Update On Recent Events Oct 2008

To: Members of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association
From: Jerry Budgar, President
Re: Update on Recent Ward3 Events

I just wanted to update everyone on our very well attended and
successful Annual Meeting and Harvest Festival held last Sunday at the
Montview Neighborhood Farm. We counted close to 100 ward residents
popping in over the two-hour period to learn about the projects we're
involved with, talk to members of our committees, tour the Montview
Neighborhood and Town Farms to see two examples of new agricultural
pursuits in our ward, enjoy great food from Ward 3 chefs and local
restaurants, and vote in our Annual Meeting.

At the Annual Meeting, the membership ratified a number of job
descriptions for our officers and directors that had previously been
approved by the board. Members also endorsed the board's desire to
use a consensus/supermajority model when coming to decisions on major
policy issues and a majority model when voting on such operational
issues as budgets and expenditures. Also approved was a measure
increasing the size of our board by two associate members, one for
Precinct 3A and the other for Precinct 3B. These folks will vote
when one of the three board representatives from his/her precinct
cannot attend the meeting. Anyone interested in becoming an associate
member should contact me at: gbudgar@rcn.com

I'd like to thank Vice President Jim Nash for coordinating the myriad
details of our Annual Meeting and Harvest Fest, and Councillor Bob
Reckman for securing tables and chairs from Northampton Rental
Center, a cheese and fruit platter from Deborah Lynch of East Side
Grill, and two big trays of panini from Claudio Guerra of Spoleto
Express. And thanks also to Szawlowski Farms for donating a huge bag
of Meadows-grown potatoes that our own Ed Glowatsky turned into
incredible French fries for all!

The next event on our Ward 3 calendar is the annual Meadows cleanup
scheduled for Sunday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We'll all
gather in the parking lot of the Northampton Airport at 10 and be
driven to areas of the Meadows that need attention. We'll supply
gloves if you bring the willingness to help keep this wonderful part
of our ward and city clean. Thanks in advance to BNB Waste for
donating use of a dumpster and J.C. & Co. for use of a dump truck to
ferry trash from work sites to the dumpster.

Last but certainly not least, it's time to pay your dues. We only ask
$10 for an individual and $15 for a family membership. Help us help
you by sending along your 2008/9 dues checks, made out to the Ward 3
Neighborhood Association, to P.O. Box 64, Northampton, MA 0l060-0064.
Your dues will help us represent Ward 3's concerns before city
government and help keep you informed and up-to-date about those
issues and concerns.

Finally, a hearty thank you to those who support us in one of the many
ways you can: by attending our events, sending us dues, joining one
of our committees, or volunteering to help us with events and/or
tasks. We are very grateful.

Jerry Budgar
President