International Festival Committee

International Festival 2025 A project of the City of Lawton and the McMahon Memorial Auditorium Minutes Special Meeting International Festival Committee Dory Thomas April 1, 2025—4:30PM (Chair) Carnegie Library Town Hall Dinah Lazarte Call Meeting to Order: 4:31pm (Vice Chair) 1. Action: Roll Call Nancy Alandzes Rosalind Asetamy PRESENT: Thomas, Lazarte, Brierton, Brown, Buckley, Nededog, Reynolds, Alicia Brierton Reggie Brown Rogers, Jerson Romero, Myrna Romero, Welborn Molly Buckley Fano Canton ABSENT: Alandzes, Asetamy, Canton, Fullerton, hastings, Angel Howell, Mike Evelynn Fullerton Howell, McManus, Morita, Rudd, Sasseen, Sauders, Smith Sonia Hastings Angel Howell Mike Howell STAFF: Poudrier, Morman, Phillips Mylene McManus Winnie Morita Verify positing of meeting: Ben Nededog Pat Reynolds 2. Action: Verification of posting time, place, and date. Kathy Rogers Jerson Romero Consent Agenda: The following items are considered to be routine by the Max Sasseen International Festival Committee and will be enacted with one motion. Should Kathy Sauders Page Smith discussion be desired on an item, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda prior to action and considered separately. Jason Poudrier Arts & Humanities 3. Approval of past meeting minutes from March 11, 2025. Administrator 4. Approval of financials from March 2025. Andrea Morman Arts & Humanities Motion by Nededog to approve the meeting minutes from March 11, 2025 and Deputy Administrator the financial report from March 2025. Second by Rogers. Michell Rosario Arts & Humanities Lazarte, Brierton, Brown, Buckley, Nededog, Rogers, Jerson Romero, Myrna Community Events Romero, and Welborn voted yes. Motion Carried & Outreach Coordinator Haley Moore Chair Report Arts & Humanities Digital Media Specialist 5. Thomas and Morman reported on the status of the Apache Casino Hotel contract for the International Festival Fiesta. Reagan Phillips Arts & Humanities Vice Chair’s Report: Administrative Assistant 6. No report. Terry Gresham Arts and Humanities Committee Reports: Maintenance Tech 7. International Festival Fiesta Nicholas Sasseen Arts & Humanities Technical Coordinator Brierton reported on how Loteria is played. Thomas asked if any members would be able to donate items for the silent auction, the door prize, and the Loteria prizes, discussion ensued. The committee discussed who is needed for the registration table, to decorate beforehand, who will be selling Lotería cards and the 50/50 tickets.  8. Vendors Phillips reported that she has received a few vendors already for the 46th annual International Festival. 9. Sponsorships/Brochures Poudrier reported that he is reaching out to past sponsors and that his office is working on reaching out to new sponsors as well. He asked that if anyone knows of any potential sponsors, he will be pushing out sponsor levels soon on social media. 10. Marketing / Publicity / Social Media Poudrier reported on the marketing and publicity avenues he is pursuing. He reported that in recent training he learned that radio and television advertisements are not as effective as social media ads. Poudrier reported on the Great Plains Country brochure that the MAA has paid for advertising. 11. Parade of Nations / Opening Ceremony Morman reported that she will follow up with Charlotte Kealii Thompson to see if she is interested in coordinating the Parade of Nations again this year. Poudrier reported that his office has reached out to the Oklahoma City field office for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and they and Judge Erwin are on track to perform the Naturalization ceremony. Entertainment There was discussion on the location for the Interactive/Children’s Area and about possible changes to the south stage tent. Poudrier reported that his office is finalizing the performers contracts and that the Volunteer Performer application is ready to start to go live. 12. Volunteers - none 13. Decorations - none 14. Beer Booth There was discussion if the beer booth should get the slushie machine again. The committee decided that the slushies were a great idea because it can get hot and they sold very well last year. 15. Drink Booths - none 16. Information Booth - none Staff Reports: 17. A&H Administrator: City of Lawton Collaboration and Assistance Poudrier reported that he will make sure to put in the event permit the facilities rental for the Patriot Pavillion. He also let the committee know that if they need anything printed for the festival, his office can be of help. Business Items: 18. Review quote for sound technician for 2025 International Festival and take action as necessary. Motion by Brierton to accept the sound quote from Sasseen Production Group. Second by Jerson Romero. Lazarte, Brierton, Brown, Buckley, Nededog, Rogers, Jerson Romero, Myrna Romero, and Welborn voted yes. Motion Carried. 19. Review quote for Security Company for 2025 International Festival and take action as necessary. Motion by Brierton to accept the security quote from Triangle Security. Second by Jerson Romero. Lazarte, Brierton, Brown, Buckley, Nededog, Rogers, Jerson Romero, Myrna Romero, and Welborn voted yes. Motion Carried. Old Business: none New Business: none Announcements: none Adjournment: 5:34pm