Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

March MCNO Mixer – Wednesday, March 10th @ Finn McCool’s Irish Pub!

marykelly — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:49:06 +0000

Finn McCool’s Irish Pub (3701 Banks Street)
–Voted #1 Best Neighborhood Bar by Gambit readers

–Has had their barenders place in the top three ”Best Bartenders in New Orleans” contest by Where Y’At for 3rd year in a row!

–Home of the shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade!

Mid-Citizens – Come get your Irish on at Finns!
March MCNO Mixer – Wednesday, March 10, 2010
5:00 – 7:00 pm

$3 Irish Iced Coffee or Hot Irish Coffee for MCNO members
Light dinner provided!

See you there!

Make Plans Now to Attend Sellabration

Jennifer Farwell — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:17:00 +0000

THE PRESERVATION RESOURCE’S ANNUAL SELLABRATION
HISTORIC HOUSE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION TRAINING EVENT

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010
923 TCHOUPITOULAS STREET (AT THE PRC)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Download flyer here

Workshops:
BUY RIGHT WORKSHOP: 10:00 – 10:30 AM
FINANCE RIGHT WORKSHOP: 10:45-11:15 AM
RENOVATE RIGHT WORKSHOP: 11:30 AM-12:00 PM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 12:15-1:15 PM
by Richard Campanella
Tulane Geographer / Author / Researcher of New Orleans’ historical geography
Winner of multiple “Book of the Year” awards from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

PROPERTIES FOR SALE * HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD EXHIBITS
Algiers Point •American Sector • Broadmoor • Bywater • Carrollton/Riverbend • Central City
Esplanade Ridge • Faubourg Marigny • French Quarter • Gentilly • Irish Channel
Lower Garden District • Mid-City • New Marigny (St. Roch) • Treme • Uptown (Bouligny)

MUSIC, FOOD, & CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Don’t Miss the MCNO Monthly Mixer

Jennifer Farwell — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:44:34 +0000

The Monthly MCNO Mixer is this Thursday, February 25, from 5:30-7:30pm at Ralph’s on the Park.

Come out and enjoy the lovely spring weather and some cameraderie with friends. MCNO members receive the following discounts.

$2 Abita (bottle)

$5 specialty Cocktails:
• Champagne Paradise
• Sunset-tini
• Italian Margarita
• John Daly with Firefly

$5 Wine by the Glass:
• McWilliams Chardonnay
• McWilliams Cabernet Sauvignon

And either light hors d’oeurves or a cheese plate!

Hope to see you there!

Mary-Kelly Swafford
Director of Special Events

Seeking Nominations for Security District Board Commissioner

Jennifer Farwell — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:08:47 +0000

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to serve as a Commissioner on the Mid-City Security District (MCSD) Board of Commissioners. All responses should be sent to our Vice President (vp@mcno.org), who is the MCSD liaison for MCNO, by January 28th at Noon, following the outline below.

The Mid-City Security District was created in November 2008 by a vote of the eligible voters residing within the boundaries of the MCSD. It is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners. One of the current Commissioners is moving and will no longer meet the eligibility requirements. Since this Commissioner was appointed by MCNO, in accordance with the legislation enacting the MCSD, MCNO will appoint the replacement Commissioner. Detail of the MCSD are available at www.midcitysecuritydistrict.org.

Roles & Responsibilities:
• Commissioners serve a three-year term.
• Time requirements estimated at up to two hours per week, including: attending the monthly public meeting of the MCSD Board, accepting a functional role within the board and any work that is decided upon and assigned during the Board meeting. In special cases, more than one meeting can occur in a month.
• Board members are not compensated (this is a volunteer appointment)
• At least two Board members must sign every check.
• Board members must abide by the bylaws of the district.
• Meetings follow the democratic rules of order.
• Board members do not direct the actions or work of the New Orleans Police Department, but are often liaisons for information between citizens and the police.
Qualifications for Nominees:
• Reside in the district and be a qualified voter in the district.
• Must have a strong interest in improving the safety and security of the area.
• Must be able to communicate with the public, act in an open-minded and inclusive manner, and must be able to work as a team.
• Must not have any conflicts of interest which would prevent them from behaving in an ethical and transparent manner.
Nominations

Submit the following information to vp@mcno.org to nominate yourself or someone else. If nominating someone else, please confirm that they are willing to accept the nomination.

Name
Address
Email
Phone

Are you a registered voter within the boundaries of the MCSD?

Are you qualified and interested to serve as an MCSD Commissioner in accordance with listed information?

