Takoma DC Neighborhood Association – Minutes of Board Meeting 9/10/07

The meeting convened at 8:00 pm at the home of Julie Schor on 318 Aspen St., NW.

Attended by board members Paul Schwartz, Jackie Parham, Rich Holzsager, Leon Johnson, Julie Schor, Mark Headings, Carolivia Herron, Luke Turner, Nancy Smith, Pam Ellison, & Eleanor Allen. Also attended by Stacy Mills and Ann Beman.

I. Those present agreed on tonight’s agenda.

II. September general meeting. We discussed topics for the September general membership meeting.  Julie mentioned the elections and the difficulty in getting people to step up to serve on the board. She has had three rejections so far.  Paul suggested a forum with our elected officials.

a. Carolivia suggested that we have a Faye Williams from Sisterspace, who is opening her store on Georgia Avenue. We could also get Gateway representative Marc Loud and other business owners. The theme might be from 3^rd Street to Georgia – new businesses in Takoma. 

III. October general meeting. We need a topic in addition to the elections to draw in people.  Luke suggested education, perhaps with Michelle Rhee and Victor Reinoso.  We could discuss conditions at Coolidge or Takoma ES.  We need outreach to parents, principals and PTSO groups. Luke and Nancy will work on this.

IV. Board Elections. Julie gave an update about the nominating committee and October board elections. Julie will draft a letter to be sent to the membership, and Dodie and Eleanor agreed to help with the mailing.  Jackie stated that we have money for the mailing.  Julie nominated a young couple, Ken and Jackie Anderson from 5^th & Whittier. Paul as two people in mind to ask.  Leon and Luke are considering whether or not to continue.  Rich invited Stacy Mills to serve on the board. We talked about getting parents of schoolchildren to serve, but Nancy noted that many Takoma parents send their children to out of boundary schools.

V. Treasurer’s Report

a. Jackie distributed the treasurer’s report.  Jackie stated that most of our budget goes to producing the newsletter.  With only $347 in our account, and no ad revenue coming in, we cannot continue with the newsletter.  We had two ads and did not receive any money.  One of the real estate agents wanted an article to appear in the newsletter, which we could not guarantee.  Paul will follow up with Dodie on ad revenue.  Jackie spoke with Dodie about these issues.  Paul stated that we should form a committee, which Nancy agreed to chair, that should get together a price sheet for newsletter sponsorship. Stacy agreed to help.  Stacy added that we could market the ads to businesses at the September general meeting.  Julie suggested that we need to discuss ideas for revenue at our October meeting. Luke suggested that if we copy the newsletter onto larger paper. We would have room for more ads.

b. As far as membership, we have received just one renewal in the last month. 

c. We talked about membership dues.  People need to renew – they can’t vote in the October elections unless they are paid up. Pam stated that we need to stop offering lifetime members because once they give, they are no longer potential supporters.  Nancy stated that we can always ask for additional contributions, such as at the holiday party. Paul took out his checkbook and donated $50 to TDCNA.  Pam suggested that we raise the dues to $10 per household and eliminate the per person rate.  Paul stated that we need to call each household and ask them to renew.  Pam stated that there are people who have not paid since 2005. Carolivia suggested an amnesty for non-payors.  Former treasurer Mike Robertson used to send an annual dues notice.

d. Nancy made a motion which Jackie seconded to 1) increase dues to $10 per household, 2) require that the membership year begins on October 1 of each year and 3) to eliminate lifetime members. The motion passed. 

VI. Old/Continuing business

a. Safe Takoma partnership/Insurance. Ann has the application and asked the board to fill in some details.  Safe Takoma and Friends of the Recreation Center are listed as additional insured.  Jackie suggested that the Friends get their own insurance but Ann said that they have no money.  Jackie said that we should just list the rain garden project and not the Friends.  Ann said that TDCNA can accept the rain garden grant, but the policy is only one year and the grant is potentially renewable.  Paul said that the Safe Takoma arrangement is only for one year as they will spin off after that.  They have offered TDCNA Board member Mark Headings a spot on their Board. 

b. Membership.  Pam reviewed membership figures:  174 records, with 274 people as members. There are 90 lifetime members and 83 yearly members. Everyone is overdue!  Paul re-iterated that we need to ask people for money.

c. Website.  Rich stated that takomadc had almost 1,100 unique hits last month. He asked people to look at the site and give him feedback. 

d. Recreation Center.  Stacy. 

VII. New Business/Announcements

a. We discussed honoring past president David Nicholson at the holiday party. Nancy will ask Alice Giancola to host the party. 

b. Paul stated that Councilmember Muriel Bowser is holding an all Ward 4 meeting on Saturday September 15 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am with the Mayor’s office and DC agencies at Emory Rec Center.  Paul will give a three minute update on TDCNA. 

c. Carolivia mentioned the Folk Festival on Sunday September 16. 

d. Stacy Mills gave an extensive presentation on the Takoma Recreation Center. She provided a detailed handout on the following issues which need to be addressed: Management; Programming; Staffing; Facilities; Safety; Relationship with Community; Community Responsibilities; and Community Vision.  She has been working on these issues for several years.  While the Rec Center has a good relationship with DPR, there has have been 8 directors in a short time, with the Mayor’s new appointee just coming on board.  Stacy summarized management problems which stem from structural issues such as the division between the Recreation Center and Aquatics.  Programming staff has been cut.  While there are great volunteers, they simply do not have the staff to run the Center properly.  With respect to facilities, the wishes of the community have not been implemented.  Stacy got a developer to do a job, but the DPR vetoed the project.  She has talked to Council members Bowser and Brown, but there is a moratorium on new work.  On safety, park rangers are not there and there are problems with coverage at the front desk and pool area.  There are sexual predators in the area, so this should be a top concern.  Staff are leery of the ANC because they feel that past incidents have been blown out of proportion. 

i. She would like help from TDCNA to help bring stakeholders together to resolve systemic and day-to-day problems.  Although TDCNA does not have the budget to help with this, Stacy suggested that TDCNA might be able to help get grants to bring together key people to solve the problems.  Pam stated that she is willing to help. 

ii. Stacy stated that she has a list of all the user groups which she will share with Paul. 

iii. Paul suggested that the Rec Center should be discussed at a future general membership meeting and that we will provide support needed to solve outstanding issues such as writing letters to public officials. 

iv. Stacy said that we need a working group and also need a study on the demographics of the neighborhood and who uses the center.     

v. November meeting on November 3 or 17 – we could possibly discuss the Recreation Center. 

vi. Paul stated a commitment to making the conversation on the Rec Center happen.

VIII. Paul made a motion to adjourn, which passed by acclimation.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 pm.