Four join NENA Board at annual meeting

Nokomis East Neighborhood Association accepting applications for new executive director

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

There are four new members on the Nokomis East Neighborhood Board.

Larry Ouellet (Keewaydin), Mark Keeler (at-large), Steve Larmon (at-large) and Marian ­Streitz (Morris Park) were elected during the annual meeting on Apr. 28.

Reelected were current board members Maribel Osorio (Wenonah), Molly Donovan (Minnehaha) and Helena Pikus-Li (at-large) bringing the board to 15 members.

Meet the new NENA board members

Ouellet is a retired Air Force member who has lived near Noklomis True Value for six years. “I’m the guy who always looks out for the neighborhood,” he stated.

Keeler is a pastor of a local church and is excited to have recently moved into the neighborhood. He is particularly interested in how NENA, local churches, businesses and the community can collaborate on various programs.

Larmon has two children and said that he is committed to the neighborhood. “This organization is a good tool for making sure Nokomis East continues to be the neighborhood we all want it to be,” Larmon stated.

Streitz previously served on the NENA Board from 1995 to 2013. One of her top goals is to update NENA’s bylaws. As one who critiqued the board last November, Streitz observed, “I think they are trying to make sure they are transparent... I think they are starting to dig in and get some work done.”

Planning for the future

NENA’s Interim Executive Director Amy Arcand is in the middle of an organization assessment.

Arcand noted that she will present recommendations to the executive committee in June or July, and shared with the new executive director, when that person is found.

Board members recently attended a half-day retreat to review the organization’s finances and begin visioning for the future.

“NENA leadership created a board work plan in March to help prioritize their work during the transition and has taken preliminary steps toward a more in depth planning process for the future,” Arcand said.

Transparency

In its goal to be more transparent, NENA has recently sent two postcards to all homes in the Nokomis East neighborhoods, generating interest, and involvement from people, remarked Arcand.

“Our volunteer-led Facebook page is generating new interest, and we are posting board meeting highlights, event information, committee notices, and more,” she added.

NENA is also producing an electronic newsletter at least once a month and hopes to increase the number of subscribers in 2015.

In addition, Community Organizer Maria Alcaraz has been conducting surveys, building relationships and sharing information with Latino and Somali residents in the neighborhood.  “She is also building relationships with the police department, other neighborhood organizations, community leaders, local parks and other institutions,” said Arcand.

Search in progress for new director

NENA has begun its search for a new executive director.

A job announcement was posted on Apr. 30 and NENA is currently accepting resumes. Interviews will begin by early June.

To apply, submit a cover letter of interest, resume, and three references to careers@nokomiseast.org.

$ for housing available

Jim Tennessen is the chair of the newly created Housing, Commercial and Streetscape Committee.

“We’re starting to get organized,” said Tennessen, who noted that they began meeting two months ago. The committee currently has six members, and they intend to be sure that there are both housing and business representatives.

Tennessen noted that they are working with the Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA) to determine how best to spend $82,000 of Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Phase I money.

Another major project is divvying up a pot of $300,000 in loans for housing improvements. Ten-year loans of up to $15,000 are available at a 2-3% interest rate for residents to use to improve the inside and outside of their homes.

A public meeting on this program, which will be administered by the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation, (GMHC) is set for June 16, 7pm, at Crosstown Covenant Church, 5540 30th Ave. S.

“I think one of the main purposes of the housing committee is to help improve and preserve the housing stock that is here,” observed Tennessen.

He pointed out that the Minneapolis Housing Inspections Department will be represented at the June 16 meeting, as they have loans available to help people fix up city-cited problems.

Other news:

• Community Organizer Maria Alcaraz is officially a NENA staff member and is no longer being hired on a contract basis. According to Arcand, “Maria has always been an employee of NENA. This was simply a technicality. Hiring employees on a contract basis is not a preferred best practice, so we were just correcting the situation. Maria Alcaraz is a valued employee and the intent of the organization was always to keep her employed.”

• NENA has handed over the organization of the Monarch Festival to its partner, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB), for 2015. Taking the lead will be MPRB Environmental Education Coordinator MaryLynn Pulscher.

• The board is working on a new personnel policy that covers everything from paid time off to appropriate attire. It was expected to be approved at the May 28 meeting.

• NENA hired a new bookkeeper and is working with an accountant to revise its accounting policies and procedures.