Madison Park Neighborhood Community Alliance

March 2000 Alliance Meeting

Mar 23, 2000

MADISON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ALLIANCE


Mission: The Madison Park Neighborhood Community Alliance will strive to improve the quality of life for neighborhood children, families, and businesses through promoting community pride, and helping to create positive opportunities for all.


Meeting Date: March 15, 2000

Present: Randy Mettler - Duck and Decanter
Bob Nuss - Drum Beat Indian Arts
Jennifer Blair - Neighborhood Partners, Inc.
Curt Loch ?– Longview Rec. Center/Longview Community Alliance
Ann Ohmke ?– AZ Quest for Kids



SAFETY CARNIVAL:
The carnival had an even greater turnout than last year. Phx Police estimated approximately 500 to 600 people attended throughout the day. Mimi Aronson and another representative from the Century Branch Library received approximately 20 new applications for library cards, and gave out 10 more applications. Canal North had everything so well organized, and having all of the tables and booths out in the open and in one area really worked out well this year! The Photo ID Booth was a big hit this year! We discussed possible funding of future Safety Carnivals. Curt suggested that we hold next year?’s event at the Longview Rec. Center in collaboration with the MCNCA, the DLM Fight Back, City of Phx. Parks and Rec. and Library Dept., and Longview Neighborhood Alliance. With such a combined effort, we would be able to leverage enough resources that it should only cost around $500.00. We will talk more about this at future meetings.


SCHOLARSHIP AND MENTORING UPDATE:
The Arizona Quest for Kids mentoring and scholarship program is bringing in the next 3 students to be paired with mentors, and begin participation in the program. These 3 are the last of the original 8 chosen. AQFK is expecting to have an additional 30 or 40 students next year. Curt Loch is working on a comprehensive mailing list of businesses in the Longview area and will share the information and resources he discovers with our Alliance, and also Quest for Kids, as possible sources for qualified mentors. Randy and Ann are still working on a profile, or list of desired qualifications in a volunteer mentor. Dr. Jones recommended and supports recruiting Madison School District Office employees as mentors.





LONGVIEW PARTNERSHIP
Curt Loch is the new volunteer facilitator for the Longview Partnership. Their meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:00 pm. At their March meeting they talked about what to do, and where they would like to go from here. Curt reported they will be working on an outreach letter to send to businesses in the area, and in the future will work on and Action Plan and Goals. We discussed having a quarterly ?“summit?” meeting or mini ?“sharing rally?” between all of the Fight Back groups, Partnerships, neighborhood associations, and organizations in our area to share concerns, resources, and brainstorm solutions to common problems and issues in our neighborhoods. This can be a future agenda item for both Longview and Madison Park Alliances. Randy suggested distributing an interest survey to determine if anyone would really come to such an event.

HOUSE BILL 2095-INFORMATION FROM COUNCILMAN GORDON
Our State Legislature is planning to pass House Bill 2095, which would take away the rights of cities and towns to enact any type of regulation regarding the use or sale of guns. If this bill were signed into law, it would be disastrous for our community. Police from across the state oppose this. These are the consequences if this bill becomes law:
It won?’ t be illegal for a 10 year old to openly carry a rifle or shotgun
It won?’t be illegal to bring a loaded gun into a city park or library
It won?’t be illegal to bring a firearm into city buildings, like senior centers
It won?’t be illegal to prohibit gun shops from opening in neighborhoods
We need to ask Governor Hull to veto this bill. Please call, write or e-mail her with your thoughts as soon as you can! Governor Jane Dee Hull
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-4331
Fax: 602-542-7602
e-mail: azgov@azgov.state.az.us

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE ALLIANCE
Some places to start getting the word out to our neighborhood youth: Rachel Flan ?– Student Council, Carrie Yeknik ?– National Junior Honor Society, Paul Brooks ?– Band, AZ Quest for Kids. We will invite small groups at a time to attend Alliance meetings, beginning with Quest for Kids. Money will be used out of Alliance funds to buy pizzas from Frank?’s Pizza for the next meeting.

CENTURY BRANCH LIBRARY MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL
Mark your calendars!!!! Saturday April 1, 2000 at 1750 E. Highland ?– in the park from 11 am to 4 pm. Great fun for everyone!!!!!!!!!!! Can?’t wait to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Discussion Topics for Next Meeting:
Re-evaluation of the Partnership
Newsletter
Funding for printing and mailing of a newsletter

NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY APRIL 19, 2000 AT 4:30 PM
MADISON PARK SCHOOL TEACHER?’S LOUNGE