AUBURN’S HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITES COMMISSION
Meeting minutes from October 17, 2006
Present: M. Alberici, L. Leary, D. Lamb, D. Carabajal, D. Stankus, M. Vanek, B. M. Lewis, Rev. Carter, E. McHugh,
S. Tucker, S. Craner, J. McCormick and J. Kline
Excused/Absent: B. Barrett (Cayuga Co. Chamber), P. Wisbey, K. Walker, B. Anderson (Auburn Public Theater),
P. Copes Johnson and D. Dempsey
I. Approval of the Minutes
B. M. Lewis read the Commission’s mission and vision statements. M. Alberici asked for approval of the August 8, 2006 minutes. E. McHugh said she had a correction since she will not be pursuing bike donations for Passport to History. J. Kline noted the change, and D. Lamb made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected, seconded by S. Tucker. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Committee Reports
II. Planning & Development Committee
M. Alberici said “Lessons on Auburn” was well received during the City Council presentation. For those that didn’t attend the last Commission meeting when the material was presented, M. Alberici explained that it was a curriculum-based educational program aimed at 7-8 grade students in the Region. The goal is to incorporate the sites into student lesson plans. Two teachers from East Middle School are heading up the project, but plans can be created and submitted from any teacher. M. Alberici said Jeff is trying to set up a meeting with all of the site directors to get their input on the program’s template. After much discussion, Oct. 26 at 3:30PM was chosen as a potential date. Please follow-up with M. Alberici on the final decision and meeting location. J. Kline circulated an article that just ran
in the Post-Standard about I-Pod casting lesson plans to pass to the organizers.
III. Marketing Committee
J. Kline passed out copies of her monthly report, showing inquiry numbers since the last meeting. M. Vanek said leads have peeked corresponding with our ad placements. The September Family Circle ad is doing well. J. Kline circulated copies of some of the Meredith ads, plus an article that ran in the Smithsonian. M. Vanek said there is a copy of the revised advertising budget in the packets. At our last meeting, we decided to pull money from FLTA coop. ad. opportunities and other local PR initiatives for the $2,000 contingency fund for “Lessons on Auburn.” Yet, there is still money for some local advertising for events such as Holiday Traditions. M. Vanek said fulfillment with Jacob’s is going very smoothly. Now the Tourism Office only handles Internet and phone inquiries.
J. Kline passed out copies of the new Commission letterhead. We have a supply of 500. It lists all the participating organization down the left side, and should be used for any Commission projects, like “Passport to History.”
M. Vanek passed around display materials from the Routes 5 & 20 collaborative program. She said there were many benefits from historic sites, museums and tourism offices from Skaneateles to Batavia working together. Cayuga Museum participated for Cayuga County. The program had great play in the papers, using the longest exhibit “135 Miles of History,” as a lure. Articles ran in the Toronto Sun and Toronto Globe & Mail. Next year, the group will focus on food, fun and farms, due to an agritourism grant. M. Vanek said Gateway Information in Binghamton is looking for images to promote upcoming events. There is a copy of the letter in the packets, with more details. They also will use any promotional items, from your attraction, at the Center. Their staff is very professional and
knowledgeable, and well-aware of our area.
IV. Community Outreach Committee
E. McHugh said the committee met at the Chapel, and there was some discussion on expanding the program out into the County. Committee members were going to talk to teachers in the outlaying areas to gauge interest. There is potential to double the number of students by incorporating these additional areas. In the meantime, the committee will discuss distributing the work load of the existing program.
V. Other Business
J. Kline passed out the Treasurer’s Report and reviewed expenses incurred since the last meeting. D. Lamb made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted, seconded by D. Stankus. All were in favor and the motion carried.
M. Alberici said the presentation to City Council went well. They provided them with the site’s attendance figures from the summer, and once again focused on the Commission work being an investment, not an expense. D. Carabajal said she has access to arts and tourism stats that show the importance the arts play in economic development. They even have PowerPoint presentations that organizations can download if they need to present. As soon as the year-end attendance figures are completed, M. Alberici will go back to another City Council meeting to provide them with an update.
