April GANA potluck and meeting

Date: Tuesday, April 14th
Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm, with meeting to follow
Location: 2611 E 5th Street

Topics: update on GANG workshops, 10th street mobility project, Rogers/Binford traffic, upcoming events of interest, blog content and function, and anything else neighbors want to discuss

Neighbors Present: Jelene Campbell, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kevin Polk, Kathy & Al Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Erik Schedler, Jane Spearman, Kimberly Wagner, Katie Zukof

* Update on GANG - the first workshop went very well, despite rainy conditions. The next workshop will be April 24 and 25 and will be work to complete the pond.
* 10th Street Mobility Study - neighbors discussed ideas and concerns about the area to be studied. Information on the study, public meetings, and a survey can be found here.
* Rogers/Binford traffic issue - neighbors discussed the public meeting that was held at the schools on March 30th and our continued involvement with the issue. The neighborhoods in the affected school district would like the MCCSC school board to form an advisory committee to help study this issue. Neighbors discussed if there was anyone in the neighborhood that would like to serve on this committee if such a committee were assembled. Neighbors present do not have school aged children and as mentioned by many, our school district is University Elementary. If you were not at the meeting, but know someone who would be interested in this outreach opportunity, let us know.
* Blog - neighbors viewed the blog and talked about potential ideas for the site. Jane is working on a calendar of events for the site and is currently working on technical bugs to get this going. Please use and share our blog, http://greenacresneighbors.blogspot.com, and our general purpose email, greenacresneighborhood@gmail.com.
* Plant Share - the date of the plant share has been set for May 16th, details are forthcoming.
* Neighborhood Clean-up - since Green Acres was awarded a Neighborhood Clean-up last year, we are not eligible this year. Several neighbors expressed interest in doing a clean up anyway, albeit on a much smaller scale than what we are able to do with the equipment provided by the city. It was decided that a clean-up would take place following the plant share on May 16th. Details of the clean-up are forthcoming.
* Street sign toppers - John mentioned that several GANA sign toppers are missing. Kevin will give toppers to the city's Public Works department for reposting.
* Meeting space - John asked why we weren't using IU buildings in the neighborhood for our monthly potluck and meeting. Neighbors discussed ideas on meeting space from previous meetings and the benefits and risks of each. Al has agreed to talk with a contact at IU about using the Raintree House or the theater annex for this purpose.
* Signs at neighborhood entrances - John asked why nothing had come of this yet, based on conversations at previous meetings. Neighbors discussed the types of grants available for this type of project and that the deadlines for some of grants for this year had already passed. For the meantime, Jane brought up the idea of DIY signs that neighbors could post in their own yards if they chose. It was suggested that there might be city ordinances that could affect this possibility; Jane will look into the ordinances adressing yard signs.
* Blooming Neighborhood Awards - Green Acres has signed up to host a table at the awards celebration on June 6. Because Green Acres was one of the first neighborhoods to sign up, we were rewarded with a goodie bag from HAND. This bag contains materials for use in organizing and celebrating neighborhood events; it also contained a copy of the Jim Dier's book, "Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way." Jim will share his insights on June 5. Details of both events are here. Jane is currently reading the book; neighbors interested in being next in line can let us know.
* Upcoming City and IU Events of Interest:
Hazards in the Home - presented by Janet McCabe, Executive Director of Indiana
Kids Environment (IKE); Wedensday, April 15 at 7pm, McCluskey Room of City Hall,
sponsored by CONA.
Be More Awards - April 21st, 7pm at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater
IU Electronic Waste Recycling - May 2nd, 9a - 2p, Memorial Stadium parking lot. This is a great opporunity to dispose of your electronics in a safe, environmentally sound way and at no cost. Share this opportunity with everyone you know who would be interested.
* May potluck and meeting - the May gathering will be Tuesday, May 12th and will be hosted by Kevin and Kimberly, 2621 E Edwards Row

Respectfully submitted by me