The Good Neighbors

Catherine Rendahl, one of the organizers of the Good Neighbors group, submitted the following article with regards to the new community organization in Sandy Oaks.

We have had two community meetings thus far, and both have been successful.  At the first meeting, we were able to start identifying issues of interest to our community that we could take on ourselves, without needing the help of a city government or a homeowners association.  We created an idea board that contained the following:

• neighborhood cleanup
• welcome baskets
• food pantry
• crafting bees
• swap meets/farmers markets
• materials needed listing
• newsletter
• book exchange
• neighborhood watch
• pet vaccinations
• phone book
• volunteer jobs for kids

In the second meeting, we established a name for our group: The Good Neighbors at Sandy Oaks, and decided to call the newsletter Neighborhood News.  We also had people sign up for a book exchange committee and to work on the newsletter.  Unfortunately, our second meeting had to be kept short, due to a mold problem in the clubhouse, and ideas for alternate meeting sites are starting to be explored.  Through the feedback I’m receiving, I think we’re off to a good start.

So, in this article, I’d like to explore a little of the thinking behind the start of the group.  After spending quite a long time dealing (just as a citizen) with city matters, and having given up years ago  on the WPPOA as a lost cause, it occurred to me that something else was needed.  We are a community that has many issues and problems that the WPPOA has never adequately addressed, and the City Of Sandy Oaks, even after a year, has given little thought to, animal control being one of the strongest felt.  BJ Gillespie held the same concerns, and together we agreed to start this group with the prime ideas of including and welcoming everyone in the neighborhood, and all of us working  together to help each other.  This will require a lot of patience from all of us as everyone has different concerns, and, of course, different levels of interest.    It is too early to say if we will reach those goals, but we will be making the effort.

Going forward, our biggest challenge will be to find a location for meeting and get togethers.  With that, and with the good will and good sense I’ve seen so far, I believe that our good neighbors will certainly succeed as The Good Neighbors.