The committee placed emphasis on the difficulties encountered during the organization of a recent movie outing. Members highlighted substantial communication challenges with a theater vendor, which resulted in delayed confirmations and hindered promotional efforts. Concerns were expressed that inadequate publicity might lead to perceptions of favoritism among seniors, affecting participation. The situation was compounded when the theater staff expected payment for hot dogs ordered for the event, despite the vendor’s lack of responsiveness to repeated requests for an invoice. This prompted the committee to reconsider future collaborations with the vendor and explore alternative venues such as parks or community centers for movie screenings, where they could have more control over the event logistics.

A promising opportunity emerged with the Miami Main Street Playhouse, which expressed interest in collaborating with the committee to organize outings for seniors. This potential partnership could involve arranging special engagements at reduced prices, tailored specifically for the senior community. Members discussed drafting a formal proposal to outline what the Playhouse could offer, with an emphasis on clear communication and cost details to facilitate approval by the committee.

In parallel with these discussions, the committee explored promotional strategies for a local movie theater. Despite a disappointing opening night turnout, a proposal was made to promote the theater on the Miami Lakes page as a monthly event. However, it was clarified that official town social media accounts were not designated for business promotions, though personal promotions and inclusion on the “Shop Eat Miami Lakes” page were permissible. The committee agreed that any theater-planned events could be featured on the town’s events page, contingent on receiving a proposal with potential dates and costs.

Financial constraints were also a topic of concern, as the committee acknowledged being out of funds for the current fiscal year. This meant any new collaborations would need to be postponed until after October 1. The logistics of staffing and potential costs for weekend events were discussed, with some members expressing skepticism about attendance on weekends, given seniors’ tendency to participate in weekday events.

The committee also addressed upcoming social events, including a “Hair Day” offering free beauty services to seniors, and a Halloween celebration that required catering arrangements. Members debated the logistics of serving food, ultimately deciding that the caterer should provide service directly to the seniors at their tables to avoid inconvenience. For the Halloween event, chicken was chosen as the safest meal option, avoiding seafood due to potential dietary restrictions. The possibility of costume contests with prizes was positively received, adding a festive element to the event.

Further discussions involved plans for a Thanksgiving event with individual portions preferred for the meal, and collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association for a presentation on Alzheimer’s disease. The presentation, scheduled for September 5, would include refreshments, with a proposed budget of $100 for snacks and coffee. The need for appropriate refreshments relative to the event’s timing led to suggestions of amending the start time to offer a light lunch.

In addition, the committee considered a TD Bank presentation on fraud prevention, which could include breakfast or lunch for attendees. While the date remained unconfirmed, September or October were potential months for the event. The committee also revisited the popular bingo events, with complaints about rapid ticket sellouts prompting discussions on increasing the number of bingo tables and potentially hosting more sessions.

Ultimately, a motion to revert to two bingo sessions per month, previously a longstanding tradition, was introduced but failed to pass. The committee was reminded of procedural rules. This procedural reminder underscored the importance of adhering to established rules while remaining open to revisiting topics in the future.