Preservation SOS: The Facts

[iloveionia]

In an effort to quell rumors and make for better relationships in the community, I would like to share briefly some facts about Preservation SOS.

FACTS:
1. We are an open group of action that began just over one year ago after a summer (July 2010) community meeting. We currently operate under the umbrella of our friends at Sustainable Springfield. Information about our bylaws, membership, elections, ect. can be found on our website (noted below.)

2. Our primary mission revolves solely around "saving the houses."

3. We have 3 committees in SOS 1) Make it Happen 2) Beautification 3) Policy/Preservation

4. We have our own forum board website that is LOADED with information about our houses and items geared towards our mission. http://forum.preservationsos.org The site is about 1 year old.

5. Make it Happen past events: Miss Maggie's, Kenneths', Oscar's, Caribbean Stone

6. Beautification Events: 8th Street Market, Shell Station, Old Gas Station across from the BP on 8th, Historic Signs, mowing of vacant lots and CROWS just to name a few.

7. Policy/Preservation: Neighbor to Neighbor and Helping Hands projects (Ron/Caroline on E. 5th Street, Ray on 6th/Boulevard, Walnut Court house) Ionia house boarding, Market Street house Boarding, Mothballing legislation to name a few.

8. We are responsible for igniting mothball legislation and supporting its journey to City Council for its' recent passage. Need mothballing information? Contact us. We will continue to work with the experts in HPC who will faciliate the mothballing program in cooperation with MCCD.

9. We are represented on the CPAC for SOS. We attend HPC meetings. We attend meetings having to do with condemned structures and the recent mothball legislation.

10. We were on First Coast News for Miss Maggie's Make it Happen preservation project. We recived an HPC Preservation Award in May 2011 for the Make it Happen project. We were named in Folio Magazine for "saving the houses" with pending mothball legislation. We were on the First Coast News for Oscar's Make it Happen. We were on the front page of the Times Union last week for mothballing legislation.

RUMOR CONTROL
1. We are not planning, nor have ever planned, any "take-over" of SPAR.

2. We did not join together to make any the old homes into rooming or sober living houses. Not then, not now, not ever.

FINALLY
It is time to move forward, accept differences, stop lying, and end the civil war between groups and individuals. I am soooooooooo over it. All I ever wanted to do was save the houses, and with the folks at SOS and other community supporters and advocates I will do that. Save the houses.

[sheclown]

Save the houses.

[DuvalHusky]

Please accept this statement for what it is: A legitimate question from the ignorant who does not know. At what point does having multiple organizations working in the same area become counterproductive? Since I have moved here, it seems there are a million and one organizations working in Springfield. Wouldn't everyone be better served through one organization that becomes reflective of the majority of opinions? Again, not trying to "poke the bear".

[Springfielder]

Please accept this statement for what it is: A legitimate question from the ignorant who does not know. At what point does having multiple organizations working in the same area become counterproductive? Since I have moved here, it seems there are a million and one organizations working in Springfield. Wouldn't everyone be better served through one organization that becomes reflective of the majority of opinions? Again, not trying to "poke the bear".

There are many organizations, but the majority are not doing the same things, as you seem to think. Not exactly sure what groups you're referring to...however,

Preservation SOS's main focus is saving the historic district, aka: houses. They also work on beautification of the blighted areas, not only to make those vacant homes more presentable to potential buyers, but to keep code enforcement from their bulldozers. SPAR, well in all honesty, I'm not certain just what their main goal is these days. SAMBA is focused on the business aspect, helping current businesses and working to entice new.  SACARC is strictly animal (dogs, cats) related and aren't involved in anything else. Mommies Group, is that...family oriented. To mention a few...

[ChriswUfGator]

Please accept this statement for what it is: A legitimate question from the ignorant who does not know. At what point does having multiple organizations working in the same area become counterproductive? Since I have moved here, it seems there are a million and one organizations working in Springfield. Wouldn't everyone be better served through one organization that becomes reflective of the majority of opinions? Again, not trying to "poke the bear".

Good point. Seems like it would make sense to get rid of the one that causes all the trouble (SPAR) and let the good-natured group that is actually effective at its mission continue to do what it does best. Save houses.

iluvionia; good god, someone was cold-hearted enough to start a rumor that this was all a front to open boardinghouses?

