Minutes for June 9, 2014
Meeting Date: Monday, June 9, 2014
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Place: First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Avenue, Basement
Attendance: 14
- Announcements
- Introduction of New Officers
- Erik Haroldson, President
- Jason Mack, Vice-President
- Carolyn Janette, Treasurer (continuing from previous term)
- Betty Bauhs, Secretary
- Report on Garlic Mustard Pulling in Quarry Park-Betty Bauhs
- This spring RBNA organized 4 work projects, 2 on Saturdays and 2 weekday evenings, to remove garlic mustard as well as general park clean-up. No additional clean-up dates are planned this year.
- Betty showed a clay ‘artifact’ found in the woods this spring. She has a newspaper article about the pieces which were first found in the late 90’s. May include in the history section of RBNA web site.
- Suggestions for getting more people involved in park cleanup next year:
- Connect with Sunset Village Neighborhood Association
- Deliver flyers to houses on the west side of the park
- Contact the Randall School-BMX bike club
- Tasks:
- Betty – Send articles about artifacts to Tim for web site.
- RBNA – Contact additional groups when planning park cleanup project next spring.
- New Web Site and E-mails – Carolyn & Tim
- Tim Schneider is now working with Barb Wagner on web site updates and maintenance. More information about web site changes in Discussion Item #2 below.
- New e-mail addresses for RBNA officers to be included on the RBNA web site:
- president@rockybluffmadison.org
- vp@rockybluffmadison.org
- secretary@rockybluffmadison.org
- treasurer@rockybluffmadison.org
Discussion Items
- Summer Party – Erik & Carolyn
- A party planning committee has been formed. Andy Manis volunteered as planning committee lead.
- Date selected Saturday, August 2, around 3:00. Rain date of Sunday, August 3.
- Location: First choice Gunnar’s yard on Stevens St.–if he is willing to have it again this year. If Gunnar is not able to have the party, Sarah McDaniels offered her yard–mid-2900 block of Stevens.
- Party ideas and general discussion followed. The planning committee will work out final details:
- Service project before picnic?
- Is it worth renting a portable bathroom again this year?
- May ask for a small donation this year – around $3/person, $5/family?
- Food similar to last year: Potluck, plus donations from local businesses: Burgers from Whole Foods, buns from Madison Sourdough, beer from Great Dane and Party Port. Maybe ice cream from Chocolate Shop this year.
- Music was nice last year. Maybe find a group again this year. Not too loud.
- Sign announcing the party that was moved around neighborhood was a good idea last year.
- Tasks:
- Planning Committee – Will meet on June 17 @ 7:15 @ Erik’s house to work on details.
- Betty – Check with Gunnar on availability for Aug 2.
- Ideas for Web Site (Carolyn, Liza, Tim)
- Tim Schneider has drafted a new site that he would like to launch within the next several weeks. New content should be reviewed by other RBNA members prior to launch. More content can be added after launch.
- New content? Several ideas were discussed:
- Listing of local businesses? This could include residents with small businesses in additional to commercial businesses in the area.
- Need more neighborhood historical information for the history web pages. Suggestions: Findlay House, Century House, Quarry Park. Possibly setup ability for neighbors to submit historical articles, stories, through a link.
- Bulletin board interest? Tim suggested using Google Group listserv. This is more dynamic than web site. Listserv may help to create a greater sense of community. Group agreed this is something RBNA should try.
- Facebook account: Liza will be managing. This is another opportunity to connect with people, in addition to the web site, emails and listserv. Missing cats, other news items. The listserv can be used to provide postings for our Facebook page.
- Tasks:
- RBNA – Have several members review new web site. Tim to provide temporary address to access.
- Tim – Update if necessary and launch new web site.
- RBNA – Send e-mail to RBNA members announcing the new site. Include highlights.
- Tim – Setup listserv.
- RBNA/Tim – Continue working on additional content for web site, e.g. business listing, history of the neighborhood.
- Two-year Review – Carolyn
- Where are we now? May 2012 started Rocky Bluff Neighborhood Association. The main reason for establishing was to have input to the Hoyt Neighborhood development plan. The plan has been completed and we were successful providing input. We have also had a summer party, created a web site, and organized several garlic mustard removal/cleanup projects in Quarry Park.
- Where do we want to go? Suggestion for a project in neighborhood area. Jason Mack provided information about grants offered by the City of Madison. Discussed a variety of projects: Welcome to Rocky Bluff Neighborhood sign, development of a community garden, painting mosaics on streets, seating area either at entrance to or in Quarry Park, etc. Jason shared photos of projects around the city. Next grant proposal due in January. Possibly put up a suggestion board at the summer party for ideas. Consider forming a committee to apply for a city grant.
- Tasks:
- Picnic Planning Committee will consider setting up idea board at picnic.
- Include neighborhood project as discussion item on next meeting agenda.
- New Events – Jason
- Let’s come up with a new event, perhaps in winter. Several ideas were discussed:
- Service project. Polar plunge, team participating in a fund raising race/walk/run. Maybe a project could be done in conjunction with the Boy Scouts – part of an Eagle Project.
- Social event(s) to help neighbors get to know each other better. A snowman building contest, Christmas decoration contest, neighborhood garden tour, progressive dinner/drinks at neighbors’ homes.
- Tasks:
- Discuss at next meeting. Possibly form a committee to organize.
- Fundraising – Why and Possible Ideas – Carolyn
- Why – Pay for projects such as neighborhood sign, additional sandwich board, parties, etc.
- Checking account should be established. Carolyn offered to look into this.
- Discussion of methods to allow people to donate money on-line to RBNA. This would take a fair amount of coordination and there would be a cost. Probably more work than benefit.
- Carolyn suggested creating a ‘discount card’ to local businesses. RBNA would sell the cards to neighborhood residents for around $10. Need to meet with businesses to see if willing to participate. Offer decal to businesses to advertise they are a member. Target businesses on both sides of University Ave.
- Tasks:
- Carolyn – Look into RBNA checking account
- RBNA – Investigate whether any other groups have had discount cards.
- Carolyn – Draft proposal to give to businesses.
- RBNA – Contact businesses to determine interest in discount card. Can be done when contacting businesses to request food/beverage donations for summer party.
Misc. Discussion
- Hoyt Park: Looking for a liaison to attend monthly meetings of the Friends of Hoyt Park group. Andy Manis volunteered to be the representative from RBNA.
Next Meeting:
- Sept. 8th, Monday.
- Meeting will be in conjunction with spaghetti supper at First Baptist Church. Dinner is @ 6:00 p.m.
- Meeting time moved to 7:00 p.m. Move meeting to upstairs meeting room at the church.