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NACA Minutes for Jan. 20, 2011
President Eleanor Langsdorf opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.at Lanier H.S. Library and a
Treasurer Brian LaCour gave a report on finances. The bank balance at end of 2010 was $8723.63 ;he indicated most of that is beautification money (a separate fund provided by Republic Services) and earmarked for neighborhood improvements.
The balance is for the general fund, which covers the newsletter and insurance.
During the year, NACA spent $3,000 beautifying Ron Rigsby Park and about $400 maintaining Heron Hollow.
Brian recommended a budget for 2011 of $10,739.23. Linda Moore made a motion to adopt that amount for the budget, seconded by Bob Baker, and the motion carried.
Linda Moore announced that all of the NACA officers agreed to run for office again:
Eleanor Langsdorf, president; Ann Teich, vice president; Matt Myers, secretary; and Brian LaCour, treasurer. No other candidates were nominated and the slate of officers was re-elected for 2011.
The UT Service Project will take place in the neighborhood on Feb. 26th and will include about 1200 UT students working on various items. NACA residents can send suggestions to UTProject.org and the area they cover will run from Quail Creek Park to I-35, mainly along Rundberg.
The next Commander’s Forum for Edwards Sector is Jan. 27 and Commander Philip Crochet and his team will be introduced. A NACN meeting is scheduled for Jan. 29 at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Alan Graham, president of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, talked about homelessness and how his organization works with the homeless. Mobile Loaves & Fishes owns about 50 travel trailers in mobile home parks to give people a chance to get off the street. In Austin, about 10,000 volunteers with 11 trucks deliver food for the homeless. He said about 25% have an addiction, 42% are under-employed and can’t find affordable housing and some are mentally or physically ill. He says we can mitigate about 80% of the problem by providing permanent supportive housing. The most common reason for homelessness is loss of family.
Council Member Sheryl Cole also spoke to the group and her vision for Austin is to have great schools, parks, transportation and economic development. Her vision for housing the homeless is to study what other cities have done and use what works. She mentioned taking a group to Haven for Hope in San Antonio and to study how Miami reduced its homeless population from 8000 to 1000 within a few years by using one umbrella organization that includes faith groups, social services, business and government. Miami employs about 35% of formerly homeless people.
Ms. Cole asked NACA members to contact her and let her know what we think is important in the coming budget at [email protected]
The next meeting is Feb. 17th at 7 p.m. at Little Walnut Creek Library. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.

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