Board meeting: July 22, 2020

AGENDA

HOLS board meeting 

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: GoTo Meeting

Who’s at the table?

• Ransom   

• Joe

• Tom

• Ashley

• Allen

• John

• Paige

• Adam

• Old business

  • Safe Streets has been going well. People are enjoying summer as best they can with safety measures in place.

• How is everyone? 

  • Everyone is doing well given the stress and concerns of the pandemic.

  • General consensus of the group is that we won’t be able to plan any large events or hold neighborhood meetings until 2021 after a vaccine is distributed. 

• New business

  • Some plans for the neighborhood are underway despite the limitations of the pandemic. 

• Committee biz

  • Beautification-Some neighbors have contributed to beatifying their corners with plants. 

  • Planning & Development:

    • The Leland Avenue project was not approved for funding this year, but they have not given up and plan to apply again. 

    • -There has been a strong pushback, largely based on misinformation. 

    • -One sticking point in the opposition has been parking. It is inaccurate as there will be not be a net loss in parking spaces. 

    • -Other opposition is based on the misconception that affordable housing is section 8 housing, which is something different entirely. 

  • HOLS can and should help push this forward any way it can, including hosting a town hall style meeting—virtual or not depending on future parameters. 

  • Outreach/fundraising

    • -Limited headway on fundraising. Difficulty fundraising if we cannot host events. 

    • -One way to increase fundraising would be to increase membership. But how to do that? 

    • Creating signs to advertise could be one way. 

    • -Taking measures to attract more social media attention.

  • Events

    • The Farmer’s Market has been a huge success

    • -Distancing measures are in effect and have been followed. 

    • -Limiting the amount of people on the premises at any one time has also created a relaxed, enjoyable environment for all. 

    • -Advertising at Farmer’s Market could add membership and attract attention during a time of limited events. 

• Other biz

  • Elections coming up in November. Some state issues on the ballot affect Lincoln Square residents as well as the rest of Chicago. 

  • We made a statement, but now, how do we live it?

    • -There is some debate regarding how we should approach issues whereby residents can have different viewpoints and stances. 

    • -Generally speaking, we take a stance on affordable housing, our approach to growing a diverse community, and some other positions. 

    • -We are, however, largely apolitical in that we present information to the community and gather input to give voice to the community, 

  • ONE Northside Fair Tax

    • -This organization has offered to coordinate with HOLS to present their case for voting for the Fair Tax in Illinois.

    • -The organization very clearly favors the passage of the Fair Tax, and is not an objective/bipartisan organization.

    • -As discussed, HOLS does not take political stances. 

    • -Using HOLS to present their case to the neighborhood would signify taking a clear stance on the issue. We agreed we should not take a stance and should not have them present. 

    • -Fair Tax is an important issue. Perhaps we should present some general information to the neighborhood, our provide unbiased sources of information.  

• What else can we be doing for our neighbors?

  • Continue to look out for one another. Help small businesses. Think of new ideas for ways to create benefit to residents and businesses. 

• Changes to Account Managers/Signers

  • Due to changes in board members and their roles, we need to approve changes to the account managers for the organization’s account. Changes to be made: 

    • Adding Emily Ransom, John Ratzenberger, Paige Worthy, and Thomas Benedetto as signers.

    • Removing Allen J Schild, Emily A Stone. 

    • Unanimously approved by all members of the HOLS organization.