City of Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee met Jan. 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Session of the Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee was called to order at 7:34 PM with Robin Ferrier presiding.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Stephanie Brant Absent
Robin Ferrier Present
Rebecca Meloan Present
Bob Murphy Present
Gail Norris Present
Karen O'Keefe Absent
Laura Rowles Present
Leslie Shapiro Present
Gene Taft Present
Danny Winborne Absent
Laurie Yankowski Absent
Nicole Hertvik Present
Teresa Hughes Present
Garine Isassi Present
Elizabeth Lewis Absent
Larry Matthews Absent
Melissa McDonald Absent
Jennifer Nicholson Present
Paul Stankus Absent
Megan Wessell Present
Staff present: Carolyn Crosby, Jennie Cottrell
Additional Council Member present: Laurie-Anne Sayles
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of Nov 30, 2017 7:30 PM
B. Regular Session held November 30, 2017
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Robin Ferrier
SECONDER: Gail Norris
FOR: Ferrier, Meloan, Murphy, Norris, Rowles, Shapiro, Taft, Hertvik, Hughes, Isassi, Nicholson, Wessell
ABSENT: Brant, O'Keefe, Winborne, Yankowski, Lewis, Matthews, McDonald, Stankus
3. DISCUSSION TOPICS
A. Author Recruitment
Recently added authors for the adult stages include Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Ted Bell, Piper Weiss and Liza Mundy.
B. PR/Marketing
The Instagram account for the Book Festival is ready to use and content is needed. Photos of animals with books are popular, as are "shelfies". Square format is recommended. Submissions should be sent to Robin Materese. Throwback Thursday content will include photos from the first Gaithersburg Book Festival. Blog submissions were also requested.
The short story contest is being promoted by MCPS, and the deadline for submissions is February 22.
A concept for the window at Rio has been developed and it will be updated soon.
The newsletter is in the works and will include a note about publication of vendor applications in February.
C. Writing Workshops
The deadline for proposals from workshop presenters is February 1. Garine has received 17 applications so far.
The workshop coordinators will review applications and bring recommendations to the committee.
Alternate selections will also be presented if requested.
D. Children's Village
Sheila Bouley is making progress recruiting for activities, with a plan to slightly reduce the number of in-kind sponsors to alleviate some of the crowding in the Village. A tent for word games is being planned, and a petting zoo is a potential new feature.
More costumed characters will be added if possible.
E. Website
The website is being fine-tuned, with old code being consolidated. The social media icons are now links.
A request to add an Instagram icon and link was made.
F. Post-Event Sponsor Report
Jennie Opel has been in touch with all of last year's sponsors and has received commitments from some and is awaiting responses.
Committee members will be invited to the Volunteer Reception on March 20 at Kentlands Mansion.
Robin requested selfie stations with backdrops at locations around the festival, and directional signs leading to them.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the session was adjourned at 8:15 PM
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