Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors Association

January 26, 2022 - Tattler Post, American Legion

Annual Meeting Agenda

Notes transcribed from Zoom meeting recording.

6:30 pm – Let’s Meet the Current Board 

Welcome from president, John Ratzenberger

• Challenging year for HOLS because of COVID

• Yet, HOLS accomplished a lot

  • Save Your Ash Campaign raised over $33,000 and saved 260 ash trees in the neighborhood (Bravo Ashley!)

  • Took over community garden from Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce

  • Neighborhood clean-ups

  • Christmas in the Wards: raised $12,000 for gift cards to help local families in need

• Thank you volunteers and board members for your contributions

• Introductions

  • Board members introduced themselves, role at HOLS, why they joined

    • John Ratzenberger

      • President since Feb. 2020, business member, joined board three years ago, does fundraising for a local nonprofit, Gateway for Learning, “This is the best place to work, live, and play.”

    • Joanne Oyer (submitted bio to be read)

      • Secretary, original steering committee member, relocated from Boston, kids in CPS, copy editor by day, committed to making Lincoln Square a welcoming place.

    • Joe Struck

      • Treasurer, has filled other roles. Has lived in the area for eight years, important for him to “be involved making the neighborhood the best it can be.” Leaving to pursue a campaign for state rep.

    • Tom Benedetto

      • Works in government, joined board 2 years ago to engage “government officials and citizens” in dialogue, coordinator for State of the Neighborhood. Has filled other roles. Leaving due to relocation.

    • Joven Ebio

      • Chair, Outreach Committee. Joined the board this year. Builds websites, professionally. Responsible for communications/social media/membership/newsletters. 

    • Ashely Woodthorp

      • Chair, Beautification Committee. HOLS board since 2018. Spearheaded Save Your Ash fundraiser. Also runs neighborhood cleanups and community gardens. Involved in art, sculpture, murals and plantings in the neighborhood. Needs volunteers.

    • Adam Kingsley

      • Chair, Planning and Development Committee. Has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. At Welles with his dog daily. Evaluates proposed projects and developments. Works with aldermen, providing input from neighbors and HOLS. HOLS “advocates for us” (the residents). 

• Committee tasks, goals, and what happened in your committee 2021 (Committee chairs reviewed in their intros)

  • Beautification (Ashley) - so much activity!

  • Planning & Development (Adam) - always so active in our community

  • Outreach (Joven) - it’s more than just social media, it’s events like State of the Neighborhood and as COVID wanes (please please please), more opportunities for volunteerism and community networking events.

Go meet Committee Chairs and find out how to get more involved

• Planning & Development (Adam)

• Beautification (Ashley)

• Outreach (Joven)

• Online - if people want to chit chat and get to know each other, go for it! Zoom will continue for a while.

Elections

• Thanks to our hosts, the Tattler Post and Brent Webb

• Now Let’s meet the candidates!

  • Brent Webb

    • Relocated from CA, veteran: crypto linguist/Afghanistan combat vet. Involved in development and community outreach/advocacy for veterans. Was youngest Post Commander in the country. Revived Tattler Post. “Trying to find ways to get [himself and veterans] involved in the community”

  • Dan Spiegel

    • From So. California, docent for Chicago Architectural Center, works in commercial real estate industry. Believes in cities, master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. “Always gravitated to Lincoln Square” and wants to be involved, “be the change” and bring a positive influence to the community and public discourse.

• Vote!

“Approve Brent Webb to be a future board member for the HOLS board of directors.”

Approved unanimously.

“Approve Dan Spiegel to be a future board member for the HOLS board of directors.”

Approved unanimously.

“Congratulations to new board members!”

Meeting is officially over, but if you'd like to meet your neighbors, now is the time!