North Four Corners News ♦ December 2023

President’s Message

By Sharon Canavan

In 2023-2024, I’m looking forward to my second stint as NFCCA President.  Reflecting back, I want to thank everybody for their efforts this past year — our neighborhood volunteers, Board members and Officers, and all who make this a better community.  A lot of folks stepped up to plan over a dozen neighborhood activities, plus recurring CommUnity walks, weekly casual soccer games, and bicycling events, including three all-ages outings and several Friday bike bus rides to school.

The NFCCA board and volunteers work behind the scenes to make our community a better place to live.  The North Four Corners News is delivered to your doorstep by 49 volunteers — a huge effort where many hands make light work.  I want to shout out to Ema Perez, our outgoing President, for his energetic efforts (too many events to mention!) and Julie Whitcomb for rolling up her sleeves and putting on two stellar events — the neighborhood yard sale and National Night Out.  Although Linda Perlman has chosen to step down from the Board, we really owe her a debt of gratitude for her many years of service (count them — 17) and her sage legal advice upon which we have so often relied.  Long-timers Sondra Katz and Jacquie Bokow — 8 and 23 years, respectively — continue to manage NFCCA’s finances and helm the newsletter and website.

In this vein, we need to keep up the engagement level.  Presently, the NFCCA does not meet our bylaws requirements for an eight-member Board — there is one vacant seat.  NFCCA covers a pretty large area, representing slightly more than 1,600 households.  Our community’s residents are diverse — economically and ethnically, newcomers and long-timers, young, middle-aged, and seniors — all with varying needs and views.  I strongly believe it is important for NFCCA Officers and Board members to bring varying perspectives and represent the full range of these differences.

Volunteer to serve on the Board to help us make Northwood-Four Corners-Forest Knolls an even more excellent community!  Offer to run yourself or nominate someone you believe can contribute their expertise.  Please contact me at [contact details redacted] if you have any questions about serving or suggestions for a nominee.

Volunteering to serve on the NFCCA Board does not have to be a heavy lift in terms of time or energy to get involved.  There are five NFCCA general membership meetings annually and a board planning meeting is scheduled a month before each of these.  Board members and officers choose how much time to devote to volunteer activities, such as planning social activities, writing articles for the newsletter, or tracking upcoming planning, legislative, or regulatory issues that will affect our community.  [See link below for details.]

NFCCA wants to acknowledge the efforts of individuals who make a special contribution to our community with a Good Neighbor award.  If there is someone you would like to nominate for this award, please send your nomination to president AT nfcca DOT org with a short write-up about how the person has made the NFCCA area a better community.

I also want to remind everyone that we are at the beginning of the next NFCCA dues cycle.  In 2022–2023, we hit an all-time high for membership with 267 paid member households.  We are off to a good start with dues received from 114 households, so join up!  The October newsletter included a dues envelope; if you cannot locate it, you can bring a dues check to any NFCCA meeting.  Or paying online is easy via PayPal on the NFCCA website or use the QR code shown.  We keep costs low by relying on neighborhood volunteers; NFCCA membership comes at the low, low price of $15.

We are always looking to the community to share your ideas and help guide NFCCA in setting our objectives for the upcoming year.  Attend the general membership meetings in person or via Zoom, get involved, and help steer the direction of our neighborhood organization.

Finally — for something a little different — instead of our usual business meeting, NFCCA is hosting a Holiday Social on Wednesday, 13 December (for further details see link below).  Have some fun, bring your kids for games and treats, meet your neighbors, and come prepared to chat with the NFCCA Officers and Board about your thoughts and ideas for next year!   ■

Serve on the Board December Holiday Social