Please provide a brief listing of your qualifications, including any specific skills/expertise that you bring to the position (up to 200 words)

Thank you,

Jennifer Farwell
President, MCNO

MCNO Newswire

Bart Everson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:04:19 +0000

Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Newswire

NEWS
Bonfire Cancelled
Drainage Committee Formation

EVENTS
January Mid-City mixer at Salire Fitness

NEWS
1. SPECIAL ALERT: Orleans Bonfire Cancelled; NOFD Warns Residents Not to Start Fires
Mary Hogan, a member of the 2008 committee that held the New Year’s Eve Bonfire on Orleans Avenue, has confirmed to MCNO that it has been CANCELLED for 2009. This was due to the lack of a sponsor able to obtain the appropriate liability protection, not to fundraising problems as indicated by some news reports. NOPD says it will arrest anyone that starts a fire there.
Anyone interested in working on a committee to resolve the issues and reinstate the event in 2010 can email volunteer@mcno.org and as a courtesy, MCNO will forward the information to other committee members when it obtains their information.

2. Drainage Working Committee Forming
MCNO is forming a working committee to address drainage issues with the Sewer and Water Board and Public Works. Several residents have expressed interest in forming this group. If you are interested, please email volunteer@mcno.org with Drainage Committee in the subject line.

EVENTS
1. MCNO January Mixer
January 13, 2010
Salire Fitness Studio, 214 N. Jefferson Davis
4:00 – 7:00 pm
Have a New Year’s resolution to get in shape…again? Well, January’s Mid-City Mixer is just for you! Join us for a very special Mixer at Salire Fitness Studio. Tours and demonstrations will be offered at the 214 N. Jefferson Davis physical fitness and wellness center from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Rebuilding Together October Build Review

Bart Everson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:41:16 +0000

The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization would like to thank all the wonderful local volunteers who supported Rebuilding Together New Orleans’ (RTNO) annual October Build. Last month, over 100 volunteers from eight businesses and groups including the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, Tulane Naval ROTC and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney worked on five houses for two weekends doing everything from painting to building railings.

The annual October build is the group’s cornerstone effort, but Rebuilding Together is commited to restoring homes year-round and always welcomes volunteers. For more information on how to support Rebuilding Together, contact Caitlin Metzguer, at cmetzguer@prcno.org or call her at (504) 636-3076.

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING UPDATE HOW CAN YOUR HELP YOUR ZONE?

Bart Everson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:10:22 +0000

MCNO Members & Friends,

I haven’t gotten the tally from our Secretary, but I believe the new bylaws passed easily.

Now is the time for everyone to be considering running for a Zone Captain position or talking to neighbors who might do so. We will be voting on nominations at the December meeting (December 7) and will be posting bios of nominated candidates over the coming weeks.

The Zone Map will be posted here and in the “Map” link under the “Pages” section of the MCNO.org website so you can confirm your Zone. Note that there is no longer a Zone E we redivided Zones C, D, and E, into C and D and split them at the industrial corridor that abuts Toulouse. To keep things simple, since many of you know your Zones, we did not reletter the other Zones.

We will have an online means for accepting nominations for Zone Captain positions by Friday. ANYONE in a zone can make nominations, whether they are an MCNO member or not. However, Zone Captains must be members in good standing in order to serve on the board. They should also have ties to the zone for which they are running live, work, own property, etc. Those of you who have expressed interest in running, we will be contacting you about submitting a bio.

This structure can ensure better representation in every zone. However, it requires participation to work most effectively. If any zones in Mid-City do not have a Zone Captain for 2010, it will dilute the efficacy of our advocacy efforts in that area.

These are YOUR zones your neighborhoods within a neighborhood and we hope a lot of you are excited about getting more involved. If Mid-City is to continue its march onward and upward, we need everyone to donate a little bit of their time!

Jennifer Farwell
VP, MCNO

YOUR VOTE NEEDED ON IMPORTANT MCNO BYLAW CHANGES

Bart Everson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:59:22 +0000

URGENT FOR MCNO MEMBERS – YOUR VOTE NEEDED ON IMPORTANT BYLAW CHANGES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MID-CITIZENS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MCNO’S EFFORTS.

On Monday, November 2 at Grace Episcopal Church, 6:30 pm, Mid-City Neighborhood Members will vote on the proposed bylaw changes outlined below. This discussion will begin at 6:30pm and the vote will occur by 7pm so Saints fans who attend will not have their game-time affected. There will be an important Greenspace report and update after the vote for those who can stay.

Only MCNO members may vote, but anyone who joins MCNO (or renews, if their membership has expired) at the meeting will be able to cast their vote.

The complete proposed Mid City Neighborhood Organization bylaw changes are as follows. Click here to read and print the information in Word document form:

Summary of Proposed Change:

Increase the number of Board members from 17 to 19 and move from a completely Function-based organization to a Matrix organization, defined by a combination of geographic & functional responsibilities.

