Plymouth's 400th Anniversary

Minutes of Public Meetings of the Plymouth 2020 Committee: 2009

Meeting of the Plymouth 400th Committee
Monday, May 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the offices of Plymouth Rock Studios, Cordage Park, North Plymouth

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

Before the arrival of Peter Gomes, Paul Cripps provided a report on the inventory of hotel rooms now and those expected by 2020 so that the committee can begin to approach national groups about scheduling meetings and events in Plymouth in 2020/2021.

Peter Gomes opened the meeting at 7:20 pm.
It was noted that the Committee meeting would be filmed, if permission were granted, by Plymouth Rock Studios. Permission was granted.
Peter has asked Brian Alosi, Chair of the 375th, and John Talcott, Chair of the 350th, to attend meetings.

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as written.

PREVIOUS ISSUES
Peter Gomes had to reschedule his meeting with the governor. Once all the members of the Committee are duly sworn, he expects the Governor to do a public acknowledgment.

Peggy Baker has, at Peter Gomes’ request, spoken to Darcy Lee who is still agreeable to working with the Committee. Peter Gomes will set up a meeting with Darcy Lee to discuss the next steps. Peter noted that acquiring funding is a major concern. In addition to grant-writing, the license plate should be pursued; there may be a small amount of seed money from the 375th celebration; other sources that must be forthcoming are the town and the Commonwealth. In order to receive funding, the committee needs to plan what we need money for. Royal visits, parades, publications all require funding.

David Kirkpatrick volunteered that he will have interns available soon who can do some grant research that would be valuable for Darcy Lee.
TASK: Peter Gomes will set up a meeting with Darcy Lee.

Peter asked if it would be wise to hear from Ann Berry, of the Jamestown Celebration, and learn from her experience. It was noted that Mark Sylvia had extensive contact with Ann and has a great deal of information. It was agreed that Mark Sylvia should be invited to the next meeting.
TASK: Peggy Baker will see that Mark Sylvia is invited to the next meeting.

Peter asked if the Committee could continue to meet in the Plymouth Rock Studios conference room at Cordage Park. David Kirkpatrick graciously allowed the committee the continued use of this space.

Patrick O’Brien could not be at the meeting but reported that he intends to be at the June meeting. He has spoken with Congressman Delahunt’s office and one of his staffers is inquiring on the stamp issue with the postmaster General’s office and hopes to have a direction and information soon. The Congressman’s office, however, found no official way of acquiring the other 49 state flags. Patrick said he would be willing to reach out to each governor’s office to try to accomplish this if the committee were so inclined. The Committee agreed that this amount of effort does not need to be invested in the flags; a simpler solution might be to invite each state to participate in a parade or event not long before 2020 and to collect the flags at that time.
TASK: Patrick O’Brien should be encouraged to proceed with the stamp.

Peggy Baker reported that she visited a local coin shop and learned that coin collectors’ groups are a thing of the past. She found no interest in pursuing a 2020 coin.

FORMATION OF A 501 C3
John McDonagh has done considerable work on this. The Committee needs to endorse the creation of a 501C3 which will serve to support the work of this committee. It was decided that the corporation’s fiscal year will be July 1 – June 30. A few other issues (the proposed corporation’s annual meeting date, for instance) need to be decided and then we expect there will be in place, by the end of the summer, an entity to accept funds. The group could adopt the corporation in principle and empower the officers as named in the draft documents to work out the details.

It was MOVED, SECONDED and VOTED with no exceptions that the officers of the proposed corporation be as listed (Peter Gomes, Kenneth Tavares, James Baker, Peggy Baker and John McDonagh) and that these officers be empowered to refine the definition of the corporation.

The corporation will also need to establish a banking partner. The partner could be a source of the bond needed for the license plate, as well as providing normal banking services. Ken Tavares and John McDonagh will survey local banks and gauge their interest in providing support.
TASK: Ken Tavares and John McDonagh will survey local banks to gauge their interest in providing support for the about-to-be established 501 C3.

