Metro Jacksonville

This has been kicking around the neighborhood for a couple of months and I , at least am interested in hearing.

Don't the bylaws handle this situation or are things too far gone?

Changes to the by-laws before Ms. DeSpain left made elections pretty much optional. In fact, appointments to the board has been the norm ever since. Which is fine, if you are OK with that.

i'm a little surprised to see two 'what is SPAR?' votes.  i thought they were kind ov infamous around here.

You know of is spelled with an 'f', right?

Can I add one more choice?  How about half of each group step down now with new elections and the other half in a year?  That way there is some continuity (there is value to not reinventing EVERYTHING from scratch).  AND prior to any elections, drop dues to lower amounts so that a larger number of residents can afford to join and THEN cast their votes.

Board members need to be staggered to allow continuety........SPAR Council's are not! Normal members have no say in the board's actions and the board controls what and how things are done! Same group of 8 (I think that is the number right now) There are steps that could be taken, and I agree that things should not wither away and then have to start over! Memership numbers need to come up big time.................having an organization with around 100 members does not represent an area of around 5,000 people! Something is not right with that!

There were approximately 2,200ish contributing structures at the time of the Nationally Recognized Historic Neighborhood application way back when.  This information coming from the Historic Preservation Office. 

At this time, I do not know the number of structures that remain standing from that original number.  I am actually concerned to know that number to be honest. 

So if we talk about "households" we are more at 2,000ish, but that is generous considering the number of vacancies.  If we talk about individuals, that would be a census count.  If we include homeowners and renters, well then I would imagine the number goes up even more. 

Regardless, as they do in education in times of dire straits, wipe them out. . .run elections again. . .those folks can run too. . .if the public feels as though they speak for them, then they should get re-elected.   

Question: only members get to vote?

As I am not able to attend meetings all the time, there should be an opportunity for an "absentee ballot."  Fact of the matter is, I am a paid SPAR member. 

I beleive absentee was added- but not sure.

yes, only members can vote

Currently the SPAR board has 9 directors. It should have 10-15. So one will probably be appointed fairly soon. This means 0-5 positions will be open at election time. If the governance committee matches the number of "approved" candidates with the number of open positions there will not be much of an election. E.g. 4 open positions and 4 candidates. If hundred (100) members vote for a candidate, that candidate will fill the open slot. If only one (1) member votes for a candidate, that candidate will also fill the open slot.

QuoteARTICLE 8 - NOMINATION PROCESS
Section 1. BOARD ASSESSMENT. To ensure the Board has a diversity of skills and
representation, the Governance Committee is responsible for recruiting, screening and interviewing
candidates before nominating a slate of candidates at the annual membership meeting.

Prior to recommending candidates, the Governance Committee is responsible for assessing
the Corporation’s expertise and talents to determine gaps in skills and other important representation
such as gender, residency, ethnicity, etc. In addition, the Committee will review the attendance of
current Board members to consider renewing their terms once they have expired.

Based on the interview and supplemental information requested of the candidate, the
committee will decide whether the candidate will be nominated. Candidates can only be nominated at
the annual membership meeting once they have been interviewed and voted by the Governance
Committee and the Board. There will be no nominations accepted from the floor.

QuoteDepending on the number of nominees recommended, members have the right to vote for as many
nominees as there are vacancies on the Board. The person receiving the largest number of votes cast
for any individual candidate shall fill the first vacancy; the candidate receiving the second largest
number of votes shall fill the second vacancy, and so on until candidates fill the total number of vacant
Directorships.

that's why they all need to step down and go up for election

If this is a working board instead of a group of talking heads, please reconsider that larger number.

Boards that get even as much as 50% members replaced need to spend time creating a good working framework, not just by-laws. They should set their standards for discussion and conduct of meetings as well as learn to work with each other. This group in particular might need someone to guide them through this effort.  If this sounds tedious, consider how the lack of it has dragged out discussion on MJ.

Seriously? Someone thinks that SPAR actually cares about what "the people" want?  Now that is giggle out loud funny.  Elections?  Real elections?  Crack up laughing.  The only thing they really do have a knack for is running off incredibly talented people that really do make a POSITIVE difference in the neighborhood - despite SPARs efforts to keep them down. 

