Scheafer & Lowery To Lead 60th Anniversary Planning

RIGHEIMER'S PEP TALK

 The second meeting of the Costa Mesa 60th Anniversary Committee last night at the Emergency Operations Center was kicked off by Mayor Jim Righeimer, who gave a short pep talk to the committee before turning it over to CEO Tom Hatch.   

SCHEAFER AND LOWERY WILL LEAD THE COMMITTEE

Long time activist Mike Scheafer was elected to be the Chairman of the committee.  Melinda Lowery was named Vice Chair of the group.  Scheafer is a nearly lifetime resident of Costa Mesa, current Director of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, former member of the City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission, long-time member of the Lions Club and has headed up the Fish Fry festivities for many years.  Lowery is a member of the Costa Mesa Historical Preservation Committee and has a long history of volunteerism.  You can read their individual submissions of qualifications HERE.

A FULL AGENDA
Following the election of the officers Hatch led the discussion of the very full agenda, HERE. 

ONLINE WEB DISCUSSION BOARD
The Web Discussion Board is now up and available for use.  Communications Director Bill Lobdell, shown here with Christine Cordon chatting with Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce who attended the meeting in a little box.  Sorry, couldn't resist.  You can find it at the city web site, HERE.  Committee members and interested members of the public are encouraged to sign in and participate in the discussions of the many facets of putting together the 60th Anniversary celebration.

EVERY THURSDAY IN JANUARY
This committee will meet every Thursday of January to get a running start at the planning process.  At the next meeting participants in the various sub-committees will be assigned and chairpersons of each sub-committee will be selected.  Also, a recruitment for community volunteers to help with each of the sub-committees will be launched shortly.

SUB-COMMITTEES
The sub-committees are:

• Marketing, Advertising, Branding and Public Relations
• Arts Program
• Sponsorships and Fundraising
• Outreach Programs and Community Events
• Youth Programs
• Volunteers
• Kick-off Event
• Closing Event
• Educational Programs
• History Program
• Sustainability

DETAILS COMING SOON 
Based on the conversations last night, the group is aiming for a major event to be held on the actual 60th anniversary date of the city's incorporation - June 29, 2013, which conveniently falls on a Saturday.  The use of the "Diamond Anniversary" as a theme image was discussed. Other events will be held and existing events will be invited to participate in the overall celebration.  The details will be fleshed-out during the meetings this month.

MENSINGER AND LEECE REPRESENT THE COUNCIL

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger and Councilwoman Wendy Leece represent the City Council on the committee and both attended the meeting last night.  They kept a low profile, except when Mensinger - in response to a question about financing of events - kind of poo poo'd the difference between $50,000 and $75,000.  It was a curious statement.  It's premature to even discuss finances because only the skeleton of a program exists today.  Once the sub-committees begin doing their jobs a much clearer picture of the needs will begin to form.

SMALL, BUT ENTHUSIASTIC, GROUP

So, we are off and running.  Although fewer folks attended the meeting last night than the first one last month, much of that can be blamed - at least in part - on the proximity to the holidays.  Fewer than 40 people attended the meeting last night, but they were enthusiastic and ready to get to work.  We'll see how things begin to come together during this month.