It was also noted that the “Officers & Directors Insurance” will be needed as well.

Betty DeBenedictis found a Post Office Box with “2020” that would be available.

The question of whose phone number will be listed as the corporation’s official number raised the issue of the town’s willingness to support the committee. It was decided to invite Acting Town Manager Melissa Arrighi to the next meeting.
TASK: Peggy Baker will see that Melissa Arrighi is invited to the next meeting.

It was noted that 2020startsnow.com and 2020startsnow.org is ready to go. Plymouthma2020 is fully operational; minutes are posted to this site.

2020 LICENSE PLATE
Monica Mullin and David Kirkpatrick have made considerable progress. Monica and David and staff from Plymouth Rock studios have gone to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. David gave a PowerPoint presentation on both the financial and aesthetics of the license plate. The Cape & Islands plate brought in $10 million per year but this did involve a lot of hard work (and a special auction of Plate #1). The design used by the Cape & Islands is no longer allowed by the Registry. The design of the plate is now regularized. We could have a 4-color logo, a slogan, and a designation of special “initials” if we wished. The Registry suggested that the logo be simple and bold, an idea reinforced by Enzo Monti who pointed out that we wanted the plate instantly recognizable at a distance or when moving rapidly. It was agreed that the Mayflower (ship) would be a wonderful graphic image. David Kirkpatrick was asked to proceed to create a design and bring it to the Committee. The image used on the license plate could/should then be used as the logo for the larger event.

In order to proceed, we would need 1500 pledges-to-buy. The license plate could be promoted through the newspaper, through the historical societies, perhaps through the schools.

There was considerable discussion on 2020 vs. 400; Peter Gomes feels the significance of a 400th anniversary is more global, 2020 is more local. The committee at some point needs to establish a label and start to be consistent. Paul Cripps said that his organization has purchased a number of url’s (Website domain names) and would be willing to contribute their use to the Committee if desired.
Tamson Burgess pointed out that there have been a number of articles in the paper already and more lined up, including Paula Peters’ talk to the Massachusetts Mayflower Descendants. A consistent “banner” would be very useful and, for now, “2020 starts now” works. She asked the committee’s permission to begin using that catch phrase on newspaper stories; the committee agreed.
TASK: David Kirkpatrick will create a design/set of visuals for the license plate and bring them to the Committee.

CALENDAR FOR THE CELEBRATION
Decisions need to be made soon about how long the actual 2020 event will last, what significant events will take place, for what occasions would special visitors (royalty, president) be invited, what would the events be like and what would our special guests do? Do we go into 2021? The committee thought that 18 months (the actual calendar of historic events) was too long. August 1 is a significant date to be celebrated (the first “departure”) but August 1 is too late for an opening event. Plymouth can’t handle millions at a single event but could handle visitors spread throughout the tourist season.

Ken Tavares raised the concern that we need to change the attitude of the town towards the improvements Plymouth needs if it is to host such a large event. A free-wheeling and wide-ranging discussion followed. Some of the key thoughts are listed below.
Peter Gomes asked how we inform people and build local support. Infrastructure may not be a direct responsibility of this committee but we ARE inviting people to Plymouth and we have to be prepared, we have to be able to move people around.

Jim Baker pointed out that we need the involvement not only of the paper but of the nonprint media to get the word out, that David Kirkpatrick and Plymouth Rock Studios could be key.

Tamson Burgess aid we need to find ways for the whole town to get involved and we need to get started now with ways to get the locals to “buy in” and therefore support the needed infrastructure changes and improvements.

Peter Gomes pointed out that there are lots of local groups and we should ask them how they want to be involved. Jim Baker said there are two different levels of people we are trying to reach – locals and those who will come from away – and different approached are needed. Paul Cripps said marketing to outsiders may be easier than selling Plymouth to Plymoutheans. David Kirkpatrick pointed out that celebrating community and a hometown in times of challenge could be an exemplar to the nation; Jim Baker noted that Plymouth is a microcosm of America, not just its past but in its moving into the future as well with the current green initiatives.

