Happy New Year Neighbor,
Welcome to 2016 and a new start at making the world a better place for all of us.
The board met on January 12th for its regularly scheduled board meeting with a full plate of action items that include submitting a request to delay the demolition of an existing home (reportedly to be very habitable and recently remodeled). Neighbors requested that the board submit a request for delay on their behalf while they attempt to convince the developer to reconsider the demolition and work with them to come up with a mutually satisfactory compromise. More about this later as we get feedback.
Ashley Golokow, one of our board members had taken over the responsibility of the community meeting room at the Kennedy School and made great progress in getting the reservation system sorted out with additional improvements as well including a commitment from the Kennedy School to spruce the place up, Good work Ashley!
In addition to securing yet another year of Concerts in the Park, the board has secured one night of “Movie in the Park”. We may not be showing the new Star Wars film but promises to be an event where families and friends can enjoy a movie and picnic with ones you love to add to a list of favorite memories. Keep an eye out for schedules to appear later this spring. The funding is being provided by the City of Portland General Funds, Concordia Neighborhood Association and one of our own board members, Robert Bowles (thanks Robert!)
Two new Board of Directors were installed on the Board, Please welcome Donn Dennis and Joe Culhane and extend our gratitude for their stepping up to the occasion to serve the community.
Joe Culhane, has a history of volunteerism with both community and church the offering his artistic talent whenever needed. Joes latest art project was the intersection painting at NE 28th and Jarrett, bringing
the community together. Other interests are Ally beautification and developing emergency preparedness scenarios for our neighborhood.
Donn Dennis, prior to retirement Donn had made a career in human resources administration as well as a history in both higher education as well as corporate business management and development. Donn also added…that he lives with his” …wife and their two rescued-but-totally-untrained dogs”.
Concordia News Just Getting Better! Keep your eyes open for some real change coming soon to the newspaper and website. We are fortunate to have had Susan Trabucco, a Business Communications and former newspaper owner, volunteer to take our paper into the future with an emphasis on our community reporting the news and events of interest the Newspaper industry has abandoned in favor of national news provided by Wire Service or social media. Susan and volunteers on the Media Committee are
committed to bringing you a newspaper catering to local news and local interest. Look for these developments in future issues, and please don’t hesitate to contribute your stories for publication as well. We are looking for you to be our eyes on our local world.
Please consider coming to our February board meeting as we will be discussing and finalizing our goals and objectives for 2016. We will also be formulating working committees to focus on those projects you see
as priorities.
Lastly, I want to invite those of you who would like to have a one on one conversation with me, Chair for the Association, to discuss your specific questions and suggestions. There are some of us who are not always comfortable in large venues and reluctant to pursue your interests and this will be an opportunity to make your wishes know without the formality of a board meeting and no required agenda. I will be in the community room at 6:00 pm, an hour before the start of our board meeting to focus on you alone. Hope to see you there.
Isaac Quintero
Chair, Concordia Neighborhood Associates