NOVEMBER 2022 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
SRG NOVEMBER 2022 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Nov. 2, 2022
DRAFT Minutes
1. Call to Order
Board Members present: Michael Pastore, President; Abbey Bethel, President-Elect; Debby Brown, Treasurer; Christopher Currington, Secretary; Nancy Lambert; Craig Markham; and Gary Toribio.
Committee Chairs present: Veronica Putz, Historical; Julie Price, Membership; and Jay Gibbs, Plan Review Team (PRT).
Elected Officials and Special Guests present: Dan Guenther, Alderman, Ward 9; and Officer Kevin Dilg, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Michael Pastore called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m., and welcomed SRG General members, Board members, elected officials, and special guests.
2. Membership Committee
Julie Price, Membership Committee chair, introduced new members:
* David and Cortney French
* Alan Walker
* Ron Heister
* Frank Maguire
Julie then gave an update on the Ambassador content. All SRG members need to help the Membership Committee increase the number of members. Julie had SRG membership business cards for everyone to take, and when they have a new neighbor, they’re encouraged to give them a card. If anyone brings in a new member, they get a magnet for their refrigerator. Anyone who brings a new member will get a tick mark on the dry-erase board, and whoever has the most members join will be recognized at next May’s membership drive.
The Membership Committee had an Off the Island event with 25 people who went to Illinois to visit the property of former SRG members for a hayride and bonfire. Attendees have to be SRG members and SRG paid for the bus. If anyone has any ideas about future Off the Island events, they’re encouraged to email membership@soulard.org.
The social after this General Membership meeting will be held at the American Legion. The Membership Committee is looking to sign up anyone interested in hosting the socials after the General Membership meetings in 2023.
3. Plan Review Team (PRT)
Jay Gibbs, PRT Committee chair, went over:
1) A violation at a house at 8th and Soulard;
2) A collapsed building at 916-918 Allen and what can be salvaged from the remains;
3) A project on S 11th Street;
4) An update about the interior and exterior of Calypso;
5) A new construction project.
There was a question about the vacant lot at 9th and Soulard Street. Jay didn’t have an update since the last time he’d spoken to the property owner a couple months back.
4. Parlour Tour
Nancy Lambert, Board Liaison to the Parlour Tour, gave the update for the committee. The Parlour tour was less than 30 days away, and the committee is working very hard. The tour is Dec. 3, starts at 10:30 a.m., and moves on every 30 minutes. There are seven homeowners who will be welcoming 250 people into their homes. The tour costs $50, which includes a champaign toast and special white, blown glass ornament for 2022. Extra ornaments will be on sale at the December General Membership meeting.
The doors at The Franklin of Soulard will open at 6:30 p.m. (same day) for the Fete de Noel. Dinner will be at 7:15, with an open bar, meal, and entertainment. The entertainment will consist of Greg Dallas and Michael Neu, and the Rosati-Kain High School choir. The cost for the Fete de Noel is $50. The cost is $80 for both the Parlour Tour and the Fete de Noel.
There was a question about where the tour started. It starts and ends at the Soulard Station.
Neal Thompson, member of the Parlour Tour committee, said something that has amped up the Parlour Tour is the work that Neil and Veronica Putz have done putting together a vivid historical review of Soulard. The Parlour Tour did a fundraiser and gave Neil and Veronica a check for $600 to fund their continued efforts doing historical research. Neil Putz handed the check to the SRG treasurer.
5. Safety Committee
Nancy Lambert, Board Liaison to the Safety Committee, said that she and Andrea Maddox-Dallas want to thank everyone who helped with the Safety Walk in October. Every time this is done, participants find many things that need to be fixed.
6. Soulard Station Committee
Gary Toribio, Board Liaison to the Soulard Station Committee, said that the committee will be cleaning up the gardens and preparing for winter. If anyone is interested and can help, they were encouraged to email station@soulard.org.
There was a problem with a broken window in the back of the building. It will cost $500 and the committee hopes to have it fixed by the middle of November.
7. Board Member Comments
* Abbey Bethel, President-Elect, thanked everyone who volunteered to help at Oktoberfest. Only counting tips, SRG raised $1,078.
*Craig Markham, Director, let the SRG members know about the Board retreat the past weekend. The topics were driving member engagement, retention, and volunteerism. If anyone has any ideas about these topics, they were encouraged to email them to board@soulard.org.
8. Crime Report
Officer Kevin Dilg, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, gave the report. The department now has a traffic officer dedicated to the Third District. If anyone has any issues with traffic, such as speeding or violating stop signs, they should let Officer Dilg know, and he’ll pass on information to the traffic officer.
Someone asked if the department has changed its policy on drones. Office Dilg confirmed that it has not.
9. Open Forum
Neil Putz said that he’d received a postcard about Henry’s liquor license, indicating that Soulard residents within a 350-foot radius of the premises (Henry’s) will be receiving such a postcard. This will lead to a solicitation to sign Henry’s petition requesting neighborhood support of their liquor license. A handout on the tables showed several news articles documenting some adverse facts (recent news and incidents) that have happened at Henry’s. Soulard neighbors asked to sign Henry’s petition now have these facts to consider before deciding whether or not to sign that petition.
There was then a brief discussion about a house with an unsafe sidewalk near the Great Grizzly Bear. Michael Pastore referred any comments to the Citizen Service Bureau.
10. Adjourn
Scott Plackemeier made the motion to adjourn. Julie Dinkelmann seconded.
All voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m.