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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPARADE COMMITTEE - 07/02/2007 - MINUTES Elk Grove Village Parade Meeting July 2,2007 Chernick Conference Room, Elk Grove Village In Attendance: Steve Santowski, Chair Wayne Deasy Pat Droschak Anne Feichter Fred Geinosky Rich Keyworth Marilyn Koss George Murtaugh, Public Works Ellen Peacock Jeff Prior, Police Jennifer Rupert Karen Szull Immediately before the meeting was called to order, Karen Szull passed out a copy of the letter that was sent to her husband, Ray Szull, regarding his accepting the $200 honorarium when only 2 cars participated, rather than the 10 expected. She wanted each committee member to see the letter as she said she felt the letter was rude and sent before that facts were known. Discussion followed later in the meeting. Parade Committee Chair Steve Santowski called the meeting to order at 5:35pm. Steve commented that this was perhaps the best parade in recent history in Elk Grove Village. The theme was great in that more units than ever followed the theme with a specific movie for their unit. The spray paint worked better for lining up the units. The commentators, Pat Droschak and George Knickerbocker were wonderfully entertaining. The parade committee generally was in full agreement with Steve's assessment. Karen Szull questioned the statement about units following the theme and passed out a list of all units, the movie theme each selected, the units that did not show up, which units were paid and how much they were paid. She said 21 units did not follow the theme. Pat Droschak indicated that many of those did have a theme and mentioned what the theme of these units was. The mayor, parade marshal, and dignitaries are not required to follow the theme. Pat Droschak also said that candy, paid units, etc. are on a line item budget for the parade and must be accounted for to the mayor and board of trustees. Karen Szull also questioned why the Committee lets an anti-abortion group participate and said they did not follow the parade theme. Rich Keyworth suggested the Committee send a"nice" letter to them requesting that they follow whatever theme is determined for future years. r More comments followed on the success of the parade and that the attendance surpassed last year's. Many felt that was due to the 6pm start. It was observed that many people visited Rotary Fest after the parade ended. It was suggested that the positioning of the porta-potties be changed and that one was needed near the check-in point, Lively and Touhy. The police presence at the start of the parade was very helpful. Traffic flow before that start of the parade was the best in years. The paddles with unit numbers also work out very well. Karen Szull brought up for discussion the letter her husband, Ray, received from Mayor Johnson. She said the letter went out and had not been seen in advance by the Parade Committee. She said it was written before the facts were known and that Ray never promised to have 10 cars. He had written"10 cars?" on the application. That was not a promise of 10 cars, but statement that he may have up to 10 cars. Steve Santowski responded that the Parade Committee during their monthly meeting the previous year had agreed on $20/car for the Prowlers. It was not discussed again for the 2007 parade. Pat Droschak said that the Committee offered the $20/car as a courtesy since Ray Szull had requested it and his wife, Karen, was on the Parade Committee. Cars (classic, antique, muscle, etc.)have not received money is the past and the Prowlers were the first and only group or individual to receive an honorium for cars. The acceptance letter sent to Ray Szull for the Prowlers, written by Pat Droschak, stated that he could have no more than 10 cars and would receive an honorium of$200. Steve Santowski agreed with Karen Szull that the acceptance letter sent to the Prowlers was vague as to the $200 being for 10 cars. In the future the Committee needs to be more precise in our verbiage. Karen again felt that the Parade Committee, not the mayor, should have determined what to do in this situation. She then asked if one of us had a spouse that received the same letter from the mayor if we would have been offended as she was. She directed her question to Ellen Peacock who said she would not have been offended and thought the letter was OK as written. Marilyn Koss and Steve Santowski both said they thought the Prowlers being prohibited from future parades as stated in the letter was a little strong. Karen was directed by the Committee to speak directly to Mayor Johnson regarding the letter and its contents if she wished to pursue it. The question of next year's parade theme and grand marshal was raised briefly. Wayne Deasy asked that Lions be considered since 2008 is their 501h anniversary in Elk Grove Village. A few themes were suggested such as Broadway musicals, songs, etc. More ideas will be discussed at the September parade committee meeting. Fred Geinosky thanked everyone for their help and participation on parade day with special thanks to Elk Grove Public Works for their fantastic unit themed as the Titanic. r The next meeting of the Parade Committee will be Monday, September 10. There will be no meeting in August. Respectfully Submitted, Anne Feichter