Union Square Online | February 2005

Latest additions to Union Square Online:

2005 Recycling Schedule!
Trashy details here. Follow this link and find the print-ready version that you can output and tape to your refrigerator as a handy reminder all year long!

New Restaurant!
“The Bistro” across from the Hollins Market. Great food, reasonable prices, and worth a look! Learn more here.

Upload your own pix!
New image upload feature has been added to The Public Square Forums. Upload your photos and artwork files to share with everyone! Details.

2004 Board & Officers
See the updated list here.

Guestbook Upgrade!
Take a look here.

City Services Online!
Report & track problems.

Free Classifieds!
“New & Improved!” here.

Union Square Calendar!
Add/view events here.

Site search utility!
Scour site content here.

Sowebohemian Festival!
See the photos here.

Photo Gallery updated!
See our candid pix here!

Real Estate!
Your dream home here.

Union Square History!
Fascinating facts here.

Newsletter Archives
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
July/August 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
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Newsletter

For a print-ready version of the newsletter, click here. February 2005

Union Square Association General Meeting
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 7:00 pm
1401 Hollins St.

Inside this issue: Agenda – Committees – 2005 Officers
Real Estate – Community Social! – High Tech Committee E-Meetings! – Trash...

Agenda for the General Meeting
On Wednesday, February 9th, the Union Square Association will hold its first general meeting of 2005 following the Annual Meeting and Elections that were held in January.

Introductions
The General Meeting will begin with an introduction of the newly elected board and officers. New neighbors and all attendees are also invited to introduce themselves.

Mission Statement
It’s time to review and update our Mission Statement. Suggestions and comments from the community are needed to define the Association—who are we? what are our goals? why do we exist? where are we going? how are we going to reach our goals?

Committees
Depending on community interest, there are many ways to get involved in improving our neighborhood. The By-Laws define the Standing Committees and the membership may form additional committees as appropriate. New and existing committees will be formed and discussed. Residents are encouraged to volunteer and get involved. (See accompanying article for details.)

Block Captains
New and returning block captains will be identified.

New Business
Suggestions, issues, and pet peeves can be brought to the meeting for discussion.

Refreshments
Light refreshments will be served at the meeting.

Door Prizes
Be sure to sign the attendance sheet. Door prizes will be awarded and you must be present to win.

2005 Association Board and Officers
Elected at the Annual Meeting in January, the 2005 Officers & Board of the Union Square Association are:

President
Albert Reed

Vice-President
Christopher Taylor

Treasurer
Phyllis VanMeerhaeghe

Recording Secretary
Belinda Reed

Corresponding Secretary
Christian B. Everett

Director of Historic Preservation
Richard Pickens

At-Large Director
Tonya M. Osborne, Esq.

At-Large Director
B.J. Schaen-Cazer

We’ve got Committees
It’s an exciting time to live in Union Square. Property values continue to rise as buyers discover the advantages of our community— including our generously-proportioned homes and our location convenient to downtown, MARC trains, and major highways.

The Association enters 2005 with a new Board and ambitious plans to continue the history of neighborhood improvements. What actually gets accomplished depends entirely on what each of us is willing to do.

Committee work is an excellent way to get involved and make a difference. The Standing Committees include:

Public Relations Committee (also referred to as the Marketing Committee)—develops strategies, prepares and distributes promotional materials, forms liaisons with other organizations, sets up information booths at events, and works to promote the Union Square neighborhood to potential homebuyers, businesses, and others interested in learning more about our community.

Membership Committee—works as an outreach to current residents, welcomes new residents, and promotes membership in the Association.

Fundraising Committee—helps plan events, pursues grant money, and finds other revenue streams for the Association.

Program Committee—identifies and schedules speakers for meetings, and plans other events and programs.

Historic Information Committee—works with the Director of Historic Preservation to explore, chronicle and maintain the rich history of the community.

In addition to the Standing Committees, there are an assortment of other committees that have formed over the years which, depending on community interest, may form again in 2005. This is not a comprehensive listing because the Association always welcomes new efforts when members wish to focus their efforts and work in new directions. In no particular order, committees include:

Public Safety Committee—one part of what are known as the “Crime & Grime” and quality of life committees. This group addresses crime issues, the Block Watch Program, and maintains liaisons with police and other agencies as appropriate. Possible projects may include bringing back the once-popular Citizens On Patrol.

Sanitation Committee—the other half of the “Crime & Grime” committees. This group addresses issues of trash, litter, illegal dumping, graffiti, and other blights on the neighborhood. They work with the City to plan Clean Up activities, schedule dumpsters and other services to enhance the quality of life.

Housing Committee—this group evaluates conditions of the housing stock and works with City agencies to identify and correct violations of various codes. This includes issues of vacant and abandoned properties, zoning violations, and faulty rehab efforts that harm the historic designation of our community.

Cookie Tour Committee—coming off the huge success of the 2004 tour, this group coordinates all the efforts necessary to hold this signature event for Union Square.

Garden Tour Committee—for many years, the “Secret Gardens of Union Square” was an annual event that showcased our neighborhood. The tour has been on hiatus for the past few years and, depending on interest, could return as another means of promoting urban life in general and our community in particular.

Youth Committee—this group would plan activities and programs to benefit the young people of Union Square and get them involved in the efforts of the Association.

Again, this is only a partial listing. Other ideas are encouraged and welcomed. Come to the General Meeting and share your own ideas and passions. By getting involved, you can really shape the direction and future of Union Square.