For anyone who has been following the various dramas concerning The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association (OSHNA) it should come as no surprise that at least one member of the community (yours truly) is 'going rogue.' That's right, I'm tired of the whining, the politics and the utter lack of 'neighborliness' within our neighborhood.
This undertaking is not typical for me. I am not an extrovert. I do not throw parties or chat with all my neighbors each Saturday. I keep my house looking nice, wave, say hello and smile from my porch as the joggers go up and down Branch Avenue. I'd rather write a letter or post to a blog than go to a meeting or make a speech. Power is not of interest to me. I spend my days in charge of a series of groups of 16 year-old students who need my guidance and then enjoy evenings with my own kids at home. Anyone who has done this for a period of time soon comes to realize that 'power' is rarely effective and always exhausting.
My goal is simply this: Rebuild a sense of neighborhood in Seminole Heights. Not competitive, not obsessed with seniority or driven by ambition. There are too many real problems facing or neighbors to allow petty grieveances to undermine our efforts. People are losing their homes to foreclosure, the river needs constant cleaning, code violations need to be addressed and crime needs to be reported and monitored. House tours are nice, porch parties sound like fun, but knowing the names of all the kids on your street and feeling a sense of common purpose are far more important.
So, if anyone else feels as I do that the time has arrived for a new direction in Seminole Heights, post your thoughts and ideas here. For the most part I expect to remain a voice in the wilderness but feel compelled to speak out anyway.
Thanks for listening.
Andrew
