April 2010-October 2010 DWNA Leadership: (from left to right) Dianne Carty, Kathy Hart, Cherri Wilson, Debbie Reichert, Jason Rennegarbe, Matt Walters, Christy Roberts. *Not Pictured: Ryan Dannan

The current leaders are all volunteers from the neighborhood and were elected on April 13, 2010. They will serve six months until October 12, 2010. Their contact information can be found here: http://www.dutchtownwest.org/about/leadership

October 2009 - April 2010 DWNA Leadership: (from left to right) Ryan Dannan, Chris Wintrode, Dave Garcia, Elan McMillin, Erica Fendler, Christy Roberts, and Dianne Carty

If you are interested in getting more involved in the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA), consider volunteering for one of our leadership positions for 6 months. You can read more about their goals and the position descriptions here.

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) has the following article in this edition of the Dutchtowner:

DWNA Working To Improve Our Neighborhood!
The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA)
is moving right along in improving the overall quality of
life, sense of community, and pride in our urban
neighborhood located in West Dutchtown. In December,
St. Louis City Mayor, Francis Slay, issued a city wide
proclamation declaring December 9, 2009 as
“Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association Day” in
honor of our one year anniversary and our accomplishments
throughout the year!

During the last few monthly neighborhood meetings held
at Grbic Banquet Hall (4071 Keokuk) on the 2nd Tuesday
of every month at 7pm, DWNA has hosted a variety
of guest speakers on informative topics related to our
neighborhood. In October, the second term of leaders
within the association were filled with neighborhood volunteers.
The newly elected DWNA leaders have created
goals and tasks for their terms and are energetically
working towards bringing neighbors together to help accomplish
these goals and improve our neighborhood. In
November, DWNA hosted a forum on the redevelopment
of Amberg Park and saw park design plans created by
Saint Louis University and Washington University (in St.
Louis) students. In January, DWNA introduced the new
Public Affairs Officer of the SLMPD 1st District, Officer
Mark O’Brien, who answered crime and safety related
questions from neighbors. Further, DWNA introduced the
new 25th Ward Liaison, Marjorie Dove Kent, who affirmed
her commitment to helping DWNA in its mission.

In addition to our monthly meetings, the DWNA website
(www.DutchtownWest.org) has proven to be a useful tool
in our neighborhood. Since its inception, the website has
seen over 6,000 visitors, received over 68,851 page
views, has over 134 different neighborhood news postings,
and over 41 various comments from neighbors.
Meeting agendas, minutes, power points, and handouts
are all posted and archived online. Pictures, accomplishments,
and new announcements are posted weekly. Additionally,
the DWNA “Issue List” is made available online
in order to track specific neighborhood issues and ensure
that elected officials and city employees are held accountable
for their timely resolution. DWNA has “closed”
over 147 issues on the Issue List since late 2008.

As we enter the Spring season, please consider joining
us at one of our monthly DWNA meetings, Amberg Park
clean-up events, Neighborhood Luncheons, or even joining
our email list to stay informed as to what is happening
in our area. The March 2010 neighborhood meeting will
include a Chill Cook-Off as well as an opportunity to meet
your Alderman and other city officials. For more information,
visit: www.DutchtownWest.org

Come and meet your neighbors and city officials and learn about what is going on in the neighborhood while supporting a fundraiser for a new power point projector! $2.00 suggested donation to vote for bowls of Chili! Contact Christy Roberts with questions: christy@dutchtownwest.org, 352-7135

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AGENDA

Please check this website, your mail, and your email for any potential changes.  Meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm unless otherwise announced.

