Butchers Hill

Butchers Hill Association
General Meeting Notes
08/05/2009
General Business:
Welcome by Barry Glassman, President
Committee Reports – this is the meeting to let everyone know what happens in the committees and to see what all of the “worker bees” do that keep the neighborhood association going and productive.

Crime Prevention – Carolyn Boitnott – The goal of this committee is to share information to ensure everything is properly fed to the police. They keep logs of problem people and properties, share their information with neighboring neighborhoods, send letters to property owners regarding problem tenants and problems with the properties, write community impact statement to the court, do C.O.P. walk around’s, initiate gating of problem alleys and they hold block meetings when necessary.
One future goal is to have smaller targeted neighborhood meetings to encourage involvement by more neighbors and to gather feedback.
Streetscape – Rob Steinberg – This committee relies on block captains. The activities of this committee: Educate everyone on the new trash rules, keep an eye on hot spots, identify people that are violating rules and report them to city enforcement, organize Dumpster Days and Clean Up Days. Going forward – they will be monitoring the effectiveness of the new trash rules.
House Tour – Sue Noonan – The House Tour is to be held Sunday, October 18th from noon to five. This is the event that best shows off Butchers Hill. (See Pg 1 and 4 for more information)
Education – Tori Simms – There are two local elementary schools that are supported by this committee – Commodore John Rogers and Patterson Park Public Charter School. As part of that support Sandy and Carolyn organize volunteers for CJR. The proceeds from the Butchers Hill booth at each flea market go directly to the schools. This committee meets on an as-needed basis.
Flea Market – Tori Simms – There are two flea markets held each year – one in the fall and one in the spring. These draw a diverse crowd from around the park, and throughout the city. There is music and food in addition to having 85-125 vendors at each event. All non-profit organizations that want one is welcome to a free booth – all we ask is that they help to promote the event. This is one event that helps to fund the Butchers Hill Association. (See Pg. 1 for more information on the upcoming Flea Market)
Land Use – Virgil Bartram – One way to think about the Land Use committee is that we are all individuals who enjoy our own houses, but sometimes what happens to a neighboring property affects us. Maybe there is a zoning dispute, or maybe a vacant house with problems. That’s what the Land Use committee is for – to help mediate conflicts and support homeowners. The Land Use committee reviews building exteriors on CHAP blocks, and testifies at zoning commission hearings.

COP (Citizens on Patrol) – Evan Helfrich – This committee has been in existence for more than 10 years. They conduct walkarounds on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month meeting at the corner of Lombard and Patterson Park Ave. at 7:30. Everyone is welcome to join them. They look for potential crime and property problems. They use information from the Crime Committee reports. Everyone should be practicing C.O.P. on their own front stoop. Get to know your neighbors, get to know your neighborhood, watch for problems, report potential problems to 311, report actual crimes (or potential crimes) to 911.
Community Initiatives – Kathy Hackett – The goal of this committee is to promote the community and involve more people. They welcome people to events, maintain a database of neighbors, distribute the newsletter electronically, send out new neighbor packets, and also handle the marketing of BHA merchandise, including the maintenance of the e-market.
Executive Committee – Barry Glassman – This committee works behind the scenes. There are ten officers (President, two Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Parliamentarian, and three Members-at-Large). Elections are held annually – and the nominating committee is being elected next month to start working on the slate for next year’s officers.

Other Ways to become more involved with your community individually or in small groups:

How to Organize a Progressive Dinner – Carol Richman (See Butchers Hill Website for instructions)

How to Organize a Book Club – Beth Braun
(See Butchers Hill Website for instructions)

How to Investigate the History of the Neighborhood – Rick Gilmour
(See Butchers Hill Website for instructions)

THIS IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE “GENERAL MEETING NOTES”. THE COMPLETE NOTES CAN BE FOUND AT THE BUTCHERS HILL WEBSITE: http://www.butchershill.org

Friday

BHA Committees and Monthly Meetings