Claude Moulton (president of SPAR) and Joanne Tredennick (SPAR board member) met yesterday with Sue Carmichael of St. Mary's church (my church -- the one I attend and occasionally preach at) to discuss the church's support of (drum roll) "illegal rooming houses."
I wish they could afford to support us.
...ahhh...the problem with moving on.
I love the positive vibe in the neighborhood now. I get enthused when I talk about Preservation SOS with people. The energy required to do a "Make It Happen" project cannot even measure to the supernatural energy that results from participating in it and seeing a very tangible result from hard work. Helping to save the houses makes me feel like we are leaving a gift under the tree for our children. These are good things.
But I gotta tell ya, none of this compares to the miracles which occur with my dealings in the sober houses.
For over a decade I have watched Love extend its hand to men without any options left. That Love lifted all manner of folks out from under bridges, in vacant houses, in crowded missions and gave them courage and strength to fight the biggest battle of their lives.
That Love isn't me or Joe, it isn't even the help that the other sober men who live with them give to them. That Love is from our Lord who protects and provides for those who seek him.
I have been doing this work, in between contracting work and thrift store running, for over a decade now. I see miracles on a daily basis. I see men who were broken, filling up with self-esteem and becoming reunited with their children. I have seen children so proud of their fathers for the first time in years and heard them brag about them.
These are miracles worth fighting for.
I did a quick count (for we don't keep statistics) but right now, over 25% of our men who live in our sober houses have over a year of sobriety. And it is not just that they are not drinking. They are finding a life which revolves around their higher power, which revolves around Love for helping others, making amends for past mistakes, and living life on life's terms.
Joe and I, and what we do, has been inspected, tested, questioned, criticized. It is legal and conforming to all requirements. There is nothing "illegal" in what we do.
There are problems in Springfield, challenges that can be solved with team work and effort. SPAR Council get on board with this or move out of the way. Spending your time attempting to undermine the efforts of others in the neighborhood is just wasting valuable resources, for you and for everyone else.
It is a new day. Let's act accordingly.
This is exactly what is wrong with spar, well...at least a major part of it. It's the very reason I have no rejoined and will not rejoin until Claude and those of the same mindset, are gone...he was part of the very damaging regime of DeSpain and he remains on the board, when he should've been gone years ago.
What I don't understand is why the personal vendetta crap continues...I've heard of no new rooming houses, I have of no new recovery and/or sober houses, so why does he and Joanne continue this push, this fight, this personal vendetta? What I also don't understand, is why spar, as a whole, allows this crap to continue.
I had hoped and spoke of that hope, over and over...believing that between the new ED and the new board members, that this kind of crap had come to an end, that spar was actually moving in a positive direction and that the organization, with it's new life, was turning towards positive actions...but alas, it just goes to show nothing much has changed at all...that they've been blowing smoke up the butt of the neighborhood.
Sheclown, I'm sorry to hear of this latest pack of crap that spar is doing. I know of your efforts to work and help those turn their lives around. I've worked side by side with many of those guys at various projects, including block captain clean ups...they're an asset to our neighborhood and not the bad guys that Claude and the likes of spar wish to claim. The houses are kept clean, they pose no threat and this latest tactic is flat out wrong.
IMO, this is exactly the kind of crap, the personal vendettas, the wrong direction to continue on, and exactly why spar does NOT represent the majority of the community. This is exactly why spar got it's 'bad rap', and this is why neighbors have moved away from them, starting other organizations...because spar is a negative to our community, and I for one, want nothing to do with them.
:-\ What the hell?! I thought this BS was over with! So just where is it, that spar has changed? Oh yeah, they're finally maybe, perhaps, could be, should've been, have the LISC money for, helping to resuscitate Main street. I'll give them some credit for that, but what else have they done to promote good will within the very neighborhood that they're supposed to be representing? Thinking......more thinking.....oh yeah, the new ED is finally onboard with stopping the knocking down of the historic fabric. I suspect that's only because preservation sos was created by neighbors who were appalled by how spar's (former) ED had been promoting the demolitions.
So where are these illegal rooming houses? Quite frankly, I've not heard anyone in the neighborhood talking about it, let alone feeling up in arms about new ones, or even any existing ones, for that matter. I know that there are legal recovery houses, there are legal apartments and houses for rent. So where is this horrible problem with illegal rooming houses, that Molton and Tredennick are having to reach out to churches to try and recruit their support for what was it, fight against those illegal rooming houses? This is what spar is working on, really?
