Betton Hills Neighborhood Association Minutes

May 7, 2009

 

President Andy Fink called the meeting to order at 7:42. (We met at the home of Tom and Mary Ann Vickers, since the Community Room at Ashford Club Apartments is undergoing renovations.

 

Other attendees included:  Mike Brezin, Tom and Mary Ann Vickers, Tom Schulte, Mary Kay Falconer, Margie McGinnis, Tom Schulte, Peter Butzin, Dean Hansen, Eric Thorn, Donna Legare, Caroline Smith, and Shawn Einarson.

 

The minutes were approved as posted on our web site.

 

Donna Legare presented the report of the treasurer as follows:

 

Treasurer’s Report, May 7, 2009                

Submitted by Donna Legare, 386-1148

dlegare@comcast.net

 

Balance as of May 7, 2009:  $5813.92

Checks written since last report:

1250    03/30/09          90.72              USPS                                      newsletter

1251    04/06/09          320.00             Cobb Middle School               partner’s fund

1252    04/06/09          320.00             Kate Sullivan School               partner’s fund

1253    04/19/09          61.82               Andy Fink        Fast Signs       Family Fun Day

1254    04/19/09          145.99             Peter Butzin    Party City        Family Fun Day

1255    04/19/09          350.00             Drew Tillman   music              Family Fun Day

1256    04/19/09          4.75                 Andy Fink        ice                   Family Fun Day

1257    04/19/09          188.78             The Party Line                        Family Fun Day

1258    04/19/09          199.82             Dean Hansen  pizza                Family Fun Day

1259    04/19/09          80.81               Shawn Einarson                      Family Fun Day

1260    04/25/09          73.08               Tom Vickers                           labels and ink

 

Deposits:

04/07/09          45.00               dues and funds

 

Tom Vickers presented the membership report as follows:

Paid Members                                  383

Bellamy Fund                          $2,151.00

Partners Fund                            $963.50

Mansfield Fund                          $648.50

Dues                                        $4,205.00

TOTAL                                    $7,968.00

 

 

Donna pointed out that the total amount spent to date on the Family Fun Day is $1,290.47.

 

The Board unanimously thanked Margie for her outstanding efforts at coordinating the Family Fun Day.

 

Apparently Leon High School’s share from the Partners in Excellence fund has yet to be distributed. There has been some confusion as to the amount of the fund. Also, Judy Crews, our contact at Leon was in an automobile accident. The Board agreed not to add the $320 in the fund to the Mansfield scholarship, since each fund serves different purposes, and members designate the contributions. Donna agreed to follow-up with Bonnie Gaughan-Bailey, who could not attend this meeting.

 

Discussion turned to the Family Fun Day. Margie indicated that several young people commended that they missed the rock wall. She suggested that we consider adding the activity in 2010. She also suggested that we should consider kite making and flying as an activity, and perhaps add a neighborhood tour of notable private gardens to replace the former tradition of having a marker walk. Also, we agreed that future events should be called “Betton Hills Spring Fling”, indicating that activities are geared to all residents, and not just families with young children.

 

The next newsletter will be published in the fall, to coincide with publicizing the annual meeting. We agreed to provide a job listing service for young people. However, instead of publishing an early summer newsletter, or posting, a job board on our website, we should use the email list to determine whether there is sufficient interest to establish a job board. Peter agreed to send out an announcement over the weekend.

 

The annual CONA meeting will be Monday, May 11th at 5:30 PM at the Heritage Gallery in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough. The neighborhoods of the year awards will be presented. Tom and Andy agreed to attend.

 

Since there is record of only three home sales in the neighborhood, two of which are deeds to family trusts, we agreed to wait until fall to welcome new residents to the neighborhood.

 

Caroline Smith asked if we need to start planning to raise funds to save the roses again next year. Andy said that he would talk to Dee Crumpler, but it is his understanding that due to the outpouring of support, funding the seven city rose gardens with private donations is not expected to be an ongoing need. Moreover, we had agreed that our involvement in the project should not assumed to be ongoing.

 

Caroline also asked for an update on a project to expand Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, and whether any neighborhood concerns had been expressed. The Board has not taken a position on the project. Caroline was referred to Dean Hodges of the Tallahassee-Leon Planning Department for additional information.

 

Because of increased crime in neighborhoods, Tom Schulte raised the issue of whether we should consider reviving the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. We discussed the issue without taking action.

 

The park behind the Ashford Club Apartments will be officially dedicated at 4 PM on May 16th. Participants have been asked to call the Ashford Club if they plan to attend. The event will include activities, refreshments and story-telling.

 

Donna suggested the formation of a nominating committee to present a slate of members and officers before the annual meeting in October. Instead, we were able to meet as a committee of the whole, after Tom Schulte agreed to be nominated for President. Pat Brueckheimer apparently has agreed to serve as Treasurer. (Donna will confirm this.)  Melissa Jacoby has indicated that she is willing to serve as Secretary.  We still need nominees for a southern and northern Vice President.

 

Caroline suggested that we should promote improved communications to recruit new members, and board and committee members. She suggested that we organize a system of team captains that could communicate needs, goals, activities, etc. between the Board and the neighborhood. The team captains would agree to communicate with a group of neighbors living on a street or a small section of the neighborhood. Caroline agreed to write an article for the fall newsletter in an attempt to gauge interest and recruit the team captains.

 

Donna agreed to prepare an article for the newsletter regarding the nominees for the Board, including officers. She will also write a piece which discourages human interaction with wildlife (prompted by our learning that people apparently are feeding the family of foxes that makes the Marston-Harriman Circle area home).

 

We agreed to our tradition of not meeting during the months of July and August. If pressing business arises, we will communicate via email.

 

Shawn suggested that Peter distribute the pictures from Family Fun Day.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Peter Butzin, Secretary