Annual Meeting Recap — Board Update!
Thanks to all who attended our 2024 Annual Meeting on April 16!
We had a good turnout and appreciate all who braved the rain to spend a spring night with us. Special thanks to our speakers, including MN House of Representative’s Frank Hornstein, Ward 7 Council Member Katie Cashman, MPRB's Elizabeth Shaffer, MPD's Insp. Christie Nelson, and Laura Hoffman-Boyer from the office of Marion Greene, Hennepin Co. Board. Extra special thanks to Isles Bun & Coffee, Kowalski's Market and Lunds & Byerlys for their generous, delicious donations, and for Grace-Trinity Community Church for hosting us another year.
All Board Members Returning!
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Background
East Isles homeowner, current EINA Board TreasurerWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I have the desire, experience, energy, and skills to continue working with neighbors to keep East Isles one of the best places in the city to live, work, and recreate. Now more than ever we must work together to advocate for the neighborhood and help find solutions to the challenges East Isles and our city is facing.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have served as treasurer of EINA for the last two years and have many years of experience in strategic planning and development in the private and non-profit sectors. I also have a long history in the neighborhood and experience interacting with local government.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation (BET), Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) -
Background
East Isles renter, Board member since 2024.What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
Last March, I stood outside in the middle of my parking lot in Uptown, freezing rain blowing sideways, and talked with two policemen through an open squad car window. It'd taken a few days, but when they arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see two more experienced officers on mandatory overtime duty had been assigned. After some small talk, I took out my phone, swiped through some photos, zoomed into one particular image, and spun the screen around for the driver. He nudged his partner who quickly glanced over and agreed that they would need to call someone. I wandered across the street to Lunds for some new pens.I noticed my landlord's SUV in the parking lot as I returned home, and assumed he'd shown everyone through the padlocked front door. It wasn't long until two bomb squad members, three forensic specialists, and one arson investigator had joined our group. We gathered around a charred but unshattered mason jar in the corner of a first floor living room; scorched hardwood floors underneath, dark soot stained walls directly behind, fading smoke trails throughout every ceiling edge and corner, etc.
The cheap vinyl blinds in a large window several feet away had partially melted into gently swooping curves, but only half way up the wall, as the same blind's top slats remained eerily intact. I remember thinking a good arson investigator should be able to quickly guess an approximate temperature and burn duration from so many visual clues. They were able to extract unburnt fluids from inside the mason jar; possibly flammable. Leftover fingerprints and touch DNA were possible; unlikely.
Just after sunrise, three months later in June, I was sitting at my desk overlooking The Mall, reading the weekend newspaper, when I heard five unmistakable sounds. It was an unwelcome reminder that I had grown accustomed to gunfire, and how experience had taught my mind to slow down in such moments; listen and take note of multiple guns, caliber, direction, shot cadence, etc. Within fifteen minutes, I was standing on the sidewalk with two officers, reviewing security camera footage on my laptop, and helping recover shell casings. Several days later, I crossed paths with the gunman in the park, and we exchanged respectful nods without words as men on the street often do.
By July, I began to question whether or not I wanted to continue living in Minneapolis, and if I were to move, why I would remain in Minnesota. Before too long, I was pricing out travel and lodging in Melbourne, Australia, and inquiring about consulting opportunities down there with some of my old online friends.
There's more to this story, and I'm not sure how much of it is appropriate for this application to the East Isles Neighborhood Association board, but I will say this much more.
Sometime in late September, it dawned on me, quite unexpectedly, that I was still living in the same old apartment that I had chosen in the winter of 2004, and I'd been here longer than any other place I'd called home in my lifetime. It suddenly seemed foolish, even selfish, to simply abandon nearly two decades of memories, observations, and experience in my neighborhood without making a sincere effort to help change things here.
A few days later, I saw some strangers in orange shirts picking up trash in the park, and ran outside to ask who they were and what they were doing. As I door knocked for City Council campaigns throughout October, becoming politically active in local politics for the first time, I took for granted that the troubles of spring and summer had simmered down to a point where I could spend time away from my apartment buildings without something petty or catastrophic happening in my absence. It was only in November that I learned how EINA had been influencing city officials to take better care of the Uptown Transit Station, Walker Library, and nearby parklands.
It was this unseen work that inspired me to write this story, and the word inspire in your question couldn't be any more apropos.
And, strangely enough, by the end of last year, I found two separate opportunities to speak with Fire Chief Tyner and Police Assistant Chief Gaiters about the arson attempted mentioned above. I was pleasantly surprised by their familiarity with specific case details. I pinch myself every time I pause and remember that this is my life now. They're both nice gentlemen who recognize me at community events.
There's no small amount of heartbreak that comes with knowing that Minneapolis is a delightfully small city, and perhaps I could have been a bigger part of this community years ago, but maybe things truly do happen when they're meant to be.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I am a natural social chameleon who gets along well with others regardless of background. I've been tinkering with computers since I was five years old in 1983; programmer, graphic designer, web developer, video editor, sound engineer, database guru, sysadmin, etc. I grew up in the direct marketing (junk mail) business and have some experience with non-profit fundraising. I consider myself a unique combination of both an artist and an engineer. And, sometimes to my own surprise, I have lived near the corner of Lagoon and Hennepin for almost twenty years.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation, Community Safety, Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) -
Background
East Isles homeowner, Board member since 2023.What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
To help restore the safety and vitality of our uniquely mixed-use community in which I had the good fortune to raise my family.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
A successful small-business owner with a strong track record in identifying shared interests and facilitating alignment in large organizations.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) -
Background
East Isles homeowner, current EINA Board memberWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
Longtime resident and passionate about living in the City and doing my part to keep it safe and a great place to raise a family.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have been practicing real estate law for over 30 years so have good analytical and communication skills, as well as an expertise in development, community and housing.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on
Community Safety -
Background
East Isles homeowner, current Board VP.What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I love our neighborhood and want to help our community stay active, inclusive, and strong.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I'm currently the Chair of the neighborhood's Green Team and I enjoy organizing neighborhood events. I'm also a lawyer and retired nonprofit leader.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Green Team -
Background
East Isles homeowner, EINA Board President since 2022.What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
My wife and I have called East Isles home for over 25 years and love our vital Minneapolis community. Both of our kids have grown up here and went to school locally. While our neighborhood has some challenges, they can be overcome by leveraging the talents and skills of those who call our East Isles home. I have been honored to serve on the EINA Board for several years, chair the NRP Committee, and am the current Board President. I do my best to support local businesses. And, I have run, walked, or biked over 50,000 miles around the chain of lakes. I am proud of the work the EINA Board has done, including public safety, environmental, and other community improvements. I hope to earn your support for another term and please feel free to reach out with your suggestions or concerns anytime.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
Long time board member with a track record of driving results. Actively engaged in public policy efforts to improve Minneapolis. Member of the Minneapolis Capitol Long Range Planning Community.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP)