SPAR revolt?

[zoo]

Barbara Sweet did have an office in Springfield (2 of them, actually), and it is my understanding she plans to have an office here again, though not until the appropriate space on the commercial corridor is available. I do not think anyone should vacate a board spot based on information that is relayed on this board - not until I have investigated the previous election timelines myself, or been informed of it from someone I believe is trustworthy, would I think that appropriate.

I'm sorry you let your membership expire. If you volunteer for SPAR, you definitely have a say as you are there on the front lines. What activities have you participated in/led? What about them should have been done differently? To whom did you voice your opinion? I think you participated in the Citigroup clean up, and I appreciate you for it! Thx.

[uptowngirl]

Barbara Sweet did have an office in Springfield (2 of them, actually), and it is my understanding she plans to have an office here again, though not until the appropriate space on the commercial corridor is available. I do not think anyone should vacate a board spot based on information that is relayed on this board - not until I have investigated the previous election timelines myself, or been informed of it from someone I believe is trustworthy, would I think that appropriate.

I'm sorry you let your membership expire. If you volunteer for SPAR, you definitely have a say as you are there on the front lines. What activities have you participated in/led? What about them should have been done differently? To whom did you voice your opinion? I think you participated in the Citigroup clean up, and I appreciate you for it! Thx.

Zoo my only issue is the removal of the vote, everything else is secondary (such as not following by-laws and the term limits). Bottom line if SPAR can get the vote issue resolved, and then clean up their practices as applicable I have no issues. I do reserve the right to critique actions as they come up as should anyone in an open free society.

[strider]

OK, Zoo, let's take a look at what you are trying to say here:

Some non-members have figured out how to use this board, and others, to suit their purpose of undermining current efforts. I've heard it from the horses' mouths that the City and LISC do not want to deal with bickering factions in this neighborhood (it's ONE of the reasons they stayed out of here so long!) So this non-member group is in the process of undermining a lot more than SPAR!

To start with, even non-members, per both the articles and the by-laws are represented by SPAR Council.  Your meeting are supposedly open so others may attend.  Non-members, once you claim to be representing them, earn the right to speak out.  They of course, must join before they can vote or run for office. So, other than pointing out severe irregularities to the by-laws, the lack of even following them and the fact that some of your "under appreciated" volunteers are still sitting on the board illegally, how is it that we two are undermining anything?  Pointing out what is truly an injustice to the membership and the community is undermining it?  You need to go figure out what undermining is, because you obviously do not have a clue.  But, of course, we know who you work for so that does explain your position on this, doesn't it?

That dislike on the cities part about not wanting to deal with bickering factions is very true.  It is why HSCC was formed and why many were nervous about the merger between HSCC and SPAR.  It was hoped the new organization would be above the shenanigans that happened at SPAR.  The recent actions of SPAR Council's executive committee has proven the Nay-Sayers correct.  I would expect the city to be cautious about dealing with an organization that doesn’t know enough to follow it's own by-laws and to deal with a group of people who kept themselves in "power" illegally.   Besides, what we have heard is that the city is nervous and not comfortable with SPAR Council (or rather, some of the people who are "running" SPAR Council) as it was.

Btw, SPAR is not technically a community development corporation (a non-profit that develops affordable housing). But if that is what strider/sheclown think is needed here, perhaps they should legitimize their own organizations, and become the Springfield CDC.

No, SPAR Council was not set up like a CDC.  But, from the actions I have seen, that seems to be the likely intent of those in "power" at the moment. They seem to be justifying some of their actions by comparing SPAR Council to other organizations - which are CDC's. LISC is certainly charged with affordable housing as a primary goal so the fact that LISC and SPAR Council are partnering at all supports the idea that SPAR Council is going towards being a CDC.  It isn't our goal, but what appears to be the path being taken.

The rest of your post is just "stumping".  It's what you accuse us of doing all the time and, hey, it's your right too.  But keep in mind that everyone here has the right to form their own opinion from the facts, so let's keep to the facts.  Trying to make this out to be by only myself and Sheclown and no one else, trying to give us credit for what your "under appreciated" volunteer executive committee has done, which is undermine the integrity of the entire SPAR Council organization and this community,  is incorrect and unfair to the residents of this community.  We did not change the by-laws, we did not ignore the by-laws nor did we stay in place past our terms or accept illegal appointments.  Your “under appreciated” volunteer executive committee did.  Give them the credit they deserve.

[jbm32206]

Barbara Sweet did have an office in Springfield (2 of them, actually), and it is my understanding she plans to have an office here again, though not until the appropriate space on the commercial corridor is available. I do not think anyone should vacate a board spot based on information that is relayed on this board - not until I have investigated the previous election timelines myself, or been informed of it from someone I believe is trustworthy, would I think that appropriate.

