Several items discussed at Eastwood's February 2013 meeting included:
Goal: Desire for additional neighborhood events, including cleanups, block parties, and other social activities.
Action plan: Will need to research insurance requirements and costs for some events that would take place on Metro property, including streets, parks, and school campuses. Neighborhood clean-ups and beautification activities will resume in the Spring. Suggestions for community events are welcome. Bailey STEM welcomes the idea of opening their building to the community for events that bring students and neighbors together. Please contact Brett Withers, President if you have ideas or suggestions or would like to volunteer to coordinate an event.
Goal: Provide neighborhood volunteer and financial support to neighborhood schools.
Action plan: Rosebank Elementary and Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School have ongoing and one-time volunteer needs. Eastwood will help to spread the word for these needs and appeals. At some point in the future, Eastwood would like to conduct fundraising activities that would provide sufficient financial support for student/teacher appreciation events, field trips, and campus improvements.
Goal: Desire to continue Crime and Safety Committee safety awareness messages on various topics.
Action plan: Eastwood is seeking volunteers for this committee. Actions needed include gathering topical suggestions for crime prevention or safety tips that can be distributed by the Communications Committee. Please contact admin@eastwoodneighbors.org if you are interested in volunteering or if you have tips to share with neighbors.
Goal: Work with Metro Council and Public Works to implement traffic calming and pedestrian safety enhancements.
Action plan: Councilman Peter Westerholm attended the meeting and discussed neighbor concerns regarding traffic/parking on Chapel Ave near Eastland and speeding on Porter Road. Installation or enhancement of crosswalks across Eastland Ave, Porter Road, and Gallatin Ave were priorities expressed in the meeting.
Goal: Enhance neighborhood communications tools.
Action plan: Our experience is that neighbors receive Eastwood information through a variety of channels (blog posts, e-mail blasts, Facebook and Twitter posts, ENListserve posts, newsletters). Various volunteers handle each of these channels. The Communications Committee hopes to implement cross-training among volunteers during 2013 in case one or more of the volunteers are absent when a message needs to be distributed.
Community Appeal Short List:
Eastwood memberships are always needed. But Eastwood Neighbors also needs volunteers to assist with reaching some of these goals.
Some activities like volunteering in Bailey's reading program require regular daytime, on-site participation that is ideally suited to those who might be available during business hours. Rosebank Elementary also has opportunities for ongoing and one-time events where neighborhood support bolsters student morale.
Other volunteer opportunities can be done from home on your own schedule. One example of the latter is that Eastwood periodically calls for photographs to bolster our website. We are seeking photos of events or of neighborhood businesses or homes that have decorated for the holidays, etc to add to our webpage. We will give you credit for your photos!
Original post:
Eastwood Neighbors will hold a planning meeting on Tuesday, February 12th, 2013. The meeting will take place in the first-floor conference room at Eastwood Christian Church, 1601 Eastland Ave, beginning at 6:30 PM. The purpose of this meeting is to set goals for the year and to start planning events for the year to accomplish those goals. Neighbors are welcome to join in this meeting to share your ideas!
Eastwood Neighbors is a charming, urban residential area characterized by early- to mid-20th century single-family residences and multi-family units representing a range of architectural styles. Eastwood Neighbors, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1992 by community members.
