The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association is accepting scholarship applications from eligible graduating high school students who live in the Lamond-Riggs neighborhood until May 2, 2017. For more information and to download the application packet, visit http://lrcadc.org/scholarships

My name is Uchenna and I am running to be president of the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, the neighborhood civic association. Officer elections take place on May 1, 2017. In order to vote, you must be a paid member of the civic association, so I am asking you to do two things. (1) Pay dues online at lrcadc.org/join-lrca. Only $10 for individuals, $15 for families, and $50 for corporate members. (2) Show up at the LRCA meeting on May 1 to cast a vote. The meeting takes place at 7:00 pm at Lasalle Backus Education Campus, located at 501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Madison Street).

My desire to be president really comes from the simple desire to put community first when it comes to community affairs. As I mentioned in this post, I have been a trustee of the association for the past two years. As president, I will have the platform to continue focusing on the work I’ve done in putting the community first.

First, making sure we have an informed community. I created this blog to inform the community about what was going on in the neighborhood, particularly at a time when there was not much communication from those in positions inherently entrusted with the mandate to be transparent. That’s why early on I started posting ANC 5A meeting recaps. That’s why I helped to create and maintain LRCA’s website and social media presence. These things require time, research, attending neighborhood meetings, and getting to know elected and law enforcement officials. One outgrowth of creating this blog and establishing the LRCA website is that our community has an online presence. In this digital age, it is important for our community to have an online presence so that we are defining and shaping the view of our community. And it’s important that we continue to be informed.

Second, continue participating in the civic process. One thing I have done behind the scenes over the years is submit comments, letters, and testimony related to various items affecting the neighborhood, sometimes drafted on behalf of the association and sometimes speaking solely for myself. I think it is important that residents participate in the democratic processes available to us. So that means when the Zoning Commission is considering a proposed development, or the Comprehensive Plan is being updated, or a regulated industry has proposed to take action that impacts residents, we have to become informed and we have to participate.

Third, shaping how our community evolves. The neighborhood is evolving. Major development is occurring. The library needs to be updated. We have the ability to have a constructive voice in shaping how the neighborhood continues to evolve. Everything may not be for everybody, but there really can be something for everyone. That’s why in addition to having a neighborhood wish list on the blog, I had a hand in creating a community benefits survey for residents. Our neighborhood is diverse in many ways and I think we’ve embraced that diversity fairly well. We have an opportunity to capture the history of the neighborhood because we are fortunate to have residents who have lived here for 40, 50 years. We also have an opportunity to make sure all residents feel invested enough to make sure that our community is safe, is welcoming, and has the amenities and resources to support residents across generations.

All of these things require time and work. I enjoy doing the work because I live here and I think we all have to work to have the neighborhood we want. We have all benefited from the work of residents over the years who have made positive contributions to the neighborhood. By continuing to put community first when it comes to neighborhood affairs, we can continue to benefit far into the future.

I would appreciate your vote. If you live within the boundaries of LRCA, please be sure to pay your dues online today so that you can vote in the officer election on May 1.

Thanks for reading.

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Public Meeting

April 3, 2017

7:00 pm

Location: LaSalle Backus EC (501 Riggs Rd. NE, enter on Madison St.)

Guest speaker: Lou Durden, VP of Busines Development for Fresh Communities Holding Corporation, to discuss agricultural tech at UDC-CC Backus and possible neighborhood farmers market

Tickets will be on sale for LRCA’s Spring Scholarship Fundraiser $30/person or purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/2nwCD1p

Pay dues in order to vote in LRCA officer election in May 2017

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Support scholarships for neighborhood high school students!

The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association invites you to its Spring 2017 Scholarship Fundraiser featuring Riggs Park resident and vocalist Shirleta Settles.

Date: May 20, 2017
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: People’s Congregational UCC (4704 13th St. NW)
Price: $30

Every year, the LRCA awards academic excellence scholarships ranging in amount from $500 to $1000 to deserving neighborhood students to support their pursuit of higher education.

Enjoy a wonderful afternoon of blues, jazz, and gospel with acclaimed singer and Riggs Park resident Shirleta Settles, while helping to support scholarships for deserving high school students in our community. To preview the wonderful voice of Ms. Settles, visit shirletasettlessings.com.

The cost of your ticket ($30/ticket + online fees) provides table seating and light refreshments, so gather a few friends and neighbors and come on out!

Purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lamond-riggs-citizens-association-spring-2017-scholarship-fundraiser-tickets-32593712672

Dear readers, this is an election year for executive board positions for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association, the neighborhood civic association. The election takes place at the May meeting on May 1, 2017. Officer and trustee positions are elected two-year positions. There are eight officer positions: president, first vice president, second vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, financial secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian. The parliamentarian is appointed by the president. There are 10 trustee positions. The official duty descriptions are contained in Article VI of LRCA’s bylaws, which are available on LRCA’s website.

