President’s Message
Spring and summer provide residents with a variety of opportunities to commune with what’s going on in the neighborhood. Whether it’s taking more walks or bicycle rides, more time in the yard, more activities in the park, or more shopping and dining in Beaumont-Wilshire’s two business districts, the neighborhood’s quality of life reaches out for us to experience, and it doesn’t take long to see why Beaumont-Wilshire is considered one of the more desirable places to live in all of Northeast Portland. Still, like all neighborhoods, we have our issues and concerns, and how we deal with them, both individually and collectively, reflects on quality of life as well. That said, a neighborhood association’s main function is to preserve and enhance the positives, while effectively addressing the negatives. But how best to accomplish this? I would suggest two primary factors as prerequisites:
1.) A neighborhood association is only as strong as the volunteers who give of their time and energy to make it work. It starts with the Board of Directors—the cadre of the organization. Frankly speaking, without a strong Board, there is little chance of getting anything done. Currently there are vacant positions on the BWNA Board that need filling, but as of yet, no takers. Disappointingly, of the multitudes who attended part or all of the Taste of Beaumont General Meeting last month, not one stepped forward to fill a vacant position. If you live within the Beaumont-Wilshire boundaries, can attend meetings on the second Monday evening of most months, and like the idea of providing a valuable service for your fellow neighbors, please contact me at president@bwna.us. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have and would encourage you to attend a Board meeting (held on the second Monday of odd-numbered months) to get a firsthand look at who the members are and how we strive to work together as a team.
2.) Communication with constituents is the next most important factor in keeping a neighborhood association productive and relevant. BWNA does this in four ways: general meetings (on the second Monday of even-numbered months, except August, when the National Night Out Picnic substitutes), this Newsletter, the BWNA Web site, and blog (which has a link to our Facebook page).
The most direct way to communicate and participate in BWNA is to attend general meetings every other month at Bethany Lutheran Church (corner of Skidmore and 37th). Secondly, read our bi-monthly Newsletter and respond with a “Letter to the Board” about a local issue of your choice. Third, submit an article or announcement for the Newsletter or blog via editor@bwna.us. The reality is that a neighborhood association will get nowhere fast without active participation from its residents. And speaking of participation, Newsletter Distribution Coordinator Serah Breakstone is always in need of volunteers to distribute newsletters to residences, and one neighbor did step up at Taste of Beaumont. How about you? Serah is at sryano@comcast.net .
Sense of community underlies quality of life. BWNA can be your community hub.