Dear Neighbors and Friends,
2011 was a big year for HMP! We had lofty plans and dreamed big! We believed that we could be more and do more despite being a smaller neighborhood. We rolled up our sleeves, worked hard, and reached out beyond our boundaries and across neighborhoods and organizations. And through a lot of planning, determination, and the combined talents of many neighbors, we are bringing numerous positive changes to HMP!
Our key priorities for 2011 were to continue holding events that bring neighbors together and build community while also diversifying participation, increasing HMP beautification and pride in the neighborhood, and helping maintain the historical and architectural integrity of our neighborhood through the development of historic renovation guidelines. Additionally, we wanted to improve our HMP communication platform, to reach more people, better brand HMP to create a consistent look and feel for the neighborhood, and develop some standard operating procedures in terms of how the Board is run and how elections are held.
The HMPNA has made significant strides in all of these areas from launching our small house parties (i.e., block parties) for neighbors to get to know each other better, developing a plan to beautify and increase the safety of the roundabout, designing and purchasing HMP’s first historic marker, and developing a plan and determining a location for HMP’s first pocket park. We have also created HMP’s historic renovation guidelines for the neighborhood that will be particularly helpful for landlords, investors, and other partners who want to be good neighbors, but need guidance on rehabbing a property of historical significance.
Additionally, we now have a new logo and presentation template, a new Twitter site, a new and improved HMP website and Facebook site, and a Café Press store where you can show your neighborhood pride by shopping for HMP-branded sweatshirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, and even clothing for your tots and pets!
We also added some formality to the HMPNA Board to increase our focus, efficiency, and transparency. We developed an HMP 5-year plan, developed committees and clarified roles and responsibilities, documented important policies, and created a “Nominating Committee” to make the HMPNA election process more fair and consistent.
And last but not least, HMP collaborated with five surrounding neighborhoods this past year to build a “Quality of Life Plan” for the Mid-North area. This plan was the result of hundreds of engaged neighbors and friends who worked hard to understand the needs of the Mid-North area, set out a common vision to make improvements that will make a real difference in the quality of life of residents, and find sponsors to lead the identified projects. The plan, which is now completed, will be unveiled on January 23rd and will attract investors and donors and create positive change for the Mid-North area for years to come.
And HMP accomplished all of this while also holding 2 alley clean-ups, 3 neighborhood social events (Cajun Brunch and New Neighbor Reception, The Fall Festival, and Winter Warm-Up Holiday Party), 2 block parties, the HMP Neighborhood Yard Sale, and 3 General Meetings!
Never has it been a more exciting time to live in our neighborhood. The Mid-North Quality of Life plan coupled with an extraordinarily active HMPNA Board and volunteer base presents us new opportunities like never before. We are already accomplishing more than we ever thought imaginable. Will 2012 be the year we surpass our own expectations? Will we be able to secure a property for our pocket park, develop gateway markers for our neighborhood, provide our Seniors with additional care and assistance, and re-launch our Safe Neighborhood Awareness Program? Will our green spaces look nicer, our streets be cleaner, and our neighborhood be safer? And will it be the year when more neighbors get to know each other and get involved in HMP events? Our opportunities are only as big as our determination, our vision, and our dreams of what we want to become. With the talents and diversity of the incoming 2012 HMPNA Board and our exceptional volunteers, friends, and neighbors, we can take our neighborhood from a great place to live, to one of the Indianapolis’s finest neighborhoods.
Thank you for your continued support and confidence in me as your Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association Board President. Also many thanks to our 2011 HMPNA Board for their tireless effort, dedication, and commitment to serving our neighborhood (John Carmer, David Conrad, Doug Day, Christy Krieg, Jerry Johnson, Karla Johnson, Jess LaNore, and Ora Triplett). Have I told you guys lately how much YOU ROCK?
Looking forward to a year of surpassed expectations!
Cassie Mehlman-Rhys
President, Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors