Hello Neighbors,
At the start of every calendar year, residents of the Patterson Park Neighborhood elect neighbors to serve on the PPNA Board for a one-year term, with the option for re-election. Heading in to 2021, the PPNA Board has three vacancies:
Treasurer
Vice President of North Sector
Vice President of South Sector
Read on to learn about the role of Board members, the expectations of candidates, and the virtual election process for 2021.
ABOUT THE BOARD
Q: What are the expectations of Board members?
A: Board members are expected to be actively engaged residents within the community who support the efforts of PPNA Committees, uphold the values of the PPNA Anti-Racism Statement, and have their annual membership dues paid in good standing.
Support the efforts of PPNA Committees: PPNA Committee Chairs serve alongside the Board, taking initiative, rallying neighbors, and spearheading projects that benefit the Patterson Park Neighborhood. Board members are expected to support Committee Chairs and community members with organizing logistics, planning events and projects, and communicating with the Board about status and needs.
Uphold the values of the PPNA Anti-Racism Statement: Board members are expected to uphold anti-racist values by condemning racism, fighting against oppression, striving for racial equity and justice, nurturing diversity, and empowering one another towards action. The PPNA Anti-Racism Statement outlines six organizational commitments to action. Board members are expected to prioritize these commitments alongside other initiatives that benefit the Patterson Park Neighborhood.
Have your annual membership dues paid in good standing: Membership in PPNA is open to those individuals who are property owners or residents within the boundaries of the Patterson Park Neighborhood. Annual membership dues contribute to the operational costs of initiatives that benefit the Patterson Park Neighborhood.
Q: What is it like to be on the Board? A: From the perspectives of current and outgoing Board members, being a Board member at PPNA is exciting, collaborative, and humbling.
Some rewarding aspects of being a Board member are serving as a connector between neighbors and resources (including financial resources or political and social will), learning from and engaging with neighbors in the Patterson Park Neighborhood and throughout Baltimore City, and accomplishing projects that have a large-scale impact on our community.
Some challenging aspects of being a Board member are trusting the knowledge base and problem-solving strategies of others, corralling multiple stakeholders involved with organizing projects, and inspiring others to leverage their potential to the fullest extent in our community.
Q: Other than the Board, how can I get more involved with PPNA?
A: Outside of Board members, PPNA Committee members and neighbors take initiative, rally support, and spearhead projects that benefit the Patterson Park Neighborhood on a large scale.
We need neighbors who are passionate about a cause and willing to dedicate their time towards organizing a project. If you have an idea, PPNA can make it happen!
What kinds of projects? Committees tackle projects that benefit everyone in the Patterson Park Neighborhood from Economic Development, Greening, Sustainability, Housing, Transportation, Safety, and more. Examples of projects by PPNA Committees are bringing recycling solutions to our area, installing custom metal welcome signs at the boundaries of our neighborhood, and organizing a network of security cameras to reduce crime.
To get more involved, attend a monthly community meeting, or contact a Committee Chair about volunteering your time.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
Q: Who can run for a Board position?
A: Anyone who is a resident of the Patterson Park Neighborhood, and has paid their annual membership dues to PPNA can run for any position on the Board, regardless of whether there is a vacancy for the position.
Roles and responsibilities: More information about the full responsibilities of PPNA Board Members is available in the PPNA Bylaws.
Q: How do I run for a Board position? A: Neighbors can nominate themselves or someone else to serve on the PPNA Board. From there, a current PPNA Board Member will follow up with the candidate to confirm that they are running in the PPNA Board Election.
PPNA Board Election: The PPNA Board Election will be held at the PPNA Community Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021. Send an email to info@pattersonparkneighbors.org to start the conversation and nominate yourself or a neighbor.
Q: What should a candidate do to prepare for the election? A: Candidates who confirm that they are running the PPNA Board Election should prepare a four-minute speech about your background and interests. Candidates will present publicly in the PPNA Board Election at the PPNA Community Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021. This Community Meeting will be virtually recorded and widely distributed.
Background and interests: Consider sharing about your background and connection to the Patterson Park Neighborhood, the skills you bring to the role, and your areas of interest. We are interested in knowing why you want a position with the PPNA Board, what you’re passionate about in our community, and what you hope to accomplish in your role.
ABOUT THE VOTING
Q: Who can vote in the election?
A: Anyone who is a resident or property owner of the Patterson Park Neighborhood and has paid their annual membership dues to PPNA can vote in the PPNA Board Election. The PPNA Board Election will be held at the PPNA Community Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021.
PPNA Bylaws: According to the PPNA Bylaws, you must have attended two PPNA Community Meetings within the past year to be eligible to vote. Due to the pandemic and the shift to virtual Community Meetings in 2020, the current Board voted to waive this requirement for the upcoming PPNA Board Election.
Q: How do I vote in the election?
A: To vote in the PPNA Board Election, pay your PPNA membership dues, attend or view the Community Meeting, and cast your vote via Google Forms.
Membership: First, pay your annual membership dues to PPNA. We will be checking the membership status of everyone who votes in the PPNA Board Election. (Already a member in 2020? Send an email to treasurer@pattersonparkneighbors.org to confirm your current status.)
Community Meeting: Attend the virtual PPNA Virtual Community Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021 to get informed about the process, and to meet the candidates. If you are not able to attend virtually, the meeting will be digitally recorded and shared widely.
Google Form: We will use a Google Form to collect responses. The link to the Google Form will be distributed at the PPNA Community Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021, and will remain open through Monday, January 18, 2021.
Results: The current PPNA Board will be following up to confirm the membership status of everyone who votes in the PPNA Board Election, and will reach out if there are any questions or concerns regarding your responses on the Google Form. The results of the PPNA Board Election will be announced after Monday, January 18, 2021.
Q: How can I help with the election process?
A: To support the PPNA Board Election, encourage your friends and neighbors to subscribe to PPNA emails and to pay their annual membership dues to PPNA. Please also share and cross-post about the PPNA Board Election while the Google Form is live from Monday, January 11, 2021 through Monday, January 18, 2021.
A NOTE OF THANKS
The current PPNA Board would like to thank outgoing Board Members, Mairin Srygley and Garrett Patrick, for their commitment to our neighborhood, their dedication to the PPNA Board, and their continued active involvement with PPNA.
QUESTIONS AND INFO
For additional questions and information about the upcoming PPNA Board Election, contact secretary@pattersonparkneighbors.org.