[NLC] Neighborhood Services NLC Follow-up

[MARKEHE Isaac R]

I am having email issues.  Hopefully you haven't received this twice.
 
Good Afternoon, 

It was nice to see everyone at NLC on Tuesday.  For those of you that weren't there - you were missed.  Here are some follow-up items for everyone;

1.  Neighborhood Services training program and cross training opportunity on October 6th in Portland.  

I am currently restructuring the Neighborhood Leader training and am looking to YOU, your boards, and constituents to help develop a model.  The Southeast Uplift training on October 6th has been canceled due to low enrollment.  We will not be organizing a trip.  In spite of this, let me know what you would like to see in a training program.  Invite your neighbors into the dialogue and please feel free to share my contact information.  Also let me know if you find exceptional trainings that we can attend as this will inform the development of our training program.  

2.  Neighborhood Interest book group. 

At the NLC meeting I invited everyone to read Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam and get together for a discussion group in 6-8 weeks.  Please extend the invitation to your Neighborhood Association.  Ask them to contact me directly via email or phone to get onto the interest list.  My information is at the bottom of this email.  We will chose a time/date/location after I know the size of the group...and I'm taking suggestions.  I have copied a brief description of the book here if you would like to describe the nature of it to your group.  You can find more information at http://www.bowlingalone.com <http://www.bowlingalone.com/> .  I'm already looking forward to our discussion!

Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam 
In a groundbreaking book based on vast new data, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures-- and how we may reconnect. 

Putnam warns that our stock of social capital <http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro/primer.htm>  - the very fabric of our connections with each other, has plummeted, impoverishing our lives and communities.

Putnam draws on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the last quarter century to show that we sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet with friends less frequently, and even socialize with our families less often. We're even bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues. Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women's roles and other factors have contributed to this decline. 

3.  Contact lists - help needed! 

We are creating contact lists including your Neighborhood Executive Board members, newsletter editor, and any other key people in your Association.  We would like to keep this information on file in our office (for staff use only) in the event that there are unexpected vacancies or we are unable to reach the leader, editor or other neighborhood person.  This information is completely voluntary and is being organized by Toni Van Deusen. 

Name 
Role in neighborhood group 
Street Address (including zip) 
Telephone (home and cell if any) 
E-mail address, if any 

Thank you for your help with this seemingly small, but oh so important 
item!  Please forward this information to toni.e.vandeusen at ci.eugene.or.us at your convenience. 

THANKS!!! 
Toni Van Deusen         
Neighborhood Services     
682-8240 

Everyone, please contact me if you need anything.  As the Neighborhood Services Manager I'm looking forward to getting to know you and your organization.  

Sincerely, 

Isaac Markehe 
Neighborhood Services Program Manager 
City of Eugene 
99 W. 10th Avenue 
Eugene, OR  97401 
(541) 682-6243 
isaac.r.markehe at ci.eugene.or.us