From the Officers
This month’s column contains announcements and policy changes.
Membership through 2010. Renewing members or new members who pay their dues anytime after October 1, 2009 will be recognized as members through December 31, 2010. Dues are $15 per person.
Office hours. The PLBRA office is now staffed weekdays from 1:00 until 4:00 pm.
Policy on dues. The Board has adopted a resolution ending the $25 “family” dues rate. Our bylaws state that there is only one class of members, “and each member shall have equal voting and other rights.” Each individual member held one vote, but there was no policy on voting rights in a family-dues situation (One vote per membership? Two? A vote for every adult, or every family member? What counts as a family, anyway?). With this resolution, we eliminated the source of potential problems.
Policy on monthly meetings with PLB Management. Members are asked to submit questions and concerns for the officers to include on the agenda. Examples of appropriate issues include health, safety, maintenance condition of the buildings and grounds, and Management policy practices. We intend to report significant findings and developments in the Newsletter.
Policy on “volunteer” nature of participation in PLBRA. The officers are formulating a standard for whether members should be compensated for services they perform for PLBRA.
Some members have been receiving compensation for their efforts, but most have not. We believe there should be an even-handed policy covering all members, so that funds are not wasted and no one feels aggrieved by favoritism. Members are encouraged to submit their views; again, see page 2 for the office contact information.
Policy on Newsletter content. We encourage members to submit articles for publication. We prefer material addressing issues that arise specifically from living at Park La Brea – constructive suggestions for changes or improvement, fresh perspective, and analysis (rather than mere griping).
Policy on use of Activities Center facilities. PLBRA activities, such as Board meetings and the regular events listed as Community Activities (see page 3), may use the Activities Center rooms and Theater at Curson Square; the officers will reserve the spaces.
However, we don’t have authority to reserve the rooms for unaffiliated groups. Other organizations and residents wishing to use these facilities for their events must make reservations through PLB Management’s staff at the Center.
Committee work. We are beginning program activity for the following committees: Communications (Newsletter and website), Community Activities (selection and planning of events), Grievances (representing PLBRA members’ concerns), and a new committee, Emergency Preparedness, focused on how residents can prepare themselves for natural disasters and other emergencies.
We are seeking more members at this time for the Tower Apartments and Garden Apartments committees, along with the Resident Security & Traffic Safety committee (now combined into a single group). Committee participation is open to PLBRA members. Current members, please contact the office (see page 2 for PLBRA’s office contact information). New or renewing members can check the appropriate boxes on the membership slip