February SNACC Committee Updates

The SNACC committee began our February meeting picking up where the SNA Board meeting left off – with community agreements. We generated a list of community needs for increased engagement, as well as our own list of agreements to consider adopting in addition to the ones shared at the last meeting (which were adapted from Southeast Uplift). The notes from that activity are available here. We then shared updates for the shower, outreach, and trash programs. In our March meeting we will continue conversations about budgeting, as we recently received generous donations that will allow us to be more responsive to the needs of the community that we serve. Our first priority is investigating a hot water heater for the shower that is within our budget. We will also look at the results of the community needs assessment to decide how to use funds after we have stocked the shower project with plenty of the high-demand supplies.

We encourage anyone who is interested in these efforts to attend our next SNACC meeting on Thursday, March 17th at 6:30 p.m. Meeting details will be posted on the SNA website Monday, March 14th.  

February SNACC Meeting

The Sunnyside Neighborhood Community Cares (SNACC) Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 17th at 6:30PM.

Hello neighbors,

It’s time for another SNACC meeting! Here is the zoom link and proposed agenda, as well as the community agreements that Ash shared in last week’s board meeting and a jam board link for a brief activity I’ll lead us through. Looking forward to sharing space with you all! 🙂

February 10, 2022 SNA General Membership and Board Meetings

The SNA General Membership and Board Meetings will be held back to back Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

  • SNA General Membership Meeting from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • SNA Board Meeting from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Both meetings are open to the public. 

Meeting Agenda. Times are approximate. Agenda items are subject to change.

Both meetings will be conducted via Zoom.  All attendees will be muted upon entry into the meeting.  In order to ask a question or make a comment, please use the “Raise Hand” feature.  If accessing the meeting via computer, tablet, or smartphone app, you can do so via the “Raise hand button” in the “Participant” menu. If you are calling into the meeting via phone, please dial *9.  You can learn more about how to use this feature here: https://www.techjunkie.com/zoom-raise-hand/

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89322488666

If you are unable to attend the meeting virtually by Zoom you can email the board at [email protected] for a copy of the meeting minutes or request further assistance with attending the live meeting. The SNA is currently following Covid safety precautions and will continue to meet virtually. If you need assistance with internet access the Board will do their best to help facilitate appropriate resources to join.

Last Month’s News. This Month’s Plans.

We kicked off the first SNA meeting of 2022 welcoming new members and taking time to get to know one another by sharing what we’re looking forward to in the year ahead. There was a good amount of optimism for better days ahead in regards to dealing with Covid and folks wanting to get more involved within the neighborhood. 

We currently have two open positions: Land Use & Transportation Committee Chair, and Newsletter Communications & Advertising Lead. If you would like to learn more about these positions and how you can get involved, please email [email protected] for further details. 

The group then brainstormed fundraising strategies to generate incoming revenue to sustain the neighborhood newsletter. In the past, a large portion of funding was provided by a communications grant from SE Uplift. As the community needs have shifted to reflect appropriate equity, assistance grant funds have scaled back. We need to generate $5,000 yearly to continue publishing our monthly newsletters. This publication reaches nearly 3,000 households and 8,000 people in the Sunnyside neighborhood. We are adding a donation link to the SNA website (https://sunnysideportland.org/donate) for folks to make personal contributions. We are also planning an outreach advertising campaign to local businesses within the Belmont and Hawthorne districts and establishing package rates to advertisers for an extended amount of time. If you would like to get involved or have fundraising ideas, please reach out to the SNA at [email protected]. We look forward to your support. 

The SNA hosted Josh Rolls, from Portland’s Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Pedestrian Advisory Committee, to speak on behalf of reinstating the traffic calming program. While the group did not support the proposal for residents to self-fund speed bumps, the SNA did support the idea of alternative traffic calming solutions that are more cost-efficient and provide a call to action for safety. Ideas proposed were to paint traffic control signage around crosswalks, stop signs, and schools as well as to install planters and trim back landscape overgrowth near stop signs to help create clearer visibility. The SNA encourages continued conversation with the PBOT Pedestrian Advisory Committee with hopes that we can still participate in welcoming back this necessary program for public safety. 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming February meeting on Thursday the 10th. The general meeting will be dedicated to learning what our neighborhood would like to see more support towards. The SNA Board is curious about how we can build a stronger community for local residents, business owners, and members of local worship. Meeting details and the agenda will be posted on the SNA website (https://sunnysideportland.org) on Tuesday the 8th. The General meeting is held 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the Board meeting to follow directly after from 8:00- 9:00 pm. We encourage you to participate in local civic service and join us in making Sunnyside and Southeast Portland a thriving community.

The Four Phases of Emergency Management

In the e-prep world, where I live a lot, these phases are ones that I am familiar with. It’s safe to say that in today’s world, all of these phases are happening somewhere around the globe. For the past four or five years I have been focusing on mitigation and preparedness in my role as a Sunnyside Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) member.

Mitigation – Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects

Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity. Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies.

Preparedness – Preparing to handle an emergency

Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations. Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness. Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs.

Response – Responding safely to an emergency

Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action. Seeking shelter from a tornado or turning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities. Response activities take place during an emergency.

Recovery – Recovering from an emergency

Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency. Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs. Recovery activities take place after an emergency.

Early on, I went door to door with my neighbor Karen and her girls passing out materials to help neighbors get, and be, prepared. With the help of some neighbors on SE Taylor and Yamhill, I created a neighborhood list for those willing to share their phone numbers and email addresses. Sometimes I put on my NET vest and pick up garbage on SE Taylor, especially the day after garbage, recycling and compost have been picked up. I periodically check the storm drains for clogged leaves on the northeast and southeast corners of Cesar Chavez and report the need for them to be cleared, if necessary.

It’s important to mention that I am not the only one doing work to keep our neighborhood safe. Others are cleaning up around Walgreens and reporting stolen cars and keeping their sidewalks and stairs clear for pedestrians, bikers, and essential workers who deliver food and other essential items to our front doors.

It takes all of us to be active members of our community and keep each other safe. We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Step up, step up, step up.

Thank you.

Questions? Comments? Need support in getting prepared? I have the time and the resources to support you. Email me: [email protected]