M. Alberici said M. Long had requested meeting to discuss the Commission budget, since confusion is still prevalent. S. Craner said she agrees that further explanation is needed to clarify that the money is not funding the Tourism Office. They provide the Commission with administrative support, and monthly reports document this work since the very beginning. (M. Alberici and J. Kline have since met with M. Long and D. Dempsey to explain this process in detail. To make sure the Commission’s structure and mission are understood by all, City Council members are invited to the December meeting.)
D. Carabajal offered Commission members the use of the poster cases on the Schine Theater’s façade.
The plywood should be coming off soon, exposing the restored Art Deco doors and box office. The family-oriented New Year’s Eve event, that the Arts Council helped organize, may not happen this year due to City funding cuts. The next Adams Foundation Concert is scheduled for April 29 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. It’s a beautiful venue to enjoy world-class pianists, and not enough people come out to hear these performances.
Rev. Carter said the Tubman Home will be closed during January, since they have numerous projects in the works. Restoration work continues on the Tubman residence, the second floor of the Home for the Aged, and the Parker Street Church. Anthropology students from SU have been conducting digs on the property, shedding light on other out buildings (barns and sheds) as well. Rev. Carter said they purchased the land across the where street, where the Tic Toc Tavern was, for future development potential. They will also have new displays at the Visitor’s Center, and some additional part-time staff coming onboard. Monies are finally available from the Bank of America (a $400,000 matching contribution) and the “Save America’s Treasures” ($450,000) award. Progress also continues on the National Park Service
Feasibility Study.
D. Lamb said they are gearing up for their Progressive Dinner event on October 21st. Tickets sales are going well, there are about 150 people coming. The still life exhibits at SMAC are still up for another week or so, then they will be closing for Quilts=Art=Quilts installation, which opens on Nov. 4th. They will host a member preview opening, and have many workshops and events planned as well.
L. Leary said if anyone is interested in student music groups, artwork or volunteer help for the Holiday Traditions event to let her know. S. Craner said she has had trouble booking the marching band for the Holiday Parade (Nov. 25), and L. Leary said she knows, and it’s difficult due to timing. They agreed that volunteers and performers before and/or after the parade could work well. L. Leary said to keep her in the loop re: “Lessons on Auburn.” She may be able to approach foundations for financial support. The Auburn Education Foundation is hosting a “Winter Magic” fundraiser dinner dance at the Springside Inn on March 3rd. Don’t forget, today is the day to go out and vote on pending improvement propositions.
E. McHugh said the Cayuga Museum is hosting a cocktail party on Nov. 18th. A raffle ticket is your admittance to the event ($50 per couple). They are having an exhibit to coordinate with the SMAC’s quilt show called “Nature’s Tapestries,” showing the work of artist Janet H. Shea from Scipio. The technique is called thread painting, using machine embroidery. The Museum will be closed during the month of January. B. M. Lewis is volunteering her time at the Museum, helping archive the collection.
M. Alberici said the Chapel is organizing three year’s worth of themed tours, lectures and special events (including tea parties). These will include local architecture styles, the work of Tiffany, and antiques. These events will be free in support of the CPC’s educational mission.
S. Craner encouraged folks to come out for the Holiday Parade at 6PM on Nov. 25th the day after Thanksgiving. They will be a lot of nice floats, and family activities both before and after. They will be offering free horse & buggy rides and pictures with Santa. S. Craner said, as many people may know, City Council voted down the improvements to downtown that everyone was working so hard for. Things may still happen through diligence with City Planning, but it’s a big setback. They asked that downtown merchants and stakeholders meet (again) to discuss their priorities and needs. If things change, work could start next spring. S. Craner said the Main Street Grant Program is going along well, and there will be many more façade improvements happening next year. The Downtown BID is also working with a
Texas-based agency that recruits retailers.
With no other business to discuss, the Commission adjourned at 4:45PM. The Commission’s next meeting will held December 5th at 3:30PM, at the Willard Memorial Chapel. All members are requested to bring a snack or drink. City Council, the City Manager and Mayor have been invited to this meeting.
Recorded by Jesse Kline
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