Time commitment

Executive board members should be present for LRCA’s monthly public meetings, which are held the first Monday of each month during the months of October through June. Ideally, every executive board member should chair a committee. There are 12 committees. Executive board meetings are typically held the second Monday of each moth during the months of September through June. At the executive board meetings, we discuss meeting topics, committee activities, and neighborhood issues that need to be addressed. So official time commitment consists of two Monday evenings each month. Of course, work takes place outside of meetings, so you can count on spending a few more hours per month on LRCA activities.

My experience

I serve as a trustee for the 2015-2017 term. I was sort of recruited by LRCA President Barbara Rogers, who has done an amazing job leading the organization over the past few years. The official duties of a trustee are nebulous, so I made it my own. I chair the communications committee. Mostly, that meant creating and maintaining a website, email, social media accounts (facebook.com/lrcadc; @lrcadc), and listserv for the organization. With the help of some awesome volunteers (residents Harrison Beacher, Iyanna Holmes, and Aaron White), we were able to create a website that we hope is beneficial to residents. I also serve on the scholarship committee, working with committee chair Barbara Carter to get LRCA’s scholarship program up and running again. We were really excited to award three $1000 college scholarships to three very deserving neighborhood students last year. And I have spent a lot of time working with the development task force ably chaired by Gwen Cofield and others, reviewing documents for proposed development, drafting responses, soliciting resident input, making sure residents are informed about what is happening with development in the neighborhood, etc.

Really, you can do as much as you want to. It is a great way to meet neighbors, get to know your elected officials, and have a positive impact in the community.

Become an LRCA member in order to vote/run

In order to vote or run for an executive board position, one must be a paid member of the LRCA at least one month prior to the election in May. That means you have until the April meeting to become a member. Annual membership is only $10 for individuals, $15 for families, and $50 for corporate membership. Fortunately, it is easy to make online payments (thanks to resident and trustee Paul Garcia). Or you can pay in person at a public meeting. The next LRCA meeting is on March 6, 2017, at 7:00 pm at LaSalle Backus Education Campus, located at 501 Riggs Road NE (enter on Madison Street).

Seriously, please consider serving

If you have ever thought to yourself, “Gee I wish we had this in the neighborhood,” “We should do X,” “I have a great idea for a fundraiser,” or “I’m good with budgets or planning events,” then please consider running for a position. If you see a community need and think you have a solution or a better way of addressing an issue, then please consider running. What better way to make sure we have the community we want than to serve. If you think executive board membership might be a little more commitment than you want to take on, then please consider getting involved with a committee. The great thing about this neighborhood is that we have long had active residents. But, some of our most active, longest serving residents are ready to pass the torch on to other residents.

So think about serving in an official capacity. If you’re not an official LRCA member, become one today. If you want to chat or have questions, please feel free to reach out. Thanks for reading.

Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association Meeting
November 7, 2016
7:00 pm
LaSalle Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Rd NE, enter on Madison St.)

Agenda:
DC Office of the Attorney General: Consumer protection laws
Candidates for the 2016 General Election: Ward 4 Council; ANC; At-large Board of Education

Movie night at Riggs LaSalle – 8-30-2016

As part of my official duties as a trustee and chair of the communications committee for the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA), I am encouraging residents to fill out a brief 17-question informal survey designed to get feedback about how the organization operates. Responses are anonymous, unless you want us to contact you for any reason. Have ideas about community events you want in the neighborhood? Have ideas for speakers and topics to discuss at meetings? Have fundraising ideas? Is there something the organization could do to encourage your participation in meetings? Please share your thoughts with the LRCA.

Part of the effort of the survey (at least from my perspective) is also to encourage residents to consider taking leadership positions in the organization. A single term for officers and trustees is two years. Our June 2016 meeting finished the first year of the 2015-2017 term. Over the next year, we hope that residents will be encouraged to get involved, so that when those of us currently serving on the board depart, there will be others eagerly waiting to serve.

Please click the link to take the survey: LRCA June 2016 Membership Survey

Join the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association for its final meeting tonight before the summer break!

June 6, 2016

7:00 pm

LaSalle Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE, enter on Madison Street)

Meet the LRCA scholarship award recipients, meet new neighbors, and celebrate the achievements of the community!

The Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association (LRCA) now has an online presence. A group of residents and I, who formed the communications committee for the LRCA, worked over the summer to create a website, facebook page, and twitter page for the LRCA. We hope residents will use these platforms along with the listserv to share ideas, stay informed, and get involved.

On the website, you will find a calendar of events, learn about the history of the LRCA, find out how to get involved, and much more. Please visit the website, follow the LRCA on facebook and twitter, and let us know what you think!

Join the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association for its monthly public meeting tonight at 7:00 pm at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Road NE). On the agenda: Councilmember Anita Bonds and DDOE’s Andrew Oetman, who will discuss the RiverSmart program.