The 23 online responses have been summarize after the break:

1. How do you think Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) is doing?

Excellent
30.4% 7
Good
65.2% 15
Fair
4.3% 1
Poor
0.0% 0

2. What interests you most about the organization?

Neighborhood Clean Up
54.5% 12
Block Captain Organization
22.7% 5
Meeting new neighbors in our area
40.9% 9
Communication and updates from St. Louis City Officials
77.3% 17

3. How many DWNA monthly meetings have you attended in the past year?

I have not attended any meetings
8.7% 2
1-3 meetings per year
21.7% 5
4-6 meetings per year
34.8% 8
7-9 meetings per year
26.1% 6
10-12 meetings per year
8.7% 2

4. If you answered no to the previous question, Why do you not attend the monthly meetings?

Schedule conflict
100.0% 6
Find enough information on Dutchtownwest.org
0.0% 0
Not interested in goals of DWNA
0.0% 0
Meeting is a waste of time
0.0% 0

5. What would make the monthly DWNA meetings more interesting?
~The meeting I attended was interesting.
~More time to interact with our neighbors
~Less bickering, more production
~don’t know
~More people; bring in someone new every meeting to tell us a little about the neighborhood and it’s history; or about their business or organization; updates on Block Grant money, etc.
~I like hearing the guest speakers
~I think we fit about as much as we can in the time allowed.
~no suggestions meetings are very good
~Allowing the older crotchety folks less time to complain and focus on the many positives about our area
~I enjoy the quick format of the meeting, I also appreciated the breakout sessions being at the end of the meeting
~being able to hear better, having local businesses featured
~strippers and booze
~I have seen great improvements in the neighborhood and this meeting over the last 3 years! I’d like to see more pressure on elected officials to correct the issues list. Derelict bldgs and drugs sold and thugs hanging out in Amberg park are major items that are not being resolved no matter how many people call the police or write up CSB complaints.
~I have only attended one meeting so far, but it seems to be a constant focus on the same subjects. I know this because I have moved in with my girlfriend, who has been a long time resident of this area. re cap the previous month’s subject matter and then move on to the next. This would drive more residents to attend. KEEP IT FRESH. Talk about what other organizations are doing to be successful. Have guest speakers, maybe even have the Alderman show up or if he can’t, change the date of meetings so we can discuss issues with him. My first question when I went to the meeting was ” Where’s the Alderman????”. I grew up in the 13th ward, Alderman Fred Wessels was always accessible and visible.
~I think they are already interesting.
~Longer productive discussion of important issues (not all in the same meeting) instead of being so controlled by the clock and touching on so many issues with no conclusion or open discussion on any of them. If we are going to make the effort to meet, let’s make the meeting time a productive hour and a half instead of going home frustrated about what was not said or communicated, because the clock controls the meeting!
~Have not been able to attend any.
~Not sure
~Periodic reports from committee chairs including goals & progress toward goals, eg: from Finance, progress toward 501 (c3) status? from Block Captains, goal of 2 new Block Captains each month? or blocks W of Meramec in 2010, E of Meramec 2011? i.e. articulate more clearly some plan to get to where we want to go. Recognize progress, eg. new block captains.
~Keep them at one hour!
~talk about ideas
~I think more guests speaking in front would be better. I thought last meeting was great with all the representatives. We have the groups at the end, and I think that is a great compliment, but sometimes you don’t know what to ask. We could also use more social activities to help learn each other’s names and get to know others.

6. Do you volunteer for activities hosted by DWNA?

Yes
45.5% 10
No
54.5% 12

7. If you answered no to the previous question, why do you not volunteer?

Not physically able
7.7% 1
Schedule conflicts
92.3% 12
Not interested in activity
0.0% 0
Activity does not benefit me/my family/my property
7.7% 1

8. How often should DWNA sponsor/coordinate events outside of the regularly scheduled monthly meetings?

1-3 times per year
40.9% 9
4-6 times per year
40.9% 9
7-9 times per year
4.5% 1
10 or more times per year
13.6% 3

