FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date: 08 July 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:04 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

Ed requested a moment of silence for our friend, long-time FPCA member, and volunteer Bob Hinebaugh who passed away on Tuesday June 24, 2025 at the age of 92. Bob’s presence, stories, knowledge of FP history, and friendship will leave a large hole in our hearts. He will be deeply missed. We love you, Bob.

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com Absent

The encampment of unhoused people off of Cleveland Avenue has been cleared away.

Secretary Lou Bernard – secretary@fpcivic.org

1. Attendance:

• Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, LB, CL, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, LV, EM, MSt, KG, QM, SB, AH
• Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: MB, LH, TS, DP
• Area Reps in Attendance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12
• Area Reps Absent: 6, 8, 10, 13, 14 (vacant)
• Total meeting attendance: 28 

1. Reviewed minutes from June, no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
2. Attendance Sheet thru July can be found online.

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cllutman17@gmail.com

1. We have 78 new household memberships, bringing us to a total of 340. Tomorrow, Cheryl will be depositing another 16 membership checks, plus we’ve received 4 more from PayPal. That leaves us 90 members to reach our goal, so continue to get the word out!
2. Although we did receive interest from a business member, they have not yet paid their fee. When they do, we’ll announce who they are. Other income includes advertising revenue and contributions to our various function areas. Also, we have received one last mulch sale check. 
3. Net proceeds from the sale are $1,322.28. Thank you to everyone who bought mulch, helped deliver mulch, and especially to The Mulch King, Scott Biggs for his hard work in coordinating the sale – and to Marty Biggs, who we are sure also played a role! 😄
4. Expenses include Forester printing, paying some of the expenses with the New American event (which was amazing – the food was stellar!), paying for some items for the Welcome Folders, and paying for our garage sale ad. The garage sale did net $43.04, and we hope everyone who participated had good sales!

Public Relations Mary Sguerra –  marysguerra@howardhanna.com

1. A BIG “Thank You” goes out to Pat Kelly, who let us decorate his pickup truck and drove it in the 4th of July Parade. Thank you to all those who helped pass out candy along the way, carry the FPCA banner, helped with the Bikes & Trikes, and to help coordinate the parade – Erin Materu, Lou Bernard, Sheridan Landon, Ken Gilbert, Catherine Gilbert, Mary Sguerra, Mike Stone, Tiffany Smith, Rita Woeste, Ashley Howard, Ernie Mack, Ed Vanasdale, and Dave Paul. We apologize if we have left anyone off this list. 
2. Save the Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 will be the Forest Park Fall Community Garage Sale.

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester@fpcivic.org

1. Deadline for all articles, photos, and ads for the August Forester is Friday July 18th. 
2. Thanks to Connie Thompson for stepping up to deliver Foresters and thanks to Lori Johnson for her years of delivering the Forester for us. 

Supplemental Security Daryl Van Mercetta – dvanmercetta@gmail.com, Katie Van Mercetta – katievanmercetta@fpcivic.org, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

See report in the Forester.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – slandon52@gmail.com  No Report

Civic Action/311 Officer  Vacant

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Laura Hayes Absent → Latia VanDyke – vandyke.latia@gmail.com

Please welcome Latia VanDyke! The new Welcome Chair member!! She has all the Welcome Folder materials and is being supported by Laura Hayes. Area Reps should be ready to work with her and help welcome our new neighbors! 

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – mmateru@hotmail.com

1. Thank you to all who participated in the New American Party. It was a great success.
2. Also, a long term resident has reached out for volunteers to help weed her yard. Please contact Erin if you are willing to help out.
3. A note from Laura: For one of our next events, we will need help with our tree planting this fall. If you’re physically able to help move trees or dig holes to plant our trees in, reach out to Erin. It will be a one day commitment, on a weekend day, in September or October. More information to come.

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – msto0103@yahoo.com

1. Good News: At the midpoint of summer, we are at the mid 300s in membership, according to Cheryl’s records. Mike’s records only have 241 accounted for, meaning he has another stack to update (and very happy to do so). Of the first 241 recorded, 47 households are “Pickups” (coining a political term to emphasize new households that were not accounted for in the previous cycle). He is guessing that there is an additional number of “pickups” in this missing batch as well.  
2. Area reps– this is where we need your effort. Mike will distribute area information to you showing the paid memberships in your area that he has a record of (as of 7/7), as well as a list of paid members from the previous cycle not yet paid for the current year. As we have discussed previously, we need you to help with these outstanding homes, and also to help collect memberships from those you are close with in your area. 
3. Unfortunately, there are approximately 100 homes unaccounted for in his records but if you do not see a name that is on the list as having paid for this year, it is worth having the conversation.

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com Absent

No Report

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kgilbert78@att.net, Mark Bell – MarkBellncc@insight.rr.com Absent

See report in the Forester

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – ed1vanasdale@gmail.com

See report in the Forester

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – q.monden@gmail.com  

1. Thanks to everyone who helped and supported our New Americans Party! We will be working on the next steps with the Department of Neighborhoods. We have to follow-up with some community partners, and our eyes are set on other less restrictive funds.
2. We will also be focusing on building and growing the volunteer base for Forest Park.

Website Administrators Scott Biggs sbiggsmail@yahoo.com (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website) Absent  Ashley Howard ahoward@ashleynicolecounseling.com (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our website/Facebook page is always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow us.

OLD BUSINESS

There will be NO AUGUST meeting for the FPCA. The annual Northland Community Council Picnic will be on August 12th at the Dogwood Pavilion at Blendon Woods Park. It is a potluck, and all residents of Northland are invited, especially civic association members. Please bring something to share at the potluck. Time: Dinner is at 6:30 pm, though you can come earlier.

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

During this meeting, the committee reports were cut short in order to have a brainstorming session. The people in attendance were divided up and went to 1 of 4 stations: 1) Membership, 2) Social Activities, 3) The Forester, and 4) Business Members. At those stations, the members worked with the group leader to brainstorm ideas to help solve the major roadblocks that are keeping those areas from moving forward. The sessions were very well received. The discussions were great and many new ideas were collected. The minutes from those break-out groups are posted HERE and sent to all committee and board members.

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA