Attendees:
Jim Winston
Amy Haase
Marian Fey
Magan Smith
Julie Mierau
Margie Magnuson
Jama S (sorry, couldn’t read the writing but you know who he is!!)
NeEtta Gillespie
Jim Winston volunteered (I was PUSHED!) to take minutes in the absence of the secretary.
Speaker: Amy Hasse from Midtown Neighborhood Alliance (MNA)
There are 14 neighborhood associations currently members of MNA. Julie Alderman (Bemis Park) is president this year. The MNA board is very organized and dedicated and operate on a Jan-Dec calendar year. The group is currently working 5 strategic initiatives decided upon during a planning session last August. The initiatives are:
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- Getting the MNA name and website out to the community
- Code Enforcement
- Crime Prevention
- Recycling
- Re-Tree (continuing from 2008)
The group is involved with providing more educational opportunities surrounding these initiatives. They run 2 main fundraisers: Fireworks and Celebrate Midtown. MNA operates under a set of bylaws and is a 501c3 non-profit for tax purposes. Their 501c3 status is available for use by member neighborhood associations to provide for pass-thru funds to be granted to those associations who do not have 5013c status. Currently the Executive Director position for MNA is vacant and there is no plan to pursue filling that position at this time. The borders of MNA are set by the bylaws and there is no plans for expanding those borders at this time. MNA is also not seeking new members, but would be open to having new associations apply for membership.
MNA is a coalition of neighborhood associations. Destination Midtown (DM) is a separate organization focused on economic development and run by the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. While the boundaries overlap, the missions of the 2 organizations differ.
Each member neighborhood association provides a representative to MNA. During the planning session, each of these were invited along with the presidents of each neighborhood association to provide input into what MNA would focus on for this coming term.
The Re-Tree effort was started in 2008 actually before the windstorm which devistated so many trees. Morton Meadows received a grant for trees and decided to go in with MNA’s efforts. There were several grants that generated funds for retreeing in the MNA boundaries. A committee was formed to distribute those funds. It was decided that those neighborhoods who volunteered to help on the committee would get preference when it came to allocations. The committee also attempted to place trees on ‘main thoroughfares’ within the neighborhoods.
Amy encouraged us to come to a meeting (next one is Wednesday night at the Neighborhood Center) and ask any questions we might have. She suggested that it would be better to hear the opinion of the entire MNA group rather than rely on just her (Amy’s) views, especially on historical decisions that she was not involved in.
Old Business
May’s minutes were reviewed. Julie made motion to accept, Margie 2nd. Approved unanimously.
April and May’s Treasurer’s reports were presented by Margie. Jim made motion to accept, Julie 2nd. Approved unanimously.
Discussion of MNA presentation and possibility of our joining.
There is a bad history but the group seems to be earnest in their desire to move forward. They don’t seem to be effective, but without our attendance/membership we cannot affect change.
Margie made a motion to join MNA (cost $50). NeEtta 2nd. Motion approved by split vote. Yes: Margie, Magan, Jama, NeEtta. No: Jim, Julie, Joel(by proxy to Julie). Margie wrote check and gave to Magan for delivery.
Clarkson Park (Julie) cleanup is happening. Christine is recruiting volunteers. Julie is going to ask her to send a note to last year’s volunteers.
Community Yard Sale (NeEtta). 10 families participated. Spent $66.37 on an informal budget of $50. All signs were picked up after the sale (one was missing). All in all a success!
Grants (Margie). Both grant requests were approved. We have 3 bike racks which will go up at 1) 40th & Cuming (Radial Cafe), 2) Post Office on Saddle Creek, and 3) Clarkson Park. We have one recyling bin which will be installed @ Clarkson Park. The board delegated Margie to coordinate the installation efforts.
New Business
A questionaire from MNA on crime was filled out with the help of the board. Magan will return it to MNA.
Margie will purchase more Tag-a-way for graffiti. There is a new tag on Cuming between 44th and 45th on the wall to the Quest Facility parking lot. Need to work with Citizen’s Patrol to get these reported on a timely basis.
PAC meeting - Margie attended the NE precinct meeting.
Ice Cream Social/Block Party is coming up in September. NeEtta planning and will be forming a committee to help.
There is a “Listening Tour 2010″ coming to Omaha on June 29th. This will provide input to the “Serve Nebraska” organization. Julie will follow up.
The newsletter has been delayed due to computer issues. The next one will be a combined June/July issue that will come out in July.
Looking for speaker ideas. Decided not to have a speaker in August so that we can work on the 2 initiatives (Membership and Cleanup/Greenup).
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted by Jim Winston for Linda Hughes (Secretary).
Jim
Jim Winston
Union Pacific Railroad
Data Strategy
(402) 544-1045
This years tree lighting will be Monday Dec 7 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm @ The Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St.
