McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA)

THOUGHTS FROM MENA PRESIDENT FOR 2003

Feb 03, 2003

As a new year begins, my thoughts have been on MENA?’s past accomplishments and, as importantly, how we can achieve more in the coming year.

MENA?’s vision comes from our members. The Welcome Sign, the rose garden, river clean-up, train relocation along Elvas, resisting unwanted expansion at the Cannery business park and our home remodeling tours and awards grew from suggestions of our members. We take pride in these accomplishments and we invite your suggestions for and participation in projects that improve our neighborhood.

Expanding opportunities for more of our neighbors to get involved is a main priority of MENA in 2003. My vision is not to find more projects for the same volunteers to accomplish, but rather to inspire more folks to take the simple step of showing up at a MENA Board meeting just to see what is happening.

A consistent theme from various mentors of mine throughout my life is that half of what is accomplished is done so by the simple step of showing up and saying, ?“I have an idea.?” Those that show up get things done, and I am convinced that everyone has a subject that can inspire them to ?“show up?”.

Is there graffiti that you pass on the way to coffee or work? Are there derelict cars that need removal? Is there a dangerous traffic condition that is not being recognized? Do you have an idea for a community improvement project? All of these are areas where MENA can help bring resources to bear, and in turn make major quality improvements for all. However, without you ?“showing up?” we won?’t know about these things.

Please, look around. Focus on our neighborhood. Suggest how we can engage one another to continue to make our unique community an even more desirable place to live.

Watch for our newsletter and stay abreast of community activities through Inside East Sacramento.. We have created new ways to contact MENA and are publishing them in this newsletter.

In the meantime, if my words ring true to you, please contact me and I will make sure your voice is heard and the path for your showing up is well lit.

The active MENA members are very open and friendly and we truly want to continue to inspire our shared improvements, so reach out and show up. You?’ll be happy you did. Feel free to contact me at 452-4592 or chaney50@hotmail.com

?— Chris Haney