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:

• • 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

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Joslyn Castle Neighborhood Assoc.

April 12, 2010 regular meeting minutes

Attending Board members: Magan Smith, Joel Davies, Linda Hughes, Aaron Gillespie, Jim Winston, Julie Mierau, Jama Soaeu, Julie Mireau, Neetta Gillespie.

Secretary Linda Hughes

Eight neighbors were also in attendance

Called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Agenda Items

Treasurer’s Report by Margie Magnuson;
Margie was unable to attend because of a family emergency.

Minutes:
Emailed to board members; Jim moved to approve, Julie seconded. Approved by voice vote

Old Business:

Julie will attend the news conference re: Gifford Park.

Aaron Gillespie reported the cleanup is scheduled May 15 at St. Cecelia’s parking lot; he will not be there but Magan, Neetta and others will supervise.

Neetta called Habitat Restore about coming to check over what is being disposed of. They will take what they need and the rest can be put into the dumpsters.

Speaker:

The speaker was Vicki Quaites-Ferris from the Empowerment Network. They are affiliated with Omaha 360, the new Enough Is Enough group and other organizations. Their president is Willie Barnes, and they were begun three years ago in response to the upswing in violence. Their goal is to do what can be done to restore vibrancy to North Omaha. They work as consultants on various projects; an upcoming example is the North Omaha Village Zone.

Their focus ins on 13 “covenant areas.” They determine the needs within a neighborhood, and work to meet those needs, build relationships, etc.

Omaha 360 is a citywide effort with the purpose of reducing guns and violence; the goal is to bring together all groups with youth programs, through collaboration and cooperation.

Impact One is a group of former gang members that work with current gang members. The will go to the hospital to meet with family members of gang violence victims and try to make sure no gang incidents take place at the hospital, etc.

Prayer Walks by pastors, faith workers, etc. at shooting sites bring people out to talk about alternatives

Their focus is on prevention, intervention (juvenile assessment) and then enforcement.

Education and outreach are used to deal with impacted individuals – how to help police get perpetrators.

Every neighborhood has its issues – there is a need to keep police informed. Theola Cooper is the contact for crime strategies. She can advise us as to what we can do to circumvent crime. We need to educate our neighbors about how to identify and record suspicious activity.

Julie will be at the Wednesday May 12 1 p.m. press conference to launch Omaha 360.

JCNA has a citizens patrol; we are looking to expand and revitalize Neighborhood Watch. We should involve churches, and join together to develop a healthy community.

New Business

Yard sale

Neetta reported that the yard Sale will be June 3-4-5. Neetta will coordinate and promote it. People can do all three days or only 1 or 2.

Magan distributed Midtown Neighborhood Association budget information; several board members had questions about it. Cory Scott, their financial person, would like to speak at a meeting. We can send him questions before the meeting. .

Aaron moved and Julie seconded that we send our questions to Magan, who will collect them and email them to Cory. Approved on a voice vote.

Magan reported on the Joslyn Castle Trust. The current black mesh fence is temporary. It will be replaced. A new slate roof will be installed this summer. They want to work with us, become a member. It is possible they would accept a JCNA board member on their board – would not be a rotating position. They are not interested in having a community garden on the Castle grounds but would host a farmers market with a different approach.
They would like to participate more in our social events – provide volunteers, for example; they suggest setting dates far in advance. They are interested in a neighborhood social. They like the tree-lighting event but would like to light more of the property with white lights. They are having a car show June 20.
Suggest we add Castle events to our newsletter.

Miscellaneous:

· The Havens Mansion was sold to a developer (jaydubya) for $178,000

· Julie will monitor the number of hits on our Facebook page

· The Gifford Park newsletter notes there is a Tennis Block Party at 33^rd & Cass on May 26

· Jim reported that a Citizens Patrol meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on May 13.

Next meeting:

Monday, June 14; a Scott Cory of Midtown Neighborhood Assn. will be our speaker.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

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Dodge Street to Cuming, 38th Street to Saddle Creek Rd.