I'm sorry you let your membership expire. If you volunteer for SPAR, you definitely have a say as you are there on the front lines. What activities have you participated in/led? What about them should have been done differently? To whom did you voice your opinion? I think you participated in the Citigroup clean up, and I appreciate you for it! Thx.

So it's okay for one person to have a say because they're letting their membership expire and yet they also volunteer....funny thing is..you list me as a non-member, it just so happens that I didn't renew because of this issue with the board and no elections....oh, and I happen to do a hell of a lot of volunteering. Let's see, SACARC, Block Captain and more, but I suppose that's not good enough for me to be allowed to complain. Not that I need to justify myself to you, or anyone else. I'm entitled to complain, I'm entitled to bring it into the open, what I feel the board is doing wrong.

[Dark Knight]

CDC or HOA or whatever , member or nonmember , whatever SPAR does affects everyone in the community. I dont know who governs or regulates this type of organization , but that is who needs to be notified of any illegal          activity with this organization . Maybe starting a new group is order here .

[zoo]

Here are the facts:

1. You have complained about boardmembers, board business and board bylaws. SPAR has agreed to address these issues. The schedule under which they have agreed to address these issues is not rapid enough for you, so you continue to beat a dead horse.

2. The SPAR board has not excluded any member from attending a meeting, or assisting through volunteerism.

3. When SPAR calls any city department to get an answer to a question or arrange a meeting, the city is pleased to return calls, meet, and discuss the feasibility of SPAR's requests. Please tell us how the city responds when you call them (if you ever have regarding anything other than your own private interests)?

4. Few of the "intents" you have inferred, based on the "actions you have seen" in this entire thread have been factual in any way, so it follows that your last one isn't either. LISC has 6 community objectives, and is partnered with SPAR under the commercial corridor revitalization initiative (they call it CMAS).

5. Since SPAR is not going to develop affordable housing, your window to start the Springfield CDC is still open - please, go for it.

6. I, and other informed-by-choice-and-action post-ers, are wasting our time attempting to reason with someone who just has an axe to grind (over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over). You have proven yourself repetitive, irrational, and uninformed about the current state of the community overall.

I'll see you and your 10 supporters at the SPAR meeting in 2009.

[uptowngirl]

WOW!

I think this is getting a little personal. It isn't about grinding axes, or who likes who or who does how much in the neighborhood. We all live here or own homes here right? This started out for me about the vote, about taking the voice away from the neighbors. In investigating why this occurred, other issues within SPAR came to light which should be addressed too. I could care less who hates who or who volunteers more time. I want the best neighborhood I could possibly have. Yes there are some who have mostly negative things to say about SPAR, perhaps that is their experience, but so far there have also been a couple of posters that have NOTHING negative to say at all either. Both sides need to meet in the middle for the betterment of the neighborhood period.

[fsu813]

Show down!

Question: Who is Zoo and who is Strider? Assume they are both Springfield residents and possible current / one time SPAR members. I'd like to know their names (at least last names) so when I attend the meetings I know who's who.

Thanks.

[uptowngirl]

Show down!

Question: Who is Zoo and who is Strider? Assume they are both Springfield residents and possible current / one time SPAR members. I'd like to know their names (at least last names) so when I attend the meetings I know who's who.

Thanks.

LOL!!! I think we will be able to tell real quick based on the posts....

[jbm32206]

Very good post, UTG....I wanted to make sure this stayed in the appropriate thread.

Quote from: uptowngirl on Today at 08:13:17 AM
This whole deal just sucks. I am sorry but it does.

Everyone wants a great neighborhood. Really, the complaints are pretty small:

More input from the neighborhood (for those that want some), better communication, voting ability; follow our own by-laws.

So SPAR is going to have a meeting...sometime, maybe January now. So what? We should not even be having discussions around why SPAR does not follow its own rules, about why they would attempt to change the rules to take the voice of the neighborhood away from the many and give it to the few. People can come on here and scream about how much SPAR does for the neighborhood (and it does) but that does not negate the issue at hand, SPAR is not following it's own rules, has people on the board that are not eligible, or whose term has ran out, and has attempted to change the by-laws to take the vote away from the neighborhood. As long as this is in place SPAR DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD (and the city will figure that out unless changes are made). SPAR could just clean themselves up you know, they do not need to meet with the community to acknowledge the issues and fix them. This has been going on for a while, long enough to have fixed the issue and been done with it, but instead SPAR has chosen to go down the path of dragging it out as long as possible with many different excuses, and personal attacks by one of the most divisive soon to be, should be already, board members. If they couldn't meet on a specific date in October, why not change the date, now November (same thing), now December (same thing), how about January...think we will actually meet then? For what? If SPAR has the best of the best on the board then just fix yourself! It should not be too hard with all the great talent. If you are not eligible to participate on the board then step down, have elections and let’s all get on with our lives. SPAR does not know who is or is not eligible and/or whose term is up? Well what a freaking JOKE! If you can’t figure this out, then why should anyone trust this board to make decisions for the neighborhood???

