Plymouth's 400th Anniversary

Minutes of Public Meetings of the Plymouth 2020 Committee: 2010

MINUTES - Meeting of the Plymouth 400th Committee
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the offices of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce

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

Invited guests: Darcy Lee, consultant for 2020 Starts Now Inc.

Members of the public: Jan & Charles Tarbox, Ann Berry, Dexter Olsson.

Peter Gomes opened the meeting at 7:00 pm.

REPORT OF PETER GOMES
Wampanoag participation: Paula Peters reported that she has been in touch with Chief Ken Adams of the Mattaponi Tribe of Virginia, strong participants in the Jamestown 400th Commemoration, and that he is interested in coming to Plymouth to meet with this committee. Paula suggests a fall visit, perhaps to coincide with the regular September or October committee meeting, because time is needed to make plans and arrangements. Paula would like to put together a proposed agenda for his visit, to include various meetings and a tour, with a budget and present it at the next meeting; she will meet with Paul Cripps to discuss the possible donation of lodging for Chief Adams’ visit. The Committee is agreeable to this course of action.
Paula recently made a presentation to the Mashpee Tribal Council; the Council is anxious to be involved. Tribal Council Secretary Marie Lopez-Stone (one of the 4 tribal officers) would like to be involved with this committee. The Committee welcomes her involvement. Paula will work with Peter to ascertain how to accomplish this.
Paula reminded the committee that July 3-4-5 is the annual Mashpee Pow Wow, a rich cultural event that affords an opportunity to learn about Wampanoag culture.

Outreach to Cape Cod: Jim Baker, who has been working on arranging the visit of a contingent from this committee to meet with the Provincetown 100th Celebration Committee, reported that he could not get enough committee response to schedule a visit in the spring. A summer trip, with transportation perhaps by boat, might be possible. Jim Baker will continue to work on arranging this visit, with the assistance of Paula Peters, who lives on the Cape.

Governor’s Commission: Ken Tavares and Peter Gomes had a meeting on the morning of May 14 with Senate President Murray and Representative Calter. In order to activate the Governor’s Commission, it was agreed that Peter will write to the statutory appointees, as named in the Governor’s Executive Order, asking them to accept their appointment or to name delegates, and then a meeting of the commission will be scheduled; the letter to the appointees will go out at the end of the week from Peter’s office. It was noted that a few appointments have already been made: the Speaker of the House (the Governor’s Executive Order empowered him to make 2 appointments) appointed Representatives deMacedo and Calter and the Senate President (the Governor’s Executive Order empowered her to make 2 appointments) appointed Ken Tavares and Peggy Baker.
The Senate President warned the committee not to expect state funding this year or next year. In the future, there might be funding following a consolidation and reorganization of the various tourism agencies. The level of funding will definitely not be at the Jamestown level. Federal funding should be investigated; an approach to Congressman Delahunt would be wise. She noted that it is also very important to get regular funding from the town through Town Meeting in order to obtain state and federal funding.
Once the Governor’s Commission is appointed and gathered, we will be able to work within Beacon Hill. Our legislative delegation will be as helpful as possible.

Status of 501 c 3: Ed Santos and Ken Tavares have not yet been able to consult with the attorneys. This is a matter of some urgency.

PRESENTATION BY 2020 STARTS NOW INC. CONSULTANT DARCY LEE
Darcy Lee presented the findings of the recently completed feasibility study. The goal of the study was to strengthen the committee as well as to begin sharing the vision for 2020 and gaining visibility; the study provides a starting point for planning and board development. After a report, discussion ensued. One issue revealed by the study was that previous commemorations did not in fact gain Plymouth additional visibility outside the immediate region. One step might be to recruit a “celebrity endorsement” in the form of a media and/or business “star” – perhaps a Mayflower descendant – who would be involved as an “honorary” and raise the commemoration’s profile. Paul Bumpus from the Mayflower Society could help to identify potential candidates for Peter Gomes to approach; as pointed out by Jim Baker, we need to get out own organizational house in order before outreach begins. Ed Santos pointed out that we need a broader base of directors for 2020 Starts Now and, above all, we need organization. The first step is for the board of 2020 Starts Now to hold a meeting, this meeting was scheduled; this group will discuss the feasibility study and respond to its suggestions on reorganization and then report back, with recommendations, to the Plymouth 400th Committee at its next meeting.
It was noted that a discussion on the formation of subcommittees and the issue of enlarging the Plymouth 400th Committee (agenda items 3 & 4) would be premature until basic organizational matters are settled. Peter Balboni suggested some organizational and subcommittee ideas for consideration and thought before the next meeting.

ACTIVE ONGOING PROJECT – Branding
Paula Peters reported that the Branding Subcommittee should have a visual presentation for the next meeting. TKO is starting to do some rough drafts; the subcommittee will be giving direction to TKO to further refine the visuals so they can be presented to the committee as a whole. The subcommittee asked permission to expand its membership by 2 people for this process – Peter Balboni and Ann Berry were suggested by the subcommittee, approved by the committee and agreed to serve.

ACTIVE ONGOING PROJECT – License plate
All data collected through Plymouth Rock Studios has been turned over to Shari Thompson in the Town of Plymouth Economic Development office. Patrick O’Brien will spearhead the license plate, going forward. Paul Bumpus placed a write-up in the latest issue of the Mayflower Quarterly which should generate additional interest.

ONGOING PROJECT – Education.
Kathy Babini showed the committee a collectible whiskey bottle developed for the 1970 Plymouth Commemoration and a booklet outlining programs on Plymouth history throughout Massachusetts schools in 1920.
Kathy is working with Rich Harbert of the Old Colony Memorial to publicize the Plymouth 400 projects done by the second graders who are the “Class of 2020.” Programs have been developed for this class, 3d graders next year; she is working with the education staff at Plimoth Plantation to develop a time capsule that will be integrated into the 3d grade program.

OTHER –
Ellie Donovan asked if there was a plan to get in touch with people in attendance at the November 2009 event who expressed interest in working with this committee? We have available a list of names, generally with email addresses and, often, with indication of a specific area of interest for that person. It was agreed that Peter Gomes will write a short general message indicating that the committee appreciates their interest and that further communication is planned; Peg Baker will forward the list from the November 2009 event to John Mahoney who will arrange for this message to be sent out electronically.

PUBLIC COMMENT -
Dexter Olsson wants to pursue getting a regular story in the Old Colony Memorial, biweekly or monthly, entitled “2020 Foresight.” The goal of this initiative would be to educate local people and to raise visibility. The Committee applauded this effort.

NEXT MEETING
Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the NEW OFFICE of the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce – 134 COURT STREET

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.