Brooklyn Avenue Block Association - Meeting Notes
Notice of BABA Meeting, January 12, 11am at 251 Brooklyn Ave.
I propose that we hold a meeting of the Brooklyn Avenue Block Association on Sunday, January 12 at 11am at 251 Brooklyn Avenue. Come in the front door.
Louise and I will supply a snack. Having something to eat and drink is an idea several people have proposed.
The tentative agenda for the meeting will be as follows:
1) Treasurer's report. What is in the BABA account at Citibank?
2) Consider how dues should be set for 2025. Currently dues are $20/member and are voluntary.
3) I would like to nominate Matthew Gilbertson to join the board as vice-president. Matthew is the photographer who took pictures at the street party and has been involved in block affairs in several ways, most notably as the leader of a group that attended the Community Police meeting led by Brian Saunders to address the vandalism done by young men tearing down signs related to the conflict in Gaza.
4) The current board is made up of Dung La, president, John DeWind, treasurer, Louise Kurshan, secretary, (replacing Alika La, who could no longer do this work), Kelly Burwell to represent Lincoln Place and Feler Dureus to represent Brooklyn Avenue between St. Johns Place and Sterling Place. Currently we have no by-laws concerning elections.
5)Do we want a formal elections procedure? That would mean having by-laws about how to hold elections, the length of service, etc.
Are the current board members content to continue in their positions?
5) Related to this, is that I have been working with Helen Chernikoff on a grant application for $5,OO0 to the Citizens Committee NYC. I hope she will make a report on where this application stands. It is due Feb. 7.
6) What to do about the litter pick up team given that no funding will come for the grant of this activity.
Anyone having other items to add to the agenda please write to me at the e-mail used to send this message.
Minutes of the BABA (Brooklyn Avenue Block Association) meeting on January 12, 2025, at 251 Brooklyn Avenue.
There was discussion of how to deal with deserted animals, different solutions were found for a cat and dog.
The Treasurer's report revealed that the BABA account has $5,900 of which only $1,900 is usable. $4,000 is in the account to prevent bank fees being charged. This amount is on loan purely for this purpose.
Dues were set at $20/year per adult and they will continue to be voluntary. Six people paid them for 2025, and $120 will be deposited in the bank account.
Helen Chernikoff made a report on an application for a grant from Citizens Committee NYC due February 7. It will focus primarily on supporting efforts to green the block and reaching out to other block associations and organizations to engage in joint efforts.
Given that the grant will not pay for the litter pick up program, John DeWind suspended the program until a solution can be found. Perhaps it could be a reduced program, doing pick up just on Saturdays, or perhaps it could be an entirely volunteer program, or perhaps other funding could be found. Or perhaps residents could just pick up whatever litter they encounter. The program as it has run last year costs about $3,600/year.
Tina Anderson and Matthew Gilbertson agreed to write testimonials for the grant on the effects of the improved look of the block and the increase in social interaction.
Matthew and Helen were both added to the board for their efforts on behalf of BABA
It was decided not to have formal elections or by-laws. Rather leadership will be chosen on the basis of who gets involved and works on block activities.
It was agreed that people not living within the three blocks that BABA formally claims could be members of the association.
Respectfully submitted, January 13, 2025 by John DeWind
