The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Gardens Residents Association will take place on Monday 9 May from 7.30 – 9.30pm, at the Kurdish Community Centre, Portland Gardens N4 IHU (off Stanhope Gardens).
The Gardens Residents Association (GRA) exists to represent the views of all the residents in the Gardens roads (Warwick, Stanhope, Rutland, Roseberry, Chesterfield, Kimberley, Cleveland, Doncaster and Portland Gardens) whether you are tenants or owner-occupiers, whether you live in a house or a block of flats, whether you have just moved in or have lived here for many years. We work closely with our local councillors, council officers, community safety team (police) and other local organisations and community groups to improve the environment for local residents. The Gardens Residents Association created and maintains the award-winning Community Garden in Doncaster Gardens (off Stanhope Gardens), and holds a number of community events throughout the year, such as the recent spring event (seed planting, willow workshop and Easter egg hunt) which took place on 9 April and attracted at least 50 local families.
The theme of this year’s meeting is: Let’s get involved!
The Gardens Residents Association is a busy, thriving organisation and the more people who get involved, the more we can do. We will spend some time at this meeting discussing the best ways to encourage more people to play an active role. We have also invited our 3 councillors to come along and address the meeting and take questions from the floor.
We will also be electing our officers for the coming year. This year two positions have become vacant as both the Chair and the Secretary, who have each served for two years, are stepping down due to other commitments. So we are looking for some new volunteers to take on these roles. The Vice Chair is happy to stay on and other members of the committee will give lots of support to the new officers.
Each of these roles could be undertaken on a job-share basis between two people. The tasks that are involved are as follows:
Chair of GRA
§ To represent the GRA locally
§ To attend and chair the monthly meetings of the GRA, and other meetings which may be arranged from time to time
§ To draw up agendas for GRA meetings
§ To make sure all residents have an equal chance to voice their views at meetings
§ To encourage community involvement in meetings and GRA activities
§ To contribute to GRA decision-making, planning and carrying out GRA activities.
Secretary of GRA
§ To attend and take minutes of all GRA meetings
§ To type up the minutes and circulate them to the members
§ To send out reminder notices of meetings
§ To invite councillors and other local representatives and council officers to our meetings as required
§ To check the GRA email inbox regularly and action as appropriate
§ To write letters and emails on behalf of the GRA as agreed at meetings
§ To contribute to GRA decision-making, planning and carrying out GRA activities.
Several people have expressed an interest so far, but nothing is decided as yet, so do get in touch before the meeting if you are interested in taking on one of these positions. Email gardensresidents@gmail.com or phone 020 8374 7721.
There are also many other voluntary roles, including looking after: Membership, Website and E-Group, Fundraising, Planning Issues, Community Garden, Trees, Newsletter, Children’s Activities, Waste management, Traffic, Neighbourhood Watch, Safer Neighbourhoods Ward Panel etc. This is your chance to get involved and do your bit to help improve the local neighbourhood, so do let us know if you are interested in taking on one of these roles.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
