About the Association
Through the Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood Association, many programs and activities are planned throughout the year.
The Association holds monthly board meetings the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 at Doug Day’s residence at 210 E. 33rd Street unless otherwise indicated on the calendar. All are invited to attend. General meetings are combined with social events.
Residents elect a nine-member board each year at the association’s Annual Meeting.
Basic association dues are $10 per year, and for those who can afford a higher level of support, patron-level dues are $25, $50, and $100. Dues go toward newsletter publishing, gardening materials for public space, social events, signage, Historic Urban Neighborhood Association dues, and board meeting materials and postage, among other items.
Links to neighborhood association documents:
The 2012 Board of Directors
Cassie Mehlman-Rhys, President
Cassie became the President of the HMPNA in January 2011 and will serve as President again in 2012. She moved to the neighborhood in 2001 after residing in Florida for 18 years. She has had a decade-long love affair with her 100-year old home and has been renovating different rooms each year as her family grows. She cannot see living any other place in Indianapolis and thinks HMP has that special mix of friendly neighbors, beautiful homes, historical and architectural significance, affordable living, and location, location, location!
Cassie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services and an MBA in Management. She worked for Eli Lilly and Company for 15 years in a variety of business roles. She is currently a Global Brand Manager and enjoys working with affiliates around the globe! She is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Cassie has also been very active in the neighborhood in a variety of roles including serving as a Board Director, as the Chair of the 2010 HMP Home Tour, and as a Safe Neighborhood Block Captain. Her hobbies include reading, historical renovation, international travel, and musical theater. She also owns “2 Dog Books,” an Internet book and CD business. She lives with her husband Lee Rhys, her spirited sons Devon and Noah, an always hungry Labrador Retriever, a mushy hound dog, a graceful long-haired kitty, and 5 chickens (yes….chickens!). She is excited about the incoming 2012 Board and feels privileged to work with such a diverse, talented, and committed group of neighbors!
Stacey Patrick, Vice President
Stacey is a Florida native who moved to Indianapolis 5 years ago. Stacey received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Stacey has been working for Merck and Company, Inc. for 5 years as a hospital representative. She enjoys a variety of activities including staying active, reading, and cooking with her husband.
John Carmer, Treasurer
John moved to HMP in 2005 from Anderson and has served on the HMPNA Board since 2008 as both Treasurer and Vice-President. For 21+ years he worked at Delphi Corp. in many capacities and ultimately as a product validation engineer. Sale of the division led to the formation of Carmer Watson Properties, Inc. in 2005 and the purchase of the National Register-listed Esplanade Apartments at 30th & Pennsylvania Streets. Primary renovations were completed over a 3-year period with additional projects continuing today.
John has been involved with historic preservation for many years. In Anderson, he served on the Historical & Cultural Preservation Commission for 10+ years regulating property changes in two historic districts; serving as president of the commission several years. He also was a member of the Anderson Downtown Neighbors Association (adnahome.org) where he served as President, website administrator, newsletter author, and helped pursue affiliation with Indiana Landmarks for property renovation/restoration.
Bryan Bigelow-King, Secretary
Bryan moved to HMP in the summer of 2010 with his husband Mark. “The architectural style and sense of community involvement is what brought us to this neighborhood.” Professionally, Bryan works with AT&T Mobility. He has held various sales and human resources positions within AT&T. Currently he is a Regional Staffing Manager. Bryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University with a concentration in Human Resources Management. “In my personal time, I enjoy getting to know my new neighborhood, experiencing new restaurants/nightlife in the downtown area, and vacationing (mostly warmer climates). As new resident to HMP, it’s an honor to be elected to the board.”
Leslie Hughley, Director
Leslie graduated from Shortridge High School in the 1970s, has lived on every coast of the US, and is pleased to be back home in Indianapolis. Leslie’s family has lived in HMP since the mid-1960s and her father and stepmother currently reside in Watson-McCord. Her daughter Kennedy attends Cardinal Ritter Junior High School. After 19 years, Leslie retired from the airline industry and currently assists clients in building their dreams through home ownership and building of their new home dreams with a national home builder where she has been employed for the last 6 years. She worked part-time for a short period with the Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation before the demands of her current position become too overwhelming. Leslie is an active member of St. Rita Catholic Church.
Karla Johnson, Director
Karla moved to HMP in February, 1998. She is the administrator for the Marion County Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Department. Her job allows her extensive community interaction with housing-related issues as she works to ensure safe and affordable housing for families and children. Karla has two sons, Christian and Joseph, and a daughter, Gabriella. Karla has a masters degree in public health from IUPUI School of Medicine and sits on several work-related advisory committees. She enjoys spending time with her children as well as outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking, horseback riding, swimming. and working around the house.
Jess LaNore, Director
Jess moved from Seattle to Indianapolis in 1995 and has called HMP his home since 2001. In 2008 he moved from Pennsylvania Street to Washington Boulevard where he began restoring his second home. Professionally, Jess works for the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity where he manages the day-to-day operations of its educational foundation including all activities relating to annual, major, and planned giving. He has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Washington State University and is a past president of the College Fraternity Editors Association. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and is an active member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives. Jess is in his sixth year as a director on the HMPNA Board.
Hope Tribble, Director
Born in Lexington and raised in Indianapolis, Hope is a product of Indianapolis Public Schools. Her 25-year professional career includes work in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. However, with public service at heart, she has spent most of that time in government. She is currently a Fiscal Analyst for the Ways and Means Committee of the Indiana House of Representatives.
Hope earned degrees from Georgetown University and University of Maryland at College Park. Although not a sports buff, she is happy to report that each school won the NCAA Men’s Basketball championship while she studied there.
Outside of work, Hope serves on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and as an alumni interviewer for the Georgetown University Alumni Admissions Program. She likes to play racquetball and softball (although she hasn’t done so recently), is a fledgling runner, and enjoys coordinating and spending time with her extended and close-knit family in Indianapolis.
Michael Walsh, Director
Mike moved to HMP in 2003. After an exhaustive search for a home, he and his wife Leanna found their current home. They immediately fell in love with it and the neighborhood. Mike has served the neighborhood by sitting on the Board for the Centennial Home Tour, volunteering for the most recent home tour, serving as block captain since 2003, and participates in the alley clean-ups.
Mike is a physical therapist for Select Physical Therapy. He joined Select in 2006 and has been the Center Manager for their eastside clinics since that time. He obtained his bachelor’s in physical therapy from Indiana University in 1999 and obtained his doctorate in physical therapy in 2011. Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and their 2 young boys. His other interests are biking, playing golf, and he recently began participating in sprint triathlons.