+1 Cindi

Not only does the board need to be changed, but so do the by laws.. The executive board also needs to be eliminated all together..

The year Johannes ran for a spot on the board, there was a controversy over the ballots.  I believe that was in 2006 or 2007.  

After this came the "election reform."  

Since then...the bylaws have been modified to tighten the election procedure even more.  When elections do occur, they are in the form of rubber stamp slate elections.  

Of course, this is all blamed on LISC.  Which is absurd. (Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.)

Technically, I believe that if an organization fails to follow the basic by-laws under which it is legally supposed to operate, then any and all business conducted by that organization is illegal.  Mr. Moulton, for instance, was never legally elected to the board at all and never legally re-appointed (the appointment came months after it should have and was by the Governance Committee, which did not have the authority to do it - all of which is documented in the official SPAR Council Board minutes.) This would mean all decisions made since October 2008, the month the organization basically scrapped it's by-laws, that Mr. Moulton had a part in are invalid and not binding.

This could be important, as if the organization were to be sued, for instance, the corporate seal could certainly be broken and the board members sued individually for their actions.  

There is no greater negligence than the ignoring of the very laws you helped to create.

Exactly, which is why the entire organization needs to step down and elections held for all positions.

Sorry to be a NellyNaySayer but - not even sure why this is being discussed.  You could have the entire population of Springfield saying that the organization needs a giant douching but as long as you have the self appointed czars of Springfield entrenched in office, not one thing will change (for the better) - they do continue to establish new "lows", so at least it appears they do still have a mission. 

True. It's just sad to watch the organization die a slow death, when it just doesn't have to be that way.

Agreed Cindi.
I think it is just in the hearts of most, we want SPAR to be the organization that speaks for us and does the right thing. 

Right now it is pretty much like that old dog that you have had since you were young - he was loyal, always there and protected you from "evil".  The poor thing is now senile and doesn't recognize you, so he often snaps at you instead of "evil", has such a hard time getting up that most of the time will just relieve himself where he happens to be and no matter how many bathes you give him you just can't get rid of that smell that comes with chronic disease - of course, his ability to smell himself has long since passed.  You know in your heart of hearts that the humane thing to do is to let him go with his remaining dignity, but you just can't - you feel guilty because you remember the times that he really could have used a long walk or a day in the park but you were just too busy with your own life and "I promise, I'll take you tomorrow" but tomorrow never came.  Your guilt is the only thing standing between him and peace.
It's time, that smell lingering over Springfield isn't the ash (of course not nearly as important as that damned car wash they had a hard on about - please note sarcastic font used here) it is the smell of old, outdated, thinking of a few self righteous, moral elitist, old dogs that, no matter how many times they are doused with fresh smelling ideas - will still stink.  The question is, who is going to take it to the vet for the "nap"?

Quote from: cindi on August 13, 2010, 02:34:32 PM
Right now it is pretty much like that old dog that you have had since you were young - he was loyal, always there and protected you from "evil".  The poor thing is now senile and doesn't recognize you, so he often snaps at you instead of "evil", has such a hard time getting up that most of the time will just relieve himself where he happens to be and no matter how many bathes you give him you just can't get rid of that smell that comes with chronic disease - of course, his ability to smell himself has long since passed.  You know in your heart of hearts that the humane thing to do is to let him go with his remaining dignity, but you just can't - you feel guilty because you remember the times that he really could have used a long walk or a day in the park but you were just too busy with your own life and "I promise, I'll take you tomorrow" but tomorrow never came.  Your guilt is the only thing standing between him and peace.
It's time, that smell lingering over Springfield isn't the ash (of course not nearly as important as that damned car wash they had a hard on about - please note sarcastic font used here) it is the smell of old, outdated, thinking of a few self righteous, moral elitist, old dogs that, no matter how many times they are doused with fresh smelling ideas - will still stink.  The question is, who is going to take it to the vet for the "nap"?

You are a clever girl, Miss Cindi.

