Cheatom Park Neighborhood Association

2004 - Cheatom Park Meeting Minutes(October - November)

Formerly Known as 'New Vision' Neighborhood Assoc.

Attendance: Officers: Janice Cochran (President), Jeanne Dobrzynski (Secretary), Nina Koger (Treasurer); Members: Janice Alford, Sean Alford, Leane Banks, Pastor Derek Bastian, Janet Blair, Debra Carr, Bates Carr, William Clemmons Sr., Jerry Cron, Don Curry, George Dobrzynski, Gerard Hill, Patricia Lewis, Beau Meenaghan, Pam Pearson, Colete Root, Geneva Ryles, Linda Stanley, Kimberly VanCleave, Board Members: Mikki Stier (Broadlawns), Joe LeValley (Mercy), Laura Wenman (Mercy), Eve King (Mercy), Han Wu (West Bank), Sgt. Veasley (DMPD), Dave Discher (United Way), Fred Gilbert (DMACC).

1. J. Cochran called the meeting to order.

2. The minutes were reviewed and approved with one correction.

3. Treasury report (N. Koger): Checking account = $82.18; the account has been charged a $30.00 service fee for low funds. Youth on the move account = $320.00.

4. As requested in the September meeting, J. LeValley, along with L. Wenman, and E. King of Mercy Medical Center, led a facilitated discussion, to help identify needs of the neighborhood. The number one priority designated by the group was to have a strong board. Additional results will be written up and discussed at the November meeting.

5. As planned in the September meeting, D. Curry made a motion to hold officer elections. The motion was approved.

6. Nominations for President included Debra Carr, Janice Cochran, and Don Curry. The nominations were accepted and each candidate gave a brief speech on their background and on what they thought having a strong board meant. Secret ballots were cast. J. LeValley tallied the ballots. J. Cochran presented a document with signatures of people she stated wanted to give their vote for J. Cochran for President. She stated that these people could not be at the meeting. The group voted to reject the validity of the document based on the current bylaws stating that the election would take place during the meeting, and no provisions had been made for absentee ballots. The new neighborhood association President is Debra Carr. The ballots were left on the table for members to review.

7. A motion was made by J. LeValley to create a position of “Immediate Past-President” to serve as a board member. There were 11 votes for and 9 against this motion. J. Cochran will serve on the board in the position of Immediate Past-President.

8. Nomination for Vice-President included Don Curry and Linda Stanley. D. Curry accepted the nomination and L. Stanley declined the nomination, stating she would rather work with the neighborhood youth. Don Curry ran uncontested and a show of hands vote was taken to accept him as the neighborhood association’s Vice-President.

9. Nominations for Treasurer included Nina Koger and Colete Root. The nominations were accepted and each candidate gave a brief speech on their background and interest in the treasurer position. Secret ballots were cast and J. LeValley tallied the votes. Colete Root had the most votes and is now the neighborhood association’s Treasurer. The ballots were left on the table for members to review.

10. Nominations for Secretary included Jeanne Dobrzynski. J. Dobrzynski accepted the nomination and ran uncontested. A show of hands vote was taken to accept her as the neighborhood association’s Secretary.

11. F. Owens stated that a meeting for the EC5 Youth Initiative was coming up at North High School. He would very much like New Vision’s involvement with the Youth Initiative.

12. The meeting was adjourned.

Tuesday, November 16th 2004, 6:00pm

Tuesday, November 16th 2004, 6:00pm, United Way Conference Center, Room F

Attendance: Officers: Debra Carr (President), Con Curry (Vice-President), Colete Root (Treasurer), Jeanne Dobrzynski (Secretary), Members: Leane Banks, Pastor Derek Bastian, Carla Brown-Marble, T. Byerly, Bates Carr, Toussaint Cheatom, Janice Cochran, Nina Koger, Jerry Cron, Don Curry, George Dobrzynski, Connie Evans, Christine Hensley, Marta Harper, Gerard Hill, Patricia Lewis, Frank Owens, Pam Pearson, Chris Robinson, Colete Root, Geneva Ryles, Kimberly VanCleave, Al Vincent, Lynda Walker-Webster; Board Members: Laura Wenman (Mercy), Han Wu (West Bank), Sgt. C. Donahue (DMPD), Dave Discher (United Way), Fred Gilbert (DMACC), Bob Reynolds (Neighborhood Inspector).

