Steering Committee Update

GCHNA finds itself at a crucial time in its over 20 years of community involvement.  The Steering Committee must grow and new energy is needed on the committees that keep the organization going. At this time we have neither a President nor Vice President.

At the September picnic, our informal survey showed agreement on the value of what GCHNA provides: discounted propane, a newsletter, education particularly on fire preparedness, being a voice for neighborhood concerns, and providing opportunities for
social interaction. Additional services like providing activities for families with children and specialized social events were suggested.

At the October meeting, the Steering Committee made some changes that will allow us to continue to function while we recruit new members and deal with our lack of leadership. Beginning in January, we will meet quarterly rather than monthly. Committees will meet separately as needed. We will narrow our focus in terms of what we provide; our obligations as a Firewise Community being of primary concern. We’ll continue efforts to recruit new members by inviting interested people to meetings with a catered dinner.

Can you help? We need:

*People with energy and enthusiasm to attend meetings and eventually take a leadership role

*People to help plan social events

*Someone with computer knowl- edge to upgrade the web site

*Someone to head the Firewise Community committee to assure that we meet our obligations of providing information to our members and organizing participation in community events like the Scotch Broom pull.

*Someone to implement new ideas for families, like a list of families who want to carpool or a summer activity sponsored by GCHNA.

As you complete the membership form this year, please take the time to give us your email address knowing that it will be used to inform you of meetings and events.

Consider attending a dinner meeting and getting more involved.

Contact Ellen Hagan 265-9746 if you would like to attend the April 1 dinner meeting.

CDBG waiver is being readied as we read

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 – This is NEWZ.  Today, as this is being typed, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) initiated by Nevada County is being readied for a “waiver” approval.  In April of last year (2011) word had it that the CDBG for the Community Facility District 2007-1 (CFD) was awarded to Nevada County to assist low/moderate income families within the above mention CFD.  The following June this grant award was retracted due to some technicalities.  This technicalities were addressed by both the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) and Nevada County in a hurculean collaborative effort to “get it straight.”

The ensuing months were occupied by this grant being reviewed by both federal and state agencies that identified the faulty technicalities.  The final outcome is that a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is required by this particular grant to be included in the application for the grant.  Originally it was determined that only a State of California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review was necessary.  So, now (again as this is being typed) the information from the EPA is being configured into the required NEPA in order for the grant waiver to move on through the state and federal agencies for approval.

This is progress.   (Jeanette Clark, reporting) For more information click here.