Quote from: sheclown on August 13, 2010, 03:20:00 PM

Quote from: cindi on August 13, 2010, 02:34:32 PM
Right now it is pretty much like that old dog that you have had since you were young - he was loyal, always there and protected you from "evil".  The poor thing is now senile and doesn't recognize you, so he often snaps at you instead of "evil", has such a hard time getting up that most of the time will just relieve himself where he happens to be and no matter how many bathes you give him you just can't get rid of that smell that comes with chronic disease - of course, his ability to smell himself has long since passed.  You know in your heart of hearts that the humane thing to do is to let him go with his remaining dignity, but you just can't - you feel guilty because you remember the times that he really could have used a long walk or a day in the park but you were just too busy with your own life and "I promise, I'll take you tomorrow" but tomorrow never came.  Your guilt is the only thing standing between him and peace.
It's time, that smell lingering over Springfield isn't the ash (of course not nearly as important as that damned car wash they had a hard on about - please note sarcastic font used here) it is the smell of old, outdated, thinking of a few self righteous, moral elitist, old dogs that, no matter how many times they are doused with fresh smelling ideas - will still stink.  The question is, who is going to take it to the vet for the "nap"?

You are a clever girl, Miss Cindi.

Not really, I just recognize a poor old animal that continues to suffer needlessly.

cindi +1

Oh Cindi, I love it.  ::)

Quote from: sheclown on August 13, 2010, 07:42:27 AM
The year Johannes ran for a spot on the board, there was a controversy over the ballots.  I believe that was in 2006 or 2007.  

After this came the "election reform."  

The "controversy" was that the names on the ballots were not in alphabetical order. I, and one other (can't remember who), were in charge of the ballots.

The election reform (and all the other changes) were a separate issue and were implemented when LISC was assisting the org to "change." At the time I thought a lot of the ideas were good and would make the org run more like a "professional" non-profit (like the ones you find creating change world-wide).

I don't really know how to describe my...what...disappointment? I left shortly afterwards and have thought about it for awhile. Don't know if it is a combination of personalities, not enough communication within the Board, or what.

My biggest complaint the 3-years I served was that we were not actively going after every single resident in SPR for membership.

Phil

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 13, 2010, 04:13:55 PM

Quote from: sheclown on August 13, 2010, 07:42:27 AM
The year Johannes ran for a spot on the board, there was a controversy over the ballots.  I believe that was in 2006 or 2007. 

After this came the "election reform." 

The "controversy" was that the names on the ballots were not in alphabetical order. I, and one other (can't remember who), were in charge of the ballots.

The election reform (and all the other changes) were a separate issue and were implemented when LISC was assisting the org to "change." At the time I thought a lot of the ideas were good and would make the org run more like a "professional" non-profit (like the ones you find creating change world-wide).

I don't really know how to describe my...what...disappointment? I left shortly afterwards and have thought about it for awhile. Don't know if it is a combination of personalities, not enough communication within the Board, or what.

My biggest complaint the 3-years I served was that we were not actively going after every single resident in SPR for membership.

Phil

Phil,
There have been sooooo many wonderful, strong, fresh, professional and downright brilliant people that have been officers - and have been run off almost as soon as they got there.  the ones that are deeply entrenched DON'T WONT CHANGE, they don't want anyone to ask questions, and they sure as heck don't care about what's best for "the neighborhood", for the most part, it appears they have their own personal agenda and consequences be damned. 
Having every single resident of springfield as a member would only mean more people to be ignored.  At this point, frankly, SPAR does NOT represent any sort of neighborhood leadership (except perhaps in their own minds) and frankly I think the saying is - the only reason anyone would follow them would be out of idle curiosity.
Face it, Springfield continues to have wonderful thing happening (SOS - one of best and most recent) despite SPARs best efforts to drive neighbor against neighbor.
Back to the dying dog reference.  Everyone feels sorry for the dog that is so incapcitated that it simply lays in its own mess, and they begrudedly clean up after it day after day but eventually even sympathy will lose out and someone will man up (or woman up) and the nap will come.

Cindi:   ;D

Power to the people.

