NORTH AURORA DAYS
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Monday, September 9, 2024
Call to Order
Chairman Mark Gaffino called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
Attendance
Julie Shoemaker, Norma Yario, Lynn Miller, Mark Gaffino, Steve Bosco, Natalie Stevens, Mark Theis
Not in Attendance: Jessi Watkins
Approval of Minutes
Lynn Miller made a motion to approve the July 8, 2024 meeting minutes, which was seconded by Julie Shoemaker.
Motion to Approve: All in Favor
2024 North Aurora Days
The Committee discussed the 2024 North Aurora Days event. Lynn Miller said she generally heard good feedback on the event, to which Julie Shoemaker echoed and said that she really loved the kids’ area and felt it worked really well and there were a lot of kids utilizing the space. The use of the golf carts was incredibly well received, although members noted that some of the carts did not have lights so could not be used later in the evening. The bands were all good and the fireworks were definitely a major highlight.
Miller said they might want to shuffle the Lions Club location items around for next year to put the tickets directly next to the beverage tent, but otherwise felt the set-up worked and said the prices all seemed to be good. Natalie Stevens said feedback from the food trucks was Friday was a little slow but Saturday was very good. She suggested possibly shortening the food hours on Friday (no fireworks) next year.
Shoemaker said all of the off-site events went well, but there was some overlap between the fishing derby and the fun run due to the trophies going past 10am. She said they discussed about moving the fishing derby up a half hour to provide more cushion between the events. Mark Gaffino said more signage was needed during touch-a-truck for the inside activities and also said there were some spacing issues with the location at Jewel Middle School for the event, but it was nice to have it all in town.
2025 North Aurora Days
Stevens garnered feedback from the Committee about band options and said she would be looking to compile some options and send them out to the group prior to the next meeting for review. The list would also include any bands/groups that reached out individually.
Gaffino said he would like to look into having a Committee member serve as a volunteer coordinator to manage all of the volunteers at the event to make things more cohesive.
Steve Bosco mentioned there would be some additional temporary parking next year when the old fire department building is torn down.
Stevens mentioned for the timing of getting printed materials out and sponsorship levels fulfilled the cut-off for sponsorships with a guarantee of printed materials may need to be earlier to accommodate the design and print process. She also said that table space is limited and was close to full this year.
With nothing further to discuss the Committee made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 pm.
Motion to Adjourn: All in Favor
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie Stevens
