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> Local News > Westfield / Southwick > Westfield on Weekends gathers, reflects and plans for new year
Westfield on Weekends gathers, reflects and plans for new year
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By Deb Gardner
PRIME Editor
WESTFIELD They gathered to reflect, plan and say thanks.
According to Westfield on Weekends (WoW) clerk Chris Lindquist, about 70 people attended the organization's second annual meeting at the Westfield Athenaeum on Jan. 30.
"It was a great gathering," Lindquist said of the combination meeting and reception.
Opening remarks by WoW president Bob Plasse were followed by the introduction of the group's newest Board Members and Board of Directors for 2008.
"There are some returning, but mostly we were introducing the new officers," Lindquist told Reminder Publications. New board members Christine Farrell, Josephine Sarnelli and Art Sousa will be joining continuing members Carl Quist and Kathi Palmer for 2008. Honorary WoW board members will include Mayor Michael Boulanger and Westfield State College President Evan Dobelle.
Returning as WoW officers for 2008 are Bob Plasse as president and director of programming, Chris Dunphy, former treasurer who will serve as director of operations and Lindquist as clerk and director of development. Joining them are Mark Hanrahan as treasurer and new board member Barbara Trant as director of membership.
"We've also added a number of Ex-Officio [non-voting] board members including Mark Noonan, director of the Westfield Community Development Corporation (CDC), Lisa McMahon, executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District (BID), Lynn Boscher, executive director of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce and Mary O'Connell from the City Council," Lindquist said.
He said outgoing board members Lisa Blouin, Karen Eaton, Pamela Leigh, Gary Midura and Kate Pighetti were thanked for their service to WoW.
McMahon told the audience that "the Westfield Business Improvement District is proud to collaborate with WoW, and WoW truly is a grassroots effort that has added so much to the culture of our community."
"We're working with WoW to enhance the marketing of their events that [highlight] the downtown district, such as Colonial Harvest Days, Dickens Days and Wintergreen Days," McMahon told Reminder Publications.
Boulanger emphasized his commitment to developing a master plan for Westfield and the strategic planning that is now underway.
Lindquist gave the audience a whirlwind Powerpoint slide review of WoW's 2007 events, including the second Annual Wintergreen Days, the Vintage Base Ball World Series, Colonial Harvest Days, Colonial Days, and the popular Dickens Days.
"We are now focused on four major seasonal themes," Lindquist told Reminder Publications, adding that this year WoW will be adding a summer theme called "The Good Old Summertime."
"It's something new," he said, noting the popularity of the Vintage Base Ball games in the summer of 2007.
Following the review, WoW Director of Operations Chris Dunphy outlined the events planned for 2008, beginning with an update on the third annual Wintergreen Days, slated for March 1 through April 26.
"Not all events are being produced by WoW; in fact, most are produced by other organizations [that] see the benefit of marketing under the same banner," Dunphy said in an e-mail to Reminder Publications. "Some WOW-produced events will take place on March 8 and 15."
Overviews and updates were followed by a big thank you to corporate volunteers, including those who helped make WoW's programs possible in 2007: Westfield Gas & Electric, Westfield Police & Explorers, Gary Midura and Mark St. Jean.
Dobelle closed the evening with remarks about his commitment to the partnership between Westfield State College and the city's non-profit organizations, such as WoW, emphasizing the college's commitment to the city's downtown revitalization efforts and the push to draw people back to downtown Westfield.
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