Roosevelt Island 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival Scheduled For Saturday April 13 Presented By RIRA, RIOC And FDR 4 Freedoms Park - Group Of RIRA Members Seeking More Financial Info And Transparency From RIRA Cherry Blossom Organizers

The 2019 annual Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival - presented by the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA), Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) and FDR 4 Freedoms Park (FFP) - takes place Saturday, April 13.

Join Four Freedoms State Park in celebrating the Roosevelt Island Community Cherry Blossom Festival featuring Traditional and Modern Japanese Performances and Cultural Fair, and special performances at the Park!

— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) March 14, 2019

According to the RIRA Cherry Blossom Festival Committee:

The Cherry Blossom Festival, organized by The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA), will be held on Saturday, April 13. SAVE THE DATE for a memorable afternoon.

To celebrate the magnificent cherry trees in bloom on the Island and the breadth of Japanese culture in New York City RIRA, will sponsor the Annual Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival, in cooperation with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.

Residents and visitors of all ages will see, hear, dance and even taste aspects of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture and performing arts.

Japanese culture has long venerated viewing the cherry blossoms of spring. Originally a private celebration hosted by the Emperor and select members of the aristocracy, today the activity of visiting the trees in bloom is seen as a metaphor for life, for the beautiful buds last but a short time and fade and die quickly. The government of Japan has donated cherry trees to many cities around the world as a symbol of friendship, and festivals like ours are held in many locations.

As in the past, the Tea Ceremony will be held in Southpoint Park; also, the Roosevelt Island Japanese Association will present a Japanese Cultural Fair at Gallery RIVAA. The Japanese tradition of picnics under the cherry blossoms will continue on the West Promenade across from Cornell Tech. Residents and visitors may bring their own food or supplement their picnics by purchasing refreshments from nearby food vendors.

New this year: The Noguchi Museum will present an art activity in South Point Park open to children and adults. Four Freedoms Park has an Eventbrite registration (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cherry-blossom-festival-tickets-59059619913) for updated information. Please note: No tickets are necessary to attend the festivities.

Here is the schedule and locations of these events, which are open to all guests for FREE:

1. Japanese Cultural Fair at Gallery RIVAA: 11am - 2pm This is an interactive and multigenerational event; try on traditional kimonos and play a traditional Japanese children’s game.
2. Community Picnics: 11am - 2pm and Limited Food Vendors (under the Cherry Blossom Trees on the West Promenade, across from Cornell Tech): 11am - while food is available. Picnicking under the Cherry Blossoms is the most traditional Japanese celebration of the Cherry Blossom season. There are many spots to picnic under the Cherry Blossom Trees that form a virtual necklace around Roosevelt Island. The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and Roosevelt Island Parents’ Network will host their annual picnics, and all others are welcome to picnic under Roosevelt Island’s many cherry trees. Please feel free to bring your full picnic baskets.
3. Tea Ceremony in South Point Park: 11am - while tea is available. Demonstrations of traditional customs are a delight to behold.
4. Art Activity with Noguchi Museum in South Point Park: 11am - while materials are available
5. Performances in Four Freedoms Park: 12:30pm - 5pm

For many residents and visitors, a highlight of the Cherry Blossom Festival are the performances at FDR Four Freedoms Park, which feature traditional and contemporary Japanese musical performances and traditional Japanese dance. This year’s Performances include:

• Shamisen (Kicho Kai, Japanese String Ensemble), 
• Japanese classical dance (IchiFuji-kai Dance Association), 
• Koto (Masayo Ishigure and Koto Shamisen Ensemble), 
• Modern Japanese blues (Kayo Yoshioka of Neo Blues Maki), 
• Japanese Folk Dances (RI Japanese Association Yosakoi Dancers), 
• Community Folk Dance Lesson (sponsored by Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance), 
• Japanese Taiko Drummers (Soh Daiko).

The Cherry Blossom Festival was created by RIRA, an advocacy organization. Together, we create cultural awareness and educate residents and neighbors in an event that celebrates renewal, peace, civility and the beauty of nature and the arts.

RIRA thanks its many partners who contribute to the Cherry Blossom Festival’s success: The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) has been most supportive, as have Cornell Tech, Four Freedoms Park, Gallery RIVAA, Girl Scouts, Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance, Naguchi Museum, RESOBOX, Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and Roosevelt Island Parents’ Network.

RIRA’s goal is to continue to make Roosevelt Island the best place to live.

The preparation, financing and organization of the 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival has not been without the RIRA behind the scenes controversies as have also occurred in past years.

Prior to the March RIRA Common Council meeting to approve a budget for the Cherry Blossom Festival,  four Common Council Members, including the RIRA Treasurer, resigned over concerns related to the large sum requested that RIRA commit to raise ($25 Thousand) and a perceived lack of transparency by RIRA Cherry Blossom Committee organizers.

