May General Meeting

The May general meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21 at 7 pm at the Light & Life Church.

Folks from the Library and the Parks Dept will be on hand to present, plus we’ll have our usual Open Mic segment. That’s your chance to share what’s on your mind about the Eastside.

As always, there’ll be coffee and snacks. Hope to see you there!

April Board Meeting Minutes

Present: Nathan, Elaine, Bev, Casey A (& Lauren!), Ann, Eddy, Jenni

Agenda:

  • Approve last meeting minutes
  • General Meeting Update
  • Distribute Yard signs for General Meeting.
  • Newsletter Progress
  • Garden Walk update new date May 24
  • New business

Minutes:

Introductions.

Madison Park update from Nathan. Got a call from Dave Oakaland (sp?), asst to David Hanna at Parks, to arrange a meeting. (May 5?) Put story in the newsletter, something might actually happen. Very excited about the possibility. City has been interested in our help with the trail up the hill, might be a good exchange. Bev would be interested in seeing a musical program at the park. In conjunction with the fireworks display? (2010?)

Phone number. Nathan has researched cell phone, Vonage, and Skype. Skype would be $66/year to get a phone number, voicemail, etc. Determined that we can’t vote (no quorum), will email to the group for an email vote. If decision made before newsletter deadline, will include in newsletter.

Signs. We have 10 signs. Discussion of white stripes on the side, which was a mistake, but looks good anyway. Cost about $120/$130, discounted at VistaPrint. Discussion of plastic sleeves. Nathan is willing to make it a donation in barter for newsletter ads, complicated discussion. We’ll talk about this again, when final amounts are in, more people here.

Bank account. Complicated story with transfer of signatories. May need a debit card to pay for Skype, will discuss at next meeting.

Treasurer’s report. Jenni brought copies of 2008 report, current check register. 14 households have paid dues this year. Discussion of getting a discount from do’ops for newsletter. $500 in checking, $1500 in savings, $1200 in signs fund. Are all in-kind gifts accounted for? Discussion of whether it would be cost-effective to get our own printer/folding machine. Will ask Chad to research cost-comparison. (I need to check on advertising invoices, etc.!)

Meeting agenda: open mic, David Hanna if appropriate/available. Library? Treasurer’s report. Location? Discussion of fire station, school, churches. Will take up on email. Also need to vote on meeting place donations. Discussion of getting cards or postcards. [missed a chunk of conversation while plugging in laptop] Elaine will ask Cheryl from the library what she might like to talk about.

Newsletter. Discussion of topics and assignments.

Several discussions of membership issues: probably approx 50 paid memberships last year. That’s something we could focus on for improvement. How could we get people to want to join?

Garden Walk, May 24. Elaine would like some help re-contacting gardeners, possibly reaching out to new gardeners. Discussion of distance between gardens. Eddy may be able to offer a train for transportation, as a donation. (picture at party outfitters .com) Jenni might be able to help with contacting.

Jenni: Putting people on the email list? Elaine will add a checkbox to the membership form.

Bev is most interested in the membership issue and getting more members, more visibility. What is the advantage to being a paid member? Thank you cards or similar? A real campaign. Discussion of block parties: we could offer guide, maybe even use of a BBQ. Require coming to a meeting, probably security deposit.

[??] asked Eddy about parking issues at New Bridge, they’ve altered their service times to better balance the number of people in their lot, to avoid parking on the street. Also discussion of parking issues at St Mike’s.

House at 10th & Central is for sale for $175k. Is currently zoned multi-plex, but a neighbor is concerned that it might not be appropriate. Expense to get the building abated would be enormous.

April Board meeting

Thursday, April 16 at 7pm, Swantown Inn. (We may be chipping in for pizza. Bring a little cash if you want some!)

Agenda

  • Approve last meeting minutes
  • General Meeting Update
  • Distribute Yard signs for General Meeting.
  • Newsletter Progress
  • Garden Walk update new date May 24th
  • New business

March board meeting minutes

Present: Nathan, Ann, Jenni, Elaine, Chad, Jessica, Tim, Heather, Josh, Kate, and guest Casey Caronna


  • Approve last meeting minutes (can be read here: http://eastside-olympia.org/2009/02/19/february-board-meeting-minutes/)
    Minutes from February & January approved. Moved Chad, Jenni second.
  • Newsletter (deadline is April)
    Meeting on 5/21, To Jessica on 5/1, Articles to Elaine & Chad 4/24.
    Income/costs. Ask Do’ops for discount in return for ad? Discussion of whether to pay for folding. Work party? Will have work party to fold & count. Tim, Jenni, Elaine, Chad all willing to volunteer.
    Topics agreed, will post shortly. amended 3/28: see below.
    Organize advertising information! Talk to Nova School about advertising: we changed our minds about taking ads from outside the neighborhood. “Reserve the right to refuse service.” Encourage local businesses to come to the picnic.
  • Discussion around how much we should be involved with community re: public safety. Put information out? Reminders. Get to know your neighbors.
  • Signs for meetings (Nathan can present example)
    Nathan showed a sign sample from VistaPrint, $14.99, double-sided. Get with logo, and sleeve for meeting date/location. Enough for all the board members, and post in the yards. Nathan will do design, get pricing & sample. Want color background, possibly a color from the website.
  • Sex Offender Notices
    Do we want to send them through the Google Group emails? Discussion. Add resources page. Everyone will send Elaine suggestions to post on the website. (Also, Nathan will add Kate & Josh to the board email group.)
  • Phone
    Discussion about whether to get the ENA its own phone. VOIP device vs prepaid cell vs Vonage vs Skype. Nathan will look into online options. Elaine will find notes about prepaid phones.
  • Mail
    Jenni has some materials from Dept of Ecology re: eastbay project. Survey from Homes First! seeking feedback on affordable housing needs in the neighborhood. Will return to this topic. Good general meeting speaker?
  • Neighborhood Coalition
    Nathan went to the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations meeting and talked about his experience at the meeting. Different levels of membership; Luke was on the Steering Committee. Asked for someone else to attend. Invite CNA people to our picnic. Josh might be able to go to the next meeting along with Nathan.
  • Community Garden?
    Might be in the comprehensive plan? Also quick discussion of garden walk dates, possibly mid to late May, to be announced in the newsletter. Discussion of timing, connections with the city. Also vacant lots? Nathan will call David Hanna.
  • Treasurer’s Reports: we have some memberships coming in, plus 2 Stormans’ checks ($35-$50?). We still have some cards, Jenni is taking them. amended 3/28: there are available Storman’s Thriftway 1% community rebate cards held by Jenni.
  • New Business
    Casey: will have a project at the end of his Master’s (education) program 2 years from now.
    More discussion about community garden, projects for the future.
    Discussion of the Homes First! survey. Feeling that we don’t know enough to complete it, but we might want to have them submit an article and/or speak at May general meeting. Jenni will contact. (note: we need to set up [email protected].)
    More about Stormans cards, Jenni will contact to have more at the general meeting.

Proposed topics for May newsletter:

  • meeting agenda/pres message
  • outreach for new pres
  • treasurer’s report
  • meet your neighbor
  • garden walk: mid/late-May?
  • new board members
  • picnic planning
  • google group promo
  • ads
  • membership form
  • slow walking signs (also add to website)
  • parks update
  • homes first