Reminder: Membership Meeting & Mingle this Thursday!

Welcome 2013 and join your neighbors for the first annual GWNA Membership Meet & Mingle event on January 17. It’s the perfect time to mix a little fun while sharing ideas on how we’ll continue to make our community a great, safe, vibrant place to live.

Block clubs have an enormous influence on shaping their community. What do you want to see in our neighborhood? Retail streets like Lincoln Square? A bustling public market? The new Wilson L Station with a patio café? Or a school that really offers innovative education?

Graceland Wilson Neighbors Meet & Mingle

• Thursday, January 17, 6-8 PM
• The Driftwood, 1021 W. Montrose

You can check out all GWNA accomplishments for 2012 by visiting http://www.gwna.org and read the December newsletter. If you can’t make this event but want to become a member, please visit our http://www.gwna.org and click on the membership link. It’s a simple step to building a safe, livable community. Annual membership is $20 per household…the more members, the more power we have for change.

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Join us for our GWNA Membership Event!

Have a drink, meet your neighbors, and find out what’s going on in your neighborhood.

GWNA invites you to a fun, informative evening…

• The latest on the new Wilson CTA Station
• Good neighbors program
• Turning around public spaces: Sunnyside Mall

Annual Membership $20, includes a free drink ticket.
Can’t make this event? Visit http://www.gwna.org for
membership details today.

UPDATED VENUE:
Driftwood – 1021 W Montrose
Thursday, January 17th
6 to 8 pm

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Participatory Budget Meeting Dates Announced

This year, Alderman Cappleman is joining the movement towards participatory budgeting, which gives communities the opportunity to provide input on neighborhood improvement initiatives — think ‘menu money’ on steroids. The 49th ward (Rogers Park) has been doing this for awhile, and was featured in a story on NPR earlier this year.

Want to have your ideas heard? Go to one (or all!) of the following meetings:

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 6p-8p
Anshe Emet Synagogue
3751 North Broadway

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 7p-9p
Thorek Hospital
850 West Irving Park Road

Saturday, Oct. 20, 10a-12p
Uplift Community High School
900 West Wilson Ave

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 6p-8p
Stockton Elementary School
4425 North Beacon Street

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7p-9p
The People’s Church of Chicago
941 West Lawrence

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Cappleman at Broncho Billy Playlot this Wednesday, August 15, from 5-7 PM

Alderman Cappleman will host his evening office hours this coming Wednesday at Broncho Billy (weather permitting):

• Broncho Billy Playlot—Magnolia, between Montrose & Sunnyside
• Wednesday, August 15
• 5 to 7 PM

If you’d like to personally speak with Cappleman, please stop by Broncho Billy Playlot on Wednesday.

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New GWNA Board and Upcoming Events

A lot of stuff flying around these days, but wanted to get a quick post on the GWNA board elections and a menu money survey.

We’ve also got a meet and greet and a clean and green (and, quite possibly, other rhyming events, if our thesaurus behaves).

GWNA Elections

Graceland-Wilson Neighbors Association elected a new board at the March 8 meeting.  We’re proud to introduce our new board members:

• Chris Korn—President
• Carolyn Lewis—Vice President I (Liaison to Truman College)
• Katharine Boyda—Vice President II (Communications & Public Relations)
• Max Reising—Treasurer
• Vacant—Secretary

Committee Chairs:

• Julie Emerick—Community Gardens
• Dean Winn—Wilson El Station Renovation & Transportation
• Pat Reuter—Communications & Public Relations
• Julianne Scherer—Parks & Public Spaces
• Vacant—Crime & Community Safety

Survey:  What to do with the Alderman’s Menu Money?

Every year, each alderman receives $1.3 million to spend on ward infrastructure projects.  Alderman Cappleman  has asked for block clubs’ input on what their neighborhoods want. Money can be spent on items such as:

• Street lights
• Alley resurfacing and lights
• Street improvements such as sewer improvements, curb cuts, pedestrian markings

Please let GWNA and our alderman know what you think; take the survey now:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8WPG5MC

It’ll only take 5 minutes to complete and your input will be invaluable.  Also, please forward it on to your neighbors.