Following much discussion and email exchanges, the RIRA March Common Council meeting approved a much smaller budget of $9,520 for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Yesterday, I asked the RIRA Cherry Blossom Festival Committee:

... what is going on with several RIRA members calling an emergency RIRA meeting concerning problems with financing the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Has RIRA received any sponsor donations from residents, organizations, both local and off Island and from RIOC or any other entity? Can you name them?

How much money is RIRA spending on the Cherry Blossom Festival and how much has it raised to date.

Any comment from RIRA on the financial impropriety allegations made by other RIRA members ...?

RIRA Cherry Blossom Festival Co-Chair Lydia Tang replied:

Prior to RIOC agreeing to assume the Homeland Security requirements for our growing event, the Cherry Blossom Festival subcommittee distributed fundraising appeals for our best estimate of what projected costs would be. After RIOC’s agreement, we revised our estimate.

The Cherry Blossom Festival embarked on fundraising efforts that RIRA unanimously approved, in the following motion:

Motion: “RIRA authorizes the expenditure of up to $9,520 for the Cherry Blossom Festival, based upon the budget of $9,520. RIRA encourages fundraising and in-kind contributions to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.”

A donation incentive, based on recommendations by FFP and in consultation with RIOC, includes a new promotional opportunity. In keeping with prioritizing promised donation incentives, the Cherry Blossom Festival Subcommittee set a policy of an opportunity to share a display table to previously grandfathered organizations. The new promotional opportunities supersede previous fundraising documents that some Council Members viewed as malfeasance.

We are currently collecting donation commitments from Amalgamated Bank, Hornblower and Manhattan Park, among others. Some donors choose to remain anonymous.

The approved budget is up to $9,250. We currently have committed donations of that will cover most of our expenses and are hoping to receive additional commitments.

There are no financial improprieties, as no money has been spent or collected.

At least 8 RIRA Common Council members are seeking more information about Cherry Blossom Festival finances and practices. They met last Monday to discuss their concerns and share these minutes from their meeting:

The aforementioned RIRA Common Council Members discussed several issues regarding the Cherry Blossom Festival and have decided on the following:

1- There is no intention to sidetrack the festival nor personally criticize any Common Council Members. The intention is to fix a few issues and insure transparency.

2. We look forward for the emergency meeting called by the President for Thursday March 28 at 8 PM, and we expect to see a meeting announcement and the requested information well prior to the meeting.

3- We request that the CBF Committee supply the following written information during the upcoming Emergency Meeting 3/28/2019:

A- Transparency in CBF Committee's fund raising process: for example, we need to participate and agree upon the amounts and any sliding scale discounts, who is being solicited and what is being offered in exchange?, where are we permitting what we are being offered: a table in SPP, promenade? and appearance oin stage? what else?

B- Review fundraising material and correct them. (1) Some of the material sent by CBF Committee we’ve obtained from vendors include numerous misinformation and false advertising: material still says we’re trying to raise $60,000 for security (even though RIOC is paying for it) -see Picture 1. (2) All fundraising materials should say in bold lettering: "RIRA is an IRS 501(c)(4) corporation and donations to RIRA are normally NOT tax deductible (IRS W-9 forms will be provided upon request)"

C- Budget in Writing: A written version of the budget that was promised to the Common Council during the Feb. 24th Emergency Meeting, which we did not yet receive. In addition, we request an updated budget snapshot as it stands right now, including (1) delineating between monies spent/received, and expected additional monies to be spent/received; (2) breakdown/details of each total, e.g., if we received or were promised monies from 3 donors, then we need to see 3 separate lines, with each donor's name and amount.

D- Current insurance contract: Who’s paying for it? What does it cover (number of people etc.), the description of the event, and it’s price? In addition, provide the insurance’s application, the permits from RIOC, and agreements on RIOC's waiver of security, bag check, ambulance, etc..

E- Nature of RIRA’s Relationships: Describe the relationship and provide agreements, memoranda of understanding, supporting documents, etc with: RIOC, Four Freedoms Park, Jim Luce and his foundations, and any other entity we are partnering with to ensure we are operating consistent with our IRS 501(c)(4) status and with our NYS not-for-profit status.

F- Create an Audit and Finance ad hoc committee: Robert Leung, who is highly experienced, volunteered to lead this committee. At this upcoming meeting, we ask for (1) the establishment of an "Audit and Finance Ad Hoc Committee" for the purposes of reviewing financial transactions, reports, and policy for all RIRA projects; and (2) appointing of Robert Leung as chair of said subcommittee.

G- Letter of Dismissal of past Treasurer: Following Bafodé’s resignation, our bank requires a confirmation of dismissal (otherwise, anyone can come in and say I am the new Treasurer).

H- Appointment of new Treasurer: A new Treasurer should be nominated and voted in by the Common Council as soon as possible (including the upcoming Emergency Meeting).

I- Free Entrance: It was brought to our attention that in order to receive a ticket to the festival, you must download an application and go through the process. This should be reviewed and agreed upon by the Common Council.

The Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival began in 2011 as a fundraising effort to assist after that year's earthquake in Japan.

Here are some scenes from the first Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival



and from last year.