[from Joseph Martin, ANC 4C Chair]
NEW MEETING PLACE FOR ANC 4C MONTHLY MEETINGS:
Roosevelt Senior High School
Access through the driveway between MacFarland Middle School (4400 Iowa Avenue NW) and the Petworth Library. Iowa Avenue NW comes off of Georgia Avenue NW next to the Petworth Library.
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ANC 4C will meet at Roosevelt starting next week at our first regularly scheduled meeting (second Tuesday of each month) on Tuesday, October 13, from 6:30 pm to about 8:45 pm.
Too often we all worked to squeeze into the community room at 801 Shepherd Street during ANC meetings. As chair, I have always been extremely uncomfortable seeing residents standing in the back of the room and spilling into the hallways because we had no more room for residents.
When the ANC had MPD Chief Cathy Lanier arrive at one particular meeting and saw so many residents in the hallways, she looked at me and all the Commissioners remarking, "You need a bigger space." That was not the first time we heard that suggestion, nor the last.
I am touched when neighbors come to the ANC meetings. As Commissioners, I felt, we have an obligation to meet in comfortable space, ideally in a public building with ample room for all of our neighbors. This week I asked a senior - who lives a few houses from 801 Shepherd - how she felt about the switch to Roosevelt. She told me she welcomed the move.
WHAT ROOSEVELT OFFERS
Roosevelt Senior High School is more centrally located than 801 Shepherd for the ten, single-member districts that make up ANC 4C. There are several, huge, meeting space options within Roosevelt. For town hall meetings, there is a newly-renovated, stunning auditorium. The capacity there is probably a thousand.
The faculty of Roosevelt Senior High School are encouraged by the thought of more community members coming to the school. Several students have told me to my face that they are eager to see us meet there and participate in our meetings.
Roosevelt has a legendary roster of graduates who continue to make their mark in the world. In addition to the academics, Roosevelt has legendary sports teams. The high school includes a journalism program for students, a television studio, a radio studio, music program and large music practice room, a library, a weight room, a hair salon for students who want to learn that useful profession.
The culinary arts program has a project going with the Food Channel. There is a greenhouse that needs some elbow grease (neighbors?) and an herb garden on the south side of the building. Culinary arts students and their chef have already said they would like to show off their talents to the community.
There have been a few objections to holding our meetings at Roosevelt, and I understand. Nonetheless, I think we should give Roosevelt a good try -- at least for a few months. If it doesn't work out, we can ask ourselves why and consider other options.
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