Quote from: cindi on August 13, 2010, 04:58:05 PM
Phil,
There have been sooooo many wonderful, strong, fresh, professional and downright brilliant people that have been officers - and have been run off almost as soon as they got there.  the ones that are deeply entrenched DON'T WONT CHANGE, they don't want anyone to ask questions, and they sure as heck don't care about what's best for "the neighborhood", for the most part, it appears they have their own personal agenda and consequences be damned. 
Having every single resident of springfield as a member would only mean more people to be ignored.  At this point, frankly, SPAR does NOT represent any sort of neighborhood leadership (except perhaps in their own minds) and frankly I think the saying is - the only reason anyone would follow them would be out of idle curiosity.
Face it, Springfield continues to have wonderful thing happening (SOS - one of best and most recent) despite SPARs best efforts to drive neighbor against neighbor.

I think that a lot of orgs/entities (including many forms of government) don't work mainly because of the people who have too strong a desire to "rule." I think the best leaders come from people who don't really want to do it, but perform the task because it's the right thing to do.

My former philosophy professor had a sign on the door of his office: 'Know Your Purpose.' Meaning...look inside yourself and ask, why are you there? Selfless or selfish reasons?

Phil, I could not agree with you more!

The poll really was meant to be informational, and so far I think it is (hope more people give their opinion). I think so far the trend is showing the unhappiness with the current board. I think the five people who voted "Whats SPAR" also speaks to the fact SPAR is not doing all it should. I bet if you asked "Whats RAP" you woud see a different response. 

uptowngirl.........I agree with your line of thought! SPAR Council (thats for you strider!) is just like City Hall, in thats it is disconnected from the people they are supposed to represent! The executive board just goes on and on with their agenda and does not think one iota about the "People and Homes" they are mandated to represent! Looking at the survey numbers tells the tale!

Why are there only 37 votes? I know there are more than 37 people living in Springfield.

Voting shenanigans to ensure the continuation of their regime! SPAR Council is as blind as the current City Hall is!

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 15, 2010, 07:22:23 AM
Why are there only 37 votes? I know there are more than 37 people living in Springfield.

^As of right now, only two people short from SPAR's last general election:

QuoteElected.  Although, there were 5 open positions, and only 5 candidates.  So, I guess the only way they would not have been elected would be if over half the room rejected the slate. I suppose of the 39 votes, if 20 or more voted no, that would not have been a majority in favor.  Interesting question, but it didn't happen, so I don't know what would have happened if it had.

Also, we were told when we signed in that it was a slate ballot, however, if we wished to vote no on some of the candidates to write that at the bottom instead of voting yes or no on the entire slate.  So, we did have an option to say no to individuals.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,7335.0.html

If someone puts together a plan to put the website link for this SPR thread (and the MJ main page) on a 3x5 card, I will help by making sure every house on Laura between 1st and 12th gets one in their mailbox.

Phil

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 15, 2010, 08:39:25 AM
If someone puts together a plan to put the website link for this SPR thread (and the MJ main page) on a 3x5 card, I will help by making sure every house on Laura between 1st and 12th gets one in their mailbox.

Phil

Looks like you already put together a plan.  

I think you need to add an additional option for voting.  There are folks who don't think SPAR adequately represents their interests  but who also don't think the entire board (or the appointed board or the executive committee) need to (or would) step down. Proper nomination (including a nominating committee that includes members who are NOT current board members) and election procedures should be followed for all open spots on the board.

Miss Fixit, you have a point.  However, the practical side of that is "but who also don't think the entire board (or the appointed board or the executive committee) need to (or would) step down."  The "Or Would" ... it has been stated by former board members that no matter what they (the board) wanted to happen, certain executive board members simply did what they wanted. Elsewhere on this forum, proof that that is still happening is in black and white. How do you stop that?  Other than doing a forced house cleaning? If they are not following the by-laws now, they are not going to start following them because a few new people get elected properly to the board. The corruption of this organization started years ago and continues today. Cutting the cancer or the corruption out may be the only way to save the organization.

I agree Miss Fixit, but it is one vote per IP or sign in (not sure how that works)So people who have already voted woud not be able to again :-(

PLUS, a lot of people in the neighborhood are not on any of these forum boards. I assumed we would get a sampling to give a general pulse. ( it appear, believe it or not, that there is even more support for SPAR on this poll than the informal poll on MySpringfield.

Perhaps I did this backwards too- I had planned on also doing a poll on what the biggest concerns SPAR shoud be addressing are. Perhaps the concerns first, then how the board is addressing it.

