Crestwood Citizens Association Overview

The Crestwood Citizens Association is alive again, offering the neighborhood an effective, supported community association, working together for the issues that matter most to us. Our community group is working together for our safety and quality of life. Let your voice be heard. Your participation is welcomed and encouraged.

BACKGROUND

The Crestwood Citizens Association was formed in 1941 and represents about 290 households in Crestwood. The Association is included in a much larger, single member Advisory Neighborhood Commission district, ANC 4A08, which has approximately 2000 members The boundaries of the Association, described below are loosely based on the group of houses that builder Paul Stone called “Crestwood” during the 1940s and 1950s. Residents of the areas abutting these boundaries may join the Association by request, payment of the dues and participation on one of the action teams. The Association directory is made available only to Association members.

As required by the Association bylaws, elections were held at the May 18, 2004 Association meeting. Notice for that annual meeting was widely publicized.

The Association officers are your neighbors: Gale Black (family name Black/Ng) of Crestwood Drive; Doug Barker, of the 1900 block of Quincy Street; Tom Chused, of the 1800 block of Randolph; Ellen Wormser, of the 1900 block of Upshur Street; and Nicole Ruman Skinner, of the 1800 block of Shepherd Street.

PURPOSE

The purposes of the Association are:

• to further the neighborhood health, safety and welfare – as DC residents, families, taxpayers and homeowners
• to work effectively for our neighborhood to enhance and protect the high quality of life in Crestwood
• to develop a neighbor network for social interaction, community building, public safety, and the sharing of information and resources
• to have an official community organization that is effective, efficient, fun and supported by the community for concerted, coordinated civic participation

The Association also views as part of our mission, the raising of awareness about the issues concerning our borders – DC’s national treasure, Rock Creek Park.

Association activities include getting involved in broader issues of neighborhood interest. We encourage participation before the Advisory Neighborhood Commission or Assembly, the Federation of Citizens Associations, and the City Council or on behalf of Crestwood before District agencies and before the Congress of the United States. The Association works in concert with the Federation of Citizens Associations and other neighborhood civic groups.

ACTIVITY TEAMS

Accomplishing the association’s objectives requires community support and effort. For the 2004 to 2005 term, the work will be coordinated by six action teams (or working committees) who propose Association goals for their for the coming year and carry out those approved by the Association Board of Directors.

1. Social Team (Coordinates the September block party, January Pot Lucks &/ or annual Meet & Greet for new families and sends condolences to families who have suffered a loss)
2. Public Safety Team addresses Crime Prevention & Emergency Preparedness/ Crestwood Contacts / Crestwood Neighbor Network/ Buddies for our seniors
3. Green Team – Environmental Awareness / Gardening & Landscape Ideas, Green Space Maintenance / Garden Tour, Rock Creek Park issues / November Community Clean- Up / Beautification
4. Kids’ Team – Recommends actions of interests to families with children
5. Communications Team - Semi-Annual Newsletter, Online Handbook, Crestwood List Serve and support for the Crestwood website
6. Issues Team [“DC Matters”] – A small dedicated team of residents who track issues that matter to us or that impacting us as a community
7. Crestwood Connections – Any other special interests - - Example: Remodeling Group or DC History Team, or Gourmet Cooking or Walkers Group [So many interests and so little time!]

When new residents join the Association (by paying dues), we will ask that they indicate their preference of team(s). All neighbors are encouraged to sign up for one or more teams!!

DIRECTORY

The information for the directory is collected from new members when they join the association and is kept up-to-date by the head of our Communications Team. The directory is provided in hard copy through the community block contacts. We have a standard form for the collection of information and method of communication. We have released the new Crestwood directory (hard copy only) to Association members for their personal use. A critical piece of information requested from new members is their web address, which will be the principal means of information sharing, in order to reduce the need for house-to-house delivery or postage.

CRESTWOOD WEBSITE

The Crestwood web site, http://www.crestwood-dc.org/ serves a larger area bounded by 16th Street, Rock Creek Park and Colorado Avenue. The Association neighborhood news, information and the Association calendar can be found on this useful web site.

CALENDAR

All of the Crestwood Citizens Association meetings and events take place in Crestwood, either in public space, at private homes, or at the Grace Lutheran Church. Notice of meetings and the proposed agenda will be provided at least two weeks in advance. The primary means of communication is e-mail, with flyers, phone calls or direct mail for those who do not use e-mail.

DUES

The dues are $25 per family ($20 for a single person household) for any of the blocks listed above. This includes one directory; additional directories are $5 .The dues are payable by the term, rather than annually

NEW BUSINESS

New business may be raised at any Crestwood Association bi-monthly.

BYLAWS / NOMINATIONS PROCESS

A committee is examining whether there needs to be changes to the current bylaws regarding the election of meetings or what happens if the officers do not act.

Proposed changes will be presented at the November meeting and the actual vote on the bylaws will be at the March 2005 meeting or by proxy, depending on the recommendation of the committee.