FOREST PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETING

Date: 11 Nov 2025

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:10 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

NOTE: Before the meeting, we had a special display of Forest Park history. Those who attended were able to view past photographs from FPCA events, historic Forester newsletters dating back to 1963, and other memorable items from our community’s past. These items will be delivered to the Main Library downtown to begin our archival project with them.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org

1. Open Forum at the North YMCA (on Karl Rd.) in Studio A on Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM. Tell us what you expect from the FPCA, what’s working, and what needs to change. A “Forest Park Civic Association Community Survey” has been emailed to all members, and a link with a QR code has been added in the Forester. Please take a few minutes to give us your thoughts so that you can have a say in how we move forward. Link to survey.
2. Holiday gathering date and place announcement: Fiesta Jalisco, Dec. 17th, Wednesday @ 6:30 pm. This is for Board members, Committee Chairs, and Area Reps. Lou will send an Evite to your email.
3. Block Watch and 311 meetings have been put on hold/canceled until further notice. Changes will be taking place in the new year, you will be updated as those changes are being implemented.

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org  

The homeless issue from the Cleveland Ave./Minerva area was cleared out, they moved, and now they are back. We will continue to work on this issue.

Secretary Lou Bernard – secretary@fpcivic.org

1. Attendance:

• Officers/Committee Chairs Present: EV, MB, LB, CL, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, SL, LV, EM, MSt, TS, KG, QM, DP, SB, AH
• Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: 100% in Attendance
• Area Reps in Attendance: 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 13
• Area Reps Absent: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 (Areas 6, 8,14 are ALL vacant – if interested in helping your area out, please contact Erin @ erinmateru@fpcivic.org
• Total meeting attendance: 24

1. Reviewed minutes from October, no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
2. Attendance Sheet thru November: Online

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cheryllutman@fpcivic.org

1. We received 9 more household memberships.
2. See spreadsheet in Forester for all expenses and income for the month.

Public Relations Mary Sguerra – marysguerra@fpcivic.org  No Report

Forester Editor Rita Woeste – forester@fpcivic.org

1. The Jan./Feb. issue of the Forester will be ONLINE ONLY.
2. We still need people to deliver the Forester. It is an easy way to volunteer – you would deliver between 25-75 Foresters to households in FP. It takes about 30 mins of your time. Please contact Rita W. if you are interested.

Supplemental Security Daryl Van Mercetta – darylvanmercetta@fpcivic.org, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@fpcivic.org, Dan Yandrich (CPD Liaison Officer) – dyandrich@columbuspolice.org 614.645.1418

1. Since there will no longer be a separate 311 or Block Watch meeting. Officer Yandrich will now be coming to the general meeting at 7:00 pm for a brief report. 
2. See full report in the Forester.

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – sheridanlandon@fpcivic.org  

Sheridan has made phone calls to past business members. Many are interested in renewing their membership. He needs a “Business Welcome Packet” to present to them.

Civic Action Officer  Vacant

In January, Ed Vanasdale will take over this position once his term as president ends.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Welcome Committee Chair Latia VanDyke – latiavandyke@fpcivic.org

We continue to provide Welcome Folders to new residents, and using the Area Representatives to deliver them.

Volunteer Coordinator Erin Materu – erinmateru@fpcivic.org

1. The slate of candidates for the upcoming year will be posted online as well as in the Forester. If you are interested in running for one of these positions, please contact Erin or Lou.
2. Vacant positions: Business Representative, NCC Representative, Area Representatives for Areas: 6, 8, and 14
3. Ken Gilbert has offered to continue to be one of the NCC Reps and mentor Latia VanDyke
4. During the discussion of open positions, Quentin Monden and Ashley Howard volunteered to be Co-Presidents for the upcoming year. Congratulations and thank you for stepping up to the challenge!!

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – mikestone@fpcivic.org

1. Mike has hand delivered thank you notes to all FPCA members with whom we do not have email addresses (90). The only ones remaining to get such considerations are to follow up on any remaining memberships that came through the mail. 
2. Again, thank you to the area reps who made visits to the regular joiners who had not yet joined this cycle. 

Social Activities Tiffany Smith – tsmith1599@yahoo.com

We had a successful Trunk or Treat Event with the YMCA. The event was held inside the Y instead of outside due to the weather.

NCC Representatives Ken Gilbert – kengilbert@fpcivic.org, Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org

See report in the Forester.

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org

See report on the website: https://www.fpcivic.org/development-reports/

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – quentinmonden@fpcivic.org, Laura Hayes – laurahayes@fpcivic.org

Thanking everyone who helped with the tree planting. The city wants to do a final inspection; the city arborist will be going around with the Grant Writing Committee on Saturday, Nov. 15th to complete this process. 

Outreach Committee Chair  Michael Cote – michaelcote@fpcivic.org

1.  Meeting with teachers at NHS (10/15) to prepare for The Big Table event with the Superintendent.
2.  Attended a meeting of the Columbus Tree Coalition (10/15) led by Julie Smiley and Shelley Douglas of Green Columbus. Green Columbus and FLOW will inform FPCA about future tree planting events at Woodward Park.
3.  Meeting with Alex Abrokwa, Director of INPREM (10/18) to discuss volunteer recruitment for the Food Pantry
4.  Attended The Big Table Event (10/21) at Karl Road Library with Alex Abrokwa, Director of INPREM.
5.  Attended The Big Table Event (10/21) at NHS to learn more about the District’s support of the Community Campus School initiative.
6.  Attended The Big Table Event (10/21) at Focus Learning Academy, a Somali-led Charter School. Meeting with Abdi Soofe and Lindora Howard-Diawara of the Department of Neighborhoods. Both complemented the FPCA for the grant that we received to host the New Americans Party hosted at Woodward Park Community Center (6/28). They both stated that they are looking forward to receiving a report and evaluation about our use of the grant.
7.  Meeting with Katy Spittell-Jaime, Youth Experience Director at the YMCA (10/23) to discuss future development of the garden.
8.  Attended the NHS Marching Band Concert (10/28) and met the Music Director, Danny Gleich and the Principal, Dr. J. Johnson.
9.  Attended Trunk or Treat at the YMCA (10/29).
10.  Attended the Fall Festival at Woodward Park Community Center (10/29).
11.  Attended the Walk With A Doc End of Season Celebration with the Woodward Park Walking Club at SFranklin Park (11/1).
12.  Meeting with Alejandra Rodriquez, Director of the YMCA New Americans Service Center (11/6).
13.  Attended the Veterans’ Day Celebration at Gillie Senior Recreation Center (11/6).
14.  Meeting with Sherrie Johnson, Director of North YMCA (11/7) to discuss upcoming events and future opportunities for collaboration. 

Website Administrators Scott Biggs – scottbiggs@fpcivic.org (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul – dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website)  Ashley Howard – ashleyhoward@fpcivic.org  (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   None

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

There are Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities available at area food pantries:

• INPREM volunteers can sign up online at https://inprem.org/
• Community Free Store at Elevate Northland with Our Helpers, a women-led non-profit serving the New American and Refugee communities living in Northland. Volunteer time slots available at“Sign Up Genius” at   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945A4AC28A1FAC43-59406107-thanksgiving#/

Meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA