Home

News

Meet Your Chairman

2020 Committee

Subcommittees

Past Celebrations

Preliminary Plans

Out of the Past

Contact Us

Minutes of Public Meetings of the Plymouth 2020 Committee: 2009

Important News Flash! Plymouth Town Meeting, at 26 September meeting, approves the use of $45,000 Visitor Services Board funds by Plymouth 2020 Committee.

MINUTES - Meeting of the Plymouth 400th Committee
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the offices of Plymouth Rock Studios, Cordage Park, North Plymouth

Committee members present: Peter Gomes, Chair; Jim Baker; Peg Baker; Ben Brewster; Paul Bumpus; Tom Calter; Paul Cripps; Ellie Donovan; Rodney Randy Joseph; David Kirkpatrick; Gary Marks; Monica Mullin for Therese Murray; Ken Tavares.
Absent: Kathy Babini; Tamson Burgess; Vinny deMacedo; Butch Machado; John Mahoney; John McDonagh; Enzo Monti; Patrick O’Brien; Paula Peters; Ed Santos.

Peter Gomes opened the meeting at 7:00 pm. 
The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as written.

REPORT OF PETER GOMES
Peter Gomes reported that he has just returned from England where the Lord Mayor of Southampton indicated that she and the city council wish to be involved in 2020 events.

Governor’s Commission: Monica Mullin reported that Secretary of State Galvin has nominated his two appointees from the Massachusetts Historical Commission: Michael Maresco, Assistant Secretary of State and Legislative Director (and a resident of Marshfield), and Beth Anne Bower, Special Assistant for External Affairs for Salem State College.

Monica has found the Governor’s appointing authorities slow in actually making appointments.  The Governor’s Office wishes Peter Gomes to do the outreach.  It was agreed that Monica Mullin will supply Peter with a list of names and addresses of those appointing authorities as designated in the Executive Order; Peter Gomes will send letters to these people, and do his best to assemble the Commission.

November 7, 2009, event:  The location is the Blue Room at Memorial Hall on November 7, 2009, between 2:00 and 5:00.  Almost 1000 invitations have been sent to potential stakeholders within both the Town of Plymouth and the larger “Old Colony” area.  The purpose is to introduce the plans for 2020 and the Plymouth 400th Committee, and to invite these stakeholders to participate in the commemoration.  Gen Jaeger has agreed to handle the refreshments.  There will be a program with Peter Gomes as the main “inspirational” speaker.  He will thank the sponsor (if identified) and Gen Jaeger.  He will also thank and make presentations to the members of the Plymouth 375th Committee whose efforts brought the Plymouth 400th Committee the seed money to make this event possible. Peg Baker will produce certificates of appreciation; she will send the names of the 375th committee to Tom Calter who will arrange for citations. 

There should be a printed hand-out for attendees with the tentative calendar.

Ellie Donovan agreed to investigate the possibility of entertainment through the Plantation staff.

Committee members need to be identified.  Peg Baker agreed to arrange for carnations for visual identity.  David Kirkpatrick will supply name tags for the committee members and will have blank name tags available for attendees to fill in for themselves.

There should be PAC-TV coverage as well as newspaper coverage.  David Kirkpatrick volunteered to have a film crew onsite during the event and then make the footage available to PAC-TV.

International Efforts: Peter Gomes has sent a letter of appreciation to Consul General Phil Budden.  Phil remains very interested and will assist the Committee in the process of inviting the British royals to the 2020 event.  Peter has also spoken recently to the Somerset Club and there might be some interest in that group that would be helpful.

Cape Outreach: Peter Gomes is speaking to the Cape & Islands Historical Association in January.  The Bakers are visiting Pilgrim-related sites on the Cape with the Nickersons on Wednesday and have an appointment that afternoon to visit with the Director of the Provincetown Monument Association.  The PMA is celebrating its centenary in 2010 and has invited the Mayflower Society, Plimoth Plantation and the Pilgrim Society to be on its honorary committee and all have agreed.  Paul Bumpus is scheduled to speak to the PMA next summer.

Town Funding: Peter Gomes has written to Plymouth Town Moderator Steve Triffletti and will be on the agenda for Town Meeting on Monday, October 26, to speak in favor of Warrant Article 7 which would give $45,000 to the Plymouth 400th Committee.  Peter would like other committee members to be present and available to speak.  After a discussion on the specifics of Article 7, it was agreed that committee presentations should be positive and uplifting and not descend into arguing against other groups also seeking funding.  The group reviewed the precinct caucus schedule.  Darcy Lee attended a caucus meeting Friday night; there were three Monday night caucus meetings, two of which were covered by Belinda Brewster; the Tuesday night caucus will be attended by Paul Bumpus and Peg Baker; the three Wednesday night caucuses will be attended by Ben Brewster, Kathy Babini and Ken Tavares; the Thursday night caucus will be attended by Jim Baker and Peg Baker.  Almost all of the Town Meeting members will have had an opportunity to ask questions before town Meeting.  Any issues raised should be reported to Peg Baker who will keep Peter Gomes informed.

John Mahoney alerted the committee that, if the Committee wants a warrant article for the Spring Town Meeting, the window of opportunity will close in mid December.  Ken Tavares feels the Committee should reserve a space on the annual warrant even if the eventual decision is made not to apply for additional funds.  Ken will see that this is done.

Peter raised the issue of reporting to the Board of Selectmen; the Committee felt this should be delayed until the Committee has something more substantial to report.

