Welcome!

Thanks to each of  our neighbors for the successful effort of unifying CGNA within Alderman Moreno’s Ward 1. The Alderman estimates this will occur June 2012 unless a non-trivial lawsuit is filed and advanced.
We continue our efforts to keep our 13th Police District as well as maintain our library hours. We CAN and DO make a difference!

At our next meeting, March 20th, paid dues members of CGNA will vote on our proposed Board of Directors*:
Lyn Wolfson: President
Judith Gethner: Vice-President
Carmen Quiles: Treasurer
Audrey Rath: Secretary
Joe Gustaitis: at large
Daniel Laskowski: at large
Beth Laurin: at large
Deb Korb: at large
*If you’d like to nominate others please submit by March 1st to info@cgnaweb.org
All dues paying members (paid in-full by March 1st) will be allowed to vote.
 Join us at our upcoming 2012 CGNA Meetings: 
March 20th
May 15th
July 17th
September 18th
November 20th

If you’d like to learn more about the CGNA, including upcoming meetings, events, or how you can help support our neighborhood, please contact us at cgna@cgnaweb.org, or you can find us on Facebook. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

You can also become a member via PayPal. 

Click on the Membership tab above and join now to help support your local neighborhood group.  The CGNA Board is composed of unpaid volunteers, and membership dues go towards insurance.

CGNA GENERAL MEETING NOV. 15, 2011

MEETING MINUTES 
Board Members present:  Judith Gethner, Joe Gustatis, Deb Korb, Dan Laskowski, Audrey Rath, Lyn Wolfson
Board Members absent: Jennifer DiCresce , Carmen Quiles

No representative from 1^st Ward or 26^th Ward offices

Lyn Wolfson called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.

1. 2011 Treasury Report: Joe Gustaitis reported $1,244.24 revenue surplus, to carryover into 2012.
2. 2012 Budget Plan presented: Lyn Wolfson reported currently about 35 paying members.  2012 estimated 100 paying members based on 225 people in facebook group.  Board will evaluate potential donations in 2012 pending actual revenue received.  # 1 priority is to cover the Board Member’s Liability Insurance–$450.00—and basic state fees to continue as a 501C-3.  Board understands the community’s interests in supporting MetWest Garden, West Town Library, and Talcott, plus a desire to create simple brochure and sign for marketing and new member development purposes.
3. MetWest Garden: Andy Tomka reported that garden has been granted permit to access water from a hydrant.
4. Snowberry Garden: Joe Gustaitis reported that Snowberry Winter Festival will take place on Dec. 4^th, at 4:00pm at the park.  He said finding a water source is also a concern for Friends of Snowberry Garden.  Commercial Park’s Circus in the Park raised money that will be divided among the three parks—Commercial, Superior, and Snowberry.  Friends of Snowberry hope to get grant money to fund Snowberry Bushes and to install a nonskid surface for the concrete area that surrounds the sprinklers.
5. Talcott: Tanya Drummond reported the next LSC meeting open to the public will be Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 2:00pm.  On Nov. 30 at 5:00pm, Options for Knowledge will offer tours of the school. Sprout donated plants, currently at the Drummond residence awaiting planting. Annie Jr. raised over $2,000 that will be matched by the school—more than enough to purchase the new sound and lighting system for the auditorium. Money raised by Nate Burkus at the Oct. Harvest Festival (>$600) will help cover the cost of painting the cafeteria during Christmas break. Speed bumps will be installed in front of the school on Ohio St. sometime this month—P. Frisbee strongly opposes the speed bumps, but it is already approved by the city; General Assembly passed law that speed cameras will be on in front of schools during school hours.
   1. Planning & Development: Dan Laskowski reported that an extra wide lot of the 1600 block of Huron sold for about $280,000.  Joe Gustaitis said the new house on the 1848 W. Erie sold for about $790,000.
   2. CAPS: Tony Duffy provided an update on the Save the 13^th District Police Station stressing the importance of people continuing to sign the petition and to attend rallies and to keep pressure on the aldermen and mayor.  NOTE: post-meeting Wed. Nov. 16, the mayor’s budget passed 50-0.  Ald. Moreno’s Nov. 17 e-newsletter said the 13^th District’s building will be converted to a community service center with green space and an area for police service.  Tony also reported that Betty’s Blue Star has closed temporarily—the owner and manager plan to re-open as new concept neighborhood friendly to reduce as potential crime hot spot. DUKS is closed temporarily by the health inspector, but still waiting to hear about city’s final decision concerning taking away its overnight license on the weekends. Next CAPS meeting Dec. 8; probably nothing in Jan. 2012.
   3. Open Discussion: Lyn and Judith reported on what they learned about the re-mapping process at the public meeting they attended on Nov. 14 at Whitney Young H.S. where they gave testimony on behalf of CGNA to re-map keeping the entire CGNA area of operation in the 1^st ward.  The re-mapping is based on population and demographics.  The 1^st Ward must lose about 1800 people; 26^th and 27^th Wards will gain people.  Ald. Moreno will hold a public meeting on Mon. Nov. 28 at the Wicker Park-Bucktown Library 1300 Milwaukee.  Lyn and Judith discussed the likelihood of CGNA area getting re-mapped into either Burnett or Maldonado ward because Moreno already publicly stated it’s likely that 1^st ward boundary will move west. 

   The next General Meeting will be held Jan. 10, 2012, the 2^nd Tuesday of the month.  This meeting ended at 7:25pm. 
   Respectfully submitted by Lyn Wolfson, VP, CGNA

   Please consider joining the CGNA Board open positions available for 2011.