EDIT: As stated previousy, I bet this same poll in Riverside/Avondale section for RAP would be very different.

What are the results, so far, on your Myspringfield poll?

Quote from: Miss Fixit on August 15, 2010, 08:52:54 AM
I think you need to add an additional option for voting.  There are folks who don't think SPAR adequately represents their interests  but who also don't think the entire board (or the appointed board or the executive committee) need to (or would) step down. Proper nomination (including a nominating committee that includes members who are NOT current board members) and election procedures should be followed for all open spots on the board.

How could this be accomplished?

Uptown girl, would you post the results of the poll?  I haven't voted because I don't completely agree with any of the choices.

SPAR has been heavily promoting the fact that elections will be held soon in their weekly emails.  There is a SPAR general meeting on Thursday which will provide an opportunity to ask some very specific questions about how the upcoming elections will be handled.   And members of SPAR could ask to be placed on the nominating committee....

So, let's compile a list of question on the upcoming election, along with the concerns, email it to Brenda and see if it could be addressed at the general meeting.  We have several days to do this. 

Hold up.  I'll start a new thread.

Quote from: Miss Fixit on August 15, 2010, 09:21:17 AM
Uptown girl, would you post the results of the poll?  I haven't voted because I don't completely agree with any of the choices.

SPAR has been heavily promoting the fact that elections will be held soon in their weekly emails.  There is a SPAR general meeting on Thursday which will provide an opportunity to ask some very specific questions about how the upcoming elections will be handled.   And members of SPAR could ask to be placed on the nominating committee....

You can "ask" as many questions as you like, however, in the past when actual board members would ask questions of the "executive" side they were ignored, given the run around or just plain told to either quit asking or quit.
IMHO the ones that are creating the issues will never step down and have created a system for themselves that ensure they wont have to.  In the past, when they were called to task on their own bylaws they would just change them to suit their needs. 

Ms. Fixit- I did not display the results until after you vote because I do not want the numbers to sway anyone. My question is this: If you truly believe the changes you have posted need to be made, and a very vocal group of residents have been asking for the same over the past five years, and it has actually gotten worse than better, then I would think you have some good options to choose from. If you feel the current board can, and will support the changes you have requested, then you have a choice also. I will add an additional choice :Need change but not sure how the heck that will/should happen, but I am not sure that is really a viable option.

I can't imagine that the entire board is going to step down. Nor should they - there are some good board members and continuity is necessary.

The current bylaws are flawed but SPAR members are stuck with them for now. 

The best any SPAR member can realistically hope for is that the board will adhere to the bylaws and create a nominating committee that includes non-board members to put together a list of candidates to fill the open slots on the board. 

The board elects the executive committee annually, according to the bylaws.  I heard a rumor that one of the executive committee resigned last week.  Louise Despain is gone.  Sounds like there is actually a real opportunity for change through the election process.

By and by, the by-laws say that the duly elected board then elects the executive committee from it own ranks.  A common practice and one that has not been followed for a couple of years now by SPAR Council, who has preferred to just somehow appoint them illegally.

There are still several board members there that were there during the entire or at least the majority of the "reign" of Louise.  Her leaving opened up possibilities but did not solve the entire problem. Two of the major players are on the board illegally (per the by-laws) and so I would think that at the very least, if the other board members wished to do the right thing for it's members, they would oust those two and then hold the proper elections. Anything less is still doing a disservice to the members if not the entire Springfield community.

Quote from: Miss Fixit on August 15, 2010, 11:40:07 AM
I can't imagine that the entire board is going to step down. Nor should they - there are some good board members and continuity is necessary.

The current bylaws are flawed but SPAR members are stuck with them for now. 

The best any SPAR member can realistically hope for is that the board will adhere to the bylaws and create a nominating committee that includes non-board members to put together a list of candidates to fill the open slots on the board. 

The board elects the executive committee annually, according to the bylaws.  I heard a rumor that one of the executive committee resigned last week.  Louise Despain is gone.  Sounds like there is actually a real opportunity for change through the election process.

I am not disagreeing with you, I am just saying if you have faith in the current board then you are happy with SPAR. So far even the "good" members have not been able to effect the change needed.

