SOUTHWEST VIENNA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
The SOUTHWEST VIENNA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (SWVNA) is being formed to further establish a sense of community amongst the neighborhoods in Southwest Vienna. In addition to general quality of life improvements that such a sense of community can bring, we hope that it will also have the effect of empowering our community as things evolve in our town and in our county.
In the recent past we have seen the effect that population and technology growth can have on our communities. There have been significant housing developments at the Metro station, fluctuations in real estate values and development and controversial infrastructure changes at the local water tower. Looking forward, we anticipate that, among other things, changes to the Metro system and the continued rapid developments in communication technology and infrastructure will continue to have implications for our community. However, as we’ve also learned, high impact changes can be launched quickly and with relatively little fanfare at the local government level. Once in motion, the voices of individuals are easily lost in the process or dismissed as inadequately representative of the community’s views. Without a united community, it becomes difficult for us to be anything more than passive observers as changes are imposed on us rather than active participants engaged to effect these changes in a way that realizes the most benefits to our community.
A community organization will allow us to:
• Involve the community more directly in the processes of local government at the town and county level. In practice this will involve designating community members to be liaisons with local government to better understand developments as they are in the germination stage and working to increase community representation on county and town boards and committees.
• Establish a process, mailing lists, website and newsletters, to disseminate information to the community quickly and with an eye to clearly spelling out things that have implications for Southwest Vienna.
• Mobilize the community to action in response to political decisions affecting Southwest Vienna.
• Speak more effectively about developments as representatives of a united body rather than as individual residents.
• Help improve the sense of community by instituting a body that can take the lead in organizing community social events and fundraisers.
Please come to our 1st meeting at the
Patrick Henry Library on
June 23 at 7:30pm. We will have a draft bylaw ready for the public to review, and discussing our neighborhood concerns and goals.
Our 2nd meeting is scheduled on July 15, at 7pm. Patrick Henry Library is located at 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, VA 22180-5794. Tel: 703-938-0405
Please log onto our website for more information: www.swvna.org or call the following people:
Mike Pool: 703-938-6198
Anne Rutherford:
Sonnet Lee: 703-865-8356
Labels: Meetings
