President’s Message
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” (often credited to Anne Frank).
Though I can’t find that quote in the diary of brave Anne Frank—another internet misattribution, I fear—it still resonates with us because we feel its power and truth. Even during this pandemic with so many of us working from home, limiting social contacts, and keeping our distance, we can still make a contribution to the improvement of our world—and its closest unit, our neighborhood.
My belief in this was confirmed at BWNA’s “Zoomed” January meeting. The number of contributions to neighborhood improvement by volunteers on the BWNA board and other citizens was inspiring.
We heard from:
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Friends of Wilshire Park Committee Chair Gary Hancock and fellow steering committee member Peter Mogielnicki about new projects in the offing for the park, including a call for volunteers for a planting party at the end of February to make more green improvements to the park (see article on page 8).
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Transportation Committee Chair John Sandie and neighbor Sam Balto about plans for the committee to approach the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) with ideas for collaborative traffic-calming projects on Skidmore Street, thus improving our neighborhood. Further discussion on this topic is on the agenda for the April 12th General Meeting, featuring a representative from PBOT.
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Board member Laurie Holtz about ideas for further family-friendly activities we can promote, including her delightful kids-and-parents scavenger hunt featured in this issue of the newsletter on page 15. And this great publication in your hands is a product of a tireless volunteer team, including a hearty band of 60-plus doorstep deliverers, working to keep 2,600 Beaumont-Wilshire households and businesses informed and connected, thus improving our neighborhood.
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BWNA Secretary Barb Strunk about the possibility of getting a $1,000 COVID-19 Community Relief and Recovery Grant from our umbrella organization, Central Northeast Neighbors. Just a couple of months ago, we used a prior CNN grant to help purchase and deliver, thanks to the labor of BWNA Treasurer Karla Lenox, $1,500 worth of Fred Meyer gift cards for the Beaumont Middle School Family Resiliency Fund (see article on page 1). We see support for struggling families during this challenging pandemic as another small act of improving our neighborhood.
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Al Ellis about the 50 packets he’s put together and delivered to new neighbors with news about BWNA and gift cards from local businesses, embracing newcomers and improving our neighborhood.
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Sgt. Jennifer Butcher of the Portland Police Bureau, who spoke about the reconstitution under her leadership of North Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), the closest thing we have to a community policing crew (see page 11 for the list of useful Safety Resources provided by Sgt. Butcher and others). Her main message—confirmed by longtime BWNA Crime Prevention Chair Bill Markwart—was that residents report every community safety incident or problem to the NRT at 503-823-5700 and/or via e-mail to Officer Butcher (jennifer.butcher@portlandoregon.gov). Sgt. Butcher, a Portland native, resident, and parent, expressed her avid commitment to improving our city by making it a more safe, healthy, and livable place.
Finally, we were able to thank retiring board member Rich Woyma, who has spent countless hours creating our beautiful new website. The end of Rich’s term means we have six open spots just waiting to be filled by interested folks…maybe you! If any of our ongoing projects pique your interest, or if you have projects of your own you’d like BWNA to undertake, please let me know (president@bwnapdx.org). We hold our annual elections at the April General Meeting, and we are always looking for new folks to join this productive, fun group of volunteers.
No need to wait before starting to help improve the neighborhood…and thus the world.