There has been a lot of discussion over the last year about the need for a more structured way of handling our neighborhood events, fundraising activities, local school support programs, etc. Up to now, we have been successful in working with ad hoc committees for everything from Fall Party to Tree Planting. But as the participation level has increased, some have felt left out and some have expressed the need for wider participation and a greater level of accountability. A small group of us recently got together to explore ways to bring the broader neighborhood into the discussion. After some thought, we are proposing the creation of a temporary Exploratory Committee of volunteers to look into this more in depth. The recommendation could range from creating an incorporated nonprofit with bylaws and a board (similar to the Friends of Tietze Park Association) to making no change and keeping things the way they are. Or it might settle on simply bringing back the designated street captains that we used to have. There is no predetermined outcome in mind, and this is only a temporary committee which will dissolve once its work is done.
The Committee will:
– Meet twice a month over three months to discuss ideas via virtual conferences or an environment that provides safe social distancing
– Gather input from the neighborhood
– Educate itself on how other neighborhood organizations are structured
– Develop and present a proposal to the neighborhood
– Define next steps to implement if approved by the neighborhood
The Committee will NOT:
– Make any final decisions about neighborhood issues
– Look at or consider any changes to the CD Ordinance
– Consider any type of mandatory HOA
– Be a forum to bring up unrelated pet issues and projects
– Be a temporary “board” that will take over later
What we need:
– We are looking for 10 to 15 volunteers to begin meeting in January with a commitment to produce recommendations by the end of March. The group should be small enough to remain productive but big enough to reflect some diverse opinions.
– We’d like to see 2 volunteers per street (not from the same household).
– If there are too many volunteers for one street, we will ask for that group to decide among themselves before we take additional steps such as drawing names or voting.
– Deadline to volunteer is November 20, 2020
Qualifications:
– You have lived in the BACD for at least one year and attended at least one BACD function.
– You need to bring an open mind and a positive attitude. Past divisions in the neighborhood need to be left at home.
– You are available to attend regular meetings January to March via zoom or in a safe socially distanced environment.
– You should have a mindset toward planning and organization, and aren’t afraid of details.
If you’re interested in being a volunteer on this committee, please email us at info@belmontconservation.com before November 20, 2020. In your message, please include your full contact info: Name, Address, Phone and Email. Once volunteers are in place, we’ll post the list and contact information for all the committee members so that anyone who wishes to weigh in will know how to reach the members of the group.
We hope to make this discussion as inclusive as possible while still remaining productive. Any and all suggestions are welcome not only on the topic of the neighborhood organization, but also on how the process can be more inclusive.
Thank you from your neighbors,
Teri Harper
Zach Howard
Kristen Scholer
Darren Dattalo
Belmont Addition Conservation District 