Turning MetroJax into an Organization

[dougskiles]

Great idea folks.  I am going out of town tomorrow so won't be able to attend the meeting.  I am anxious to hear about it and will be glad to help out in whatever way I can.

One idea that you may want to kick around is a having an 'umbrella' organization that sponsors specific efforts.  I can see that it would be very easy to get caught in the trap of doing too many different things and then losing the ability to focus specifically on any of them.  Once a measure of success is achieved, the organization gains more credibility and can begin to tackle more issues.

It would be a great thing to have a group that can counter some of the craziness that comes from the "Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County" and "First Coast Tea Party" groups.  But - I wouldn't want to be a part of it if the group becomes affiliated with any of the political parties.

[Yossarianlives]

I have been reading this site for a few years and just registered to say that this is a great idea and I think that this has a lot of potential.  Unfortunately I am out of town and will not be able to attend said meeting, however I hope that someone who does attend might take some time to inform those of us who could not with a post or email of some sort.  As I come up to my 10 year anniversary of moving to Jax I would like to contribute in some way to the expansion of the arts, culture and business in this oft underappreciated city.  Best

[Ocklawaha]

It's a great idea to organize for a common good, outlining maybe 5 things the group should launch on. I think the meeting is WAY PAST DUE, but that this really can't be THAT meeting. Several times lately we've seen the Hogans Creek cleanup done with a weeks notice, and many that would come can't...  If we're serious and take a business like approach, that won't do, we need a plan to set a date at least 30-60 days in advance. Meanwhile we could do a poll of all of the issues we could tackle, then vote on the top 5. Why not take suggestions on items and perhaps methods you'd like to see in that poll until we can have a more mass general meeting?

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

SHALL WE MUSTER THE TROOPS?

OCKLAWAHA

[PeeJayEss]

But - I wouldn't want to be a part of it if the group becomes affiliated with any of the political parties.

I'd second this. I think we can safely say no one wants to be affiliated with any of the parties (except for the parties that we're going to throw!  ). I'd also hope that we refrained from even endorsing single candidates, even if they supported everything we did (probably impossible) or came straight from our ranks. I don't believe politics in any way is a powerful agent of change. Powerful agent of corruption, maybe.

I'll be there tonight. I imagine something fairly informal and not incredibly lengthy. We can get the ball rolling on organizing purpose and methods as well as the type of plan that Ock mentioned.

[Captain Zissou]

A few of us met last night and touched on a number of things that we need to do in the near future.  There are a few different ideas that can be implemented that will all benefit the website, the organization and the city.  Some ideas are more near term, while others will take quite a bit of work, planning and financing.  In the next month or so we should have a large meeting to discuss everything and lay out everyone's involvement. 

Sorry for being vague, but there are a few people I'd like to talk to before I put anything definite on the forum.  Thanks to all those that were there last night.

[wsansewjs]

I have expressed an interest in supporting this effort, but this meeting occurred without me knowing there was one.

Basically there has been a failure in putting an awareness out there about this meeting and perhaps any future meetings. I am willing to volunteer to design a logo, a website, and connect the social networks / functions to the original source, so everyone can be on the same page.

-Josh

[Ocklawaha]

I have expressed an interest in supporting this effort, but this meeting occurred without me knowing there was one.

Basically there has been a failure in putting an awareness out there about this meeting and perhaps any future meetings. I am willing to volunteer to design a logo, a website, and connect the social networks / functions to the original source, so everyone can be on the same page.

-Josh

Sounds good to me Josh. 

I hope we hear from Doug as well, I think he has some good ideas.

My top 5 items - all attainable

STREETCAR - But I'd label it as fixed route transit, that way the group can get behind ANY efforts JTA comes up with, and if they don't... STREETCAR.

PIER - Already promised, just like the dock at the Fuller Warren, the preservation of the old Acosta center span in a local park...etc.  The Navy and Nautical Museum groups should be behind this and guess what? YEAH, THE SEABEE'S have a base at NAS JAX. (Navy's construction and engineer division)

JACKSONVILLE STARS - A post years ago started this idea... life size bronze sculptures of famous and infamous locals... don't have to be born in Jax. but called Jax home at some point, or were local characters.

