COVNA Nesletter 10/09

NOVEMBER IS ELECTION MONTH

According to our by-laws the positions of President, Secretary, and Newsletter Editor are to be elected for next year for two year terms.
Please bring your ideas for nominees (along with yourselves) to the November meeting.

COVNA still has no Vice-President. If willing to serve, contact any officer listed at right. Could this be you?

2009 COVNA BOARD

Mark Tilley
Floyd Clark (temporary)
Dan Anderson
Hal Ferguson
Doug Tabony
Doug DuBois
Floyd Clark

President (280-2572)
Vice President (282-8245)
Secretary (282-1932)
Treasurer (282-0601)
Newsletter (280-4080)
ANC Delegate (292-9323)
Past President (282-8245)

February 16th
April 20th
June 20 - Picnic

September 21st
November 16th
Dec Party - (TBA)

Advertise in the COVNA Newsletter
Only $10.00/month. Reaches over 400 homes & Online at COVNA.org
Email Hal Ferguson at: hferguson3@yahoo.com

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

My wife Kim and I volunteered to deliver the COVNA directory to houses on our street not too long ago. We took a walk down Queenswood and knocked on 15 doors or so. If memory serves, we spoke to approximately five people. Some people weren't home from work yet, but others just didn't answer their doors. I'll admit, I'm often guilty of doing the same thing if I see a stranger through my peephole. Frankly, after a long day at work, I may not be in the mood to deal with someone who looks like a solicitor. And, these days, as the Internet connects people around the world, it seems we are becoming less connected with those right around us.

I have been reminded, however, (from Officer Visi at our last COVNA meeting and at several Austin Police Department presentations), that the security and the tranquility of our neighborhood depends in large part on the involvement of neighbors and the relationships we have with one another. Essentially, everybody benefits when we know one another, look out for one another, and take pride in our neighborhood. That is the purpose behind the recent National Night Out, which many neighborhoods around Austin celebrated. People were encouraged to have neighborhood barbecues, sit on their front porch, and take flashlight walks together as the sun went down.

I get the sense that COVNA used to have that stronger sense of community in simpler times. When everybody knew one another and didn't immediately disappear into their houses when they got home from work. I'd like to experience that strength of community again. If you also would like to improve the neighborhood and get to know your neighbors better, I encourage you to come to the next COVNA meeting on November 16. If you really want to get involved and know all the neighborhood news and developments, consider serving as an officer. At the next meeting, we will be electing the offices of President and Secretary (both 2-year terms) and Interim Vice President (1 year term). If you are interested in being nominated, feel free to contact me or any other officer. In the meantime, if you see some of your neighbors out delivering the COVNA newsletter, make a point to stop, say hi, and visit.

Mark Tilley

NOVEMBER IS ELECTION

Election day for the Constitutional Amendments listed below is November 3rd. Early voting starts October 19th and ends October 30th. For a sample ballot, an explanation of the amendments, and analysis from the Texas Legislative Council go to www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/whatisontheballot.shtml
For the women’s league of voters nonpartisan guide to the election go to www.lwvaustin.org/votersguide/2009CAVG.pdf

Proposition 1: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation."

Proposition 2: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence homestead."

Proposition 3: "The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes."

Proposition 4: "The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund."

Proposition 5: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations."

Proposition 6: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized."

Proposition 7: "The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices."

Proposition 8: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state."

Proposition 9: "The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico."

Proposition 10: "The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years."

Proposition 11: "The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature's authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity."

Your vote counts much more in these non-glamorous elections. Please vote.