PRESENTATION BY FUND-RAISING CONSULTANT DARCY LEE
Grants: An application has been made to Entergy for a $10,000 grant ($5000 for planning and $5000 for the November 7 event).  The initial application was denied by corporate headquarters  because 2020 Starts Now, Inc. is not (yet) a nonprofit.  Darcy is working with Dave Tarantino to overcome this by providing him with the 2020 Starts Now, Inc. articles of incorporation, fiscal agent letter from the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce and fiscal agent letter from Chair Rev. Gomes.  Those will be delivered to Entergy on October 20.
A letter of intent and a grant application for a $5000 planning grant has been submitted online to the Massachusetts Cultural Council Adams Arts Grant Program. Fiscal agent letter and supporting documentation will be sent in this week.

American Express denied a request prior to the formal application process; they want to fund programming or a specific little-known property improvement project (something like Burial Hill).  Grants are awarded up to $25,000. For the purposes of 2020 Starts Now, Inc., it is too early in the planning process to apply for a grant.

Visitor Services Board Funding from the Town of Plymouth: Warrant Article #7 was approved to go before Town Meeting and includes our request for $45,000.  Many of us are in the process of presenting before the precinct caucuses.  Darcy attended a joint meeting of Precincts 7, 9 & 14 on Friday night; our article was well received because of the support of the Selectmen and Finance Committee.  Talking points are available for those attending caucuses.

Needs assessment and feasibility study: Letters were sent out to prospective interviewees.  Four interviews have been conducted thus far. Darcy expects to complete interviews by the end of December and to have a report available for the Committee for the January or February meeting.

REPORT ON NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION
Jim Baker has investigated the various designations.  A “National Park” is a true park and involves federal ownership and control; a “National Monument” also involves federal ownership and control.  Monica Mullin reported that a representative from the National Park Service was in town several weeks earlier and was discouraging, indicating little interest from the NPS.

There is another category, which it seems is what the town was seeking, - a “National Historic District.”  That designation is simply a broader version of being on the National Register and actually involves less authority than the local historic district designation (which central Plymouth already has).  Designation as a National Historic District might be, philosophically, a good thing but it seems to bring with it very few actual benefits.

It was noted that most of the historically-significant property in Plymouth is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any upgrades and enhancements will have to come from the Commonwealth.  This committee should be strong advocates, through our legislative delegation, for this.

In the mid 1990s, a 3-phase plan was developed.  Only one phase was actually accomplished.  More needs to be done if Plymouth is to welcome visitors effectively.  At the next meeting of this committee, those plans from the 1990s should be available for the committee to review (Jim Baker and Ellie Donovan can provide).  The legislative delegation, through Representative Calter’s office, should also inquire as to the status of these plans on the state level and ask if they are still viable.  Formation of the Governor’s Commission could also push this program forward.

Infrastructure improvements are not within this Committee’s mission but this committee could inspire other town entities, such as the Planning Board (who have all been invited to the November event) to take up a study of the town’s actual needs for 2020.

ONGOING PROJECT -  Branding
Darcy Lee reported that the RFP for branding services (logo, color scheme, fonts – our “look”) was sent out to 6 groups. There has been interest expressed.  The deadline for submissions is November 6.

ONGOING PROJECT - Formation of the 501 c3
The status of this is uncertain.  Darcy had a conversation with the pro bono attorney; he is going to check on the status of the filings.
The Committee does need someone local to take care of business.  The unfinished projects include the significant paperwork involved in establishing 2020 Starts Now Inc. as a 501c3; the arrangements for the $100,000 bond (through Eastern Bank) for the license plate project and funding for Officers & Directors Insurance for 2020 Starts Now Inc. Another question is the status of a Website, independent of the Plymouth 400th Committee’s own Web page which is managed by Jim Baker. 

Peter will talk with John McDonagh about how this is best accomplished.

Jim Baker and David Kirkpatrick will work on making the license plate project publicly available through the Plymouth 400th Committee’s town Web page.


ONGOING PROJECT – License plate.
David Kirkpatrick reported that the Registry has approved the design; it is now in the hands of 3M for approval.

David will have a visual presentation to instigate interest as well as sign-up sheets available at the November 7 event.

ONGOING PROJECT – Outreach, speakers & authors. 
Peg Baker reported that Fran Burnham, who has been most helpful in making international contacts, is interested in working on a speakers’ bureau.  The proposal is to identify speakers and identify potential audiences and to make connections between the two.  Jim Baker agreed to serve as the Plymouth 400th Committee’s liaison with Fran.  The Committee agreed that more specific direction will come after the needs assessment study is ready in January or February but that preliminary work on identifying potential audiences could begin now.
NEW PROJECT – Native American component
Peter Gomes asked Committee member Rodney Joseph to give serious thought to a holistic view of the Native/indigenous component of the 2020 commemoration.  Rodney agreed to do so.  Rodney reminded the Committee that “Massasoit Treaty Day” is in initiative already begun that could be built upon.  Peter asked that the programmatic part also be specifically considered – what should happen in 2020 that is visible and public?  Rodney suggested, as a preliminary idea, inviting representatives of many Indian nations, an idea that was enthusiastically accepted by the Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Comments were made by Rev. Bill Fillebrown, who reported that he has brought the plans for the Plymouth 400th commemoration to the Interfaith Committee and there is interest.  Peter Gomes noted that he has asked Rev. Gary Marks to formulate ideas on a spiritual/religious event to open the commemoration in 2019 and hopes that Gary and Rev. Fillebrown will work together on planning such an event.  Peter suggests an invitation be extended to the Bishop of London.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Monday, November 30, at 7:00 pm at the offices of Plymouth Rock Studios, Cordage Park, North Plymouth

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 pm.