Cleveland UCD (Urban Conservation District)

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

May 02, 2009

I usually struggle for a topic for my monthly article in the newsletter. It isn't easy for someone who slept through 12 years of English classes to put down in writing a coherent and somewhat cohesive train of thought. Who knew that diagramming a sentence would come in handy someday. Some months there is something of importance that I wish to convey to everyone, some months it is not so clear what the topic should be. I guess you might have figured out which month this falls under.

When things get a little crazy sometimes it's easy to forget how lucky I am to have so many caring friends who are residents of Cleveland Neighborhood, who unselfishly give of their time and effort to keep our neighborhood a fantastic place to call home. I know a lot of you don't know those individuals who break a sweat all summer maintaining the Venice Boulevard median. Cleveland Neighborhood Association has maintained the Venice median as an Adopt-A-Park for over 25 years. Now that's a lot of perspiration as well as dedication.

Also you might not know the neighbor that delivers your newsletter to your house every month, or those individuals that make up your neighborhood watch program. But if you do see those individuals, let them know how much you appreciate their commitment to our neighborhood, or a simple wave and smile will do. It is because of these individuals that Cleveland is a more attractive, better informed and safer place to come home to. And that is something we can all be thankful for. And while our neighborhood is far from perfect, I can tell you from talking to officers from many other neighborhoods, we are very well respected for what we have been able to accomplish and continue to do to protect and improve our neighborhood.

Speaking of improving, I only have one housekeeping item to mention, and it's to the dog owners that walk along Venice Boulevard. Now before everyone gets their hackles up, I love to see people walk their dogs, and have owned and love dogs myself. Most of you know and observe the OKC ordinance regarding picking up after your pet, but I've noticed residents are less observant about where their dogs urinate. We are continually losing newly planted plants and shrubs that are near the curb, and since we continually water all summer one possibility could be pet urine. Now, I understand this is probably a small minority, and that we have no control over stray dogs, or residents form other neighborhoods. I only mention it because replacing annual shrubbery every year can get expensive. Especially if it's an expense we could avoid.

In closing, I hope you recognize the efforts that our volunteers provide to our neighborhood and that you might consider joining the Cleveland Team. The pay is lousy, but the rewards are priceless. I am in particular need of two to three median mowers because of some volunteers moving out of the neighborhood. You may contact me via cell phone at 642-7312 or by e-mail clevelandneighborhood@hotmail.com

Sincerely,
Dan Martin
President