Minutes of the March 16, 2009 General Membership Meeting
GBNA Monthly Meeting Minutes
Date: March 16, 2009
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Place: St. Joseph Elementary School Cafeteria
Pauletta called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
Treasurer’s Report – Fred Ellison reported that the current balance was $2997.69. The report was approved as presented.
Secretary’s Report – Jane Powell gave everyone a copy of the minutes from February meeting. They were approved as presented.
Committee Reports – None
Springfield Police Department Report - None
UNA Update – Bob Horton presented his GBNA March Update. Bob noted that the next Home Depot shipment would be Tues., March 17. It will be for members only. The distribution facility will be open Thursday, March 19 from 3-6 PM.
Boys & Girls Club Update – Pauletta introduced Andrew Fitzpatrick, director of the Musgrave Unit in Grant Beach Park. He will begin attending the monthly meetings. He reported on the role of the Boys & Girls Club, talked about the Family Plus program and the Tax Clinic currently being conducted. He talked about a need they have. A local youth group has lost their youth pastor so Andrew has taken in the group on Tuesday nights from 7-8:30 PM. If anyone is interested in taking over the group until they find a new pastor, Andrew would love to hear about it. He reminded everyone that as part of their membership, kids are given a meal every evening. He noted that the Club wanted to get involved on Friday nights, perhaps getting involved in Karaoke and figuring out a way to show movies on the side of their building. He asked for support for a crosswalk at Grant and Calhoun where most of the students cross when they come from Pipkin and Boyd to the Club. Fred noted that there should be City funds for a caution flashing light at that location.
Grant Beach Baseball/Softball League – Pauletta reported that the Park Board and Boys Club will be helping sponsor the Instructional Baseball League. GBNA will pay the Boys Club Program director a stipend to oversee the program and the umpires. GBNA will also pay the umpires. The league will start June 6 and will run for 6 weeks. The cost will be $5 for each child aged 5-12. Team should be formed by the end of April. Games will start at 9am depending on the number of teams. They will play at Grant Beach Park. Sign ups for the league will be promoted through the soccer list and the fourteen Caring Communities schools.
UNA Challenge Grant – Pauletta reviewed the Options for Use of the $32,000 from the Aug/Sept 2008 newsletter and the priorities established at the Jan. 19, 2009 general membership meeting along with the UNA and GBNA mission statements. She noted that following much discussion, the Executive Committee felt the priorities established should be respected and didn’t feel the UNA mission statement adequately supported the GBNA mission statement. Bob felt the UNA mission was not as bricks and mortal as it appeared and allowed for more of the GBNA mission related activities than were originally thought. He felt GBNA mission could be part of UNA’s role. He did note that when the city was providing so much of his funding, he was obliged to support their work plan. In order for there to be freer discussion of the issues, Bob left the room. Following much good discussion, upon motion made and seconded, the following was passed: That supporting the Urban Neighborhoods Alliance be added to the list of priorities for the use of the railroad dollars. Upon motion made and seconded, the following was passed: That the Grant Beach Neighborhood Association contribute a maximum of $2500 from the railroad funds as a challenge grant to encourage potential donors to support UNA and that a work plan be developed by GBNA which would help UNA support GBNA’s mission. Bob was advised of this when he returned and advised that the deadline for reporting the challenges generated would be May 31, 2009 so the check could be cut prior to the June 1, 2009 deadline for the use of the funds. If UNA generates $7500 in contributions, GBNA would match it with $2500.
The following are the items to be included in the work plan:
- As part of UNA, GBNA be allowed to use the tax exempt number for purchases used by GBNA.
- GBNA be allowed to apply for grants under UNA's 501(c) 3 as long as the grant proposal fits the GBNA mission and is approved by the UNA board.
- UNA facilitate organization and cooperation among the neighborhoods.
- UNA get the officers of the neighborhoods together on a quarterly basis to encourage sharing and communication.
- UNA support the positions of the neighborhood associations, advocate on behalf of the neighborhoods, and anticipate solutions to problems.
- UNA speak respectfully or each neighborhood and treat all equally.
St. Patrick’s Parade – Anita reported there were some 20 folks who walked including kids and adults, the Renaissance group and Victory Square. Fun was had by all.
Spring Clean-Up – Pauletta reminded everyone of the April 18 clean-up from 7 AM to 12 Noon at the Central Assembly parking lot at Boonville & Lynn. Jane introduced Judi Murphy, coordinator of the Central Assembly Adopt-A- Block program and Aaron Greer, project manager. The Adopt-A-Block group will be assisting with the clean-up.
Youth Community Service Program – Pauletta reported that the kick-off meeting will be Friday, Apr. 3 from 5:30-7 PM at the Neighborhood Resource Center. She noted that Brittany Williams was willing to head up this program. Kids from the neighborhood will be able to earn pool passes by doing neighborhood service projects. There is some $700 worth of pool passes still available. Since the Youth Recognition Program program hasn’t really been promoted, perhaps it can be folded into this.
City-Wide Tire Toss – Pauletta reported that Becky Davis, the Grant Beach health inspector, had contacted her and was concerned about all the tires in the neighborhood alleys. Pauletta had contacted Brendan in the city’s Neighborhood Development Office about getting involved in a city-wide tire toss and they were very supportive even though they won’t be able to help. They said the last time there was a city-wide toss, there were some 5,000 tires costing some $10,000 to dispose of. Doing this will involve the DNR paperwork, getting lots of volunteers, finding a place, getting a tire hauler, etc. GBNA could front the cost with the railroad money, then the city reimburse GBNA. DNR would then reimburse the city. Pauletta to explore this further and report back at the next meeting. If we do this, it would not be in conjunction with our neighborhood clean up. It would need to be promoted to the other neighborhoods. Perhaps the Fairgrounds could be used again. Bob noted that one time they had 12,000 tires and needed a place to store them until the hauler could take them away. Upon made, seconded and passed, it was decided to pursue this.
Community Gardens – Shelley Vaugine, Master Gardener and a representative of the Well-Fed Neighbor organization (http://wellfedneighbor.com) said she had met with Jodie Adams, Park Department, and Jodie approved GBNA using the property on both sides of Lynn Street and Grant for a community garden. Shelley will check on the availability of water at the locations and determine how much land is available. She said she remembered that the north side has many pine trees and is more shaded. We would probably need to treat the soil. She said John Twitty, CU, has been generous about running water lines at no cost. She said she can get mulch and seeds donated and should be able to get compost donated. She recommended that GBNA have a very specific mission for the use of the produce grown, i.e., donated to a food pantry or for the use of the neighborhood. She said we also need rules on how it’s to be worked and kept up. She will help GBNA in every way to get this going. She lives in the neighborhood. She said the Boys & Girls Club is doing their own. Concerns expressed that will need her input were how are the rules enforced, who might be appointed to be the guardian, how to keep out rabbits and squirrels and what are the next steps. Shelly suggested that since we have so many rocks, the planting beds should be raised. Jane reported that First Baptist Church is working on a garden at Campbell and Mt. Vernon. They have raised beds that are each 4’x4’. Participants pay $12 per year for a plot. Shelley indicated that it’s not too late to plant for this season. She will let Pauletta know how many 4x4 plots would be available and what it would take to start.
Other – Marie McCann reported that the St. Joseph Betterment Association will meet Saturday, Mar. 28 at 10 AM in the Rectory Library.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.