Jim Beall Open House

Jim Beall, our representative in the State Assembly, will be having an open house next week.

http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a24/

MEET ASSEMBLYMEMBER BEALL AT HIS DISTRICT OFFICE OPEN HOUSE
Be our guest at the annual Assembly District 24 open house. Meet the Assemblymember and his staff. Light refreshments will be available; 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, Alfred Alquist State Building, 100 Paseo De San Antonio, Suite 300. The state building is located directly across from the entrance of the San Jose Repertory Theater in downtown San Jose. Call (408) 282-8920.

High-speed rail in California getting $2 billion

Article in this morning's SF Chronicle about funding for high-speed rail:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/27/state/n222109S86.DTL&tsp=1

Proposed Bylaws Available

The NWGNA Proposed Bylaws that will be voted on Tuesday, January 25 are available for review. See you at the meeting!

NWGNA: Updated bylaws for vote TUESDAY

On Tuesday, January 26, the North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is holding a meeting to elect a new board and approve some updates to the NWGNA Bylaws. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, at the Word of Faith Church, 873 Delmas Avenue at the corner of Fuller Avenue.

In November 2009, a steering committee (comprised of former NWGNA board members and concerned neighbors) got together to discuss the direction of the NWGNA and how to increase neighborhood participation.

At this meeting, a slate of candidates volunteered to act as the interim board to keep things moving forward until the time NWGNA elections could be carried out. The steering committee also reviewed the organization's bylaws and proposed some changes to reflect a more community focused organization and to capture how the NWGNA actually operates. These changes have been incorporated into the attached and are pending approval from the general membership.

Volunteers:
Chair: Bill Rankin
Co-Chair: Kim Karcher
Secretary: Chris Davis
Treasurer: Lila Kakuk
Community Leaders: Dan Erceg, Harvey Darnell; Ken Eklund; Pat Gormley, Karen Taylor, Chuck Hudson
Past President: Alison England

Proposed Bylaw Changes:
The NWGNA Bylaws detail organizational structure, and provide some guidelines for how it should operate. Please review the bylaws and bring any concerns to the general membership meeting on January 26.

Changes to text in the bylaws reflect a more community (neighborhood) focused organization and is more in-line with how the organization actually operates.

Summary of Changes:
Article III: Deleting references to the city and adding something about supporting individual residents' efforts
Article IV: Updated the NWGNA Board definition and Officer role and responsibilities.
Article IV: Deleting a provision for non-voting members; added an age requirement to general membership so that if needed, the NWGNA can have independent adults making decisions and limits the ability for a single household to influence neighborhood decisions.
Article V: Added a provision that the board has to vote to accept funds. It is possible that someone could want to give money but may have strings attached that the NWGNA should not accept.
Article VI: Added a provision on the annual meeting.
Article VIII: Added a provision that the board meet at least twice per year.
Article IX: Added a provision that committees have to secure board approval before acting on behalf of the board or the association.
Article XI: Deleted the provision requiring the city to weigh in on conflicts of interest.
Article XIII: Reframed the provision requiring a representative of the city to be a decision maker for when a postponed vote will be held.
Article XIV: Added a provision that other funds should not be co-mingled in the NWGNA bank account.

A comprehensive version of the proposed bylaws will be distributed prior to the meeting on Tuesday.

NWGNA flier distribution

We have two areas that we still need to deliver to.

Fuller 86 homes
Fisk, Willis, Brooks, Marshal 71 homes

Please call Bill at 408-893-6684 if you can help!

Jan 26 NWGNA meeting and flier distribution

We need help getting the word out for our upcoming neighborhood meeting on Tuesday Jan. 26 at the Word of Faith Church, 873 Delmas Ave (at the corner of Fuller). The meeting will run from 6:30 to 8:30 and will include elections for the organization' s board. All positions are open. You can run yourself or nominate and vote for your neighbors to help shape the future of NWGNA.

If you can help drop off fliers at local homes, let us know.

-Fuller (between Gregory and Prevost) - 86 homes
-Warren, Shepherd, and Snyder - 61 homes
-Fisk, Willis, Brooks, and Marshall - 71 homes
-Bird (both east and west sides) - 64 homes
-Hull (between Bird and Prevost) - 71 homes
-Spencer and Delmas (between Willow and Fuller) - 108 homes
-Atlanta and Coe - 105 homes
-Willow from Bird including Bird and Willow appartments to Minnesota, Prevost, and the apartments at Prevost and Willow - 64 homes [ALREADY ASSIGNED]

Guidelines: We cannot use mail boxes or mail drops since these are for official U.S. postal mail only. Also, if a house says, "No solicitors", that applies to us, too. If you are uncomfortable going into a gated yard, you can always roll up the flier and place it between the parts of the gate so it is seen by the resident.

Please let us know how you can help! Please call Bill at 408-893-6684.

Family Night at the Library

Did you know you have a great resource right in your neighborhood? It’s your local library. Bring your family to one of the two nearby branches and learn about the programming available for children and adults alike. There will be story time, tours, arts and crafts, and light refreshments!

Wednesday, Jan 27 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Biblioteca Latinoamericana (921 S. 1st St. at the corner of Oak St.)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (150 E. San Fernando St. at the corner of 4th Street)

For more information, contact Ruth Cueto at 535-4933 or ruth.cueto@sanjoseca.gov

Reminder: High-Speed Rail Meeting TONIGHT

WHAT: CA HSRA leaders will give a presentation on possible routes from Diridon
Station north to the Santa Clara County line.
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Bellarmine College Preparatory, Liccardo Center, 960 W. Hedding St.

High-speed rail meeting TONIGHT

Reps will be available to show more information on the underground and elevated routes that bypass Gardner. They've promised greater detail on the alternative through Gardner.

The underground route is still alive for at least a couple more months thanks to Council member Sam Liccardo and the Mayor. Please show your support by attending this open house--even if it is only for a short time.

What: California High Speed Rail Authority leaders will hold an open house on routes from the Diridon Station south to Merced.
When: 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday (TONIGHT)
Where: Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St.

Proposal for high-speed rail bridges in downtown San Jose raise alarm

Read this article for the latest on high-speed rail and how it might affect you. Have your say at these meetings:

What: California High-Speed Rail Authority leaders will hold an open house on routes from the Diridon station south to Merced.
When: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St.

What: California High-Speed Rail Authority leaders will give a presentation on possible routes from Diridon Station north to the Santa Clara County line.
When: Thursday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m.
Where: Bellarmine College Preparatory, Liccardo Center, 960 W. Hedding St. Signs will direct participants to parking and the venue.

For information: http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/library.asp?p=8281

Are you ready for the big shake?

Read about earthquake preparedness so you are ready before you need to be. Leave a comment to share with others in the neighborhood how you have prepared already or how you would like to improve on your just-in-case plans so we can all learn from each other.

Greater Gardner SNI Meeting Minutes Available from Jan 6

The meeting minutes from tonight's Greater Gardner Strong Neighborhoods Initiative are available on the Yahoo! Groups site.

If you are not a member of the Yahoo! Groups site for NWGNA, send an e-mail to nwgna-subscribe@yahoogroups.com with your request.

Announcing the winners of the 2009 Holiday Decorating Contest!

First Place: 426 Coe
Second Place: 546 Atlanta
Third Place: 477 Atlanta
Honorable Mention: 538 Fisk

BIG thanks to our prize sponsors, Taqueria Tlaquepaque, Treehouse In The Glen, and Mojo Burger. We also had an anonymous donation of a gift certificate from Willow Glen Meats and Smokehouse.

Many, many thanks for your involvement and the wonderful support from our community businesses.