Board Meeting

1. D. Carr called the meeting to order.

2. J. Cochran stated the officers election that took place at the October 19th meeting was illegal. D. Carr stated that the election was held in accordance with the bylaws that are on file with Des Moines City Hall. J. Cochran referenced the list of signatures she presented at the October 19th meeting. D. Carr stated that some of the signatures on the document were of people who did not reside in the neighborhood. D. Carr stated J. Cochran might appeal the election by means other than the neighborhood association meeting.

3. J. Cochran made a motion to the board to remain president of the neighborhood association until the 2005 election and work with Debra Carr as a co-chair and then have a ceremony denoting the change of the presidency. The motion was seconded and voted on. The motion was declined by the board with a vote of 1 in favor and 6 opposed. J. Cochran continued to protest the October election.

Members Meeting

1. C. Evans stated the election was not in accordance with the neighborhood association bylaws, specifically, that there was no quorum present. D. Carr stated that there are many amended copies of the New Vision Bylaws circulating the neighborhood, but that these bylaws are not on file with the city, as is required, making them invalid. D. Carr stated she had contacted Des Moines City officials who advised that the October election was in accordance with the bylaws that are on file with the city and that the newly elected officers should continue with the work of the neighborhood association.

2. The minutes of the October 19th members meeting were reviewed. J. Cochran stated the minutes should reflect a “hostile takeover.” The minutes were approved as written.



3. Treasury report: Bankers trust checking = 152.33; Bankers Trust “Youth on the Move” = $0.00. Last month there was $320.14 in this account. C. Root stated Bankers Trust provided a copy of a withdrawal receipt signed by Janice Cochran on 10/25/04, stating J. Cochran withdrew $320.14 in cash on that day. When asked, J. Cochran stated she does have the cash from this account. D. Carr stated that at a10/29/04 officers meeting, J. Cochran stated she would close the neighborhood association accounts and give the balance in the form of a cashiers check to the new treasurer. J. Cochran declined to comment. There is also believed to be a neighborhood association “brick fund” account, which held funds collected for the Nash Park monument park. J. Cochran declined to comment on this account. The treasury report was approved with one opposition.

4. G. Ryles made a motion to adjourn the meeting and meet again when affairs were better in order. The motion was denied with 2 votes in favor and 14 opposed.

5. T. Byerly of the St. Paul Missionary Society asked the members of the neighborhood association for names of elderly, disabled, or needy families in the neighborhood to receive Thanksgiving food baskets. The baskets will be delivered Saturday, November 20th.

6. St. Paul AME Church invited neighborhood residents to a Christmas Party to be held on December 19 at 4:00 pm in the United Way Conference Center.

7. D. Carr stated we would vote for our Neighborhood Association Board of Directors at the January neighborhood association meeting. F. Gilbert recommended we include one or two neighborhood residents to serve as members at large on the board.

8. Des Moines City Council member Christine Hensley stated she is eager to work with the neighborhood association and offered her assistance if needed.

9. D. Carr stated changing the name of the neighborhood association had been recommended by various sources. A copy of a newspaper article about the work of Joanna Cheatom was distributed for members at the meeting to read. D. Carr recommended we change the name of the neighborhood association to Cheatom Park. F. Gilbert moved to change the name of the neighborhood association to Cheatom Park Neighborhood Association. G. Hill seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 15 in favor and 1 opposed. The amended bylaws with the name change will be brought to the Neighborhood Review Board for approval. If approved, it will be brought to City Council for approval and public record.

10. G. Dobrzynski gave a report from the Des Moines Neighbors meeting. He stated the Parks & Recreation Department said they were going to change the landscaping of many of the city parks to reflect Iowa’s original prairie landscape. It was reported that the city is writing a grant to develop a plan for cleaning up closed gas stations. It was also reported at the meeting that the number of SCRUB days would likely be decreased next year, with more neighborhoods combining their SCRUB days.

11. Results from the October meeting’s facilitated discussion were distributed.

12. L. Banks gave a report from the Youth Coalition meeting. She stated the meeting was not productive because it asked the teenagers the same things that had been asked at previous meetings. Activities for youth in the neighborhood were discussed. D. Carr stated there are grants available to help teach kids how to run and operate a business. There are job opportunities for youth at ballparks. St. Paul Church has many activities open to youth in the community including after school activities, bowling, basketball, and Boy Scouts. Wednesday nights offers teen programming. T. Cheatom asked for help in gathering neighborhood youth to ask what they want to do. M. Harper stated she would get names of some area youth. M. Harper recommended we have a newsletter just for kids letting them know what is available for them to do.

13. D. Curry stated he has researched getting the neighborhood recognized as a Historical Neighborhood and designated as a Neighborhood Finance Corporation lending area.

14. D. Carr adjourned the meeting.