspective we would need a location um and then obviously some sort of food and snacks. Um, I am happy to volunteer my graphic designer cousin's um skill set to make a
certificate or something to recognize these groups, but I'll open it up for a little bit of of discussion as to who might want to or if the three of you together or you know when we can reach out to Lark and see what she wants to do um how you would like to approach it um and then we can mix um come up with some
action items for the next meeting. One one of the things that we had discussed was um an invite list, an invitation list, and who was going to draw up that list because sometimes when you do one of these events, people feel excluded or
um they just can't come. So, we get an idea of how much our budgeting we can do. So, it's a difference between 500 attendees and a thousand attendees as as you said. So we can kind of get an idea by having a general um invite list which
is every recipient plus um people from river from different arts organizations and from different political um councils um and expanding maybe family members whatever how how far out we draw the
list. I >> think that's a good point Joe. I believe we funded was it was it 24 projects? My I'm rusty, y'all. I haven't been here since December. It was January. So, you got you gotta bear with me a little bit. Was it tw It was 24. It was in that It was in that range. So, we can get a
list. Um I I'm happy to do a blast um to out to the recipients and say, "Hey, if we did an event in the summertime, how many people do you think would attend?" Uh and then we I'll happy to reach out to Steve and say, "Who would be some of the people that we should consider?" Um,
I think what we would need to start thinking about is like a venue that is low cost. We only have $851. So, I hoping that it would be donated. Um, maybe we could do something outdoors. I don't know. Cuz the summer is a little bit better. Maybe that's easier to get a permit. Probably a lot more economical for us to get a permit
to do something uh maybe in one of the pavilions in River Beach or something. Um, you know, spitballing here. Uh, but it's not a ton of money. But to to Joe's point, um it is nice for us to do something to outreach to the individuals that we are awarding the grants to and
for you to have a chance to meet us and tell us a little bit more about your projects and your passions. That would be and to promote the next grant cycle that will be coming very shortly after when this event is. An idea might be um to like you say if
it's an outside venue maybe to piggyback it on something that's already being done and have a table and that's so people would go there and then we can you know get the word out and you know provide like light refreshments at our table. >> That might be a great idea too.
So I'm going to take the invitation list and get and do those actions and get some um I'll at least send a note out uh from Gramp. I'm just if it's not in my email and then in my calendar, it doesn't exist unfortunately. Um so maybe
some venue is anybody want to maybe reach out to some of the venues that we maybe could look potentially look at. >> Um I have an idea since it's uh it's possible to do it outside. I know that in the past I've seen events being done over at Sandler Square that area and
then the shop where we had our meeting once. Maybe we can maybe I can reach out to them and see if they want to help us out and and um with you know with >> that'd be great. >> All right, I'll follow up on that. >> I think the other um maybe I I know we do quite a bunch of events at the Amaya
or I've seen Mayor Keefe doing a lot of events out there at like the courtyard or so maybe we can see if there's a contact there where we could get uh access to that because that's a big open public space too, right? So that would be uh would be an option. I can I can ask my my building has a party room
which I'm sure I could use at one beach. Now everyone knows where I live. Um or even outside there, but I'm sure they would let us have something within reason. >> And I think that the Sandler Square sometimes they do stuff in the summer because I've seen them do like different events and singing events and things
like that. So maybe there's a possibility like you said to >> and we could potentially get some of the some of the groups that maybe some of the schools or whatever to perform. Yeah. Uh because we have a lot of we have a lot of u perform it's not just I know the two that we just we just spoke about weren't like necessarily perform
but we did approve a lot of performance based projects. >> Another one is they do things at city hall too on the Sunday night um concerts. Um maybe if you said someone could perform kids and then maybe have a table and people can come and visit on you
know of course we have to get you know approval and all that but that's an idea too that might won't cost a lot of money. So, I think we have a couple of ideas thrown out. Enjoy the >> And then the other option is the brand new park at the end of uh River Rivier
Beach um that was just put in there that there hasn't been events yet because it just opened pretty much last summer. >> You're at the end of the summer. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um All right. So, I think we have some ideas here if everyone can flush out. So, uh find out maybe what the park
permits would be like. Um the >> I'll follow up with u square location. I'll follow up and do email thread with the rest of the committee members and then we'll council members and then we'll go from there. >> We'll go from there. >> All right.
