2011 was a big year for HMP!  We had lofty plans and dreamed big!  We believed that we could be more and do more despite being a smaller neighborhood. We rolled up our sleeves, worked hard, and reached out beyond our boundaries and across neighborhoods and organizations. And through a lot of planning, determination, and the combined talents of many neighbors, we are bringing numerous positive changes to HMP!

Our key priorities for 2011 were to continue holding events that bring neighbors together and build community while also diversifying participation, increasing HMP beautification and pride in the neighborhood, and helping maintain the historical and architectural integrity of our neighborhood through the development of historic renovation guidelines. Additionally, we wanted to improve our HMP communication platform, to reach more people, better brand HMP to create a consistent look and feel for the neighborhood, and develop some standard operating procedures in terms of how the Board is run and how elections are held.

The HMPNA has made significant strides in all of these areas from launching our small house parties (i.e., block parties) for neighbors to get to know each other better, developing a plan to beautify and increase the safety of the roundabout, designing and purchasing HMP’s first historic marker, and developing a plan and determining a location for HMP’s first pocket park. We have also created HMP’s historic renovation guidelines for the neighborhood that will be particularly helpful for landlords, investors, and other partners who want to be good neighbors, but need guidance on rehabbing a property of historical significance.

Additionally, we now have a new logo and presentation template, a new Twitter site, a new and improved HMP website and Facebook site, and a Café Press store where you can show your neighborhood pride by shopping for HMP-branded sweatshirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, and even clothing for your tots and pets!

We also added some formality to the HMPNA Board to increase our focus, efficiency, and transparency. We developed an HMP 5-year plan, developed committees and clarified roles and responsibilities, documented important policies, and created a “Nominating Committee” to make the HMPNA election process more fair and consistent.

And last but not least, HMP collaborated with five surrounding neighborhoods this past year to build a “Quality of Life Plan” for the Mid-North area. This plan was the result of hundreds of engaged neighbors and friends who worked hard to understand the needs of the Mid-North area, set out a common vision to make improvements that will make a real difference in the quality of life of residents, and find sponsors to lead the identified projects. The plan, which is now completed, will be unveiled on January 23rd and will attract investors and donors and create positive change for the Mid-North area for years to come.

And HMP accomplished all of this while also holding 2 alley clean-ups, 3 neighborhood social events (Cajun Brunch and New Neighbor Reception, The Fall Festival, and  Winter Warm-Up Holiday Party), 2 block parties, the HMP Neighborhood Yard Sale, and 3 General Meetings!

Never has it been a more exciting time to live in our neighborhood. The Mid-North Quality of Life plan coupled with an extraordinarily active HMPNA Board and volunteer base presents us new opportunities like never before.  We are already accomplishing more than we ever thought imaginable. Will 2012 be the year we surpass our own expectations? Will we be able to secure a property for our pocket park, develop gateway markers for our neighborhood, provide our Seniors with additional care and assistance, and re-launch our Safe Neighborhood Awareness Program? Will our green spaces look nicer, our streets be cleaner, and our neighborhood be safer? And will it be the year when more neighbors get to know each other and get involved in HMP events? Our opportunities are only as big as our determination, our vision, and our dreams of what we want to become. With the talents and diversity of the incoming 2012 HMPNA Board and our exceptional volunteers, friends, and neighbors, we can take our neighborhood from a great place to live, to one of the Indianapolis’s finest neighborhoods.

Thank you for your continued support and confidence in me as your Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association Board President. Also many thanks to our 2011 HMPNA Board for their tireless effort, dedication, and commitment to serving our neighborhood  (John Carmer, David Conrad, Doug Day, Christy Krieg, Jerry Johnson, Karla Johnson, Jess LaNore, and Ora Triplett). Have I told you guys lately how much YOU ROCK?

Looking forward to a year of surpassed expectations!

Cassie Mehlman-Rhys
President, Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

“We’re proud to be able to help children and families in our community,” says Abby Williams, Early Childhood and Lower Division Head at St. Richard’s, who also coordinates the school’s HUDDLE student community service group.  “Every child should have gifts to open on Christmas day.”

The presents were collected at St. Richard’s before being wrapped by students and delivered to School 60 on December 19.  The collaboration was just the latest in a strong partnership that has included past gift drives and a half day Gift of Time exchange by teachers.

