Greater Gladstone Civic Association (GGCA) Meeting Minutes
Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:00 PM
Location: Lansdowne Borough Hall
Attendance: 13
MEETING NOTES
Welcome by the President (Melissa Englund)
Review of Minutes by the Secretary (Michelle Hiscott)
Copies of the November 18, 2010 meeting minutes were distributed. The minutes were approved.
Review of Finances by the Treasurer (Kathy Kauffman)
Copies of checking account activity from November 17, 2010 to February 23, 2011 were distributed.
The checking account contains $3,837.79. The treasurer’s update was approved.
Note: The change to LED lights for the holiday tree provided a significant savings on electricity costs.
Business Updates and Reports
Website
The contract with Network Solutions was renewed for one year.
Leo Nelson has redesigned the website and will update the site as needed.
Membership
The treasurer noted an increase in memberships/donations from residents living north of Baltimore Pike.
An effort will be made to make membership materials available at GGCA events.
Borough Light Replacement Project
On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, the GGCA held an open meeting with Lansdowne Borough Manager Craig Totaro regarding the historic street lights in Gladstone Manor. Forty-three Manor residents attended. Borough Manager Totaro and Borough Engineer Eileen Mulvena represented Lansdowne, with Ben Mazza of Holophane Lighting, attending as an invited guest of the Borough. The Borough plans to replace the traditional street lights located within the manor, with funding provided by a grant. The bid to replace the lights is currently listed on the Lansdowne Borough website. The lights will be replaced by summer 2011.
The President noted the GGCA has been assigned the task of arranging a lottery for the distribution of the historic street lights. She asked for volunteers for a subcommittee to suggest a process for this and for keeping residents informed of the lighting situation in general, with the goal of reporting progress at the March 2011 GGCA meeting. The street light subcommittee will include Melissa Englund, Pete Engel, Leo Nelson, and Eric Muether.
Future Newsletters
Julia Hartnett led a discussion on the GGCA newsletter, The Gladstone. The initial discussion focused on the primary purpose of the newsletter, to inform residents of GGCA events and the greater efforts of the association.
Background
Presently, GGCA publications consist of eight newsletters, four events flyers, and one membership package each year, and one election ballot every two years. No Formal newsletter editor; informally the GGCA president acts as editor. At issue is the concern that eight
newsletters produced annually is too much work given the time needed to produce each publication and the lack of support or volunteer assistance with production.
Short Term Solution (as determined in the November 2010 meeting)
Reduce to four newsletters per year with the GGCA president as acting editor. Steve Phillips and Michelle Hiscott agreed to write content as assigned for the newsletter. The newsletter will be published in 2011 in April, June, September, and November. Newsletter content was divided into two groups, standard topics with changeable content, and topics with content specific to a particular time period:
Standard Topics with Changeable Content
Calendar
Environmental News
Events Summary
Flashbacks
Manor Manners
Meeting Summary
On the Manor
Resident Profiles
Safety Topics T
Thank you
Where are They Now
April 2011 (WITH DELIVERY THE WEEK OF APRIL 23)
Standard Topics
Environmental News: Yard Waste
Manor Manners: Dog Clean-up
Help Wanted: Newsletter Editor
Lighting Update
Primary Election
Update on Fund Drive
June 2011
Standard Topics
Events Summary: Fourth of July
Safety Topics: Vacation safety/police checks
Feature on Bill the mailman
GGCA Elections: Nominations
September 2011
Standard topics
Events summary: Santa requested help painting the mailbox
GGCA Elections: Nominations
Fund Drive
The discussion was tabled until the March meeting due to time. Topics will include the November 2011 newsletter topics, as well as a long term solution (including newsletter editor), and other touch points (including paper and electronic publications).
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 24, 2011