Takoma DC Neighborhood Association - Board Meeting 1/9/07

The meeting convened at 8:00 pm at the Takoma Cohousing meeting room.

Attended by: Paul Schwartz, Julie Guerrero Schor, Kathleen Sullivan, Luke Turner, Nancy Smith, Carolivia Herron, Pam Ellison, Jackie Parham, Rich Holzsager, Mark Headings & Eleanor Allen.

Approved the Agenda.

Agreed to approve the minutes of the 11/14/06 meeting online. Note that subsequent online approval was made.

1)      Reviewed & confirmed 2007 meeting schedule. Board meetings are every second Tuesday of the month, and general meetings are every fourth Tuesday of the month, except July, August and December.

2)      Specifics of the 1/28/07 retreat were confirmed. Paul discussed his expectations for the meeting, including review of the mission and by-laws, and discussion on membership and publicity - particularly the newsletter which is "in jeopardy" due to Dawn Nelson stepping down.

3)      Luke confirmed the speakers and format for the January 23 schools membership meeting for 7:00 pm at Promised Land Church.

4)      Future meetings are tentatively: 2/27 - Public Safety; 3/27 City Services, and 4/24 Candidate Forum.

5)      Jackie gave the treasurer's report and distributed a summary of cash on hand, as well as a membership list.

6)      Old/Continuing Business

a.       Takoma community canvass - Paul described his plan to knock on all doors in the neighborhood over a two year period. Dodie agreed to help with this.  We would pass out information on local groups, i.e. O-Hats, as well as advertise our own mission, projects and membership opportunity.

b.      Safe Takoma/crime report - Julie summarized concerns regarding recent criminal activity. We talked about the balance needed in getting out relevant information about crime in the neighborhood without projecting to outsiders or potential neighbors that we are overrun by crime.

c.       Liaisons - we summarized current assignments -
i.      Paul - neighborhood canvass
ii.     Julie - crime, (formerly) newsletter
iii.    Kathleen - business
iv.    Carolivia - historic issues

       v.     Eleanor - library
vi.     Pam - membership

d.      Web update - Rich summarized activity on the website.  On TDCNA.org the page got 33 hits in November, 53 in December and 43 in January. On the general Takoma site, the tally was 257 for November, 352 for December and 165 for January. Rich has set up email accounts for board officers and can also do so for committee chairs (e.g. membership@tdcna.org - which will go
directly to the inbox of the membership point person.)

7)      New Business/Announcements

a.       Carolivia asked TDCNA to sponsor a free concert in conjunction with Black History Month. A motion was made and TDCNA agreed to co-sponsor this event.

8)      The meeting was adjourned.