The goal of this change is to increase our capacity and effectiveness while empowering the smaller neighborhoods within our neighborhood. The new structure lends itself to succession planning, a more equal division of labor, and a better distribution of representation within MCNO. Ultimately, it will build more members and volunteers, since residents and business-owners can focus their energies in their own immediate neighborhood.

Detailed Bylaws Change (the current Bylaws were approved December 1, 2008):

Name & Purpose The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all residents of Mid-City New Orleans.

Boundaries Pontchartrain Expressway to City Park Ave., to N. Carrollton Ave., to Orleans Ave., to Broad St., to the Pontchartrain Expressway. The Board may define Areas of Emphasis within these boundaries or Areas of Interest adjoining these boundaries.

Membership MCNO shall actively recruit members throughout the community and strive to achieve a membership which reflects the diversity of the neighborhood. Membership is open to all who care about the Mid-City neighborhood. Membership dues shall be established by the Board. Dues may be waived by the Communication & Outreach Coordinatorin cases of economic hardship or to honor extraordinary service to the community. Membership can be denied or revoked (and refunded) by a vote of the Board. Current members are entitled to submit proposals for a vote at any general membership meeting. Membership votes shall be conducted at a general membership meeting or by mail or electronic mail referenda.

Meetings General membership meetings are to be held at least quarterly with the fourth quarter’s meeting to be held in December. The Board is to meet monthly at a regularly established time and place. Emergency Board meetings may be called by any Officer or three Directors. Board meetings are open to all MCNO members. Except as these Bylaws otherwise provide, all meetings shall be conducted according to The Democratic Rules of Order. Notice of all general membership meetings must be published at least seven days prior to the meeting date by means generally accessible to the membership.

Democratic Principles Unless otherwise noted, all decisions are to be made by simple majority, that is, by vote of more than half of the eligible voters present. Meetings and records of finances, membership, and minutes of MCNO shall be open to inspection by any member.

Board of Directors The Board is composed of Directors elected by the Membership. Directors address specific issues to improve quality of life in the neighborhood. There are two types of Directors: Officers and Zone Captains; these are further defined below. The Board shall have at least seven (7) and no more than nineteen (19) members. Directors serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable documented expenses on behalf of MCNO.

Election Procedures Elections are held at the December general membership meeting. Nominations are made at the November Board meeting or at the December general membership meeting. Candidates must be a member at the time of election and must reside within the organization’s boundaries. Vacancies may be filled for the remainder of the term at any general membership meeting.
Meeting Attendance Directors must attend (or be excused from attending) at least eight monthly Board meetings per year. Upon the fourth unexcused absence, the member is automatically removed from the Board.
Quorum A majority of the Board must be present at a meeting to establish a quorum for a vote. Written proxy votes are allowed but only count toward a quorum for the specific issue addressed by the proxy.
Removal A Director may be removed by the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors or by majority vote of the Membership present at a general membership meeting.
Terms Directors serve for two years. Directors may be elected to serve more than one term. Terms shall be staggered such that approximately half the Board shall be elected each year.

Officers Officers are elected Mid-City wide, and their roles are designated by the Board following the election. Officers conduct the business of the organization. No person may hold more than one office simultaneously. President, Chairperson,Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer also serve as a Subject Matter Expert for at least one designated key area of influence. The key areas of influence are agreed by the Board of Directors annually at their first meeting. In general, examples of key areas of influence are:

Security/Crime Prevention
Housing Preservation (Blight, Demolitions & HDLC)
Housing Revitalization (Rebuilding Together, Operation Comeback, developers)
Code Compliance (Safety & Permits)
Zoning (CPC, BZA matters)
Greenspace
Education

President Serves as the primary contact and representative for the organization. Prepares Board meeting agendas with the Chairperson. Oversees activities of the Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Coordinator. In the absence of the Chairperson, presides over a meeting.
Chairperson Presides over all meetings and assists the President as required. Prepares Board meeting agendas with the President. Serves as a contact and representative for the organization. The President is authorized to sign checks in accordance with the annual budget or as approved by the Board after receiving verbal approval of the Treasurer or the Chairperson.
Vice-President In the absence of the Chairperson and President, presides over a meeting. Serves as a contact for the organization. If the President or Chairperson is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of office, the Vice-President shall assume these responsibilities until the office is filled.
Secretary Records minutes of all meetings. Responsible for conducting general correspondence on behalf of MCNO, and for maintaining the files of the organization. With the Membership Coordinator, conducts elections at general membership meetings.
Treasurer Maintains the organization’s checking account at the federally insured financial institution approved by the Board, and the organization’s financial records. Responsible for preparing a monthly financial report for the Board, and an annual budget to be approved by the Board. Checks are to be signed by the Treasurer in accordance with the annual budget or as approved by the Board. Fiscal year is to be the same as the calendar year.
Communications & Outreach Coordinator Shall be responsible for the website, e-blasts, and newsletter and for maintaining accurate and up-to-date membership rolls, setting membership goals, conducting membership drives, and designing membership forms. The Communications and Outreach Coordinator shall facilitate communication with the Membership and, with the Secretary, conduct elections at general membership meetings. Membership lists cannot be distributed without prior Board approval, and can never be sold or used for the gain of an individual or business.
Fundraising & Events Coordinator- Shall be responsible for developing and implementing events. Responsible for meeting the overall fundraising goals of the organization through fundraising events and grant writing.