I guess you can shave the spots off a leopard but you'll never change the feeding habits...

[sheclown]

Please accept this statement for what it is: A legitimate question from the ignorant who does not know. At what point does having multiple organizations working in the same area become counterproductive? Since I have moved here, it seems there are a million and one organizations working in Springfield. Wouldn't everyone be better served through one organization that becomes reflective of the majority of opinions? Again, not trying to "poke the bear".

Good Question.

Point is this.  Each group has a specialty and was formed because there was a vacuum.  Once upon a time there were herds of abandoned and wild dogs wandering the streets and alleyways.  Not so anymore.  A group was formed whose sole function is to care for these animals.  And they have been extremely successful.  Should this group need permission or approval from an umbrella organization to function?  Should they need to have their agenda voted on by a distant board before going to their councilman with their needs?

Especially considering this is a group of folks who have demanding full time jobs and families.

Same is true of Preservation SOS.  Houses are being demolished at an alarming rate.  If the umbrella group was going to do something about this problem, it would have been done long before.  There was a vacuum.  And that vacuum has been well filled. 

This goes for SAMBA, for Sustainable Springfield.

Right now, the lead organization hasn't shown the ability to lead itself, much less anyone else.

And, furthermore, the reinvented group will have to go to the neighborhood groups and let them know what SPAR can do to help THEM. 

SPAR needs these groups.  These groups don't need SPAR.

[hooplady]

  Once upon a time there were herds of abandoned and wild dogs wandering the streets and alleyways.  Not so anymore.  A group was formed whose sole function is to care for these animals.

If I can just take this idea one step further using SACARC as the example - we ourselves don't care for the all the animals, we couldn't possibly.  Of course as individuals we do a lot, but more importantly we maintain the framework and tools to enable the community to care for them.  All of the successful groups have that in common.  You can't possibly do all the work with just the small number of volunteers in each group; you must, absolutely must, be doing something that the community wants and just needs guidance in carrying out.  Any organization that walls itself off from the neighborhood or attempts to act as the governing force of the community will not be successful, and the board members will just be torturing themselves wondering "why are they all against us?"

I remember the last SPAR meeting I attended about two years ago.  I was trying to decide whether or not to renew my membership and I wanted to keep an open mind.  They were discussing outreach and talking to new neighbors about what SPAR does.  So I asked, OK, give me the "elevator speech" - in 30 seconds or less, what do I tell a new neighbor about SPAR's function?  One of the board members quickly responded "We are the cops!".  I saw several of the other members cringe at that response and they tried to describe all the other things that SPAR does.  But clearly that particular board member felt very strongly about SPAR keeping the role of regulator, and that was exactly what I don't want from them.  I just hope, hope, hope they can see that the greater community does not feel this function is needed.  I look forward to their new role, whatever that is.

[iloveionia]

  Once upon a time there were herds of abandoned and wild dogs wandering the streets and alleyways.  Not so anymore.  A group was formed whose sole function is to care for these animals.

All of the successful groups have that in common.  You can't possibly do all the work with just the small number of volunteers in each group; you must, absolutely must, be doing something that the community wants and just needs guidance in carrying out.  Any organization that walls itself off from the neighborhood or attempts to act as the governing force of the community will not be successful, and the board members will just be torturing themselves wondering "why are they all against us?"

You are spot on hooplady.   

[MusicMan]

What does SPAR stand for? Springfield Preservation and Revitalization?

[movedsouth]

Springfield is not only very diverse, but it is also the home of many activists for various courses. You don't move to Springfield if your idea of a good evening is sitting in front of the TV by yourself. It is just logical that Springfield has a number of organizations to support that activism. As Hooplady said, SPAR, instead of being an umbrella (or a half rainbow, have cammo colored hula hoop) tried to be the "cope", tried to direct vs. guide. Springfield would be better off with some kind of coalition of groups, as diverse as they are. But that coalition would have more of a coordination role.

Another neighbor a while ago brought forward the idea of a monthly meet up of all the groups for coordination. The name of such an organization could be "SPAR". But it would have little if nothing in common with what SPAR does and stand for today.

[sheclown]

We definitely need to get together and make a calendar of events.  Sometimes Springfield is like a cruise ship...."BINGO on the Ledo deck in 30 minutes."