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Home My WebLink About1994 09-14 EBDM d ; Earle Brown Days p rooklyn Center Minnesota 1 Shingle Creek Parkway 55430 (612)569-3400 Earle Brown Days Meeting Minutes September 14, 1994 PRESENT: Terri Swanson, Henry Dorff, Sarah Pollock, Mary Nelson, Julie Doth, Tom Slupske, Judith Bergeland, Randy Moore, Lynn Moore, Gail Graiewski-Moore, Jackie Graham, Pat Holcomb, Myrna Kragness, Larry Roen and Sue LaCrosse. The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. FINANCIAL REPORT: There is a balance of $397.71 There was discussion about asking Target to sponsor the fireworks. Henry Dorff will contact the manager. ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR: The arts and crafts fair is growing, but we need to get more people. However, most crafters and food vendors were very pleased 'with their sales. The addition of entertainment was a good idea. Most of the crafters would be . willing to donate an item to be used as an hourly door prize drawing. Winner- would pick up prize at the booth. Pat would like to get books of coupons advertising the craft fair to crafters so they can promote the Earle Brown Days show at other shows. There is always a need for more signs. LaCrosse will check on private property and business sign ordinances for the festival. Fundraising letters should go out in fall. Maybe we should look at changing the letter and do follow up calls. The Aquatennial sends out a letter first informing the businesses they will be contacted by phone or in person at a later date. In some cases, like toy stores, the children make the contact. It was suggested to get the letters ready to go in December and mail them January 3 because businesses are hit hard for donations in November and December. We would like to get the Chamber mailing list. Back during the 75th Anniversary, groups of people contacted their business peers for contributions. For example, a doctor would make personal contacts to other doctors. Most of the neighboring communities are struggling with their festivals too. It was suggested we work with another community some time in the future. When contacting the business community, put letter to the attention of the community relations coordinator. Other ideas included hiring a professional fundraiser. They can design sponsorship packages and would take a percentage. 1 We could also talk to high schools about getting students involved because most of the schools now require some type of community service work. The Humboldt Square Substation just started a junior volunteer program that is working very well. Gail works with Brooklyn Center Community Education and she will check on getting some students involved. BARN DANCE: Participation was down. It was suggested we might try another kind of music, change to a later time, hire a D.J. instead of a band, lower the price, and have a separate dance floor for kids. Sales were down and volunteers are always hard to get. Judith asked if we needed the beer garden and it was decided some people really like it. That part isn't advertised very well. Myrna passed around a flyer and picture of a machine called Mobile Venturer Program. The machine simulates flying in an airplane. It could be put in the parking lot at the community center, over at the substation or at the Heritage Center and tie it in with getting some vintage planes. It may fit in well at the Heritage Center because the first airstrip was on the farm. Myrna will check on prices, what percentage EBD would get and references. FINANCE/BUDGET: We need to sharpen the budget and look at all events to see if they are worth doing.. Also, people will need to stay within their budget proposals. JUNIOR ROYALTY: The program am offers recognition into other communities. : The P g g float goes out � to different parades. Jackie said the humor royalty committee has started • to look at ways to bring in additional money for the program. They are doing a monthly Burger King fundraiser and may hold a garage sale. Tom said he knows of two items.that would make a minimum of $8-10,000: The Circus would bring in $3,000 and an auction, if done right, would bring in at least $3 500: g g , Robbinsdale Junior Royalty has each child obtain a sponsor. If you want the businesses to et involved,Y o ved ou have to give them something back. We g , Y g g could use posters in the parade. The business would sponsor a parade unit and get a poster. Or maybe a business could be responsible for sponsoring one of the band cash prizes. Jackie has a list of people that might be willing to get more involved. PARADE: I Children love to be in parades. Maybe some of the businesses, like McDonald's, would allow children to sign up in a raffle. Winners would be chosen and could ride in the parade, maybe with councilmembers. There is no participation insurance, so parents would sign a waiver. The starting and ending points need to be published more. Even though the band directors get the map and all the information, 2 • they do not seem to be passing it on to students and booster parents. Julie would like that information available in case of calls. We need to issue passes to politicians to get them through. Larry said the Crystal Lions sponsor the parade and fireworks for the Crystal Frolics at a cost of $20,000. PICNIC/GAMES: About same turnout as last year. It helped to have the fishing contest end right before the picnic/games started. Perhaps we could get business cards made up for committee members. Jackie said she always wears her t-shirt and a name tag. Sue will check on some prices for plastic name tags for committee members. Sue said she would like to make up a grid with all Brooklyn Center businesses and then the committee can decide what committee will contact each business. She would like to have that contact person also take out promotional posters and flyers to give to the business when they contribute. She will get the list from the Chamber and the City's list from community development. Terri said when committee members go out this year, they should ask who is in charge of community relations and also extend an invitation for them to submit a member to the board. We should check with different businesses and schools about having Earle Brown Days put on their outdoor signs. • PUBLICITY: We should ask Nancy from NorthWest News to be on the committee. It would be nice if we could get a promotional video made. There is footage from last year's EBD events and Tom said there is a 15- 20 minute promotional video from the 75th Anniversary somewhere at City Hall. Terri suggested getting the PR person from Northwest Community Television on the committee. Lynn suggested sending the junior royalty out to the puppet shows and they can tell the children about EBD. TALENT CONTEST: We could consider an admission charge. We could consider a non-competitive fun talent show. It was suggested this could be held as part of the dance, before and/or during band breaks. We are not doing anything to target seniors. Would it be possible e to start the senior royalty program again? This would need volunteers and a sponsor. TEEN BOP DANCE: KDWB wants to come back. Myrna asked Mary if the substation would be able to take this over and do as an event for EBD. She said yes. Julie said Fridley dropped their Sunday events and their festival was much more • successful. 3 APPROVALOF BILLS: Brooklyn Center High School Parade-custodial $185 There was a motion by Dorff, seconded by Graham to pay bill. Motion carried. Pat would 'like to sell EBD t-shirts at the arts & crafts fair next year. She had at least 50 people ask to buy them. NEXT MEETING: To be announced. ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, 1� ) �A. Sue LaCrosse City Liaison • Ip • 4