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“The President’s Report”
July 2010
By now most Tucker residents have had an opportunity to see the June edition of the magazine, Up Close and Personal in Tucker, and the cover story about Jane Tanner as the “godmother” of Tucker Civic Association’s “Give An Hour” program. Jane, of course, is co-chair of our Community Building & Membership Committee, and the article is a well-deserved tribute, as she indeed is the founder of our program. The “Give An Hour” (GAH) projects – monthly efforts at which Tucker and Smoke Rise residents can donate an hour of community service to a worthy cause – continue to attract growing numbers of volunteers. Our June GAH, at the historic Johns’ Homestead property on Lawrenceville Highway, had about 40 volunteers spreading mulch, pulling privet, cleaning off shed roofs and, with strong men expending great effort, dismantling rooms which had been added in later years to the original 1800s farmhouse. That was a very rewarding morning project.
For July, we have another great project planned – cleaning the grounds, pulling invasive plants and spreading pine bark along trails at Smoke Rise Park on Saturday, July 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m. I’m counting on a great turn-out of volunteers.
TCA had another success, along with our co-sponsors, with the Candidate Forum held June 21 at the 1st Baptist Mission Center on Main Street. Smoke Rise Community Association, Tucker Business Association and Main Street Tucker Alliance partnered with us to hold this event. The audience heard candidates for the 4th Congressional Seat, 40th District State Senate, 88th District State House, and Democratic candidates for County Commission Super District 7. At the end, a number of the candidates said it was the best-attended forum they had yet participated in. Let me again thank DeKalb Superior Court Judge C. J. Becker for moderating the forum fairly and efficiently, and TCA Vice President Tom Lawrence for organizing the event and serving as time-keeper.
Looking ahead, we have a busy fall. We have more “Give An Hour” projects each month, plus our fall membership meeting at which we’ll announce the Tucker Citizen of the Year for 2010, and we’ll have another candidate forum in October, in advance of the November general election.
We, the Board of Tucker Civic Association, are also pushing forward to achieve the priorities we established for ourselves this year, including holding another “Rivers Alive” stream clean-up in October, establishing a 501(c)3 fund to accept tax-deductible donations, securing funding sources in addition to membership dues, and creating presentations we can give to local groups on topics such as zoning basics and code enforcement procedures.
My hat is off to Anita Stoltzfus and Jane Tanner, co-chairs of Community Building & Membership, for generating a wave of new members this year, to Pam McNall, chair of Parks & Greenspace, for organizing efforts for “Rivers Alive,” to Jonnie Johnston for her leadership as Public Safety chair, and to all the members of the TCA Board for their focus and teamwork.
We’ve got new members, new energy, new focus. Our motto is “Partners in the Progress and Preservation of Tucker.” The work is very rewarding, and I hope you’ll join us in improving our community.
Paul Ellingson |
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