Community Cultural Celebration
Gathering meeting minutes
Apr 22, 2006

Meeting opened at 10:10 am, Karen Hawkins (recording secretary)
Attendees: Mody Botros, Sally Chappell, Joan Emerson, Karen Hawkins, Carmen Lone, Joanne Morse, Virginia Staples (Jinx), Nancylou Stiles, Ingrid von Kannewurff

Introductions were made – new attendees Mody (relocated to this area from Egypt after graduation in 1993), Carmen (from Bridgton Community Center), Ingrid (from Senior Transportation Program)

Discussions
Nancylou asked for comments/Concerns
* Question about food for celebration activities – cost, who pays for it, what time served?
* will celebration be held at the church – yes

 March meeting minutes were read
*this event is sponsored by Bridgton UMC and donations will come under their nonprofit 501c3 status
*Money – resources? Bridgton UMC Trustees/Finance approved requests for donations from congregation, UMW donated proceeds from church supper (about $300), New England Conference has no money to support project, neither does the Maine Council of Churches (for this year), Nancylou prepared a letter to give to Dona Forke (Lake Region Healthy Communities) asking for grant monies
*money will funnel through the church’s finances to the event
            Nancylou asked if someone would handle the $ for the gathering... preferably someone who doesn't have a lot to do in the gathering already.  She also explained that she had been to the finance and trustrees committee at the church on Monday, & discussed with the church, money and the procedure for handling the money for the celebration.
   Nancylou asked Sally if she would handle he money, she said she would.
*Shaker Community has accepted an invitation to participate (Sept 15)
*Henry Hamilton – Peace Corp member will speak about Afghanistan

*Woody and Alan will create a press release
*Carmen will provide Nancylou with local cultural contact info and send Karen grant information
*suggestion to contact Hannaford for donations – go online for grant application
* it was suggested that a church affiliation paper will be created for use in canvassing for donations

*cultures/events suggested to participate
            Ingrid – Norwegians, Scots (bagpipes)
            Carmen – Sujene Eaton – Asian
            Joanne – folk dancing on American day (melting pot), blues performers
            Sally – climate changes – people we don’t see are our neighbors – what we do affects the world globally, Professor Teagarden (power point presentation), Andy Bert (climate changes), Sally spoke about how the Marshall islands will soon be gone due to global warming
            Mody – contact local schools and can help with posters, banners, and buttons.
            Bev – Shakers and Quakers
            Nancylou – Portland Cultural Exchange, Bill Green (Penobscot Nation, Amish, Catholic Charities of Maine)
            Woody – Seeds of Peace
            Rev Barbara Adlard told Nancylou about the African Museum in Portland – Nancylou will make a contact
            Joanne – will contact the Big Kahuna and LEA
            Jinx will contact some bands

* need to prepare a letter of invitation to various cultures’ contacts, include our expectations, mission statement, times and dates available, offer them opportunities to present their info and sell their wares, no alcohol or gambling, acknowledge this is a church supported event but not a religious one (Nancylou, Jinx, Karen to create letter), they will meet sometime during the week
* concern was voiced about certain cultures will not enter a Christian building, discussion followed, Sally pointed that we are not excluding anyone, but that some people exclude themselves
* Advertising  - publicity, posters, buttons, LRTV, press releases, local media
*people are asking what will be done with all the info amassed at this event after it is over? (libraries, schools)
*suggested to contact Bridgton Historical Society (Evelyn Lamb)
*we need to publicly acknowledge donors

Copies of request to Dona Forke attached to original minutes of meeting, as are Nancylou’s notes with more specific details about contact people

Meeting closed at: 12:00 pm
Next meeting –May 13 from 10:00 am - noon