Dear S. Lafayette St. Residents,
 
Please join us Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 7:00 pm at 30 S. Lafayette St, as we discuss the formation of our new community association. This meeting will serve as the initial planning session and will be an open forum for new ideas, thoughts and general feedback. The end result of this planning session will craft specific goals and objectives for the community. Emphasis will be on both short term and long term objectives.

Topics for discussion:
 
Recognition of Community Issues/Challenges:
Discussions will focus on the real or perceived issues in our community. Many of which are intertwined.   The key is to be honest in your assessment in order to truly identify the challenges of our neighborhood.

Initiate Community Solutions
Once we have collectively created our objectives, we will begin working together to reach common solutions. Sometimes the answer is obvious and self-evident. Other times, the solution seems impossible due to the inherent nature of the challenge. This will provide an avenue for creativity. No possible solution is beyond reason and every problem has a positive aspect that can be achieved.

Communicating Plans
Discussions for a monthly newsletter will require feedback from everyone in our community. Please bring a business card or an email address for communicating our goals. We will strive to make sure that even the resident that never reads anything sent by the association is knowledgeable of meetings and upcoming events. The main goal is the feeling of unity in our neighborhood and it begins with us on S. Lafayette St.

Cultivating Leadership
We will discuss how organized this association needs to be and will begin talks on electing association leaders.

Encouraging Participation
Every voice and every opinion needs to be heard. Individual differences are considered to be a plus to the diversity of the community. Participation and involvement are successful in different levels to diverse individuals. We will encourage all levels of participation.
It is time for this community association to come to fruition. The idea of neighborhood and common-interest exists now more than ever before. Yet, with passage of time, the evolutionary process needs to continue to strive forward. Residents will need to take an active role in planning, identifying and cultivating this new community association. This is not a once-a-year process. Rather, it is a change in the philosophy that will propel our community toward escalating property values and blossoming community spirit. We look forward to seeing you and discussing the future of our beloved S. Lafayette St.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by emailing slsca.2011.36604@gmail.com or call 251.289.9719.