250th Annivesary Committee Meeting

Julian Room, Sturbridge Town Hall
Meeting date: 
Monday, February 10, 2025

Sturbridge’s 250th Celebration Committee Meeting Minutes

 

MEETING DETAILS

Monday February 10th, 2025 5:30pm

Sturbridge Town Hall, Julian Room

308 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01566

Meeting minutes taken by Megan Mooney

 

ROLL CALL 

The following persons were in attendance:

Robin Grimm (RG)

Joan Chamberland (JC)

William Chamberland (WC)

Richard Volpe (RV)

MaryLou Volpe (MV)

Megan Mooney (MM)

Sara Ponticelli (SP)

Derek Heidemann (DH)

Holice Turnbow (HT)

 

CALL TO ORDER RG called meeting to order at 5:32pm

OLD BUSINESS Not applicable; first meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Committee Position Vote: MV made motion to vote RV as committee Chair, seconded by WC, all in favor.  RV made motion to vote DH as committee Co-Chair, seconded by WC, all in favor.  RV made motion to vote MM as committee Secretary, seconded by MV, all in favor.

 

  1. Committee Liaison: Leslie Wong, COA Director, will be the 250th celebration committee’s designated liaison for other town committees.  Terry Masterson is the liaison for STA.

 

  1. Funding: Committee members are encouraged to research possible grants to fund celebration events.  RG will seek Earmark grants and states betterment already signed off on.  Committee should consider presenting financial requests to STA and rationalize how monies used for the 250th celebration will contribute to tourism.  If approved STA may support with funds and/or advertising.  Permits may be covered by Special Event line items.  Vendors bring their own permits, while committee would need permits if seeking non-vendor-based alcohol or food offerings. 

 

  1. Partnerships: members generated various potential partnerships including partnerships with churches, American Legion, Burgess and Tantasqua, other town committees, local restaurants, OSV, Farmer’s Market, Town Bonfire events, Boy and Girl Scouts, WRTA/School Buses, Erik Reynolds/Agriculture Commission, local farmers.  If at any point this committee needs collaboration with another town committee, send a request to RG and she will send out an email.  RG plans to reach out to committees soon to ensure they are aware of the 250th celebration efforts.

 

  1. Celebration parameters: Committee agrees celebration will be restricted to the town of Sturbridge and Fiskdale; however, will consider collaborating with neighboring towns if they request it.  Committee has full range of planning, within budget, and may consider planning one large event, several small events, and/or non-event celebratory commemoratives.  Committee is leaning towards hosting smaller events on a monthly basis starting in January 2026 geared towards various audiences each month leading to a larger event in July.  Members agree all events should avoid coinciding with Brimfield Antique Show (2026 show dates listed as May 12-17, July 7-12, and September 8-13).

 

  1. Event ideas:
    1. Restaurants offer $2.50 beer special; collaborate with STA in advertising event
    2. Parade with floats
    3. School Competition – essay on what America means to you; possible scavenger hunt of town historical sites; announce winners at larger gathering; if schools cannot collaborate, town may host contest of our own
    4. Tantasqua Choir sing patriotic songs
    5. Apple Pie contest – possibly hosted at Publick house – invite local restaurants to submit their pie
    6. Rent bus and provide tour of local historical sites
    7. Have children/young adults dress up as historical figures and host a meet and greet
    8. Local farm tours to appreciate current Sturbridge agriculture while also learning about the town’s rich agricultural history
    9. No fireworks due to past issues

 

ACTION STEPS

  • RG to email other town committees alerting them to the start of the 250th celebration planning and to expect collaboration with celebration committee
  • All members to research possible grants
  • All members to continue to brainstorm and further formalize event ideas

 

NEXT MEETING: Monday March 3rd, 2025 at 5:30pm, Town Hall, Julian Room

 

ADJOURNMENT  Meeting has ended – Speaker: Richard Volpe – 6:23 pm

Minutes respectfully submitted by: Megan Mooney