In September, HMP held a community meeting to determine if the neighborhood association was in favor of developing a pocket park within HMP boundaries. Association members voted overwhelmingly in favor of an HMP pocket park! The Pocket Park committee communicated that their next step would be to partner with the KIB and do site visits for each identified potential location to gain their feedback on the pros and cons of each location and get an overall recommendation. The site visits have been completed and the Pocket Park committee would like to share the KIB recommendations on location and gain community input on park uses. We will conclude the meeting with a voting
exercise to select the location and better understand what uses the community would like to see for the park. Even if you missed the first meeting, this is a great opportunity to get informed and involved in putting a “park” in
Historic Meridian Park!  Remember, to vote you need to be a current Neighborhood Association member. To check your status, go to the dues paying page. If you have any questions, please contact Cassie Mehlman-Rhys at cassiemehlmanrhys@gmail.com or 317-997-2791.

• Light the outside of your home to make it more visible to your neighbor. Outside motion detector lights can make it almost impossible for a burglar to enter without being seen.
• Make sure all your exterior doors have good locks: At least dead-bolt locks with a minimum one-inch throw.
• Make sure outside doors are solid: 1¾ inch metal or hardwood.
• Secure sliding glass doors with commercially available bars or locks, or put a wooden dowel or broom handle in the door track. A screw partially seated in the overhead track will prevent the doors from being lifted out.
• Make sure your windows have good locks, particularly those at ground level. Lock double-hung windows by sliding a small-headed bolt or nail through a hole drilled at a slight downward angle in a top corner of the inside sash and partway into the outside sash.
• Trim bushes near doors to reduce hiding places for burglars.
• Make sure all porches, entrances, and outside areas are well lit.
• Install peepholes in all outside doors.
• Trim any bushes or trees that hide doors or windows.
• Keep ladders and tools inside when you’re not using them.
• Keep lawn chairs and tables away from under windows.
• Keep a list of your valuables and their serial numbers.  A videotape, photograph, or sales receipts will help with insurance claims.
• Before you leave, set timers so that lights, TVs, and radios go on and off.
• If you are going to be away, contact the post office to have your mail stopped while you are away or have someone pick up the mail and any newspapers, take your garbage can out and back, check the doors for flyers, and shovel a path to the door if it is snowing.
• Close your garage door. An empty garage says you’re not at home. Thieves can easily steal bikes, lawnmowers, snow blowers, and other valuables. Burglars can close the garage door and take their time breaking into your home.
• Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. Don’t store the title for your car in the glove compartment. You will need it to prove ownership if the car is stolen.
• Never surprise a burglar. If you see something that makes you think your home may have been robbed, do not go in. Go to a safe place and call the police. The burglar may still be around.

• Volunteers are needed to assist with the many social gatherings HMP residents enjoy.  If you are interested in assisting with the coordination of social gatherings or would like to host one at your home, please contact any board member.
• Volunteer coordinator and group members needed for the SNAP program.  If interested, please contact a board member.
• Volunteer to host small house parties for neighbors on their immediate block.
• HMPNA Board elections will take place during the December Holiday party.  If you are interested in serving on the board or know someone who is, please contact a board member for further information.

By an overwhelming majority vote (30 in favor, 6 dissenting), the HMPNA membership voted in favor of establishing a pocket park within neighborhood boundaries. Thanks to everyone who came out to our community meeting on September 14 to listen to the presentations and be part of the discussion. We also want to thank all the neighbors who shared their opinions, in favor and dissenting, during the neighbor statements portion of the meeting. Access the pocket park presentation.  Check back soon for the video recording of the meeting.

For those of you who could not attend, please note that we did not vote on a specific location or budget. Those decisions will be made in future meetings. We hope the community will be equally engaged in those phases of the project.

Want to join the pocket park committee? Please call Cassie Mehlman-Rhys at 317-997-2791 or cassiemehlmanrhys@gmail.com.

To see if you are current on your dues, visit the Pocket Park Survey page and check the list of members on the right.  You will also be able to pay your dues on site.

This is one meeting you will not want to miss! If you cannot attend the meeting and would like to provide input or cast your vote by proxy, please call Cassie Mehlman-Rhys at 317-997-2791.