Meadowlark Park Community Association
Newsflash!
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Renovations to Continue
Arrangements are now being made to begin the next round of renovations at the hall.
The upper hall needs new floors, walls, and ceilings. The walls, for example, currently have insulation only to 1970's standards, so that must be upgraded. The electrical system is also due for an upgrade, with plans in place for enhanced outlet capacity and new lighting. We are expecting the space to sport a dynamic new look once all the work is done. We are awaiting estimates, and will know shortly if we are able to complete all the work at the same time.
We regret the problems that Mother Nature has given us this winter with ice accumulation at the back of the hall. The area at the north end of the parking lot is currently covered in ice and pedestrian traffic is not recommended - we've even gone so far as to put it out of commission altogether. We are hoping for a warm spell to melt the ice, or to at least let it evaporate. It has been salted, but it's still not safe for pedestrian traffic. Please stay away from the area until the barricades are removed.
Monday, December 15th, 2008
Community Christmas Party
This year's community Christmas party went off without a hitch on Saturday. Tirelessly organized by Vice President Karen Bassie and family, the party included all sorts of delicious potluck fare, and some excellent singing entertainment.
Be sure to listen for the next exciting community event, and mark it on your calendar. There's only one way to make a community - and that's to become a part of it!
Saturday, October 18th, 2008
Halloween Party!
Residents,
join your friends and neighbours at the Community Hall on Saturday
November 1, from 4pm to 7pm for the First Annual Community
Halloween Party.
Exhibits,
displays, face-painting, an exciting magician and more will
entertain and delight children and adults alike. Mark it on your
calendar NOW!
Monday, September 8th, 2008
Break-in on Malibou Road!
In the case of a Malibou Road break-in today it appears that the perpetrator spent some time watching the house from the back alley and waiting for an opportunity. He found it when the homeowner left for about an hour. That's all it took for him to kick the back door in, steal a number of family items, and be gone. The police say he was apparently about 6' tall, and wore size 9 shoes.
Your BlockWatch captains remind you - be vigilant, be aware, and if you see anyone loitering in the neighbourhood, call 9-1-1. If you suspect that something's wrong, call 9-1-1.
Your neighbours will thank you, and you might get to thank your neighbours.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Happy
Canada Day!
Hey Kids! Canada is 141 years young today - so why not tell us how you plan to celebrate? Click here to let us know - we'll forward your comments for inclusion in the community newsletter.
Saturday June 21st, 2008
Calgary Youth Justice program is now under way.
The Meadowlark Park community association is proud to have signed up with the Calgary Youth Justice program to give some of Calgary's youth a chance to work off mistakes they have made, and to avoid incurring a criminal record.
The youths being assigned to community service in Meadowlark Park are those who have agreed that the minor infraction they were part of was a mistake, one that they're determined they're not going to make again.
Meadowlark Park is proud to give these kids a chance to set things right, and to move on with their lives in a productive, positive way.
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Community-wide Garage Sale
The latest count of homes participating in the May 31st community-wide garage sale is 20. A-frame signs are being made up now and will be prominently placed along Elbow Drive and 58th Avenue during the week before the event. That will draw people in to the community and to the hall to check out what's available. Please be sure to donate one or more items to a table for the community association. The community's table will be in the basement at the community hall along with any folks who choose to run their sale there.
Advertising will also be run in the Herald and the Sun, and has already been running on our Calgaryarea.com bulletin board for two weeks.
Friday, May 16th, 2008
Meadowlark signs up with the CYJ
The community association has signed up as a partner in the Calgary Youth Justice program, for the overall benefit of the community and to help give eager youth an opportunity to work off their errors.
Any junior citizen who fulfills their obligations under the program can successfully avoid a criminal record, so there are some definite advantages to helping them toward this goal.
The aim of the Executive is to be a socially responsible organization and help the juniors find a path to greatness, instead of a path to conflict and trouble.
We encourage anyone who has time available to help the Association with supervision of jobs these youth will be asked to do. Also, if you know someone who would be willing to teach these young people how to do some light construction framing, and drywalling, please contact the hall manager at info@meadowlarkpark.org so we can start planning for a small but exciting project at the hall.
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Work continues
Work renovating the lobby at the community continues. All but one of the new interior doors have been installed already, and work continues re-framing the walls to the new specifications.
The plan is to ensure that a great deal more natural light is allowed in to the lobby area. Over the years many visitors have commented on how dark and dingy the lobby is. Well, much of the renovation plan is dedicated to making it a brighter, more comfortable place to be. True, it's only the lobby, but it's the first place people see when they visit the hall, so it should look and feel good.
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Many thanks
We received a lot of assistance with our recent Annual General Meeting, and would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the following fine corporate citizens...
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Sunterra Marketplace - 803-49th Ave SW
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Calgary Co-op - 8818 Macleod Tr SE
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Canada Safeway - Glenmore Landing
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Canada Safeway - Southland Crossing
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Weston Bakeries
Thank you all for helping Meadowlark Park be all that it can be!
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
AGM a great success!
The community's annual general meeting proceeded on Monday May 5th as scheduled. The evening was a great success.
Esteemed visitors included Clint Beaton from the City of Calgary, who was there to tell us about the new Neighbourwoods program (stay tuned for more details on that). Also present was Alderman Brian Pincott, and Chinook Centre's Chief Administrator, Terry Napper.
