by Maureen Finneran Hetrick
Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association Communications co-chair
maureenfh@mindspring.com
404-609-9873
As the year comes to a close, it seems the time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. As always, those who devote time to the neighborhood association hope that each new year will bring new volunteers to the organization, who have talents and skills we need desperately. Many of the people who do most of the work in the neighborhood (holding offices, organizing events, etc.) are the same few people who have done so for years. Eventually, some people get burned out and step back to take a break, and we get a few new recruits. But so much can be done to make our wonderful neighborhood a better place, and in many cases, it doesn't take much time at all.
So as you reflect on your year and make plans for 2010, please consider what talents you can share with the neighborhood. I've included a few ideas below just to get you thinking, but chances are, whatever skills you have, we can use them!
• Pick up garbage when you are walking through the neighborhood. Make a note of any items that might need attention and make appropriate calls to the city or property owners. Share with your neighbors what you have learned and recruit others to join the effort.
• Coordinate your block or street for the crime watch. Most of the time, this involves just getting your neighbors' contact information to notify each other when anyone suspicious happens.
• Do you collect lists of local events? Submit them to the newsletter each month! Or write an article for the newsletter about a subject you know well and might be of interest to your neighbors.
• Do you like to talk to local business owners? Tell them about the neighborhood association! We even have fancy brochures you can hand out.
• Are you good at sales? We always need help selling ads in our newsletter and website.
• Talk to your neighbors and convince them to join the association. Annual dues will be collected in January, and we need all of the funds we can get to accomplish the many items on our wish list.
• Can you help a senior citizen in the neighborhood with small tasks, like mowing the lawn or running an errand?
• Contact me if you are interested in doing any of these things or something else. If you can't think of something specific but want to help, I'll help you brainstorm some ways you can help out. If everyone gives just a few minutes a week, we could accomplish so much, and make Berkeley Park an even more amazing place to live!