NORTH AURORA DAYS
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, May 8, 2023
Call to Order
Mark Gaffino called the meeting to order at 6:03 pm.
Attendance
Mark Gaffino, Jessi Watkins, Holly O’Brien, Julie Shoemaker, Lynn Miller, Robyn Stecklein, Steve Bosco, and Natalie Stevens
Approval of Minutes
Jessi Watkins made a motion to approve the April 10, 2023, meeting minutes, which was seconded by Holly O’Brien
Motion to Approve: All in Favor
Discussion
Committee members provided individual updates on work progress since the last meeting.
Holly O’Brien filled the committee in on the options for the beer tent and how they were increasing the pricing on items this year given how low they have been in the past. The options this year will include wine and margaritas to increase selection. O’Brien also explained she was setting up a form for shifts and Lynn Miller inquired further about gaining access for the Lions Club. The topic of wristbands came up and Staff had been unable to locate them at Village Hall and suggested they may be in the Lions Club trailer from last year.
Julie Shoemaker has been working on various community events and indicated that School District 129 this year was interested in doing a Fun Run. The Committee discussed having a theme to the run and also location: Fearn was the primary choice but given the fact softball games would be taking place during the same timeframe Goodwin was proposed as a secondary option and Shoemaker said she would check with the park district. Regarding softball, Shoemaker said they were still determining the size of softball preferred. She said she had been in contact with the fishing derby coordinator and that was nearly set and would have final details for the June meeting.
Jessi Watkins updated the committee on the Messenger Library’s DuPage Children’s Museum component, which will be in the park on Friday evening and confirmed there is no cost to the Village for that entertainment. Stevens confirmed the other entertainments for the event at North Aurora Riverfront Park would be a sloth photo taking opportunity and Frankie the Dinosaur on Saturday evening, face painters and balloon artists both nights, and the chosen inflatable activities of a climbing wall and ‘hungry hungry hippo’ game.
Stevens informed there were a total of six food vendors for the event and all had paid. Sponsorships were still relatively low. The deadline for sponsorships is July 1.
With no further discussion, Jessi Watkins made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 pm, which was seconded by Lynn Miller.
Motion to Adjourn: All in Favor
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie Stevens
