February 2009Hello IOPNA Members,
As we approach the end of February and anticipate the coming of spring, it seems a good time to bring you up to date on our activities. The IOPNA Board of Directors met February 25, 2009 at Huck’s Lowcountry Restaurant for our monthly board meeting. We believe it is good to support our local businesses and Huck’s has been very supportive of our organization.
Special City Council Election May 12, 2009
We are pleased to announce that one of our Board members, Barbara Bergwerf, has declared her intention to be a candidate for the City Council seat formerly held by Isle of Palms newly elected mayor, Dick Cronin.
Barb and her husband, Ben discovered Isle of Palms in 1990 and fell in love with the "Low Country". They bought a home a few years later and put that home on the rental market until they could move full time. Barb was involved with the IOP even before moving here full-time through the Island Turtle Team.
Her background is impressive and qualifies her to be an ideal candidate for city council. She has a Degree in Government and International Affairs from George Washington University; worked 15 years as a photojournalist in Chicago; owned Stained Glass and More, North Shore of Chicago for 22 years. She retired and moved to IOP full time in 2002. Her community contributions are laudatory. She has been a member of the Island Turtle Team since 2000; Volunteers at: Center for Birds of Prey; the Sea Turtle Hospital at the SC Aquarium; and the SC DNR Stranding Network. She currently is serving on the IOP Planning Commission.
Barb is the photographer of two award winning children's books: "Turtle Summer" and "Carolina's Story".
Barb will be out in the neighborhoods collecting signatures to have her name placed on the ballot. We urge you to talk to her and let her know your concerns.
Barb can be reached at:
Barb Bergwerf www.bergwerfgraphics.com cell 693-4418 886-5355 Reports from Committees: Bylaws Joanna Harper indicated the need to revise the bylaws to clarify job descriptions for Board members and to offer staggered terms for the Board. She will prepare a draft of suggested changes for the next Board meeting.
Communications
Jeff Evans informed the group that he will be working with Patrick Bruce on upgrading the website. The plan is to update the information every Sunday so that members can check it out the following Monday for news.
Resident Outreach Program
Dee Weilbacher reported successful progress in assembling and distributing IOPNA Welcome Bags to our new residents. She delivered 8 welcome bags full of great information and discounted coupons from IOP restaurants. Dee wishes to acknowledge the contribution of Board Member Diane Oltorik for her help in making this a reality. This outreach to new residents is a wonderful project for IOPNA to get to know our new neighbors. Observer Corps
No report. Everything is going smoothly. It was actually because of the Planning Committee Observer Report that we were alerted to the “family unit” language that was attempted to be added to the municipal code. Neighborhood Representatives
Paul Reddy reported that things are moving along well. He noted that Ann Evans has done a magnificent job in getting representatives for outside the gate. Jane McMackin offered to take the lead in identifying Neighborhood Representatives for Wild Dunes neighborhoods. Membership
Paul Reddy suggested getting IOPNA business cards made up to hand out to new residents and others. Officer’s Reports
Treasurer
MJ O’Brien suggested having another t-shirt fundraiser. She and Barb Bergwerf will be looking at the catalogue and will decide on the color. MJ noted that we still have 6 small long sleeve t-shirts leftover. The size is great for kids. Please help us out and order one of these t-shirts so we can move into our “spring line”. Vice President
Jane Mc Mackin will be working with Phil Dillon on obtaining zoning data from other communities. Nancy Mackey and Jeff Evans also volunteered to assist. President Report
Catherine Malloy informed the Board that the IOP Yard Sale will take place on April 18, 2009. Last year IOPNA had tables at the IOP Yard Sale and the result was a successful fundraiser. We would like volunteers from our membership to help with the event. Please contact me by email or phone (clmalloy@comcast.net and 886-3171) if you can help us. It is a fun day and a great way to bring in some dollars to our coffers. We Need Your Help! Other News
Hopefully, you know about the IOPNA First Annual Nancy Stogner Award given to one of our members for outstanding contribution to the community through civic engagement with city government. Nancy passed away last year but her memory remains a vital spirit in the work of the IOPNA. Nancy was an avid lover of the IOP. As her husband Coker Stogner put it: “We allow ourselves to believe that you saw in Nancy’s efforts evidence of her love for people and the thorough and efficient operation of government in behalf of the people it represents. Her love for government affairs was never in pursuit of office.” We were thrilled to have Coker and his daughter Pam in attendance for the presentation of the award made in Nancy’s honor. The recipient of the 2009 award is Diane Oltorik, Board Member and chair of the Observer Corps. Diane has worked diligently and doggedly to get the Observer Corps operational and the result is that we have citizens serving as observers for every city meeting and commission. This effort has improved citizen understanding of governmental operations and has enhanced communication among the residents and city representatives. The IOPNA honors Diane with this recognition and by extension all members of the Observer Corps whose dedication and reliability has underscored the legitimacy and credibility the organization has attained.
We sent a copy of the Island Eye article describing the award and the photo commemorating the event to Coker Stogner, Nancy’s husband. ArchivesPresident's Messages - 2008 |