>> Rocky, do you know if there is any price or anybody on the council know if there's any pricing points for outside parks just in general? >> There has to be a permit. I think it's just a question about what the permit cost is. I mean, I I only know what I've from my past experience with events in
the city of Boston, I know what their cost was, and I'm assuming that we're probably a little bit less than that. Um, but I think that What is Do you know, would that be off the top of your head? I >> I don't know, but I know like if it's a city school or a PAC like that, I think it's through pox and wreck. So, we could ask them like what
>> that would cost. >> They're generally low. They're generally like I think what 30 40 50 bucks like I don't think it's I don't think it's a lot. Yeah. And then we can spend more money on the food part, right? knowing knowing that. All right. So, I am and again I'm reading from my phone and it's
not because I'm being rude. I'm very conscious of that. Um, so the project that we approved was the Massachusetts uh state house trip and it was for a school. Do you uh Debbie, keep me honest? Do you remember the school off the top of my head?
>> AC Will AC Willen School third grade. Look at See, I I This is This is why I don't need to memorize things because Debbie's got it. So, um the school received a thousand dollar grant for the third grade flash class field trip. Um
and they are not able to secure a tour of the the state house. So they want to use um the grant for the rest of their field trip which would include visits to reve city hall public library the river police and fire and river beach um is part of their social studies curriculum
to study local government and river history as well. Um the grant would be used uh for the uh it sounds like transportation of the bus for that day. So um I I have no qualms with that. So if there
if I can get if if we don't do we do we need to discuss anything before we vote. >> No, I'm all for that. Whatever they >> No, I'm all for it. Just like you said, things things in the world do do come up. Um so we are understanding of that. We did have an event that was scheduled
during a snowstorm as as well. So your events can be rescheduled, but please tell us if they have been rescheduled so we can ensure that funding. Um, and it cannot be rescheduled indefinitely. That's the other thing. Um, so you need
to inform us that there's been something that's happened, a bus strike or whatever. Um, that happens in the world. We understand that, but please stay in communication and let us know. Thank you. So, if there's no other discussion, can
I get a motion to um accept the revision to the initial grant approval for the Whan schools state I'm making sure I say everything. State state house class field trip to allow them to have the one, right? I'm I'm really I'm going really longwinded, Debbie, because I
need to put in put in the minutes. Um to change the the transportation to the state house to local landmarks within Rivier. I need a motion. >> I a motion to approve. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I >> I >> Motion passes. >> I'm really out of practice, y'all. It's like I didn't thought it was going to come right back. I didn't. >> It's all right. He didn't break the gap. >> I didn't break the gap. I was like, "All right. So, um I don't think there's
anything else other than Oh, so uh one other thing I want to bring out to the council. Uh, April 9th, we are inviting our um, Massachusetts Cultural Council uh, liaison Greg Tales to our meeting. It'll he will be present uh, virtually. So, I will extend that invitation. Um,
so my friend over there in the in the sound booth, I will need to set up a a a Zoom call. So, just as a heads up, he's looking out there waiting for the thumbs up there. U,, so I will take care of that as well to ensure that uh, Greg can be on the call. Um, I don't think there's anything else. Once again, just
reminders out there if anybody's watching that um applied and was ex uh approved for a grant, uh please read the email that I sent out to you. The email is short, but there's an attachment that has a PDF that has everything that you need to know in that PDF. If you've lost
it, you deleted it, you think I'm in your spam folder, uh feel free to message me again, rarian rever.org, and I I have all I have a copy of all of them so I can send you a new one and it'll have all the information that you need. Um, but you do process the the
instructions for the grants to get the reimbursement is listed very clearly on that. So, please um please read through that. So, I don't think there's anything else um on my end. Anybody else? The only other thing that I could add is
that if you'd like to join us, our council, there is seats available as you can see uh in the video audience. um or so or any other council um in Revier. Get involved. Don't get mad, you know,
get involved and kind of follow your passions and uh help out. Uh there's always room for uh civic improvement. >> All right. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Can I get a second? >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> adjourned at 6:21