Over the past year (give or take some months) I had found myself feeling hopeful and truly considering joining spar, until this! I had seen signs of a positive turn around, until this! I had started to believe that with the placement of a few new faces, under the direction of the new ED, that spar was once again becoming a positive organization of and for the community. This BS that was posted, clearly shows that little has changed. That's sad and that's what fuels the distrust within the community.
Molton, Trednennick are part of the disease that's been eating away at the trust of those in the community who was a positive organization, not this kind of wickedness. It's just amazing how these people are so nice to your face, but have that knife poised behind your back. Spar needs to fade into the sunset!
What exactly happened? They talked to the church about the houses? Those houses are legal correct, so what do they expect the church to do? Also, it is my understanding most Christians support recovery yes? What did the church say? Did they actually ask you to leave the church? How can SPAR have an influence over the church?
Quote from: Livein32206 on January 11, 2011, 07:43:54 AM
:-\ What the hell?! I thought this BS was over with! So just where is it, that spar has changed? Oh yeah, they're finally maybe, perhaps, could be, should've been, have the LISC money for, helping to resuscitate Main street. I'll give them some credit for that, but what else have they done to promote good will within the very neighborhood that they're supposed to be representing? Thinking......more thinking.....oh yeah, the new ED is finally onboard with stopping the knocking down of the historic fabric. I suspect that's only because preservation sos was created by neighbors who were appalled by how spar's (former) ED had been promoting the demolitions.
So where are these illegal rooming houses? Quite frankly, I've not heard anyone in the neighborhood talking about it, let alone feeling up in arms about new ones, or even any existing ones, for that matter. I know that there are legal recovery houses, there are legal apartments and houses for rent. So where is this horrible problem with illegal rooming houses, that Molton and Tredennick are having to reach out to churches to try and recruit their support for what was it, fight against those illegal rooming houses? This is what spar is working on, really?
Over the past year (give or take some months) I had found myself feeling hopeful and truly considering joining spar, until this! I had seen signs of a positive turn around, until this! I had started to believe that with the placement of a few new faces, under the direction of the new ED, that spar was once again becoming a positive organization of and for the community. This BS that was posted, clearly shows that little has changed. That's sad and that's what fuels the distrust within the community.
Molton, Trednennick are part of the disease that's been eating away at the trust of those in the community who was a positive organization, not this kind of wickedness. It's just amazing how these people are so nice to your face, but have that knife poised behind your back. Spar needs to fade into the sunset!
My grandfather had a saying; "You can shave the spots off a leopard but you'll never change the feeding habits."
SPAR is the same as it ever was. Within the past few weeks SPAR has reported the Preservation S.O.S. hearts to COJ as "graffiti," has succeeded in getting the bus stops removed from Main Street (further killing any chance of revitalization) to get rid of 'undesirable' a/k/a 'black' people that use the bus, and is continuing their behind the scenes attacks on whoever they don't like.
While I appreciate the spirit of cooperation some people are showing to SPAR, it is misplaced and dangerous.
Quote from: uptowngirl on January 11, 2011, 08:24:53 AM
What exactly happened? They talked to the church about the houses? Those houses are legal correct, so what do they expect the church to do? Also, it is my understanding most Christians support recovery yes? What did the church say? Did they actually ask you to leave the church? How can SPAR have an influence over the church?
Hail Mary pass, perhaps?
I suppose they were concerned that I would enlist the church in my plans for halfway house world domination. (sarcasm here).
Joann Treddinick may very well be a lovely person, but with her including herself in this ongoing vendetta, then she makes herself just as involved and guilty of this sneaky and mean-spirited attempt to cause harm towards others. I still fail to see why they'd go to a church to discuss illegal rooming houses, as if they'd have any control over them or if they're the owners of them. Did these two from spar meeting with any other churches, are they taking their song and dance to all of them? I seriously doubt it.
The recovery houses that Gloria and Joe maintain are legal, they pose no threat to the community, in fact, they've been targeted and code enforcement called on them...and guess what, they're still in business and they're still helping those trying to change their life around. The men that stay there have been more help and have contributed more to various efforts to improve the neighborhood. When's the last time Claude or Joann showed up for a clean up or showed up to help with a make it happen...or showed up for anything where they'd have to volunteer their time and efforts?