North Shore Triangle Neighborhood Association
Open Meeting
November, 9, 2008
Unitarian Church
Minutes:
I. Neighborhood Watch Program
Sgt. Ross from the South Bend Police Department attended the meeting and gave an overview of the city’s Neighborhood Watch Program. He explained how Block Captains in the neighborhood would be in charge of receiving call from the police when crime occurs and then pass that information on to 5-6 houses in the neighborhood. We currently have a small number of Block Captains in our neighborhood and need to increase the number if we are to effectively get the message out about crimes in the area. Sgt. Ross also said that the Harter Heights Neighborhood uses email to get information out about crime.
Also, Sgt. Ross invited us to attend the Regional Neighborhood meetings that are held in the city every first Thursday of the month at 6:45 at the police department. At these meetings, the police department provides information about crimes that have occurred in the four corners of the city. Finally, Sgt. Ross explained about the types of crimes occurring and what we can do to prevent instances of crime.
After Sgt. Ross left, we talked about the best way to improve the Neighborhood Watch program in our neighborhood. It was decided that we would have a meeting with our current Neighborhood Rep’s at some point and then have them go out and canvas their areas to see if others are interested in being a city block captain. Once we have the names of people who are interested we will get back with Sgt. Ross to plug those names into the list used by the city. We will use this list to make contact via phone when crimes occur, but will also use the website and our email list to email crime information to neighbors.
II. Party Planning Committee Update
Buffy gave a re-cap of the recent Halloween Party. She talked about finding new ways to staff the games at the parties so the same people are not running the game during the whole party. She also mentioned that we raised $44 in donations, which she will use for expenses at the next party.
The next party will be the Winter Party, which will be in February around Valentines Day. She talked about possibly having sledding and a chili contest. The party will be held in Parkovash Park.
III. Fundraising Committee Update
Cec passed around the T-shirt design contest forms and explained that we will have a Neighborhood T-shirt sale to raise funds for future parties, the printing of flyers, etc. Residents are encouraged to submit a design for the T-shirts by February 1. After that, a winning design will be selected and unveiled at the Winter Party and we will then begin taking T-shirt orders.
IV. Green Committee Update
Iris gave an overview of their activities, which has included surveying alleyways and identifying areas in need of clean up and trimming. She and others in the neighborhood have trimmed certain areas that were really overgrown and plan to continue working on this. Angie also told how her Neighborhood Rep, Victor Karczewski had organized a clean-up in the alley between Northshore and Marquette and a company came through afterward to pick up the trimmings.
V. Recap/Things to Do
-Continue to get the word out about the Association, as many residents are still not aware.
-Continue to gather contact information of residents.
-Use the blog as a method of communicating neighborhood activities and instances of crime. There was also talk about tweaking the blog so that new information would be more easily recognized.
-Work to expand the Neighborhood Watch Program by identifying new people interested in being Block Captains.
-Have next Open Meeting in February.