9. What other comments or feedback could you give to us to help improve our meetings and activities?

~Limit guest speakers each month
~Posting signage indicating the monthly meetings in more locations than just along Meramec, so as to increase awareness
~none at this time
~Keep up the good work! If folks want to complain, they should sign up and be allowed a max. of 10 minutes for discussion.
~you are doing an excellent job, keep up the good work, meetings run smoothly and are short
~This has been a very busy year for us we wish we could make more meetings.
~I like several events a year because I cannot make the Saturday amberg park clean ups nor can I make the meeting because of my work schedule and family commitments). If there were more events(volunteer or meeting related) I could have more choices to get involved…even if infrequently.
~I think the organization is off to a very good start. With a new alderman and new NSO, I look forward to a lot of progress. Also, the elected leadership is very hard working. The website gets info out in a timely manner. Minutes need to be kept – not refer to power point slides which do not tell what actions were taken. This is important. Minutes are a history of an organization.
~More productive open discussions where consensus or conclusions may be drawn or at least introduced.
~I like the park/neighborhood cleanup ideas. Should would be nice to get the renters interested and not just the owners. Lofty goal, but that would be awesome if you can help accomplish that.
~Keep up the good work!
~Consider making terms of leadership longer, maybe 1-2 years. Too much time is taken from meetings with 6 mo. committments.
~I think your organization does a good job in addressing isssues. The ability to contact the police with thorough descriptions and followup with prosecutorial matters may help with recedivisim
~I think slightly longer meetings with more people speaking up front (and allowing questions) would be a better method. Then allow the break out groups at the end so people can leave as they please and ask questions as they filter out, that is if the reps have the time to stick around.

The text of the proclamation states:

Whereas, the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) officially formed as a Neighborhood Association on December 9, 2008; and

Whereas, the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association is located in the western part of the Dutchtown neighborhood in the City of St. Louis, Missouri; and

Whereas, the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) exists to improve the overall quality of life, sense of community, and pride in our urban neighborhood. DWNA achieves its mission by improving the safety of the neighborhood through education and programming, fostering community involvement and participation, encouraging neighborhood improvement and beautification, engaging local businesses, and communicating effectively; and

Whereas, the City of St. Louis is pleased to recognize the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association on their one year anniversary. We also extend our best wishes for continued success in the future.

Now, therefore, I Francis G. Slay, Mayor of the City of St. Louis, do hereby proclaim December 9, 2009, as:

“Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association Day” in the City of St. Louis

Congratulations Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) and thank you to everyone for your help this past year in making our neighborhood a better place to live, work, and play!

Could you please take a quick moment to complete a short online survey to give us your feedback on how you think the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) is doing?

Your responses will remain anonymous and will help guide the direction of our meetings, DWNA sponsored events and the future of the neighborhood association.

Click Here to take survey

If you know of anyone that might be interested in donating this equipment or donating funds towards the purchase of this equipment, please contact us!

October 2009 - April 2010 DWNA Leadership: (from left to right) Ryan Dannan, Chris Wintrode, Dave Garcia, Elan McMillin, Erica Fendler, Christy Roberts, and Dianne Carty

The current leaders are all volunteers from the neighborhood and were elected on October 13, 2009. They will serve six months until April 8, 2010. Their contact information can be found here: http://www.dutchtownwest.org/about/leadership

The logo includes the St. Louis Fleur de Lis as well as the West point of a compass. We could add the Dutchtown colors of blue and orange, or even something else. What does everyone think? Leave a comment to this post with your thoughts and we will also discuss at our next meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.Also, if you know of anyone that is a graphic designer that would volunteer their services, please let us know!

2009 DWNA Leadership: (from left to right) Elan McMillan, Mitch Hurias, Ryan Dannan, Christy Roberts, Erica Fendler, and Chris Wintrode. *Not Pictured: Mary Margaret Kleba and Margie Torrillo.

As a reminder, if you are interested in getting more involved in the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA), consider volunteering for one of our leadership positions for 6 months. Elections will occur at the October 13, 2009 monthly meeting. Click here for more information on DWNA leaders and what they do.