Quote from: Miss FixitI can't imagine that the entire board is going to step down. Nor should they - there are some good board members and continuity is necessary.

The current bylaws are flawed but SPAR members are stuck with them for now.  

The best any SPAR member can realistically hope for is that the board will adhere to the bylaws and create a nominating committee that includes non-board members to put together a list of candidates to fill the open slots on the board.  

The board elects the executive committee annually, according to the bylaws.  I heard a rumor that one of the executive committee resigned last week.  Louise Despain is gone.  Sounds like there is actually a real opportunity for change through the election process.

You're right, it's highly unlikely that the entire board will step down....why, they don't want to lose the 'power' they have. You're also right that there's some good board members...this may be true, but at this point, when all faith in spar has dissipated...just who's opinion should suffice in determining who is good and who needs to step down?

As far as I'm concerned, I find it difficult to trust anyone or anything coming from spar. The current board members all served under the former ED, and I'm sorry, but there's no way that they didn't see or didn't know of what was taking place. They've heard others talk about ongoing issues with spar, they've read the forums and talked with neighbors, so just whom should we really trust that has been there and has not stepped up to the plate and demand changes?

I also appreciate the need for consistency, which makes having all newly elected board members and ED tricky, but there's a real issue of no trust. I also know that only members can vote, so why would anyone rejoin or join so they could vote, if all board positions are not made available? We can end up paying our membership and still ending up with the same as now.


edited: typo corrected

If the great US of A can handle a change in leadership every couple of years, so can Springfield.  I think we can handle a new organization without risking National Security.

SPAR (the board and executive committee,) must first admit that there is a problem(s).
Then the first of many steps can be taken.

Quote from: iloveionia on August 15, 2010, 01:51:47 PM
SPAR (the board and executive committee,) must first admit that there is a problem(s).
Then the first of many steps can be taken.

1.) Admit the organization is powerless and has become unmanageable.
2.) Came to believe that a power greater the executive board could restore it to sanity.
3.) Made a decision to turn the neighborhood over to a power greater than the board.
4.) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of the organization
5.) Admitted to God, to themselves, and to the neighborhood, the exact nature of their wrongs
6.) Became entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character
7.) Humbly asked him to remove their shortcomings.
8.) Made a list of all people they have harmed and became ready to make amends to them all.
9.) Made direct amends to such people whenever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.
10.)Continued to take personal (and group) inventory and when wrong, promptly admit it
11.)Sought through prayer and meditation to improve their conscious contact with the God and the neighborhood and when they are wrong, promptly admit it
12.)Having had a spiritual experience as a result of these steps, try to practice these principles in all of the organizations affairs.

(personally, I'm waiting on 8 & 9)

A habitat on the moon would occur first I think! imho of course! LOL!

Quote from: sheclown on August 15, 2010, 08:48:37 AM

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 15, 2010, 08:39:25 AM
If someone puts together a plan to put the website link for this SPR thread (and the MJ main page) on a 3x5 card, I will help by making sure every house on Laura between 1st and 12th gets one in their mailbox.

Phil

Looks like you already put together a plan. 

Well someone needs to design it and print it up... Anyone?
I will put $50 toward the cost.
Phil

Phil, if you start designing it, the rest will happen.  These things work out that way.

Tell you what. I will design something and get a quote for printing up...how many? (anyone?) and put it out there and you all can help pay for it.

...and we could see how much it would be to do it on plain paper, self-printing, at Kinkos.  What do they charge?  What is it 5 cents a page?  If we printed 2000 copies, that would be like $100.00?  Keep it simple, front of one page, and that is very doable. 

Alex has always been very interested in something like this.

Cool. Let me put something together:

- design and printing cost
- printing

what I will need are boots on the ground. People who will take sections of SPR for distribution.

Anyone know how many houses/apartments/businesses there are currently in SPR?

I've heard from 1800 to 2400.

I would also only do the head of the household, one page per house.

I'm still working on my photo survey (with the help of some people -- thanks!).  Point is, there is no deadline here.  Just chip away with helping boots.

Count me in sheclown! I can come up with a handfull of change at the very least!

You are the greatest CS!

Phil - I can be boots on ground for the toxic waste dump (sw quad) I will start doing a "head count" tomorrow.

