State of the Association (Part 2)

Jul 09, 1998

The State of the Association (Part 2)
by Ralph Humbert


The Association is very active in attending CAI sponsored events and educational forums including this year?’s ?“Legislative Luncheon?”. At most functions, we have had at least one representative in each seminar presented at the CAI functions. We have also had consistent representation at each meeting of the city?’s Neighborhood Roundtable Meetings and have had representatives of the Neighborhood Liaison Office and other city representatives attend and make presentations at the monthly Board Meetings. We will be having candidates for state elected offices attending various social and business functions during the next few months.
During the weeks leading up to the all important Annual Meeting to decide the physical restoration plan for the community, each District Representative recruited volunteers to host small, informal gatherings of residents within their districts to discuss the various options to be voted upon, and receive answers to their questions and concerns. Just as importantly, these small ?“get togethers?” provided a rare opportunity for people to meet and get to know their immediate neighbors in a comfortable and informal setting and gave them a ?“safe?” forum to express their own views and opinions.
In addition to the District Representative approach described above, The Aspens is sponsoring a ?“Neighborhood Watch Walkers?” program in cooperation with the Aurora Police Department?’s volunteer Neighborhood Watch program. We are currently developing a web page (courtesy of E-Central, an Internet Service Provider) that will alert residents to potential criminal activities and provide them with appropriate contact information. An unexpected (but very welcome) benefit from this renewed emphasis on developing ?“Community Spirit?” has been the fact that neighbors are now looking out for their neighbor?’s interests, well being and safety, as well as their own.
The Aspens has applied to be designated as a ?“Good Neighboring Project Focus Community?” by the Neighborhood Resource Center of Metropolitan Denver. If approved, this designation will, over the next three years, provide a plethora of resources to assist us in developing our spirit of ?“A Community Renewed?”.