Attendees & Leadership New administration introduced: Chad Ramsey (President), Andrew Mitchell (VP), Caitie Duncan (Secretary), and Nick Morrison (Treasurer).
Treasurer’s Report (Nick) The FPCA switched banks from its previous institution (which charged excessive fees) to United Bank, a local bank. The new setup enables modern payment methods including Zelle and a pay link (via QR code) that accepts credit cards and ACH payments. Nick also noted that 2023–2025 tax returns need to be filed to bring the organization into good standing with the IRS. A neighborhood logo was created with AI assistance.
Communications Update (Caitie) Caitie has been working on improving digital presence — updating the website, syncing it with Facebook, and creating events. An attempt to email the full membership list was hampered by the email provider flagging old/invalid addresses. The group discussed switching to a dedicated email service like Mailchimp or MailerLite for newsletters and blasts. The community calendar on the website can also be subscribed to via Google/Apple Calendar. Recording and privacy concerns were briefly addressed.
Block Party — May 9th (Andrew & Caitie) The street closure permit has been submitted. Kegs have been pre-ordered (with the right taps this time). A neighbor has access to all necessary tents/awnings. A Sign Up Genius was created for volunteers (setup, grilling, music, potluck, etc.). The Italian Store offered a pizza donation. Plans include distributing flyers two weeks in advance and updating yard signs with the new date and logo. QR codes laminated to the signs were suggested for easy access to the website.
Membership Drive Current membership is around 5%; the goal is to reach 50% by year-end. Making dues easy to pay (digitally) is a key step. A signup form on the website was discussed. Everyone is welcome at events regardless of dues status.
Future Events
- Happy Hour: Second Tuesday of every month at El Tio’s
- Fall Fête: October 4th (sponsored by Urban Cottage)
- Ideas discussed: Halloween block party/street closure, a spring family gathering at Tyler Park, and possibly reviving National Night Out
FPCA Cares (Donna) A proposal to create a neighborhood mutual aid program — connecting residents who need help (shoveling, errands, minor repairs, etc.) with neighbors willing to assist. A simple web form was suggested to manage requests, with one person acting as coordinator/dispatcher.
Road Conditions Residents flagged deteriorating roads in the neighborhood, largely due to construction and weather damage. Everyone was encouraged to report potholes via my.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 1-800-FOR-ROAD.
Next Meeting Tentatively scheduled for July 20 or 21 at the local library.
Fenwick Park Civic Association 