Midtown Neighbors' Association – Do You Really Know What's Going On in Your Neighborhood?

This post is inspired on a number of fronts. I’ve always been one to be involved. I was President of my 4-H club in high school. I was the school store manager in high school. In college I was involved in Gourmet Night, a huge event the students hosted each year, one year as the Controller managing the $18,000 budget for the event and another year as Director of Marketing, handling all those aspects, including the coveted guest list and seating arrangements. (Kinda like seating for the Academy Awards I guess…)

As of late, I’ve been involved in my community, Midtown Atlanta. I was on the Board of Directors for almost 3 years until I needed a break and had to step away. I did that this past December. Last night (June 30) was my first opportunity to return to a Board Meeting. Wow. What an eye-opening experience it was to be in the audience and watch what I use to participate in with vigor.

Mind you, except for one Land Use applicant, I was the only person in the audience.

Which brings me to the question, Do You Really Know What’s Going On in Your Neighborhood?

During my time on the MNA Board, I was often very frustrated at the lack of interest in residents of the neighborhood to become involved in any form or fashion with what was going on in the neighborhood. Yet, later when a special event is held the complaints roll in. Ah….and you were WHERE when this application was being considered? But, that leads to yet another question…Did you even KNOW what was being proposed?

I listed to Board Members whom are not even property owners (yep, you can be on the Board of the association, make decisions that affect the quality of life yet not have to own property) talk about special event applications with little regard for the residents which will be most directly affected. Two condominium communities that will be directly affected by a proposed event have not even been contacted by the association OR the event planners themselves. I raised this very question and it was kind of like…”whatever….”

It might be kind of hard to know what’s going on if the information is not forthcoming.

The neighborhood association maintains a website, but it can be lacking in information, or at least require some serious digging to find out what may be happening. A visit to the website this morning did find the most recent approved minutes on the website. At least this is a source for residents to get information, but keep in mind, it’s almost a month old. (May meeting minutes were just approved last night, so not sure when they will appear on the website, but they are already 30 days old.)

So, I wonder why people don’t become involved in their community? I noticed this not only in the entire community, but inside the condominium communities as well. Remember, each condo building has it’s one “organizational structure” with a Board, Property Manager, etc.

I often wonder the results a community would see if more of its residents became involved in the process.

Do You Really Know What’s Going On in Your Neighborhood?