Minutes from the November 19th Meeting

Community Congress Meeting
Smith Hill Library
November 19, 2008
6:00 PM

Attendance:
Julianne Brown – Senior PSP Minor, 202 class member
Grace Burke – Sophomore PSP Major
Jennifer Eberle - PSP Major
Meg Glynn – Senior PSP Minor, 202 class member
Allen Gunther – Smith Hill Library
Meg Haswell – Sophomore, 202 class member
Samantha Landry – Sophomore PSP Major, 202 class member
Louie Ornstein – PC Feinstein Community Faculty
Carmine Perrotti – Sophomore PSP Major, 202 class member
Griffin Rouse – PC Grad, Smith Hill Resident
Richard Strickland – Smith Hill Crime watch, resident
Sue Viau – Feinstein office manager, Elmhurst Clean and Green, resident

I. Greeting and Salutations
II. Old Business
No minutes from last meeting at Providence College with Edmund
No December meeting
PSP 202 – Reports from student committees/present committee meeting schedules
Students went to polling sites on Election Day and Veazie St. School Fall Fair to do outreach/recruiting for the Congress.

Meeting Committee
Helped set up Congress meetings, location, scheduling, etc.

Membership Committee
Mass emails and created an active vs. an inactive member group list.
Updated new membership list with new fields such as organization affiliation, address, place of work, etc.
New email address set up through Google account.

Community Outreach Committee
Carmine and Nicole created a brochure/informational pamphlet.
Steve, Dave, and Jess have been working on contacting local newspapers for advertising, local events, etc.

Blog/Website Committee
Sam and Christine have been updating the site including mission statement and an upcoming calendar with events.



Elmhurst Clean and Green Report
Many groups from PC attended the clean up on 10/25 including the environmental club and the Admissions Ambassadors
Unfortunately, there was no set agenda with Nathaniel Greene. Many of its middle school students attended because they received extra credit.
Very disorganized and had to be conscious of the kids – no chaperones form the school attended.
Ultimately successful because of community involvement.
Providence Groundworks offered extra supplies for future clean-ups.
Next meeting for Elmhurst Clean and Green – 12/2/08
Planning for Davis Park renovation is in progress which will include a community garden, a farmer’s market, and a new playground.
Grant writing for playground is in the works. Any ideas? The Providence Parks Dept. has been attending the meetings for community input in exchange for grant searching.
Flowers were planted at the cross of Eaton St. and Smith St. (near LaSalle)

Cemetery Wall Update
In progress of getting Diocese approval for headstone restoration. Training for this is already set up.
Griffin is taking the lead.

III. New Business – “The Future” of the Congress

Discussed points of concern and alternative options for the Congress Finalize discussion and decisions made at January meeting
Still having difficulty finding a Congress Rep. from Chad Brown

Questions of discussion:
1. Will we become an organization of organizations?
2. Will the Congress continue? (No longer PSP 202 students)
At least 4 people are needed to fulfill and lead the new Congress structure
3. Should we have a Congress open house to bring residents in?- If so, what will potential members be joining for?
There is no main focal point for the Congress. We need to find a common rally point! (Is this even possible?)
Cultural Barriers – “Family First” for many minority groups.
Why would Hispanics/African Americans/Asian families come to these meetings?
4. Should we do a mass mailing or posting of informational flyers?
5. How can we efficiently address the language barrier between the communities?
Especially Chad Brown and Smith Hill?

NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 21, 2009 @ NOON – Feinstein Community Room

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 PM.