ORDER-2024-11 : A Proclamation In Support of the 8th Annual Melrose Kindness Day on November 20, 2023

Transcript (~9 min @ 2:32)

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▶ 2:29 Speaker 4: Order. 2024

▶ 2:32 Speaker 3: dash 11 proclamation in support of the eighth annual Melrose Kindness Day on November 20th, 2023.

▶ 2:37 Jack Eccles: Councillor Eccles, Madam President, I move for immediate consideration on this order.

▶ 2:41 Speaker 5: So we have a You don't need a second.

▶ 2:43 Jen Grigoraitis: We have a motion for immediate consideration made by Counselor Eccles. Any objection? Seeing none. That order is now before us and I believe Mr. Mayor, are you planning to join us? So I'll entertain a motion to suspend the rules.

▶ 2:55 Speaker 6: Motion to suspend the rules. Second.

▶ 2:56 Speaker 2: So we have a motion to suspend the rules made

▶ 2:58 Jen Grigoraitis: by By Councillor Meliore. Seconded by Councilor Eccles. All in favor? A. Aye.

▶ 3:01 Speaker 7: Any opposed? The rules are now

▶ 3:03 Jen Grigoraitis: suspended. Welcome, Mr. Mayor.

▶ 3:06 Paul Brodeur: Thank you Madam President, mayor Elect. If the kindest warriors would like to join me, that would be tremendous.

▶ 3:20 Paul Brodeur: This is the good stuff. So I have offered for, um, your consideration. I hope you'll join me in proclaiming, um, the following and then we will hear from the smart people have whatum and up to and what are some of our youngest learners have been up to here in Melrose. So whereas Melrose's Random Acts of Kindness Day, now known as Melrose Kindness Day was created by a dedicated group of Melrose residents who are engaged in our various PTOs, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, civic organizations, as well as local businesses committed to living up to our city's motto of one community open to all. Whereas the purpose of Melrose Kindness Day is to elevate compassion and thoughtfulness with random acts of kindness performed by individuals, business schools, organiza and organizations throughout our community and beyond. And whereas the Melrose Kindness Day was started in 2015 as a social media campaign to encourage random acts of kindness and has grown bigger each year and is held annually on November 20th to recognize this date as a day that should be filled with kindness. And whereas practicing random acts of kindness helps improve someone's day, reminds others that love is the most powerful force in the universe and that things that unite us are stronger than those that could divide us. Whereas in a world where it can seem like kindness is in short supply, we must remind ourselves and our community that people care and that we are all in this life together and therefore be it resolved that I Paul Broder, mayor of the City of Melrose, joined by the members of the Melrose City Council, do hereby declare November 20th to be Melrose Kindness Day and further that we call upon the residents of the city of Melrose to take notice and to practice random acts of kindness and spread goodwill towards others On November 20th and throughout the year now, who's gonna be speaking on behalf of the group? I Have something quick to say. Terrific. Mary Beth Darwin, the, the one of the two chief co-conspirators of the operation.

▶ 5:35 Speaker 8: I got a little choked up with that, Paul. That's beautiful. It's good stuff. Um, so I just just wrote up a little something to say. So in 2016 I wrote a letter to the paper asking my fellow Mel Rosens to take back November 20th with kindness. Melrose responded and continues to respond, was started with the smallest plea has become a movement for the past five years, it was just two of us. I have Stephanie to thank for partnering with me, for working together to ensure that kindness remains a focus in our community and beyond, and that it continues to grow. Miller's Kind has become bigger than both of us though, and we are so grateful for the many volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Our Kindness Porch Initiative continues to grow because of some so many amazing donors, but also because Kelly, Marlene and Elaine raised their hands together, they ensure that the items we collect are distributed to those vulnerable communities that need them. This year's Kindness Day, which we'll celebrate one week from today, will be more amazing than ever because of Lyn Erin. Sarah. They are our preschool and elementary school reps responsible for these beautiful posters that will be Aduring adorning. The hallways of City Hall, Deb, Abby, Maddie, Lori, Noreen, Vicki, Joanne, Marsha, Michelle, Carol, Lauren and Mary. All women's names Um, are integral to the mission. They asked how they could help and they did. The Melrose High School Kindness Club, which Stephanie inspired and has guided will play an integral role in Kindness Day this year as well. With over 40 members new this year, they've got big plans for making kindness stay kinder than ever. Letters will be read, murals will be hung, music will be played, and kindest warriors will be celebrated because of our Melrose Kind Team, thank you to everyone who has joined in for believing that this is the way forward in our city and in our world. There are many other kindest warriors who make this day a success. Boy Scouts and Girl Scout troops, school clubs, elected officials and regular old Mel Rosens accept kindest assignments to celebrate those that are often overlooked. So if Melrose seems a bit kinder next Monday, if the police and fire station, the post office, the library, and other everyday helpers seem happier, you'll know that our kindness warriors have been at work putting the kind in Melrose Kind. I also have a list that I thought you guys might just wanna look at. Um, that shows everything that will be done on leading up to on Kindness Day and after just the whole kind of season and everyone who's, um, been involved. So you feel like taking a peek. Do you wanna say anything about these beautiful posters?

▶ 8:39 Speaker 9: Um, so we have on the mic. So, um, you'll notice all throughout city hall that we have these amazing posters that, um, Erin and I hung up today. Um, they were created by, um, some of our youngest learners at the Franklin School. Um, and they just demonstrate what kindness kindness means to them. Um, whether it's helping a friend, um, or just, you know, holding someone's hand, they have all, um, little special messages about what it means. Um, we also have letters that all of our elementary school students have been working on, um, that we're gonna be sorting through tonight, that are gonna be going to, um, some of the elderly housing on Monday. So, um, the students are so older adults. Adults older, sorry, older adults, um, housing

▶ 9:20 Speaker 8: and um, even to, sorry.

▶ 9:22 Speaker 9: And um, so the kids are really excited about that. They, um, drew Pictures wrote special me special messages, sign their name and they're just really looking forward to, um, you know, brightening the days of their fellow Mel Rose.

▶ 9:36 Speaker 4: Yes, thank you. Um,

▶ 9:39 Speaker 10: The mayor just, uh, reminded me that we encourage you to follow all of the activity on Facebook and Instagram on Melrose Kind. And what we tried to do on the day and leading up to the day is capture as much information as is happening. So a lot of times there's wonderful things happening, but we don't know how to capture that. So if you see someone doing something, if you do something yourself, if you please share it with us, um, because it is infectious and it does spread and the hope is that it will ripple throughout the community and then beyond. So thank you so much for having us. It's a big honor to be here and we're super proud of the team growing, so thank you.

▶ 10:27 Speaker 8: We have to go sort our letters now.

▶ 10:38 Jen Grigoraitis: Okay, thank you. Um, we will get back to less exciting and kind business and move on to the next order

▶ 10:47 Speaker 2: Of order. Don't we

▶ 10:49 Jen Grigoraitis: place On, oh, I'm sorry. Motion to place on file. Thank you. Place On file. We have a motion to place on file made by Councillor Eccles, seconded by Councillor Repe.

▶ 10:57 Speaker 7: All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That's placed on file

▶ 11:01 Speaker 4: Order 2024 dash 12 requesting the adoption

▶ 11:05 Speaker 3: of the specialized energy code as found in 2 25 Code