07-13-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2015 Councilmember Dr. David Varner presented Resolution 15 -55 to the full Council. This is Kellirae Boann, she is the Executive Director of the Music Village soon to be retiring. Tamara was instrumental in getting this started. Kellirae Boann made remarks: Thank you, as I look around the room, every face that is familiar has contributed to the Music Village. I was the right person, at the right time, at the right place. So many of you on the Council, certainly you Dave, Tamara who was one of the best team partners to have in those early days. DTSB and Aaron Perry I don't think of this would have happened if you had not listened to Jerry's great idea. I just thank you, it has really been the most challenging and rewarding work I've ever done. I will never forget this experience. Tamara made remarks: Kellirae is an amazing person, I have had the privilege of being with her and sixty others at a meeting in October 2011; where the idea of doing a community school of music modeled around the old town school of folk music in Chicago was broached. We wanted to see how much interest the community had. There was a handful of people that got so excited about the presentation, Kellirae being among them. They decided that this was something that we could have here, not in the near fixture but within the year with the doors opening in June 2012. There was a lot of bravery, chartering unknown waters, and communicating what she needed with people along the way, then the community stepped in. Kellirae is so fiiendly, so warm, so welcoming to everybody that it really worked. She formed a lot of partnerships that will out lasts her tenure as Executive Director of Music Village. She has really set the foundation for the school to go to the next level. I want to thank you Kellirae for all the hours and hours that you have set yourself in the basement and never saw the sun, for everything that you've done for the community, for music, and for the city of South Bend, IN. Councilmember Dr. Varner stated Bill has led the Guitar Jam that I try to participate in periodically. He has a story that he would like to tell. Bill Haddock, Edwardsburg, MI — I would like to talk about a young fellow that came to the Jams, that I led for quite some time, came in one night. He stated that he was in a really dark place and was considering suicide, but then he came to the Music Village. That's how important this can be. I want to thank all the financial supporters, and all the people that come to the jam sessions with me for the last three (3) years. Councilmember Dave has been there quite frequently, the Mayor has played music with us; he is a guitar picker himself. It's been a rewarding experience. So anything that you can do to support the Music Village, step up. Councilmember Dr. Varner — It is often easy to get excited about the really large things like baseball stadiums, football stadiums or a big new building. One of the things that makes a community is when the average people get together and find something in common. I think we have that at the Unity Gardens, which has been enormously successful, I think once people realized it's there. I think this is what makes the community a likeable and happy place to live. Councilmember White — Thank you for your commitment to the arts and we wish you the best as you start this next journey in your life. Councilmember Mr. Ferlic — Thank you and your next trip sounds amazing. Councilmember Dieter — Thank you for all the great work and all the places I've seen you and the band perform. This honor is well deserved for everything that you have done for the community. It is great to see two 1st District people being honored tonight right out of the gate. So thank you for all of the great work you've done. Councilmember Davis — I wrote down based on the comments, never underestimate the power of a head full of musicians coming together to enhance the city. Thank you so much for what you have done and best wishes to you in the fixture. 0