This issue kicks off with a President’s Message from newly-elected BWNA President Tim Hemstreet—an impressive guy with just the right makeup for the top BWNA leadership position—mild-mannered, bright, focused. Attesting to those attributes and more is an interview we did with Tim not long after he joined the board, which can be easily accessed via the BWNA website (www.bwna.us) by simply clicking on “Newsletter issues” at the top of home page, then on “September/October 2015” (p. 6).
Tim’s ascendency to the presidency not only ended months of vacancy, but also proved a motivator for others to serve, including a couple of our newsletter regulars: gardening guru Barb Strunk to serve as Secretary and recipe connoisseur (of “Kathy’s Kitchen” renown) Kathy Campbell to serve as Vice President. As with Tim (and most other board members), Kathy and Barb have been subjects of interview articles by Mark Mohammadpour—Kathy in the July/August 2014 issue (p. 5), Barb in the September/October 2014 issue (p. 5). You also may recall my tooting the “Editor’s Notes” horn for Barb in the previous issue (March/April 2016). Rounding out this outstanding officer corps is super-efficient, dependable Karla Lenox returning as Treasurer, about whom you can read in the May/June 2016 issue (p.4). Karla’s also our point person in reminding advertisers to pay on time.
Given the limited space available for articles in a bimonthly publication like ours, online archives of past issues are especially beneficial for BWNA, providing a convenient and resourceful way to reference information from the past that’s germane to the present (e.g., board profile articles with pertinent information about just-elected officers). Another handy information-providing vehicle at BWNA’s disposal is the online blog at www.bwna.us. When Beaumont-Wilshire-related announcements occur between issues and/or are too lengthy to fit, the blog functions as an organic extension of the newsletter. Check it out for updates.
With a tip of the hat to end of the academic year, this issue includes an article about our neighborhood’s most centrally-located school—Beaumont Middle School—featuring an interview with dynamic Principal Harriette Vimegnon. Then it’s back to the future with an article about a local effort to reunite Beaumont 8th grade classmates from 55 years ago! And in a “Letter to the Board” editorial, longtime B-W resident John Carson (aka “Johnnie Carson” as a kid) takes us back to his days as a student at Meek School as he reminisces about vacant lots, snakes, and changes… (with a preservationist’s edge woven into the story by yours truly).
Lastly, some missing links (as it were) from an article on the topic of “adult budgeting” by B-W resident Jackie Waters in the last issue (p. 5). With apologies:
https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-track-your-expenses-2385695
https://www.closetbox.com/resources/moving-boxes