October Eight Streets meeting

Greetings Eight Streets members

 

A reminder that our monthly meeting is Tomorrow, October 5^th at the Boston Ballet’s 5^th floor board room.

We have no business items on the agenda this month.  I had hoped to have the city come and talk about Trash, but that will be happening at our November meeting.

Rather than cancel the meeting, I hope we can get together and get some engagement going.   If we want the Association to thrive, we need more participation by members and residents.   Some things we can work on over the next year include:

• Crime – Bernard has volunteered to work with the OD Crime committee.   Do we have others interested in crime?  Maybe put tips together and flier the neighborhood.   Have a neighborhood walk-through with BPD to point out hot spots and see how we can make our neighborhood safer?   Do we have enough interest to get neighborhood watches together?
• Trash – the City’s DPW will come next month to talk about the City and trash collection.  What can we do?   Fliers and brochures delivered to residents to educate US on proper trash containers & collection procedures?   How can we work to keep our neighborhood clean between trash days?  Should we fundraise to get big-bellies throughout the neighborhood?   Any other trash ideas?   Or better – people who want to form a trash committee?
• Greenspace – we have two parks in our neighborhood, we’re adjacent to a third, and are home to one of the largest community gardens in the city.   Is the association supporting them enough?  Is there more we can do to help the spaces “Friends” organizations?   Raise money?  Help with projects? 
• City services – How’s our infrastructure?   I attend a quarterly meeting with DPW.  Are others interested in joining in?   Do we need a place where people can report issues to ESNA so we can bring them to the city?  Or is Citizens Connect enough?  (Hope everyone is using that app;  :) 
• The neighborhood!!! – We moved to a blog form email to reach more people.   Are we reaching enough of our residents?   Should we also facebook?  Tweet?   Should we flier or direct mail residents to remind them we’re here?    Are you interested in a civic outreach campaign?  (possibly in conjunction with the fundraising mentioned above)
• Activities – We haven’t had many activities outside of the monthly meetings in a while – and the few we have had were lightly attended.   What kind of activities do you want to see?   What’s fun and exciting?   Are these events we can hold that tie together some of the ideas mentioned above?

None of this can happen without you.  We can have a passive neighborhood with Heather & I minding the shop and blogging you news.  Or we can have an active organization with more events and outreach to our community.   It’s in your hands.  Only your participation can decide what kind of association you want your neighborhood to be.

So come join us at this Wednesday’s meeting.  Regular meeting format with socializing and meet & greet form 6:30-7, and the business meeting starting at 7.

I hope you can make it for some great discussions!!!

- John