Now that the last council person has been chosen will the closed session minutes be open to the public?

Nice article in the paper concerning the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Group.  Robert I am glad you have decided to keep going and not give into the thugs ruining the inner-city.

Thank you, Doug

Just a reminder this Saturday at Central Park CONO is having a fund raiser.  Lots of goodies for sale and info on all Neighborhood Organizations so if possible try to attend.  Bring the kids, dogs, grandparents, aunts and uncles their is something for everyone!

Kris Sue N. has asked us to set up a table with Ravina/HomePark info.  If you want to go let me know you can ride with us if you want, or come when ever you want.  The  time I think is 9:00a.m. till 3:00p.m. and as usual correct me if I'm wrong!

Doug, I think I should be able to make it there, at least a good part of the day.  I'll get together some information too. 

Kris

Can't make it "Saturday, but is there a mailing list of meeting dates for the various neighborhood groups? A coordinator would be nice to assemble all of this and do a monthly mailing.

I think that each neighborhood group reports everything at each CONO meeting then the minutes are sent to each group, then they spread the word at their monthly meetings.  John I thought you wrote at one time you were in Ravina/Homepark area.  As soon as we get more people and get more organized info will be more available.  Right now I don't get all the minutes because we aren't really official yet.  I know there has been stuff in the paper about it but they were very small notices.  It would be nice if every neighborhood in the City had a group then the word of events would get around faster and better.  I'm not sure what the CONO budget is but a mass mailing can be expensive so I think its mainly up to the individual neighborhood organizations to get word out to the members.

Now I am wondering if there is a rain date.  Looks like more storms coming Saturday.  I will post it here when I find out.

All Ravina/HomePark persons can sign up for info on face book or through the Decatur Navigator Blog.  Or my email is q_cove@yahoo.com just put in the header Ravina Home Park so I can fish it out of the spam box if it gets sent there.

CONO could use a website of their own.  Even if they just set up a free blog, neighborhood groups could post their events to it.  It is really difficult to get the word out.  The city has a page on their site for neighborhoods that isn't finished yet.  If they could get all the neighborhood groups on there with contact information and meeting times, it would be great.  I don't know exactly what the city is planning to do with that page. 

My daughter and I went door to door throughout some of  the Ravina Park neighborhoods for the first meeting but the area is huge, and going door to door each time another meeting is planned isn't very practical. 

I'm not on Facebook anymore but I'll be checking in on the group.  My profile was just too pitiful.  I even thought about making accounts for my dogs and house plants so I could have more friends but that would be so pathetic.  ;-)  Actually, I figure with a blog of my own, there's enough of me on the Internet!  If someone wants to get a hold of me online, I'm pretty easy to find.

Kris

The simplest remedy to the communication gap is participation.  Every neighborhood group that is formed sends a rep to the monthly CONO meeting then all info is sent out in one letter to all groups.  The only reason I can think of for not knowing whats going on is if a group doesn't attend or a neighborhood has no group.  This is why I think its important for all neighborhoods to be involved.  Some neighborhoods I guess don't have any issues so they don't participate. I didn't think there were any issues in our neighborhood either until I started talking to people.  When I voted I was talking with the election judge and he said "good we need something like that I have been broken into 2 times".  It may take the summer but I am confident we will get enough members to form a committee and get the ball rolling.  I have also talked with people that have never even heard of CONO so there is a ton of work still to be done on getting the word out.  There are a number of people that want the group they just don't want to spend the time forming it which is fine but if they don't give contact info well to put it blunt they are just simply left out and I don't want anyone left out if they truly want a neighborhood organization.

A Cono website would be awesome I am sure if you talked with Sue N. she would love to have a site made and maintained.  I think she has enough on her plate and with your knowledge Kris I'm sure its a possibility.  The City web page will carry info. on what is happening in the neighborhoods which will use CONO as one of their sources for info.  Billy Tyus would have all that info. so I will check with him to see what the status is.


Robert if you get a chance would you explain here what your neighborhood is doing in June and why.

I just had another neighbor call me about the group today, who I passed out a flyer too a few weeks ago.  She is very interested in the group and thinks it's a great idea.  I've had several people tell me that since the meeting.  They are excited about it.   I think people are just a little intimidated by going to a "meeting".  They don't know what to expect and probably don't know what a neighborhood group is or does.  Before reading this blog, I didn't know CONO existed.   I think we'll have to take the Nazarene approach and have a potluck.  The enticement of food always brings out the crowds!  We need to have some kind of fun activity or event for people to feel more at ease attending.


Kris

The idea of a web page is great for Decatur neighborhoods is great. I have checked the availbility of web sites such as cono.com and that is taken. I have checked decaturneighborhoods.com and it is available. I have reserved it and would be happy to discuss with someone who is knowledgable about page design.

Kris that sounds good to me.  We could have it at a park since its warm and use the pavillion for shelter in case of rain. I didn't know anything about CONO either until this blog.  Lets get together this weekend and get something going.  Tell Rick the garden looks great!!!!! 

John give Sue Niesslie (president) a call at Decatur Wall Paper and talk with her.  I think she would be very interested to have someone set up a web page and maintain it.  Thats an awesome idea.  Here is the cono email addy.  cono3294@yahoo.com



If any of you are wanting a garden but have no way to till call Ricks Lawn Care he will till for you and does an awesome job, he will also take care of any lawn needs you might have.  217/201/3214

John, I'd be happy to contribute my time towards the site.  If CONO just want a simple blog type system, I can set that up with a couple clicks of the mouse, and customize it with their logo.  They'd be able to maintain it and wouldn't have to worry about updating costs.  My blog uses the same system:  decaturnavigator.com.  There's zillions of themes and addons to pick from and most are free.  Just send me an email at:  haydiz@comcast.net.  I can also host the site for a very reasonable rate. 