Directors' reports proceeded without much fanfare - revealing such things as a healthy bottom line. Thinking about it, with all the renovations that the executive has been able to have done at the hall in the last eight years, we have still managed to return the club to the same bank balance we had before we started. We're very happy about this.
160 residents have signed up for community memberships so far. This is down a little bit, but is encouraging, given the demographic changes that have occurred. To sign up now, click here and let us have your name and phone number. We'll then have the membership director get in touch with you to make arrangements. If you are of sufficient means, and you would like to donate a membership or two, please do contact us.
A mass community garage sale is planned for late May, or sometime in June. Stay tuned to the website for details, and watch for more in the Gazette.
Long-time, valued executive member, Shelagh Gregory announced last night that she is stepping down from the community executive. Citing other volunteer opportunities, and expanding family responsibilities, Shelagh did say that while she can't continue to be on the executive, she is happy to volunteer for Meadowlark, where and when she can. At the invitation of the community, Alderman Brian Pincott presented Shelagh with two certificates - one from himself and his department, and one from Mayor Dave Bronconnier. Well-deserved, Shelagh! Thank you!
Apart from Shelagh, the entire executive from 2007-2008 have agreed to stay on in the service of the community. One addition, however, is a new Director-at-Large - Jennifer Smith. Jennifer is relatively new to the community, and is a welcome addition to the executive. We'll see what we can do to put her to work right away.
The meeting's other guest was Terry Napper from Chinook Centre. He told us al about Chinook's immediate future, and about the three-year and twenty-year plans. The good news is there are plans for a supermarket - the bad news is it won't be for a while yet because it is part of the plan for the land east of Macleod Trail.
So those are the highlights of the General Meeting. Thanks go to the executive members who have agreed to continue serving. Remember, the best way for you to keep on top of community news is to read your monthly Gazette, to check out the website often, and to make sure you attend the AGM yourself. There's always room for more.
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Updated website now online!
The community's new website is now online. Expect the same information and functionality, but in a much neater and tidier package. Please let the webmaster know what you think of the new webspace - click here now.
Technical note: if your pages look strange the first time you look at the new site, press your F5 key (on the top of your keyboard). The screens should refresh - old files should be replaced by new ones and the site will look as it should.
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Vandalism at the community hall.
Click here for a report on recent vandalism at the community hall.
Friday, April 18th, 2008
Gazette has a new editor
Effective immediately, the Meadowlark Park Gazette has a new editor. Community volunteer and Vice-President, Karen Bassie, has agreed to take on the responsibility of keeping us all informed, and will begin with the May newsletter. Karen has indicated that the first newsletter will be out in time for her to issue another reminder about the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
So stay tuned, and be sure to watch your mailbox
for your free Meadowlark Park Gazette.
Thursday March 13th, 2008
Casino a Great Success!
Many thanks to all our tremendous volunteers for their excellent work at the Elbow River Casino this week. All roles were filled, and a good time was had by all.
It's a very interesting exercise. The work is not hard, but it does involve the sacrifice of a late night or two. Many have commented about being very nervous the first time - not being sure what to expect - but almost all of those first-timers have volunteered to help out on subsequent occasions, including myself. It really is quite different, and knowing that it's in aid of the renovations at the community hall, it's an excellent way for Meadowlarkers to come together and be a community.
The next casino is tentatively slated for the third quarter of 2009 - hopefully next time you and your friends and family can join us.
Tuesday March 4th, 2008
Election Results
Congratulations to Alison Redford, PC, on her election to MLA of Calgary-Elbow.
Thanks go to the outgoing Craig Cheffins, Liberal, who, in his short
tenure, proved to be very approachable and a very good listener. Craig,
we wish you well.
There have been many comments since the election from people who
appreciate being able to vote at our own Community Hall. In the past
forty years we've voted just about everywhere except in Meadowlark Park.
Mayfair, Kingsland School, Elboya Park. Now we're working to get the
hall recognized as the automatic polling station for all levels of
governmental election - municipal, provincial and federal.
Sunday March 2nd, 2008
Don't Forget to Vote Tomorrow
The provincial election is tomorrow, and it's time for us all to exercise our franchise. It doesn't take long, and if you don't vote you have no right to complain about any government decisions, even if they affect you negatively. Not only that, but if you fail to take advantage of all the sacrifices that have been made over the years in the name of democracy, then you wilfully show your ignorance of history, and of the importance of preserving a democratic society. Freedom is something that must be exercised, and expressed - it should never be taken for granted.
In some parts of the world it's still a hazy dream for the people to be able to decide their own future. Many people have no say in their living conditions, and in the direction their nation takes - socially, economically or otherwise. The people in those countries look on Canada as a haven of self-expression, a bastion of freedom and a testament to the good done by the people when they decide who among them should lead. They pine for the opportunity to choose their own leader instead of having one thrust upon them by special interests. They cry out for a say in how their lives are run, and in how they are able to bring food to their tables. They see the apparent apathy in some parts of this country and they marvel that so many Canadians can be so blasé about something that is so fundamentally important.
The community executive has been working hard to get the hall ready so that Meadowlarkers and others can vote in their own neighbourhood. Barrier-free access, including washrooms and a ramp have been installed so that every Meadowlarker can exercise their franchise in their own community. Tomorrow, you have this chance. Take it. There comes a time when people have to stand up and be counted.
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