President’s Message
The holiday season is once again past, and the new year presents the opportunity to embrace changes and head in some new directions. Things are no different for BWNA, and 2020 has us embarking upon a few new projects while continuing to work on a number of meaningful ongoing projects.
A BWNA/BBA New Neighbor Welcoming Project is being launched to extend a hearty, personal greeting to newcomers, providing them with information about what the neighborhood has to offer and what makes this place we call home unique. Planning has been led by newsletter editor Al Ellis, with participation from local businesses coordinated by Beaumont Business Association organizer Kathy Madore, and collaboration with First American Title Company of Oregon business development representative Julie Fischer in identifying new B-W homeowners. Please give me, Al, or any other board member a heads-up with names and addresses of new residents, and we’ll be able to pay them a welcoming visit.
In an effort to ensure we are reaching all of our neighbors, not just homeowners, BWNA will be working to distribute the newsletter to apartment buildings in the neighborhood, which requires coordination with those living in or managing those buildings. We’ll also be revamping the BWNA website to better connect with the neighborhood and improve our ability to communicate with neighbors via email and convey information online. Stay tuned for those changes.
Another BWNA initiative for 2020 will be partnering with the Beaumont Middle School (BMS) Parent-Teacher Association and Alameda Neighborhood Association to bring a fundraising cleanup event to the neighborhood this spring for the benefit of the community and in support of BMS and BWNA activities. BWNA will also continue to sponsor the Sparrow Clubs project at BMS, which provides students the opportunity to volunteer their time to help a child in medical need.
Additionally, BWNA will be organizing efforts to clean up and replant the public stairs between Alameda and Wisteria at 42nd Avenue, following in the footsteps of a similar project a number of years ago on the stairs near 44th Avenue, which was spearheaded by former BWNA board member Dave Whitaker. And BWNA will continue to support the efforts of the Friends of Wilshire Park Committee to raise funds for improvements to our neighborhood park.
All of this takes time and effort, and another goal of BWNA in 2020 is to reach out to neighbors for support in bringing these projects to fruition with board members at the vanguard. Speaking of which, an opportunity to serve on the board is there for the taking, with three board positions open for civic-minded residents to step up and fill.
Good luck to everyone on fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions and on your 2020 projects. If getting more involved in your neighborhood is one of those goals, then please drop me a line.
Thank you and Happy New Year.