Public Meeting Minutes 3/1/26
Ashland Kentucky Pride Meeting Minutes
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Call to Order
A public meeting of Ashland Kentucky Pride was held on March 1, 2026 at the Ashland Branch of the Boyd Co Public Library. It began at 1:41 pm and was presided over by Holly Blevins with Jenee Kesling as secretary.
Attendees
Board Members in Attendance
Jenee, Brontë, Holly, Elliot, Taz
Board Members Absent
Heather
Quorum: yes
General Members: 5Time Keeper: Taz
Approval of minutes
Holly made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for the month of February. Jenee seconded. Motion approved.
Treasurer's Report
Holly made a motion to receive the treasurer’s report for the month of February. Jenee seconded. Motion approved.
Special Items
Holly made a motion to appoint Chris Hibbard as Treasurer. Jenee seconded. Motion approved.
Holly made a motion to appoint Andrew Potter as Parliamentarian. Jenee seconded. Motion approved.
Committees
Media
Need to start making posts about positions that will be open in June
Elliot will work with Heather and/or Holly on graphics
Should/Can we continue publishing a monthly newsletter?
If not, should we cancel Mail-Chimp?
We use this for safe-zone also
The majority would like to see this continued. Holly will talk with Hollyn about possibly returning.
New committee - Holly, Taz, Bronte
Masquerade
We reserved and paid for the Convention Center for April 4th
We have not pushed this event enough and we need to focus on the picnic
Should we try anyway, cancel all together, or use it for something else?
Do we want to try to pull off the masquerade?
One month is not a lot of time
We would like to make this an elaborate, fund raising event
We will push this event out to fall and focus on it after the picnic
We could reschedule, but there are no other weekend dates available this year
Possible other venue - Our old location next to Midnite Society
We could keep our reservation and pivot to a new idea
AKY Pride Spring Vendor Fair
Vendor fair committee: Holly, Taz, Jenee, James
Holly will make a graphic and form and post
James will work on a contact list for potential vendors
Jenee and Taz will assist with processing potential vendors
Pride Picnic
Committee Roles:
Primary Event Organizer - Holly / Secondary Event Organizer -
Holly would like the secondary organizer to be someone who will shadow her and learn how to be primary organizer
Permits and City Planning
Invite mayor and commissioners
Sponsorship Coordinator - Holly temporarily
Obtain and update sponsorship packet and contact list of potential sponsors
Set start date for sending out sponsorship packets
ASAP
Jenee will send file to Holly
Volunteer Coordinator - Heather (Andrew would like to assist)
Obtain and update contact list for potential volunteers
Work with media team on infographics
Set start date for social media posts looking for volunteers
ASAP
For our booth, we need an extra person and table for harm prevention/flyers
Vendor Coordinator - Jenee
Obtain and update contact list of vendors/food trucks
Copy or create google form for sign up
Work with media team on infographics
Set start/end date for registration
Start asap, end May 16th
Should we charge for food trucks this year?
Yes, definitely. This will help with food trucks not showing up
Require tent weights, stakes, tie downs
Talent Coordinator - Taz
Set start/end date for entertainment sign ups
Start now, End April 18th
Can we hand select headliners this year?
Taz will talk with Mars and Lady Dior
Look for appalachian musicians
Elliot, Shawna
Work with media team on spotlighting entertainment
Media Coordinator - Heather
Work with media team and other committee heads on content to promote the event
Identify and execute strategies to promote the event such as flyers, news outlets, other social media groups, email, etc…
We need to get a piece in the paper
Security Liaison - James S
Health and Safety Officer -
Holly will work with KDMC on an ambulance and medical equipment
Merchandise Manager - Bronte
Obtain list of merch we currently have
Order new merch if needed
May have to order extra; Vendor fair and Morehead pride are before this event
Theme - Queer Appalachian Theme
Quilt backdrop for photobooth
Appalachian county fair
Ask people to bring a square (maybe with a message on the back) to be turned into a quilt later on
Bronte can reach out to queer Appalachian writers to see if anyone wants to do a reading/speech
Sound
Same person as last year
Taz and Holly will look for their contact info
Set a timeline and determine next steps
Set up every two week meetings to check in
Unfinished Business
Harmony House (Huntington) spring Renn Faire - Who will register for this event?
May 1st-3rd
Bronte says you have to stay on top of them, previous years were difficult to get registered
Andrew will take lead on this
Table volunteers - Taz, Holly, Chris, Jenee
TCCC training
Holly is waiting to hear back about March 28th and about adding more people
Holly, Andrew, Elliot, Jenee and try to add Taz
Discussion of purchasing dedicated tables and tents for AKP use (Brontë)
Tables (For 6)
6 foot white - Academy Sports - $256.74
6 foot white - Amazon - $286.08
8 foot white - Walmart - $349.74
8 foot white - Amazon - $495.96
Tents
Basic canopy with storage and weights -
Amazon - 84.79
Canopy with walls, storage, and weights - Amazon - 114.46
Basic canopy with storage - Uline - 316.01
Academy (6)6ft and walmart (2) 8ft
2 Canopy with walls
New Business
Holly and Andrew talked to Justin at Eridanus
June 4th - Pride Beer launch party
Rainbow sherbert sour
May 9th - Brew Day if anyone wants to help (8-11am, 11-3pm), 4 people at a time per shift
May be another day for kegging the beer
Take pics of the process and share on social media to hype the event
Announcements
March 5th, 5:30 - 8:30 pm - Craft Night at the Ashland branch
March 9th, 5:30 - 8:00 pm - Bi-monthly Gayme Night at the Ashland branch
March 15th, 1:30 - 4:30 pm - Safe Zone training at the Ashland Branch
March 19th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm - Community Care meeting at the Midland branch
March 24th, 5:30 - 8:00 pm - Bi-monthly Gayme Night at the Ashland branch
March 27th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm - Social Sips at Sawstone Brewery
March 29th, 1:30 - 3:30 pm - AKP Monthly Meeting at the Carol Jackson Building
Adjournment
Holly made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:00 pm. Jenee seconded. Motion approved.