This survey will help the alderman prioritize what projects will be completed in 2012.  Results will be tallied and shared with the alderman and GWNA members in early May.

Thanks!

Meet your Neighbors at Driftwood: Thursday, April 19th at 6:30PM

Our next gathering will be a fun social event on Thursday, April 19:

WHEN: Thursday, April 19, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
WHERE:  Driftwood; 1021 W Montrose

Please come out to say “hello” — and also invite your neighbors!

Clean & Green, Saturday, April 21st at 9:00AM

Time to pretty-up the ‘hood.  Join folks throughout the city to make an immediate difference in the Uptown by volunteering your time and effort to help beautify, clean up and improve the neighborhood.

Susan Ridihalgh will be heading up the festivities and will be handing supplies out in Sunnyside Mall on or around 9AM.  Please come by and lend a hand!

Look forward to seeing everyone; thanks!

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Reminder: GWNA Board Elections on Thursday the 8th

A reminder to everyone — we’re ready to relaunch our block club and hope you can join us this coming Thursday, March 8, to elect our new board members.  Details and meeting agenda can be found below; please forward and share with your neighbors.

All residents living within the GWNA boundaries—Broadway to Malden, Montrose to Wilson, are welcome to attend.  Block clubs play an important role in shaping your community!  Details:

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Brightview Nursing Home, First Floor Dining Room, 4538 N. Beacon St (click here for a map)

AGENDA:

• Review of minutes from last meeting
• Board member elections
• Board member responsibilities & committees
• Update from Town Hall meeting on transportation:  Wilson El Station and Permit Parking
• Update on Maryville TIF
• 46 Ward Menu Money:  2011 approved projects, pending projects, request for new projects
• Public Safety—Identifying problem buildings & neighborhood hot spots
• Setting Goals, Events & Projects

Please share this invitation with your neighbors along with a personal note to join GWNA.  If you’re unable to attend the meeting and want to get involved, send an email to gwna13@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

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Town Hall Meeting & Upcoming Block Club Elections

Last time we checked in it was Halloween. Time has clearly flown.

But, now we’re getting things back on track and want to invite you to a couple important upcoming events.  Block clubs are a pretty powerful way to give normal folks a voice in their community’s future — so please join with your neighbors who are already working on some important community issues and projects (that can enact some wonderful changes in our ‘hood).

So without further adieu, here you go; pencil ’em in:

46 Ward Town Hall Meeting on Transportation on February 22

Please join Alderman Cappleman for the first 2012 Town Hall Meeting, with a focus on transportation.

The agenda will cover:

• Wilson El Station Renovation
• Improving intersection safety
• Making 46th Ward better for biking

WHEN: Wednesday, February 22 from 6 to 8 PM

WHERE: Truman College Cafeteria—1145 W Wilson

Graceland Wilson Neighbors General Meeting & Board Elections on March 8 at 7PM

You’re invited to participate in the Graceland Wilson Neighbors general meeting & board elections. The following people have expressed an interest in serving on the board. If you’re interested in serving on the board and have been a GWNA member for at least six months, please send your name and bit of background on your area of interest to Max Reising, gwna13@gmail.com. All residents living within the GWNA boundaries (Montrose to Wilson, Malden to Broadway) are welcome.

Potential Board for Elections:

• Chris Korn, President
• Carolyn Lewis, VP-1 (Truman College)
• Katharine Boyda, VP-2 (Communications & PR)
• Max Reising, Treasurer
• Secretary, Open

Committee Chairs also serve as board members:

• Julie Emerick, Community Gardens
• Dean Winn, Transportation & Wilson El Station Renovation
• Pat Reuter, Communications & PR
• Aleasa Green, Family & Kids
• Public Parks & Spaces, Open
• Public Safety, Open

NOTE: We’re also looking for someone slightly tech-savvy to help run the blog and newsletter (it pretty much runs on its own via hosted WordPress and Mailchimp, so anyone who even barely knows what those two things are is qualified). If you’re interested, please email gwna13@gmail.com.

