January 24, 2006 Minutes

Tucker Jefferson Neighborhood Association
Minutes of meeting, January 24, 2006

Co-President Sara Goff called the meeting to order.

The minutes from the previous meeting were approved and the treasurer gave his report.

Austin Lowry, liaison for Park Friends, reported that Park Friends will be continuing the fall hayride as an annual event and are planning another family event for the spring. He also announced that he would be moving out of the neighborhood, which will leave a vacancy on the TJNA Board for an at-large member.

Sandra Mathias from the Emergency Management Agency gave a very interesting presentation on emergency preparedness. She explained that we all should be prepared to manage on our own for at least 3 days during an emergency and listed the items that we should have available for use during that period. Fortunately, these items are probably already in our homes, they just need to be assembled into an emergency kit. She reminded us that we also have to plan supplies for any pets that we might have. She handed out some additional information and said that the Emergency Management Agency offers classes for anyone who might be interested, and can be contacted at 901-458-1515 or www.mscema.org.

The meeting then divided up into groups to brainstorm for ideas that might benefit the neighborhood.

The neighborhood cleanup group identified the persistent problem along Jefferson as one area to focus our cleanup effort. It was also suggested that the neighbors that go walking in the neighborhood might take a trash bag along, and pick up trash along their way. Another idea was to suggest that people pick up the trash that is on their block.

The membership group had many suggestions, including, encouraging business membership, letting businesses put ads or coupons in the newsletter, working on getting renters to join the group, putting an application for membership back onto the meeting flyer, meeting more frequently, having door prizes, and having more social events.

The code enforcement group suggested having a nice notice or pleasant flyer, which could be left at the door of persons who are violating the city code. It should be something nice, which would inform them of the city rules. It was also suggested that we would need to get a copy of the code from the city.

The social group listed a number of social events that the neighborhood might plan, including, a pre-holiday yard sale, a meet-the-candidates forum during election years, a spring pot-luck, a door decorating contest at one of the holidays, offering help to the elderly or infirm in putting up some holiday lights, and doing the Neighborhood Night Out which we have been doing.

Some of the ideas raised during the earlier board meeting included, a progressive porch party, a neighborhood walk/run, a neighborhood parade, and an organized running/walking group. A final idea was to organize a walk around the neighborhood that would focus on the historic nature of the neighborhood.

Sign-up sheets were passed around allowing people to sign up for any committee they were interested in.

Co-President Gail Karr announced that the Northwest Passage had opened at the Zoo. She also said that she had gotten all the information about Neighborhood Watch from the Police Department and needed someone to take charge of this effort. Donna Heidelberger offered to do this for the group.

There was a request for items for the newsletter, and a short comment on the Heart of the Arts District project. It was decided that the dues would be collected during the month of July each year.

It was decided that we should meet every other month beginning in April.

The next meeting will be on the 4th Tuesday of April, April 25, and the speaker will be Suzy Askew, who will speak to us about garden restoration and heirloom plants.

The meeting was adjourned.