We are about to become one year old in August. We discussed things we have accomplished and set priorities for the coming year:
1. We will continue to cosponsor the free meals with the Hunger Action group. This is viewed as a helpful step in attempting to organize the neighborhoods.

2. Getting information to the public continues to be a concern for members. This includes information on taxes, codes, etc. WE are discussing how best to approach this.

3. Bike paths were mentioned as a way for the city to become more active in promoting biking and exercise. It is felt biking will become more and more popular and would be useful as a promotional tool for encouraging people to move to Galesburg.

4. We will look into the benefits of becoming a 501 c3, or state nonprofit organization.

5. Historic buildings and their preservation was discussed as a neighborhood issue. We currently are having troubles with the courthouse, the Congregational Church, and the armory. How this fits into neighborhood-city development?

6. The coming city election was discussed. Would it be useful, advisable, for us to find candidates to run who are supportive of neighborhood development?

The next meeting will be August 17 at the library, 6pm. PLAN ON ATTENDING.

Bruce

SUMMARY OF NURTURING NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
AUGUST 17

We reviewed the priority list that we made during the July meeting:

1. Getting information to everyone is still a high priority for the group. And it is also a difficult issue. How to get information to the public about real estate taxes, laws, ordinances, etc? We still are hoping that the Community Relations Commission will be helpful.
2. Bike paths, sidewalks, as well as any number of other “life enhancing” projects, were further discussed. We are wondering why the city has not used some of its surplus money on some of these types of projects. For instance, if the quiet zone project only needs a million dollars to complete, why not fund it from the surplus money? I will ask a few alderman about this money, what they think it might be used for.

3. We are going to apply for state non-profit status.

4. I will check to see what the status is concerning the Congregational Church and the armory.

5. A group has met regarding the upcoming city election. We are putting together a list of issues that we hope candidates will be interested in.

6. The next free meal will take place at Peters garden. The 2nd Baptist Church is also interested in hosting a dinner in Sept. or October. That will take us back to a second Holiday Dinner, if we chose to do one.

7. Peter talked about some grants and potential projects developing with the Elks Club. This is in the early stage of development, but sounds promising.

We are at the one year mark, which we should be celebrating. Unfortunately, the group is experiencing some growing pains. If we are to keep going, we are going to need to put aside our individual differences and renew our faith in working as a group to make Galesburg a better city. I have worked all my professional life with groups, mainly families and political groups, so internal problems within a group are nothing new to me. Hopefully, we can work them out. Otherwise, the group will wither on the vine, not unlike a family disintegrating into chaos, or a political party that has lost its way. The Nurturing Neighborhood group has been a good one. Far the betterment of the community, I hope we can push forward and resolve our differences.

Bruce