Ken Tavares said it takes work and a plan to make Plymouth proud. John McDonagh pointed out that the license plate is one way of getting people to very visibly “join the club.”

Tamson Burgess suggested that we come up with a list of all the civic, special interest (such as gardening) and other groups and organizations and go to them as speakers, engaging them and asking their opinion. Paul Cripps suggested the approach that this is an event that is going to happen, how can you make it better? Enzo said an initial question is, if “2020 starts now,” what is it? A first step is to go to these groups and get their opinions and input. Paul Bumpus wondered about another large public forum, perhaps larger than the first, and Peter agreed that had its place but that, at this time, it was more important to go to the groups instead of waiting for them to come to us. Tamson Burgess had the lists in the OCM Bulletin Board that could be used to contact groups and ask to be invited to speak at their meetings.
TASK: Tamson Burgess will start assembling lists of groups that would be receptive to having “2020 speakers,” she will get the list to Peg Baker.

NEXT STEP
In order for the committee as a whole to move forward, a number of smaller concrete issues need to be decided. The smaller Executive Committee will therefore meet soon and make proposals to bring to the next committee meeting. These will include agreement on the calendar and timetable as well as other issues requiring work, such as the formation of a speaker’s bureau. Since this is the group that also serves as officers of the proposed 501C3 corporation, they will refine the definition of the corporation at this meeting as well.
TASK: The Executive Committee should meet soon to discuss the calendar and timetable, the formation of a speaker’s bureau and any other small concrete issues identified. It will also refine the definition of the 501C3 corporation.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the committee will be 7:00 pm on Monday, June 15, in the Conference Room of Plymouth Rock Studios at 36 Cordage Park Circle (Building 3), Suite 305.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Peggy Baker, Clerk

PETER GOMES
PREVIOUS TASK: Peter will write a letter of thanks to Phil Budden, British Consul General.
PREVIOUS TASK: Peter will contact Ed Santos and Vinny DeMacedo regarding service on a Funding Subcommittee and will discuss the 2020 license plate bond ($100,000) with them.
PREVIOUS TASK: Peter will gather Steve Karidoyanes, Andrew Kusmin and William Richter together and discuss the art and cultural groups’ participation in 2020.
TASK: Peter Gomes will reschedule his meeting with the governor.
TASK: Peter Gomes will contact Darcy Lee regarding her services in grant-writing.

PEGGY BAKER
TASK: Peggy will see that Mark Sylvia & Melissa Arrighi are invited to the next meeting.

TAMSON BURGESS
TASK: Tamson will start assembling lists of groups that would be receptive to having “2020 speakers,” she will get the list to Peg Baker.

VINNY DEMACEDO
TASK: Peter will discuss the license plate bond ($100,000) with Ed Santos & Vinny deMacedo.

RODNEY JOSEPH
TASK: Peter asked Rodney to give some thought as to how the commemoration of the Treaty with Massasoit could play a more prominent role in the Thanksgiving events

DAVID KIRKPATRICK
TASK: David will create a set of visuals for the license plate & bring them to the Committee.

GARY MARKS
PREVIOUS TASK: Gary will contact the Congregational Church association about gathering in Plymouth in 2020.

JOHN MCDONAGH
PREVIOUS TASK: John will carry through the idea of possibly participating in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held on the Mall in 2020, as part of the kick-off of the celebrations.
TASK: Ken Tavares & John will survey local banks to gauge their interest in providing support for the about-to-be established 501 C3.

MONICA MULLIN
TASK: Monica will continue to speak to the governor’s staff & encourage the appointment of the state 2020 Commission

PATRICK O’BRIEN
TASK: Patrick O’Brien should be encouraged to proceed with the stamp.

KEN TAVARES
TASK: Ken & John McDonagh will survey local banks to gauge their interest in providing support for the about-to-be established 501 C3.