WatsoniaPark Block Association Meeting Minutes

September 13, 2011

6:00pm

Meeting was called to order at 6:20pm. President Watley opened the meeting and thanked everyone present for attending. Agendas, monthly calendar and sign-in sheets were available.

Agenda

  1. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Paper Drive

1. Ending August 31, 2011

2. Total profits since February 28, 2011 start:$168.60

3. 12 households participated

B. Marvelettes 50thAnniversary Tribute on Friday, November 11, 2011- from

6pm to 10pm at InksterHigh School.

C. Election Forums

1. Stardust Lounge in September- Committees to be formed and format for

speakers,

2. IBCC (Inkster Block Club Coalition) to hold a forum in October.

3. Election Awareness- Write-ins, notify associates, absentee voters.

Volunteers needed to work polls, give ride to the polls, donate the use of

camper or recreational vehicles to aid voters at the polling locations with food and

refreshments.

D. Library- Michael Wells to discuss Library issues with membership.

1. New Library Director hired- James Lenze

  1. NEW BUSINESS:

A. 2nd Annual Octoberfest Liquidation Sale

1. Membership registration

2. Sale of table space to non-members

3. Formulation of Committees needed and volunteers to set-up site, create flyers, aid

the marketing and distribution of literature for the event as well as dissemination to

churches, club and other organizations.

B. Newsletter

  1. Citizen driven- Your input is vital as you provide the content.
  2. The newsletter will be a monthly publication for members without email.
  3. Name needed for WPBA newsletter.
  1. Library Commission
  2. Speakers for upcoming meetings
  1. CRIME STATISTICS
  1. TREASURER’S REPORT
  1. COUNCIL UPDATES:
  1. ANNOUNCEMENTS/ DISCUSSION
  1. CLOSING
  1. OLD BUSINESS
  1. Paper Drive
  • President Watley stated that the paper drive would come to an end this month due to lack of membership participation. Twelve households have participated in the paper drive since March 1st 2011 to date and we have collected approximately $176.00 from NPR Recycling. The money was enough to pay for all our association expenses as no dues have been collected to date.
  • The group realized that the paper drive was “a good thing” and it was decided that we should continue with the drive. Bob Patton (Lehigh), Robert Ingram (Lehigh) and Minnie Johnson (Hopkins) volunteered for a month to aid the association in taking discarded paper and paper products to NPR Recycling. President Watley stated that she would provide instruction to all volunteers on the recycling process.
  1. Marvelettes Tribute

President Watley stated that she had met with the Mayor Hampton, Dee and James Richardson, Rev. W. Cooper and Barbara Cooper and various others to plan the Marvelettes Tribute.

The event will take place at Inkster High School on Friday, November 11, 2011 from 6pm to 10pm. Ticket price will be determined at subsequent meetings.

As the event is in the planning stage it will a “community event” as the community is being asked to participate with memorabilia from the 60’s when the Marvelettes started in their careers.

The Melodious Voices of Inkster and a ten minute video will be part of the program. Universal Motown and various artists will be asked to participate in the event.

There was additional discussion regarding forming committees to involve more people in the tribute and where the ticket money sales will go. Ms Watley added that The Marvelettes will decide where the money will be donated. There was some discussion in regard to starting a Marvelettes scholarship at Inkster High or donating money to some Senior Programs.

Ms Watley stated that the tribute committee will possibly meet weekly for several weeks as the November date is fast approaching.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED- All who would like to volunteer should contact Ms Watley or any WPBA board member prior to the event date.

  1. Election Forums

President Watley discussed planned political forums to be held by the Stardust Lounge (Dorsey and Pat Williams) and the IBCC (Inkster Block Club Coalition). Ms Watley stated that she had been endorsed by Senator Tupac Hunter in her candidacy for Inkster City Council (District 3).

Pat Williams stated that she would have forum on Monday, October 3rd from 6pm to 9pm. She will ask Carmen Mitchell to coordinate the Stardust forum, Mike Goree will help with the flyers. The open forum will be attended by representative candidates seeking office. Both Mayor and Council candidates will be offered an invitation. Each will have 10 minutes to discuss their platform and a 10 minute Q and A session with the audience.

The IBCC has not set a date for its forum.

Election Awareness- The Write-in process will be explained in subsequent meetings. We must notify associates and family members to vote. The absentee voters must also be included for consideration in the election awareness process.

Volunteers are needed to work polls, give rides to the polls, call and survey voters, etc. We are seeking any one to donate the use of their camper or recreational vehicles to aid voters at the polling locations with food and refreshments.

  1. Library- Michael Wells of the Inkster Library Board was in attendance. He stated that a new Librarian, James Lenze was recently hired. Mr. Wells discussed the issues that they are currently experiencing in dealing with the current administration at City Hall.

