Calling All Interested Neighbors

It’s September and that means it’s Membership Drive time at HVNA. When I began this article I started to think about what membership in HVNA means and why should the residents of our neighborhood should want to join. Certainly there are the more tangible benefits such as the right to vote on all resolutions and position statements that guide the Board and Committees on what to advocate. In addition, membership dues contribute significantly to publication of our newsletter, The Voice, distributed to almost 4,000 households in the neighborhood and an important tool for keeping the residents of Hayes Valley informed about events, issues and ways to participate in the community. And membership provides a forum at the General Meetings for you to be educated and for you to educate others about the issues facing our neighborhood. The less tangible benefits are oft stated: “ ownership of the neighborhood” and a “voice” in the direction the neighborhood is moving. I began by taking a look at similar articles from past Membership Secretaries to take stock.

Many HVNA and Lower Haight members participated in Safe Path to School on August 27. They were joined by Supervisor Mirkarimi, Mayor Newsom, Chief Fong and others in welcoming our kids back to school. Photo: Barbara Wenger.

All of the membership articles stated "Now, it’s more important than ever" or "This is critical time for our neighborhood". Indeed, each was. The accomplishments of the past years are demonstrated in the activities and issues we are working on today. Then, working to take down the freeway and initiate the development of Octavia Boulevard was a critical issue, and it was successful. But there is still much work to do toward resolving the boulevard’s consequences to traffic and transit. In years past, the safety committee was responding to a surge in crime and drug dealing. Now, the safety committee has built a strong relationship throughout the neighborhood with stakeholders in safety-related issues. Several members have started the PTA at John Muir as well as the Family and Youth committee to address the cycle of violence so the children at risk today don’t become the adults engaging in risky behavior tomorrow.

This is where membership comes in. Yes, membership is about dues and disseminating information and providing a forum within which to educate ourselves and each other. Dues are important to creating this forum so that we can work together. But membership is also about contributing your knowledge, your perspective and your time and energy. While you're filling out your membership form, I’d like to point out the list of committees at the bottom. Many of you have indicated what issues, and therefore what committees, concern you. I urge you to review this list as some of the committees have changed scope, and note that these committees are the starting point for so many of the new ideas and hard work that make ideas a reality. These committees cannot do their work alone, and you shouldn’t want them to. A plurality of ideas and a multitude of voices are the ingredients for unique solutions to old and new issues. We all have opinions and perspectives on the issues facing our neighborhood. Participating in the committees and dedicating your knowledge and time is the most effective way to make your voice heard!

Today, we have many critical issues facing the neighborhood. What will our position be on the proposed development of 55 Laguna Street, a project that will impact our population, our traffic patterns and concerns issues of gentrification and open space in our neighborhood? How do we maintain our work with neighborhood families and youth, as consistency and determination are crucial elements in continued success and responding effectively to whatever new safety issues come our way? What are our concerns about our parks and the arts and culture needed to enhance our quality of life? How can we work with and support local businesses to be full participating members of the neighborhood? And what will the next critical issue be that presents itself at our doors? Will we be prepared? What would you like the next important issue to be?

Membership in HVNA provides the forum for us to work together to develop novel solutions to old and new problems and to generate unique programs to improve the quality of life for our neighborhood. Your participation, as much as your membership, is what is crucial to make the difference, and make our ideas reality. (Ed note: Membership forms are available here and on page 6 of this issue.)