elaine

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
elaine

February board meeting minutes

present: Josh, Kate, Elaine, Chad, Sam, Nathan, Ann, Luke (as outgoing president), Jenni

1) Board elections. Discussion of the role of the president. Elaine elected as secretary; Jenni as treasurer.

2) what’s our plans for the year? picnic, garden tours. The city is working on its plans for the parks in the neighborhood (Madison, Lions). Kate is interested in being involved with community gardening. We’ve been encouraged by the city to approach the Lions for funds.

3) back to discussion of presidency. Nathan would be willing to step up as “pro tem” president, in part to keep the conversation with David Hanna going. Should we volunteer Jessie as vice-president? No decision made.

4) Ann would be happy to stay for her full term, as long as she doesn’t have to hold an office. All agreed.

5) Hand-off of presidential materials: Nathan to take plates et al; Jenni to take key. Luke has updated the board list.

6) CNA representation. Usually the president has been, but any board member can be the representative. Luke talked about what CNA is/does. Side discussion of pesticide project being coordinated by the CNA, budget issues with the state.

7) Elaine on the garden tour: March 8, 2pm. Still looking for more gardens; Elaine will approach neighbors across the street.

8 ) Next meeting is May 14, so newsletter deadline will be early April.

8b) Luke was thanked for his service.

9) Elaine brought up the idea of committees: development, communications, events. Discussion of the block party idea. Side discussion about the St Mike’s parking issue. Recommendation of St Mike’s staff is to call the police on illegal parking. Should we create a flier to put on the windshields? Side discussion of issues around informal parking. Can we get something through the city? Quote the city ordinance. Discussion of trees planted by the city. Get the plant lady on 8th to be in a garden tour. Nathan will create the flier. Chad can get the information about the ordinance. “Use the lot first” and “Park safely.” Discussion of various development projects around town.

10) Vote on signatories on the account: Jenni & Nathan. They’ll go down to WSECU to get everything set.

11) Dinner at the meetings? Next meeting will be March 19 at Swantown Inn. We’ll plan for dinner at the next meeting.

12) VistaPrint does yard signs. Nathan will have a sample that they’ve ordered for the day spa, can bring to next meeting. SWNA got a grant to do something similar, but one-use! Name tags? Garden tour gardens? Button maker? Sam has one. Elaine can make a design.

13) Need to remember to approve past minutes at the next meeting.

elaine

February General Meeting Minutes

Notes by Elaine Nelson. Please comment if you have additions, corrections, etc. Tour of St Michael’s facility was conducted prior to the meeting.

I. Open Mic

[Missed name]
New friends of the artesians group; old group decided that they hadn’t made enough progress and disbanded. About 40 people are seriously concerned and meeting every Saturday to get a plan together that will work. “’It’s still the water” is the current group name. They have a google group. Invited people to come ask questions.

Jane M.
On March 2, there will be a “climate cafe” group that’s working on how to help us figure out how to lower carbon footprints, using a book “Low Carbon Diet” forming up teams like a weight watchers group. 7-9pm at Thurston County Courthouse.

Lisa M.
Working on her master’s at Evergreen, survey of our neighborhood on issues related to cats. Within the next month or so she’ll be starting; if you get a questionnaire, please fill it out and send it back. Hopes to come up with good ideas

Elaine N.
Next garden tour will be March 8. Looking for gardens to be included. Time and meeting place to be announced.
Will be holding city chipper event at our house on Feb 28. Contact [email protected] for time, address.

Luke
YMCA youth government, running a mock session here in May 6-9. They’re looking for host families; 400 kids still need places to stay. 4 days, 3 nights. Luke & Whitney have hosted for 4 years, lots of fun. Info on the website, or contact the YMCA.
Yard signs that say “Slow Down” are available from the city for free. Pick up at public works.

II. Board Elections

Jenni Fleming (unable to attend) would like to be elected, has stepped up as treasurer to fill in and would like to continue. Elaine Nelson & Chad Akins are up for re-election.

Discussion of what the board does, prior projects, involvement; what membership is.

Beverly Kooi, Josh & Kate Parker, Elaine, Chad & Jenni elected

Ann put up some extra newsletters.

Officers will be elected at the next board meeting, next Thursday at Swantown Inn.

Tim would like to see the ENA take on a survey of our combined tools, assets and abilities; if you done something like that, he’d like to see it happen.

Someone mentioned the “Map My Neighborhood” project from the Emergency Management Division.

House for sale on 10th & Boundary, if you know anybody.

Question about speed on Boundary — it’s scheduled! but not until 2011. If you’re interested in having a speed study done, you can work with the city to see what the pattern is. If you can prove there’s a speeding pattern, then they can schedule for street calming improvements.

Meeting adjourned.

lukebowerman

Annual Meeting / Board Elections

All are welcome!
Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 7 pm
St. Micheal’s Catholic Church / 1021 Boundary St. SE

We will be meeting at St. Micheal’s Church and we’ll get a tour of the recently added building. We will meet in the “Gathering space” in upper (older) building.

“Open Mic”

This is an open forum at the beginning of our meeting to bring up any topics that are on your mind as a neighborhood resident.

Board Elections

We will be electing new and returning board members to the ENA Board. Learn more inside in “Volunteer to improve our neighborhood!”