He spoke to the membership on inherent costs of the Library and how difficult it is to put practices and procedures in order.

  1. NEW BUSINESS:

A 2nd Annual Octoberfest Liquidation Sale- WPBA will have its’2nd Annual Octoberfest on October 8th, at the Stardust Lounge. No start time was given for the event. This year the cost per table will be $10.00 for non-residents of WatsoniaPark. As before WPBA members will be charged 10% of total sales to go to our Treasury as we have stated before, “these events are held to cover expenses of WPBA as no dues will be collected.” President Watley spoke to the group on getting the word out about the event via flyers to our churches, clubs and other organizations. Volunteers will be needed to set-up the event site and monitor the tables.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED- All who would like to volunteer should contact Ms Watley or any WPBA board member prior to the event date.

B Newsletter– WPBA publish a monthly newsletter starting in November 2011. President Watley and the Executive Board would like to have this newsletter put in place to give those who are without email a chance to “get informed” on all WPBA and Inkster matters. Again we must reach out to all the WPBA households (seniors, those who are shut-ins or without email, etc) in our best efforts to keep them informed on all matters,

  1. CRIME STATISTICS

There were 188 incidents in Inkster from August 9th 2011 (our last meeting date) to September 13, 2011. Three (3) incidents occurred in the Watsonia Park Block Association boundaries – 2 acts of Vandalism (1 in the 26000 block of Lehigh and the other on 26000 block of Hopkins) and 1 Sex crime on Lehigh. All data was extracted from .

Additional discussions among the group expanded on our own ability to keep our neighborhood intact. We must talk to each other and demand those policies, procedures and ordinances set in place by the City of Inkster are enforced. We must setup to the plate when it comes to our own neighborhood and how we want it to look.

Ms Watley shared her experience with a drug house on her street and how she worked with the owner to evict the perpetrators. WPBA has a letter that will be sent to any homeowner, who does not comply with community standards.

  1. TREASURER’S REPORT

President Watley gave the Treasurer’s Report for the month of August 2011

August starting balance: $650.72

August Expenses: 0.00

August Credits – Paper drive 28.80

August ending balance: $679.52

  1. COUNCIL UPDATES

Councilperson Owens discussed current issues in the City of Inkster, i.e., Budget issues, 3 million dollar indebtedness, etc. Councilperson Owens stated that he and another councilperson will request a forensic audit (line by line deep dive audit) to see where Inkster funds have gone. This audit will cost between 40 and 50 thousand dollars.

  1. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS (Please refer to the WPBA monthly calendar )
  • September 15, 2011- Chat with the Chief New Birth Baptist Church, 27628 Avondale Street, Inkster, Mi, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
  • On Thursday September 22nd 2011 –A City Wide Day of Peace will take place at St. Clemens Church, 4300 Harrison Street, Inkster, Mi. 48141. Reverend Ellis Clifton- Pastor. Call (734) 728-0790 for time.
  • Team Owens will have a “Meet and Greet” at the DozierRecreationCenter on Monday, September 26th at 6:00pm. No topic is off limits.
  • Councilman,Timothy Williams have a “City WideTown Hall Meeting” at the Dozier Recreation Center on Tuesday, October, 4th at 6:00pm.
  • "2ND Annual Josie Odum Morris Literacy Day Extravaganzaat Dozier Recreation Complex, 2025 Middlebeltfrom 12 Noon to 4:30 PM, for additional information contact: (734) 620-1335
  • September 29, 2011- Inkster Task Force Town Hall Meeting at Dozier Recreation Complex, 2025 Middlebelt from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM for additional information contact Jean Overman at (734) 709-7809.
  • November 20, 2011- M.B.B.O.A. (Michigan Black Bar Owners Association) will have a Scholarship Dinner at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201
    (313) 494-5800. Scholarships are available. Pat Williams is the contact person for this event.
  • Collegiate Fair will be held on September 17, 2011 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

at the Dozier Recreation Center, 2025 Middlebelt, sponsored by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Zeta Nu Zeta Chapter. To register call Dana L. Brown, (313) 465-6164.

  • WPBA website is up and running click on the attached linkat
  • Mr. Herbert Johnson discussed the New Justice Center and the obstacles that are in place. He expanded his discussion on the contentious nature of The Bogie Group (contractors for the project).
  • Jean Overman of the Mother’s Pantry informed the membership that there was 3 break-ins at the Mother’s Pantry located on Carlysle Street. The National Kidney Foundation has committed to install glass block windows and other entities have offered security measures to aid in the prevention of future occurrences.
  1. CLOSING

The meeting was adjournedby a motion from Mr. Herbert Johnson, and seconded by Mr. Darwin Howard. The meeting ended at 8:22pm.

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