Doug, glad the garden is looking good and thanks for the free advertising!  Rick has picked up quite a few yards, and some landscaping jobs, and is doing much better then he was at the beginning of the year.  I think we're going to be ok.  Caterpillar probably did him a big favor. 

If I don't see you downtown Saturday, I can come by sometime this weekend.  Rick is swamped with work after all this rain.  I don't know if he'll be able to come but I should be able to.  I think a potluck will bring out much larger crowds and get the ball rolling.  Plus it'll be a lot more fun than a boring meeting.

Kris

OK I just got back from Decatur wallpaper and if any of you want some tomato, pepper, herbs(the legal kind) or flowers get over there and get some for yourself and any neighbors that plant there are a bunch available.  They were donated to CONO from Richlands Horticulture Dept.


Kris I talked with Sue about Saturday and she is going to check the ground tomorrow and see just how sloppy it is and may cancel as ealy as tomorrow.  I will let you know when I find out. Plus she said depending on our next meeting date she would help us if needed.

Robert if you read this today I am calling you tonight so when a 201 # pops up its me.

Matt are still swamped?  You are awful quiet!

Doug, thanks for the updates.  I was thinking June would be a good month for another meeting.  May is so busy for people with kids.  I've been running the kids back and forth for all kinds of school events all month.  Plus we'd need the time to organize something and get the word out.  I make a mean potato salad and I'm world famous for my deviled eggs - in my family anyway.  I'll have to contact the park district  about the rental of Oak Grove park.  I think as long as it is just a potluck and we arent' selling food, we're fine but I'll make sure.  I'll email you with some ideas and see when we can get together this weekend.

Also, that's a great thing for Richland's horticulture department to do!  It's amazing what flowers can do for any neighborhood.

That sounds great to me,  I would help anyway I can.   

I brought some trays home to give away to my neighbors and did give some away tonight but still have more to give out. The tomatoes are real tall and laying over so I've been out in my driveway this evening  separating them to give out and there are tons of green peppers.   It is really cool that RCC's Hort teacher Dave McLaughlin does this - it really makes a lot of people happy and helps promote good looking neighborhoods and with the economy bad planting some vegetables really can't hurt!  I was there this evening and Sue still has a bunch left at her shop.

Sue    

Haydiz......I just checked out your blog, it is awesome. I think we can get a web page going that will be of great benefit to the neighborhoods. I have sent you an e-mail regarding setting up a face to face meeting to get it going. Anyone else who might like to help, please send me an e-mail or post here. jldmad@comcast.net or davis @decaturlaw.com.

 

Hey Doug, and everyone else!

 

Yup, I thought I was going to have a bit of a breather, but...No luck! My client came up with around 2000 hours of work that needs to get done in two weeks (I've introduced myself as “Master of Space and Time” before, but sheesh! They're taking me seriously!!!), and given me a schedule that require me to be in two places at the same time (Somebody at my client-site's been taking Harry Potter a little to seriously!). When did I find out about all this it? About two weeks ago, of course!

 

On the up side, my oldest Stepdaughter is graduating from MU with her BSN Sunday, too.

 

Add to that the pay reduction I was forced to accept at the beginning of the month – and the resulting accelerated job-search and home-time spent on “Jackson Operational Systems” business and marketing plan, and I've not had much time to sleep, let alone check the blog!

 

Here's a little personal moment of corporate oddness. Sunday is my birthday (43-yippie), and yesterday I received a birthday card from my employer wishing me a happy birthday and telling me what a valuable asset I am....Hmmm...Yeah - I feel the love alright!

 

Anyone out there looking for a fairly clever (if I do say so myself!) software consultant/developer/designer/ manager/instructor/hired-gun – hit me with an email at matthew4657@yahoo.com. I'll be happy to send along a resume, and ..Make me an offer, you may be surprised! I'm actively looking for Consulting, Training and subcontracting arrangements in Decatur.

 

My two weeks of bi-location (I wasn't kidding, I'm in two places at once for eight days!) starts next Tuesday, so I won't be on much then, either. Thankfully, I do have Memorial Day off.

 

Way too much personal information, and griping, I know, but there you have it!

 

Matthew, that really stinks but enjoy your birthday anyway.  Remember, the alternative to not getting older is far worse!  I'm not looking forward to the big 4-0 in 1 year, 7 months and 27 days.  Not that I'm counting.

Shameless Promotion Alert:  If you ever need someone with graphics, illustration and web design experience to help you out with your business, I'm here!  I've also written a lot of training materials for graphics programs.  I'm not much of a programmer; I'm much more the artsy type.  I mostly just hack open source software and wing it.   I'm not sure what all of your programming skills are, but sometimes people contact me and need heavy duty custom programming that's over my head.  I'll be sure to send them your way.

Kris

Matt thats way to busy you won't live long working like that.



The CONO Festival is cancelled for tomorrow so the new rain date is June 13th.  I think we have reached out limit on rain we need SUUUUUUUN!

Well have a great weekend everyone!

Kris I will talk with ya Saturday sometime.