04/11/2013
Notice of Proposed Changes to ALNA Bylaws
The Arbor Lodge Board requests membership review and feedback on a proposed set of changes to our Bylaws, the document that describes how we will govern the Neighborhood Association. We have been working on these revisions for several months at board meetings and additional work sessions and will present them for a vote at our April membership meeting.
During this process, Board members articulated the following goals for the bylaw revision:
Clarifying that the role of the Board is to empower neighbors to participate and champion actions on issues important to them
Flattening hierarchy while retaining accountability
Increasing participation and reducing barriers to participation
Clarifying details of elections and board member accountability
A summary of changes we are proposing include:
Clarifying age of eligibility for membership and requiring that members confirm membership in writing.
Combining all language about membership and board meetings into one section titled 'Meetings.'
Adding language from the City's Office of Neighborhood Involvement Neighborhood Association Bylaws Template explaining how neighbors can expect to participate in meetings and conduct grievance procedures.
Clarifying our expectations for board attendance and at-large board roles, as well as liason representatives of the Board to other groups/committees.
Allowing the Board to share duties in a transparent and accountable manner.
Clarifying the lengths of board member terms, as well as the term start and end dates, and how to handle vacant positions.
Adding duties to the Secretary so that they are aligned with current practices
Adding language to the elections and nominations process.
New sections on: Committees, procedures for consideration of proposals, conflict of interest
Removing membership's ability to set the budget/financial policies, while retaining the Board's responsibility to ask the membership for input and feedback on the budget.
Increasing the notice date for bylaws revisions from 7 to 14 days
We invite neighborhood association members to review these changes and vote on them at our April Membership Meeting, Thursday, April 18th, 6:30pm, Historic Kenton Firehouse.
<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;}
The following documents are PDFs. We can provide versions of these documents in other formats upon request. Please email arborlodgepdx[at]gmail[dot]com for details or call our Chair, Katy, at 971-227-4234.
1. Current bylaws dated 5.20.2010
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B74gJFKRwuXWcHNBeFBlZDE3NUE/edit?usp=sharing
2. Draft Bylaws showing our track changes
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B74gJFKRwuXWTHlDRVNxazRlY2M/edit?usp=sharing
3. Draft Bylaws w/o track changes (should be easier on the eyes).
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B74gJFKRwuXWVUxVSkFYNUxPNlk/edit?usp=sharing
04/10/2013
Water Fluoridation in Portland
There will be a special election on May 21st in Portland, and one of the measures we will be voting on is measure 26-151 – the Fluoridation of Portland's drinking water supply.
ALNA has been approached by both sides of this issue, and we encourage voters to inform themselves by visiting the sites of the the organizations both for and against fluoridation, listed below. Additionally, the League of Women Voters site is a great resource for information on this measure and others.
Clean Water Portland - Against FluoridationHealthy Kids, Healthy Portland - For Fluoridation
After researching this issue, the board of the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association has voted to endorse a "no" vote on this measure – but we encourage all of our neighbors to learn about the issue and vote as they see fit for themselves and their families.
04/08/2013
Coffee Hour and Crime Prevention: Two Events this Tuesday
Looks like tomorrow is two-fer Tuesday! At 10 am, join neighborhood moms and kids for neighborhood coffee hour at Cup, 7540 N Interstate. The coffee shop has a great basement area for kids to run around in and is glad to help bring neighbors together.
Later on, learn about resources and strategies for dealing with a recent spate of burglaries at the Kenton Precinct Station, 6:30pm.Our area's Crime Prevention Coordinator, Sara Hussein, will be on hand along with some Police to provide a training. Topics will include:
General overview of the City of Portland's Crime Prevention Program & how it works with the community and police
Overview of neighborhood watches & foot patrols. If a smaller group is interested in either of these, Sara can give a training to the smaller group in the near future.
How to detect and report suspicious activity
Logging suspicious activity
Calling 911 vs non-emergency
04/07/2013
April 24 - Proposed changes to leash/scoop laws
Changes are coming to the City's leash/scoop laws. See below for information from Ali Ryan, Dog Off-Leash Program Coordinator for Portland Parks and Recreation. Ms. Ryan is available to answer questions or speak with neighbors if need be.
Parks are valued by all Portlanders. To keep our parks safe, clean, and enjoyable for all visitors, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) encourages leash/scoop law compliance through outreach and education, enforcement of leash and scoop laws, and providing legal off-leash areas throughout the city.
Though many dog owners are respectful park visitors, disregard for leash/scoop laws has become common. Currently, Portland City Code allows PP&R to issue warnings and exclusions for leash/scoop violations, with criminal trespass charges as the penalty after a repeat offender has received a warning and an exclusion.
Rising complaints from park users indicate that this strategy of warning, exclusion and trespass has limited effectiveness in encouraging some individuals to comply with leash/scoop laws. To increase our effectiveness, PP&R is proposing a change to city code that would decriminalize leash/scoop law violations. A citation and fine, rather than criminal charges, would be the penalty. PP&R would then have warnings, exclusions, and citations available as a full range of tools to encourage compliance.
The proposed code change was supported by PP&R’s Off-Leash Advisory Group, which recommended more effective enforcement tools, ongoing education efforts, and continuous dog park improvements as the best ways to increase compliance.
The code change must be approved by Portland City Council, and is expected to be heard at the April 24 council meeting.
04/02/2013
Update: April 2nd 2013
We still need 6 volunteers for the April 27th Clean Up!
Please help us raise money for the July 27th Movie in the Park, "E.T.". We still need 6 volunteers to split the earnings from this Clean Up. 4 volunteers slots need filling in the 9-12:30 time slot, 2 in the 12-3 time. If you have a pick up truck and can volunteer to also take either used tires to Les Schwab or building materials to the ReBuilding Center at 3 that would be super. Volunteers should contact ginger.edws@gmail.com directly to ensure your best time. Will it be messy? Yes! Will it be fun? Yes! Volunteers should wear long pants, sturdy shoes, a red shirt if possible, and bring gloves. Volunteering could involve directing traffic, lifting, minor sorting of recycling (to the correct bin). We'll feed you and thank you too. Come join the fun. Thanks, Ginger