Phil, I was thinking, if some of the neighborhood groups (Sustainable Springfield, SACARC, SOS, Mommies Group, Springfield Garden Club, Women's Club...whatever...if any of these groups wanted to get the word out about upcoming event, they could make a flyer and piggyback off of the census if they either agreed to pony up some bucks or boots.  It could be in a package format to hand to the people and leave with them.

What do you think about that idea?

How wonderful it would be to let people in the neighborhood know about the clubs and invite them to join in some of the activities.

email any links or org names, including graphics, you want included and i will put it on the back.

i created the front and it includes the MJ and My Springfield link. I've sent it to my marketing director for tweaking (She Who Cleans Better Than Me).

it's going to be an 8.5 x 11 flyer folded.

philip "dot" s "dot" collins "at" navy.mil (work address).

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 15, 2010, 07:05:29 PM
email any links or org names, including graphics, you want included and i will put it on the back.

i created the front and it includes the MJ and My Springfield link. I've sent it to my marketing director for tweaking (She Who Cleans Better Than Me).

it's going to be an 8.5 x 11 flyer folded.

philip "dot" s "dot" collins "at" navy.mil (work address).

How about each org doing their own printing and having it handed out during the census?  That's sort of what I was thinking of.  I know that SOS has a lot of info that could be shared and I'm sure the other clubs do as well.  I also think having something you could leave with the resident for future reference would be helpful.

Thoughts on this, Phil?

I will pony up the cost of printing, and hit the pavement- because this is genius, thanks FINN!

Let me know and I'll help deliver as well....and I agree....great idea

Sounds good. Let me get a finished design and I will let you all know when we can schedule a mass printing.

Can someone provide an overlay of the neighborhood showing the grid of streets?...so that we can assign sections and make sure every person get the info pack.

check with Springfield chicken on this.  I think she knows of a map with that.

I'm loving this!!

The map is here

http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/engtubos7fefqazueahk77ytxj7kkpt7ft4zn53aodhifp5ts2jrww66vpm3fhdxiu4sul3mh4pg5vzhbugexyntxxf/springfield_district_map.pdf

Phil, I have a copy of the one used for block captains


Edit: I just emailed it to you

Finnegan, I have access to a New Neighbor Packet. It is several pages but there might be info in there that is useful for this project. You know where to find me.

Is the idea here to inform all Springfield residents (one 3x5" card per address) about neighborhood resources like MJ and myspringfield forum ? Those with a computer then get further updates electronically through those forums.
Or is the idea here to advertise SPAR and the upcoming elections to more residents ?

41.  nuff said.

Quote from: AlexS on August 16, 2010, 03:18:39 PM
Is the idea here to inform all Springfield residents (one 3x5" card per address) about neighborhood resources like MJ and myspringfield forum ? Those with a computer then get further updates electronically through those forums.
Or is the idea here to advertise SPAR and the upcoming elections to more residents ?

The original idea was just a 3x5 card. But those tend to get thrown out. So I created an 8.5x11 flyer with the MJ and MySpringfield weblinks plus brief info and a screen shot of MJ (the one detailing the Miss Maggie project).

If there are orgs that want to piggy back on this that's fine. But at some point we are going to have to put all this stuff in Publix shopping bags and hang it from door knobs.

Personally I'd rather just do the 8.5x11 flyer with a list of the websites of other orgs on the back. Simple.

The main point is to get the word out about these two websites, without any baggage attached to it. People can link in and read and come to their own conclusions. This is not an endorsement of any org, it's an endorsement of staying informed.

If SPAR wants to get more info out there, well I guess they need to pony up some peeps on the street.

Phil

FinnegansWake........sounds like something that is reasonable to me! Let SPAR Council shoot themselves in the foot, be informative but don't push the issue! A lot of people may not have computers or even have access! So plan for an alternative method........flyer may be the cheapest! Thanks Johnny for cutting the hours............did you notice that the majority of them are north and west......right in your world!

Finn, let me know when you are ready to get started, I will drop off the cost of flyers, or take them down and get them printed (I am off this week so have time WHOO HOOO).

Jack Meeks has left the board?