Zone Captains Zone Captains are Directors elected by vote of the membership residing within the boundaries of their Zone, as depicted on the Zone Map. The Zone Captain builds the capacity of members and volunteers within their Zone, and prioritizes the needs and concerns of their Zone through effective, routine communication and outreach. The Zone Captain represents their Zone in Mid-City wide decisions, and raises issues to the Board as needed. The Zone Captain also sits as a committee member on at least one designated key area of influence.

Committees Committees, chaired by an Officer or Director and composed of MCNO members and other interested parties, are the primary means by which the work of MCNO shall be accomplished. Committee chairs are authorized to speak on behalf of MCNO with regard to matters concerning the committee. Committees may address general issues across the neighborhood or geographic areas within the neighborhood. Commitees should establish their own meeting schedule and means of communication and report to the Board regularly.

Conflict of Interest Directors must reveal any direct or indirect conflict of interest in any financial, zoning, or development proposal prior to a vote. Directors with a conflict of interest may not vote on the proposal. Voting on a proposal when one has a conflict of interest shall result in immediate removal from the Board.

Liability of Directors and Officers Directors shall not be liable to MCNO or its members for money damages except to the extent that it is proved that the Director actually received an improper benefit or profit; or a judgment or other final adjudication is entered based on a finding that the person’s action or failure to act was the result of deliberate dishonesty or was committed in bad faith.

Changes to Bylaws These bylaws may be changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board and a vote of the majority of the Membership present at a general membership meeting or by majority vote of the entire Membership conducted via mail or electronic mail referenda. Notice of a change to the bylaws must be published at least fourteen (14) days prior to a vote by the Membership and the notice must include a summary of changes. The Board may approve policies which extend or clarify these bylaws so long as they do not alter or contradict the bylaws themselves.

Fall Newsletter Available Online

Bart Everson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:44:48 +0000

Stay in touch with Mid-City news and events by reading the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization’s seasonal newsletter. The fall 2009 issue, on stands and on-line now, highlights the Mid-City Security District, Mid-City Community Gardens and welcomes several new businesses. You can also learn about volunteer opportunities in the neighborhood and update your membership information — all in four, light-weight, easy to read pages!

If you missed the print version, the publication is still available online. Simply look under the “Pages” section for the “Newsletter” link here on the MCNO website. You can also read or print the PDF version by clicking here .

Enjoy!

Best, Amber Tucker

MCNO Americorps Member

Zoning Input Meeting – Input Requested for Those Near N. Scott

Bart Everson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:34:27 +0000

For residents or business owners residing in the area bounded by Canal, Orleans, Carrollton & Jeff Davis, MCNO would like to notify you of an upcoming Zoning Input meeting, to be held Thursday Sep 24th, 6:30pm at Grace Episcopal Church (3700 Canal Street)

The properties of interest are 3903 Iberville, 3901 Toulouse, and 635 N. Scott; specifics follow. If you are unable to attend, but would like to provide input via email, please contact zoning@mcno.org.

3903 Iberville – Corner of Iberville & North Scott, currently a partially vacant lot, Zoned RM (Residential Multifamily), with a small single-family home facing North Scott – The applicant requests to build 2 new construction two-family homes facing Iberville Street. This request requires a waiver because it will allow 3 main uses on one lot of record.

3901 Toulouse – Corner of Toulouse & North Scott, Zoned RD (Residential Double) – Request to change to B1A zoning (Neighborhood Business) to allow a wholesale bakery.

635 N. Scott – North Scott between Toulouse & Orleans, Zoned RD (Residential Double) – Request to change to a zoning which will allow 25 units (each between 600-700 square feet with planned sales price of ~$100K+ per unit). Preliminary indication is that they are also proposing demolition of the double next door at 631 N Scott to allow parking and access to the rear of the property. This was previously a non-conforming use as an apartment building and has recently been cited by Code Enforcement for blight.