NEGRO LEAGUE MUSEUM - We actually already have this, it's locked up, under the stands at the ball park in Durkeeville. While this IS the historic park, if we did a large scale museum at the baseball grounds it might be a game changer. BTW The Negro leagues started in JACKSONVILLE.

SOUTHERN ROCK AND BLUES HALL OF FAME - 0n a rainy night in Georgia this would be Jim Dandy diversion! People in Florida just can't be still when Lynyrd Skynyrd's pickin' down in Jacksonville. This is an entire music genre that rightly belongs to us.

OCKLAWAHA

[Yossarianlives]

Thanks for the update.  I know that there are probably a lot of people who want to get involved and I think you guys are on the right track about getting a more solid foundation before posting on the forum.  On a side note, I love the focus on celebrating Jacksonville "Stars" as you put it.  Something this city should really embrace.  Best

[FayeforCure]

I have expressed an interest in supporting this effort, but this meeting occurred without me knowing there was one.

Basically there has been a failure in putting an awareness out there about this meeting and perhaps any future meetings. I am willing to volunteer to design a logo, a website, and connect the social networks / functions to the original source, so everyone can be on the same page.

-Josh

Sounds good to me Josh.  

I hope we hear from Doug as well, I think he has some good ideas.

My top 5 items - all attainable

STREETCAR - But I'd label it as fixed route transit, that way the group can get behind ANY efforts JTA comes up with, and if they don't... STREETCAR.

PIER - Already promised, just like the dock at the Fuller Warren, the preservation of the old Acosta center span in a local park...etc.  The Navy and Nautical Museum groups should be behind this and guess what? YEAH, THE SEABEE'S have a base at NAS JAX. (Navy's construction and engineer division)

JACKSONVILLE STARS - A post years ago started this idea... life size bronze sculptures of famous and infamous locals... don't have to be born in Jax. but called Jax home at some point, or were local characters.

NEGRO LEAGUE MUSEUM - We actually already have this, it's locked up, under the stands at the ball park in Durkeeville. While this IS the historic park, if we did a large scale museum at the baseball grounds it might be a game changer. BTW The Negro leagues started in JACKSONVILLE.

SOUTHERN ROCK AND BLUES HALL OF FAME - 0n a rainy night in Georgia this would be Jim Dandy diversion! People in Florida just can't be still when Lynyrd Skynyrd's pickin' down in Jacksonville. This is an entire music genre that rightly belongs to us.

OCKLAWAHA

Thanks Ock. Those Dutch immigrants made contributions even in Jacksonville  

The first Dutch settlers arrived in 1613 and founded a number of villages and a town called New Amsterdam on the East Coast, which would become the future world metropolis of New York. According to the 2006 United States Census, more than 5 million Americans claim total or partial Dutch heritage. Today the majority of the Dutch Americans live in California, New York, Michigan, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania

This is a list of notable Dutch-Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants:



Donnie Van Zant (1952 - ) founder and singer of .38 Special
Johnny Van Zant (1959 - ) lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987
Ronnie Van Zant (1948â€"1977) lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1970â€"1977

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dutch_Americans

And here are a few other Dutch-Americans you may not know about either:

Van Halen - Wikipedia, Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Eddie Van Halen and Alex Van Halen, are the sons of Jan Van Halen, who arranged for them to have music lessons. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen

[Ocklawaha]

Did I get ya Faye? 

There's one more artist and one famous band hidden in that sentence, which BTW, you might have been the only one to catch!

Congrats!

OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

I know all of them .  I wasn't born yesterday , you know

[tufsu1]

I know that there are probably a lot of people who want to get involved and I think you guys are on the right track about getting a more solid foundation before posting on the forum.

Exactly...which is why everyone needs to be patient....some really good things are in the works

[Captain Zissou]

A few things are in the works out side of Transform Jax that will help to grow Metrojacksonville's influence in the community and help to involve more members of the forum.  I'm really excited.