WHEN: Thursday, March 8 from 7:00—8:15PM

WHERE (updated 3/3/12): Brightview Nursing Home, First Floor Dining Room, 4538 N. Beacon St.

See you there!

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Halloween 2011 Recap w/Photos: Fun Had By All

Graceland-Wilson Neighbors held its 2nd Annual Halloween Party last Saturday and it was a roaring success (maybe not coincidentally, given the numerous lion and tiger cubs roaming the mall).

Countless kids came out, plentiful pecks of pumpkins were decorated, spooky stories were read, cartons of candy were consumed, and much mirth was had by all.  It was lovely to see so many neighbors enjoying the beautiful morning together.  Special thanks goes to Kami McLochlin for her dynamo-like efforts in organizing the event.

Like last year, we have photographic evidence of the festival for posterity.  A small sample can be found in the slideshow below.

The full set of photos can be found by clicking here.

Thanks to all for coming out!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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Block Club Meeting: Tuesday, October 11, 2011

It’s go time.

We’ve got a group of folks that are eager to get the block club rolling with a bit more gusto.  Come join us!

We’ll be kickin’ things off with an open meeting to anyone who lives within the boundaries of Montrose to Wilson, Malden to Broadway.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the dining room of the Brightview Care Center at 4538 N. Beacon.  Click here to view a map.

Here are the items on this meeting’s agenda:

• 2nd Annual Sunnyside Mall Kid’s Halloween Party (scheduled for Saturday 10/29 at 10:30AM.  More details to follow soon.)
• GWNA Board Elections
• Neighborhood Safety

Please stop by and also invite your neighbors.  We’re still looking for people that would like to be involved, so please don’t hesitate to speak up.

See you there!

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46th Ward Crime & Safety Committee

Sorry for the late notice on this one!

We could really use someone on within the GWNA boundaries to volunteer for this Aldermanic Crime and Safety Committee.  Please see the letter below for further information.

Responses are required by Wednesday, May 4th.

Thank you!

—

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

For the last several years and throughout this latest election, crime and safety have been among top concerns in our ward.  Under Alderman Cappleman’s direction, we are now in the process of forming the 46th Ward Crime and Safety Committee; a committee formed to not only discuss these issues, but work to create solutions and strategies for improvement.  We are looking for volunteers to serve on the committee and I ask you for your help.  Before you decide, I would like you to understand the commitment involved:

• The committee will meet for 1-2 hours each for three consecutive weeks to kick-off.  The first meeting date has not yet been determined, but we want to start ASAP.  If you are interested, please reply with your best and most convenient evenings so we can accommodate everyone as we understand your time is valuable.
• These meetings are not only discussion based, but action oriented.  We will be asking committee members and volunteers to take the lead on various initiatives which may include researching policy, writing documents, gathering data, etc.  All meetings will be at Alderman Cappleman’s office at 4133 N. Broadway.
• During our first meeting, we will be developing our Vision Statement which will be the baseline for our future activities.  Please consider the following and have suggestions to share regarding the following questions to help us craft our statement:

• What values do we want to preserve in the ward?
• What is working well?
• What needs to be changed? Identify the top 3 priority initiatives within your committee’s topic that you would like to see implemented in the 46th Ward.

• How will these initiatives promote economic development in the ward?
• How will these initiatives promote sustainability and environmental responsibility within the ward?
• Who will these initiatives immediately affect and how will they be involved in attaining the goals?
• Who else will be part of the solution (identify stakeholders and roles)?
• What are the goals to reach these three initiatives and how will we measure success (include timeline if necessary)?

Please respond to me by Wednesday, May 4, 2011 with your contact information and dates of availability so we can schedule the first meeting.  I look forward to working with you and our new Alderman, James Cappleman, to help make Uptown a safer community.

Please feel free to forward this on to others whom you think may be interested as well!

Regards,
Keith Forshaw

keith@chicagolakeview.com
Cell: (773)-315-1515

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