Quote from: sheclown on August 18, 2010, 08:00:29 PM
Jack Meeks has left the board?

Jack resigned from the board and as treasurer. At the last board meeting his resignation was accepted. No reason was given. Kharis was appointed as the new chair of the governance committee.

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 17, 2010, 10:25:39 AM

Quote from: AlexS on August 16, 2010, 03:18:39 PM
Is the idea here to inform all Springfield residents (one 3x5" card per address) about neighborhood resources like MJ and myspringfield forum ? Those with a computer then get further updates electronically through those forums.
Or is the idea here to advertise SPAR and the upcoming elections to more residents ?

The original idea was just a 3x5 card. But those tend to get thrown out. So I created an 8.5x11 flyer with the MJ and MySpringfield weblinks plus brief info and a screen shot of MJ (the one detailing the Miss Maggie project).

If there are orgs that want to piggy back on this that's fine. But at some point we are going to have to put all this stuff in Publix shopping bags and hang it from door knobs.

Personally I'd rather just do the 8.5x11 flyer with a list of the websites of other orgs on the back. Simple.

The main point is to get the word out about these two websites, without any baggage attached to it. People can link in and read and come to their own conclusions. This is not an endorsement of any org, it's an endorsement of staying informed.

If SPAR wants to get more info out there, well I guess they need to pony up some peeps on the street.

Phil

Sir Speedy: 8.5 x 11 flyer, full color front, b/w back, folded, 2500 copies....$522.92
If someone wants I can email the design to you. Maybe you have a better idea(?).
I've got $50 go to towards this. And the effort to get a flyer in every mailbox on Laura St up to 12th.

Phil

Quote from: FinnegansWake on August 30, 2010, 11:21:26 AM
Sir Speedy: 8.5 x 11 flyer, full color front, b/w back, folded, 2500 copies....$522.92
If someone wants I can email the design to you. Maybe you have a better idea(?).
I've got $50 go to towards this. And the effort to get a flyer in every mailbox on Laura St up to 12th.

Looks like someone picked up your idea. I got a flyer in the mail from Watson Realty which under the title "How well do you know Springfield ?" lists the URL's of several Springfield web sites. I am not sure who all got this flyer. Perhaps it was sent to the whole neighborhood.

I got one too!

When I run into sheclown again..........I will make a small donation towards the cost's on this kids!

I owe Finnegan some dollars!

Whose flier is it?  I wouldn't know who to give the money to, CS!

Quote from: sheclown on September 17, 2010, 08:43:08 PM
Whose flier is it?  I wouldn't know who to give the money to, CS!

The flyer is from Watson Realty. It provides info about SPR web sites, introduces the Watson Realty Springfield Team and lists some houses for sale.

oh...okay!  That's pretty cool telling about the forums and houses at the same time.

Maybe Crissie Cudd?  If I think of it, I'll ask her tomorrow. We're on the crew painting another of the Springfield entrance signs.

I've not seen it

Quote from: uptowngirl on September 17, 2010, 08:38:16 PM
I owe Finnegan some dollars!

sorry...been off the forum for awhile...
the flyers are not mine.
i hope it went to every single house/apartment/business in SPR.
a good start to get the word out anyway...

maybe some got one, but I still have not seen the first one

The came from Watson Realty, Crissie was on them :-)

I missed this thread earlier.  Yes, it came from us at my Watson office.  One of the things I've discovered is that a huge number of folks have no idea of what is available about Springfield on line.  So in addition to being informative on real estate in Springfield I thought we should take the opportunity to let a broader section of folks know about all these sites.  Hope it was helpful.
Since we are mailing to property owners, this will also hit folks who own, but don't live in the neighborhood.  So we'll continue to put in things that we want the word to get out on.  We have received calls from owners who have some of the abandoned homes and we are trying to educate them about some of the choices they have (demolition NOT being one of them).
Feel free to give me feedback and any suggestions for topics we should touch on.

Thank you for doing this!!

Springfieldchicken I LOVED it! As you well know, the houses here (new and old) are fantastic, but the neighborhood is FABULOUS and is sometimes missed by people cruising through to look at the houses. Springfield has so much to offer, great houses, great people, great resources, and a spirit I am not sure you can find anywhere else in the city!