RNNC

As we enter the final week leading up the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference please be advised that the online registration option is no longer available. You still have the opportunity, however to print a copy using the “printable version” option and pay when you arrive. The fee is now $125.00. In addition, due to various deadlines that had to be met, late registrants may not receive a conference t-shirt.

2012 Regional Neighborhood Network Conference

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The Stella Stewart Award

Paul C. Rosenberger

Paul C. Rosenberger, being a man of inexhaustible energy is upbeat, positive, involved and committed to preserving, maintaining and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the City of Decatur.

Mr. Rosenberger is a pillar in the community and has shown his commitment through his outreach and community involvement. He currently serves as secretary and board member of the Human Service Agency Consortium- Disability Division, is Treasurer and a Board Member of the Holiday Hills Neighborhood Organization, and is Secretary and Board Member of the Coalition of Neighborhood Organizations. Mr. Rosenberger was past president of the state and local Board of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities.

While ingeniously rising above his own physical challenges, Mr. Rosenberger has demonstrated special care and concern as he volunteers hours of his time to make his neighborhood, the Holiday Hills Neighborhood Organization, a safer, more pleasant, and friendlier place to live by making new neighbors feel welcome. He organizes the Spring Cabin Fever dinners, a project designed to get people out of their homes in the spring to become more neighbors by meeting and greeting neighbors they haven’t seen all winter. He also organizes ice cream and watermelon socials to promote unity within his neighborhood. And he created a detailed contact list within their neighborhood, which highlights their phone numbers, addresses, lot number, with personal household information to be shared among their neighbors.

He was also selected to the Neighborhood Improvements Commission because of his fearless and dedication to neighborhoods.

THE STELLA STEWART AWARD

The Neighborhood Alliance, Peoria, Illinois, respectfully nominates:

Bernadine Nolan

for the

2012 Stella Stewart Doing Good in the Neighborhood Award

Bernadine Nolan's efforts have had a reverberating effect from her street to her neighborhood, and finally to her City of Peoria, Illinois. This native born and educated Peorian has served as secretary, treasurer, and president of the Columbia Terrace North Neighborhood Association, which represents 273 homes. Bernadine's activities on her street depict the true meaning of the slogan "Doing Good in the Neighborhood." She invites the school children to wait for the bus on her porch rather than stand in the cold. Bernadine also mentors many children and youth by giving them games to play and giving them flowers to take home to their parents.

Bernadine's impact and influence moved from the street to the neighborhood where she and her husband played a leadership role in the development of a neighborhood park on land donated by a local doctor. They worked with their neighbors to clear the area of trees, landscaped it, and built a gazebo. The Nolans bought a garage and moved it to the site and remodeled it into a meeting place with a kitchen, bathrooms, and other amenities. Over 250 people attended the dedication in 2007 of the Nolan Community Center. This Center is frequently in use by the neighborhood association and other community groups.

Other neighborhood associations seek out Bernadine for her ability to unite groups. She finds herself working with Olde Towne South Neighborhood Association and other projects such as the Great American Cleanup, Drug Market Intervention Initiative, Night Out Against Crime, Armstrong Ellis and University East Crime Prevention Programs, Med Tech Advisory Board, West Bluff Council (composed of seven neighborhoods), and raising funds for the RNNC.

Bernadine is a member of the Peoria Neighborhood Alliance and has served as the chairperson for the Annual Neighborhood Leadership Awards Banquet. At the 2011 Neighborhood Leadership Awards Banquet, Bernadine received the Mayor's Award for her tireless efforts over a number of years that resulted in a positive change in the quality of life in her neighborhood and the whole City of Peoria. She served on the Mayor's Housing Commission and the Mayor's Litter Committee where she participates in at least 12 cleanups per year throughout the five council districts in the City. Bernadine has attended the RNNC from 2002-2011.

The Stella Stewart Award

John Meinzen

Doing Good in Fort Wayne Neighborhoods

John Meinzen has served as neighborhood president of the Spy Run Neighborhood Association for approximately twenty years. He has worked tirelessly organizing neighborhood cleanups, neighborhood watches, and garage sales. John also took on the task of writing and distributing a neighborhood newsletter the entire time of his tenure. And while these accomplishments are to be heralded, what sets John Meinzen apart from other neighborhood leaders is his ability to share his vision and to set his vision in motion.

John has always been outcomes-focused stating, “I have a strong desire to improve a situation.” One example of John’s vision being transformed into a solution-focused plan was the creation of the CORE group. The CORE group represents several central city neighborhoods in Fort Wayne that share unique challenges due in large part to aging infrastructure, etc., unlike their suburban counterparts. Not only did John realize that several of the central city neighborhoods share common concerns, but he knew it would take an organized effort to achieve the much needed resolution the group so desperately sought. After hosting several meetings identifying what issues to tackle first, John and the CORE group began to meet regularly with the Mayor. Soon after, results started to take place. One neighborhood no longer had sewage backing up in their homes after several years of complaining to officials, while another saw progress being made in cleaning and separating their sewer lines.

John now serves as vice president of his neighborhood association however his commitment to neighborhood improvements is as strong as ever. Beautifying and properly identifying the city’s gateways happens to be John’s focus as of late. He is proud to live in Fort Wayne and knows of its rich history and opportunities for business and families. John believes no opportunity is too small when it comes to luring potential businesses and visitors to Fort Wayne.

“Without a vision the people will perish.” Proverbs 29:18. Thanks to John Meinzen, the residents of Spy Run Neighborhood, and members of the CORE neighborhoods continue to benefit from his vision that will undoubtedly improve their quality of life for many years to come.

John Meinzen has served as neighborhood president of the Spy Run Neighborhood Association for approximately twenty years. He has worked tirelessly organizing neighborhood cleanups, neighborhood watches, and garage sales. John also took on the task of writing and distributing a neighborhood newsletter the entire time of his tenure. And while these accomplishments are to be heralded, what sets John Meinzen apart from other neighborhood leaders is his ability to share his vision and to set his vision in motion.

John has always been outcomes-focused stating, “I have a strong desire to improve a situation.” One example of John’s vision being transformed into a solution-focused plan was the creation of the CORE group. The CORE group represents several central city neighborhoods in Fort Wayne that share unique challenges due in large part to aging infrastructure, etc., unlike their suburban counterparts. Not only did John realize that several of the central city neighborhoods share common concerns, but he knew it would take an organized effort to achieve the much needed resolution the group so desperately sought. After hosting several meetings identifying what issues to tackle first, John and the CORE group began to meet regularly with the Mayor. Soon after, results started to take place. One neighborhood no longer had sewage backing up in their homes after several years of complaining to officials, while another saw progress being made in cleaning and separating their sewer lines.

John now serves as vice president of his neighborhood association however his commitment to neighborhood improvements is as strong as ever. Beautifying and properly identifying the city’s gateways happens to be John’s focus as of late. He is proud to live in Fort Wayne and knows of its rich history and opportunities for business and families. John believes no opportunity is too small when it comes to luring potential businesses and visitors to Fort Wayne.

“Without a vision the people will perish.” Proverbs 29:18. Thanks to John Meinzen, the residents of Spy Run Neighborhood, and members of the CORE neighborhoods continue to benefit from his vision that will undoubtedly improve their quality of life for many years to come.