Quit making excuses, attacking the voice of dissent, and fix your damn self….

[jbm32206]

This thread has been split, in order to remain on topic. There is a new thread so that others can continue to discuss the business corridor in Springfield. This thread is intended to continue the discussion of SPAR

[strider]

Ok, we have had a lot of posts about what was done by SPAR Council, but we have yet to have a definitive reason why.  So, here is the list as we know it:

1) The executive board is not following the by-laws.  This is in written record and from current board members. 

2)The elections were supposed to be held last October.  No one had the authority to not hold elections until the current board changed the by-laws June of  2008 to allow for appointing OR electing all board members.  This was once explained as a way to get the “right” people and talents on the board.  At the same time, the Governance Board was formed.  It was charged with  choosing candidates with the “right” talents and abilities and actually running the elections.  Instead, it illegally, as the by-laws do not give it this power, determined to not have elections. This is also in written form as minutes of meetings and votes and the actual by-laws.

3) The current Chairman of the Governance Board was appointed the end of last year. His appointment was illegal because he had already served 6 years and though it was “determined” at some point that if one year passed after someone’s  last term, they could serve again, this man was appointed before one year was officially up.  We were told by a current board member that the board was told “it didn’t matter” by the executive committee.  Just another point of not following their own by-laws.  In addition to this issue, the appointment process was not legal per the by-laws.  Also in written form and from past and current board members.

4) Recently, the names of the board members elected and appointed in various years was posted.  Several people who are past and current board members have been involved with this.  Based on this information, it is evident that at least three board members should have been up for re-election this past October.  Some believe the total number based on some appointments could be six board members.  This is based on the actual by-laws and the fact that it does not seem that these people were reappointed as is possibly allowed by the June, 2008 by-laws.  The question was asked if they had been re-appointed, but it was not answered and at least one current board member seems to agree that they needed to have been reelected or appointed to be legally on the board right now.

So, those four issues seem to be what is truly relevant  in this discussion.  If any wish to try to discredit me and this list, please remember that it is not really my list.  It belongs to the group that is made up of members, past members, past board members and current board members of SPAR Council and is indeed based on fact that can be supported in black and white.

I present this list so I can ask a question and the relevant issues can be readily available.

Who benefits or profits by each of these actions? Answer that and we will know why it was done.

[FinnegansWake]

So...there has been some talk about having the Q & A General Meeting in early December, in order to get it accomplished in 2008 and prior to the holidays. The 4th is the date being discussed.

As I agreed to do in the SPAR Forum, I will continue to be the "gatherer" of questions and forward them to the SPAR Board.

Please email me if there have been any updates since the last batch I received from Strider (bagrin) on October 16th. The earlier the better in the event some research is required...like "what was the revenue for July 2001?"

Thanks,
Phil
[former VP, now just a V]

fil888 "at" bellsouth "dot" net [I cannot access this email at work, so please excuse any delays in response]

[strider]

From the weekly update - or so I've been told.  Seems like after a year or two, they removed me from the update list!  Wonder why?!?! 

The SPAR Board Question & Answer Session has been rescheduled for December 4th at 7PM at the SPAR building. The Springfield Community has always had great support from the City of Jacksonville - that support continues in the very best possible way. Attending this meeting will be our City Councilman, Dr. Johnny Gaffney, Deputy City Manager, Kerri Stewart, and Chief for Zoning and Code Enforcement, Derek Igou. If there are additional questions, please submit them in writing to sparoffice@sparcouncil.org before close of business on Monday December 1st.

So this begs the question to be asked....what is this meeting supposed to be about again?

[jbm32206]

Either they don't expect the Q & A to last very long and maybe having these guests for other issues? It doesn't make any sense at all. They still haven't updated their webpage, as this is still showing...which clearly states the reason for the Q & A:

A Q & A Session is on the agenda for the November General Membership Meeting Thursday, November 20th at 7PM at Karpeles to discuss recent changes to the SPAR bylaws. The Q&A session is intended to involve all SPAR members in the process of recruiting board members who are willing to contribute to the LISC/SPAR plans for the neighborhood and the commercial corridor revitalization efforts. At this meeting, procedures for filling board vacancies under the new bylaws and the use of a matrix to determine the types of skills needed by the board (fundraising, event planning, advertising, marketing, etc.) will be reviewed â€" as well as plans for engaging the community in the recruitment of potential candidates with those skills.