Meeting Minutes-February 9, 2017

The police and safety meeting started at 6:30 pm at the community center in Earlewood Park. Columbia City Police Department Officer Thomas Johnson gave report on recent police activity in the neighborhood. Officer Johnson stated that although our neighborhood has its share of break-ins and other incidents it is one of the safest neighborhoods in Columbia.

During his presentation, he discussed how to report suspicious activity in the neighborhood and how to prevent burglaries from your car and home. If you are interested in finding out how you can protect yourself and your family, please attend out next neighborhood meeting which meets quarterly.

The ECCO general membership meeting started at 7 pm, and was called to our by the new president, Kathleen McDaniel. Kathleen began with an introduction of the other members of the Executive Committee.

Yvette Sistare gave the Treasurer's Report.

Virginia Bedford discussed the importance of becoming a member of ECCO.

Kathleen then discussed available volunteer opportunities within the neighborhood.  These opportunities included chairing standing committees, managing social media and the website, preparing the newsletter, writing grants, fundraising, or helping with any of our events. .

Kathleen discussed our first upcoming event, the Big Flea, which will take place on April 22, 2017, from 8 am to 12 pm. The Big Flea is our community yard sale. Residents can have a yard sale in their yard or rent a space at Earlewood Baptist Church. Shoppers will start at Earlewood Baptist Church, pick up a map of all the yard sales in the neighborhood, shop the tables at the church, and then travel throughout the neighborhood shopping at residents' yard sales. Many thanks to Earlewood Baptist Church and Pastor Luther Harmon for letting us use the church as the headquarters and starting point!.

We were grateful to have with us that night Mr. Sam Davis, and Mrs. Tameika Isaac Devine from our Columbia City Council. They were excited to announce the new vision statement for the City of Columbia, that had been officially announced on January 31st, 2017. Envision Columbia is a 20 year plan which has seven focus areas that the city would like to see accomplished in the next 20 years.

The meeting was concluded at 8:30 pm.