Meeting minutes: Feb. 1, 2022

[Christel Manning]

The Economic & Community Development group met on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2022, at 6 pm on Zoom. Present: Kirk, Kathleen, Christel, Lisa, Lee, Jonathan.

 

RIVERFEST:  We continued planning. Next meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 pm.

• Dates (Lee): This year’s date will be June 4, 1-6 pm (rain date June 5). This date falls after other local festivals, so we might pass out flyers about ours at those.
• Funding (Lee): A&I will be partnering with a different festival, so they will not be funding us, or providing set up volunteers for our event. However, they may be willing to help promote it. Riverfest has always generated a lot of sponsors; a list from last festival is on our website. Lee will re-contact our previous sponsors. He will also send the letter template to Jon, so Jon can reach out to additional potential sponsors. If Wacoma helps us again, we should add their logo to website. In past years, Natalie Coe has submitted written request for sponsorship to Community Foundation. We should ask if she’s willing to do again.
• Music (Christel): Bregamos and Good Night Blue Moon both said yes.
• Food & Beer (Lisa and Jon): The extension of Covid regulations actually makes it easier to serve food outside. The new marina restaurant has a liquor license, which will allow us to serve liquor samples. Jon contacted East Rock Brewing; they will get back to him. The marina restaurant will run a booth for people outside to order food; they also promised to hire extra staff. They have no problem with us inviting other food vendors; perhaps sushi or smoothies.
• Non-profits tables (Kathleen): Kathleen has contacted 2 additional organizations: Vespoli and Junta artisans. We agreed to continue past policy of waiving table reg fee for NPs. But we may need to limit the number of tables we provide due to space available. Kathleen will facilitate proving map of walking trail for marina to post.
• Arts & craft vendors: Margaret was in charge of this last time; she passed her vendor list to Christel. We need another person to coodinate. Action item: let’s all suggest at least one name for next meeting!
• Kid activities (Sheila, Kirk): Kirk will confirm June 4 date. Book Mobile may need to leave by 5 pm.
• Canoes or kayaks (Christel): Martin seems willing, said he needs to check tides. Lisa said high tide June 4 is around 3:30. Christel will follow up w. Martin.
• Outdoor space & furniture (Lisa): Can we get chairs from Wacoma? Lisa will ask. Jon, Lisa, and Lee will do a walkabout and scan in provisional layout map before our next meeting. We need young, strong volunteers for set up and take down. Christel will ask Sheila to ask her friends. Jon will also reach out to people.