Map of JCNA Yard Sales

1. 4151 Davenport Street
2. 4152 Davenport Street
3. 4206 Davenport Street
4. 3819 California Street
5. 3646 Burt Street
6. 418 N. 38th Street
7. 418 N. 38th Ave.
8. 141 N. 39th Street
9. 350 N. 41st Street
10. 613 N. 41st Street

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Tire Host for this day is @ Boyd Elementry School west parking lot - 8314 Boyd Street (4300 N)

Appliance Host this day is @ Hillside Elementary School west parking lot 7500 Western Avenue (1200 N)

Brush vouchers will be available for River City Recycling or the Pheasant Point Landfill and only good for the day of the clean up.
View 2010 JCNA Spring Clean up (Dumpster Day) in a larger map

NO
regular garbage, recyclables or yard waste
rocks or concrete
paint, oil, automotive batteries or pesticides

We will have a scrape metal guy there to accept ALL metal items including most appliances.

Call Aaron Gillespie 402-522-6080 or email aaron@newconclusions.com if you need curbside pickup for large items.

Please provide a description of the item(s), the address, a name and phone # to contact for more information.

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ELECTRONICS RECYCLE DRIVE

Date/Time: May 1, 2010 8:00 am – 1200
(Rain Date is May 8)

Location: Parking Lot of First Presbyterian Church 34th & Farnam
Between now and May 1 please start saving your old electronics for the First Presbyterian Church Recycle Event!
Some examples of things to save:
Appliances - Small
Bar coders
Batteries
Christmas lights
Computers - Desktop
Computers - Laptop
Circuit boards
Copiers
CD/DVD drives
DVD/VCR players
Fax machines
Hand held devices
Ink jet cartridges
Keyboards
Medical equipment
Modems
Monitors with a computer**
Printers
Routers
Scanners
Servers
Telephones
All kinds of consumer and business electronics.
Basically anything you plug into a wall socket or put batteries in is what we are recycling.
**Because this is a ‘Recycle’ event, and our goal is to keep toxic items out of the landfills, there is a fee for all TV’s and stand alone monitors: $10 for monitors and TVs 21” or less, $35 for all others.

Bring your items to First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 1 from 8AM – 12:00 – FPC Parking Lot is located on South Side of 34th & Farnam St.

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March 28, 2010

Time: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ages: 0 to 12

Where: Joslyn Castle Grounds
3902 Davenport St.

Joslyn Castle Easter Egg Hunt is on March 28. Hunt begins at 3:30 p.m. Come to the parking lot behind the Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St., for instructions. Carnival games and refreshments to follow.  If there is still snow on the ground, the hunt will be moved inside the Castle.

For more information or to volunteer, call or email NeEtta Gillespie, 402-554-4774/neettag@gmail.com

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Please bring a canned or boxed food donation for the Food Bank.

Click here for a map.

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A workshop to help rediscover creative and un-commercialized play.  A screening of Consuming Kids will inspire us to take back our children’s right to creative play.  A wealth of informational resources will be available as well as a hands on toy petting zoo of homemade and recycled-material toys that will awaken the inner child in us all and guide us in finding creative alternatives to commercialized play.  There is a parent/child room available if you need to bring your child but need to step out with them briefly.

Yates Educational Community Center, 3260 Davenport St.  RSVP to Kate Bodmann by emailing katrinaob@yahoo.com

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We are always looking for people with skills that can make a difference, and we are in the process of forming committees to address specific topics and needs in the community. The proposed set of committees are:

• Green Team (Environmental concerns, and clean-up)
• Compliance and Safety (Citizen patrol, traffic issues, problem properties)
• Membership (new memberships, welcoming new neighbors and businesses)
• Communication & Tech (blogging, newsletter articles, photographs, social media)
• Public-Relations (media relations, working with the City Council)
• Social Activities (party planning and contact lists)
• General Planning (grant writing, long-term projects and planning)

With a new mayor and new city councilman on the way, there is going to be a lot of work building new relationships and making sure our new councilman understands the needs and concerns of Joslyn Castle Neighborhood residents.

Additionally, consider becoming a member of the Joslyn Castle Neighborhood Association. It’s only fifteen dollars for a household membership. Not only do you get our newsletter ten times every year, you also support initiatives like our Web site, maintenance to parks and signage, and annual gatherings like the Christmas party. The new membership form also allows you to sign up for a committee if you also want to make a time contribution.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the annual “Spring Clean-up” on June 6 (which I might add is yet another worthwhile volunteer opportunity).

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