Public Meeting Minutes 5/4/25
Ashland Kentucky Pride Meeting Minutes
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Call to Order
A public meeting of Ashland Kentucky Pride was held on May the 4th (be with you), 2025 at the Midland branch of the Boyd Co Public Library. It began at 1:30pm and was presided over by Holly Blevins with Jenee Kesling as secretary.
Attendees
Board Members in Attendance: Holly (she/her), Desire’ (she/her), Jenee (she/her), Taz (she/her), Taylor (she/her), Sean (he/him), Elliot (he/they)
Board Members Absent: Heather (she/her), Brontë (she/her), Lu (she/her)
Quorum: Yes General Members: 8
Approval of minutes
Holly made a motion to accept the meeting minutes for the month of April. Sean seconded. Motion approved.
Treasurer's Report
Holly made a motion to receive the treasurer’s report for the month of April. Sean seconded. Motion approved.
Paypal: $4,995
People’s: $1,784.11 (old account closed)
Special Items
None
Committee Reports
Y’all Means All
Need 6 months of Safe Zone training scheduled (Chris)
Start sending out emails to current YMA businesses to let them know about the changes/new sticker
Start on new businesses after contacted current businesses
Next meeting: Des’s house May 20th 6pm
Safe Zone Training
Next public training - June 8th 1-4 (Ashland Branch)
Chris will schedule out 6 months worth of dates
Community Survey
Will repost next month
Found Family
6/7 - Flower Farm
July - possibly a cookout in the park
Walk was good, start recurring walks on weekday evenings, some weekends
Media (Social Media, News Outlets, Zines, Etc…)
Holly needs to get Jen on all the socials
Elliot will have a 1:1 with Jen
Pride Picnic
Leadership updates
Event Organizers (Holly and Heather)
We have been approved by the City
Permit on Tuesday
Same setup except a swap of security and ticket table so they hit security first
Media Coordinator (Sean)
Reached out to various new sources and invited them to the picnic (WSAZ, WOWK, Daily Independent, Herald Dispatch, Beacon, Marshall radio station, Marshall newspaper)
Going to invite city officials
Everyone take tons of pictures/videos and share them
Elliot made a channel on discord to put photos
Volunteer Coordinator (Lu)
Need more volunteers
Holly wants everyone to ask friends, post on socials, gather as many volunteers as possible
Possibly color code volunteer name tags for whether or not they want pictures taken
Vendor Coordinator (Jenee)
Need info for sponsorship vendors
Talent Coordinator (Taz)
Still waiting on speakers to finish lineup
Sound guy has everyone’s music
Taz will remind performers to fill out Code of Conduct
The only speaker we have right now is Zo, Holly would like some of us to speak. Elliot volunteered. Hollyn will consider it.
Security Liaison (Holly)
Security Plan from Battle Tested
Threat Forecast: Protester turnout will most likely be higher than usual. Local organizations have seen more protesters this year than other years.
Plan: Security checkpoint before tickets. Set 15-20 ft away from the entrance so people have time to read signs about Code of Conduct and prohibited items (weapons, potential weapons, alcohol, drugs, large bags, glass containers, drones, pets, personal transportation). Bag checks. Then go to admissions. Guards will be looking out around the perimeter. Guards at entrance and exit.
If you can't find security, tell an AKP member with a walkie.
Do not interact with protesters in any way. Leave it to security.
No Alcohol or drugs
Do not take pictures without consent
Be environmentally conscious and clean up after yourself
During the picnic, do not socialize with security and distract them. Only talk to them if they are needed in a security capacity
Prefered bag size, 12 x 12 or smaller. All bags get checked, bigger bags may get turned away and asked to be returned to car
Sponsorship Coordinator (Taylor)
T-mobile may sponsor
Sensory tent (Sophie)
Sophie needs volunteers, Chris volunteered for a shift
Health and Safety officer (Des)
We got an ambulance. Kids can check out the ambulance on the way out.
Barker may be able to get an off duty paramedic
Merchandise Manager (Taylor)
Holly and Taylor will go through merch today
Taylor will need volunteers (Jenee and Sean)
Ticket Manager (Unassigned)
Possibly assign Lu here
Permits and city planning
Good to go
QR code yard signs (Bronte)
Signs are being painted this week. Printing designs next week
Reach out to Bronte on discord if you'd like to help her
To Do list
Confirm Ticket Manager position (Lu)
Ask Heather about chairs (yes, we can use the chairs)
Need Canopies: Security, Admissions, 2 pride table, first aid, performers (2 from Jen, 1 from jenee, one from des, 2 from pride) [6/6]
Need Tables: security, Admissions, 2 pride table, sensory tent (square card table). (2 from Taylor, 2 from Holly, 1 from Bianca) [5/5]
Chairs - 2 - 3 admissions, 2 pride table, 2 first aid, 2 sensory tent, 3 - 4 performer tent, 15-16 chairs
Change for cash boxes - Holly
Hot spot - Taz
Signs - Holly
Coolers - Performers, first aid, pride table, sensory (everyone bring as many as possible)
Someone needs to reach out to walmart or Clarks to ask for water/ice donations
Jen will be in charge of ice and coolers day of event
If you bring something to the event, put your name on it and take it with you before you go
Ask everyone you know to volunteer
Everyone promote the event
Jen has mirror for performer tent
Sensory tent stuff from storage
Holly will check for fans
Holly and Des will make lanyards for volunteers
Unfinished Business
Girl Scout Event
June 14th, 12pm, Midland Branch of the BCPL
Pride month opinion piece in the newspaper
Get them in to Holly ASAP
Microlibrary project by Hollyn-Reid
Cataloging and collecting
Send any documentation, any pictures, flyers, etc to Hollyn
Anything matters!
Community Engagement (Events, Social Media, Clubs, etc…)
Park walks
Antique Crawl in West Huntington
Maybe a pride night at Eridanus, Holly is waiting to hear back about a date
New Business
none
Announcements
May 17, 1pm - AKP Pride Picnic (Port of Ashland)
May 27, 6pm - AKP Art in the Park (Shelter by the playground)
June 1, 1:30 pm - AKP Public Meeting (Midland Branch)
June 7, 11am - Found Family Flower Farm (Bushel & Peck Backyard Bloom)
June 14th, 12pm - Girl Scout Event (Midland Branch)
June 24, 2pm - Tattoos for Pride (Midnite Society)
Adjournment
Holly made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:00 pm. Des seconded. Motion approved.
