What is UCityUnited?
UCityUnited, an independent non-governmental body, is committed to shaping the future of University City by facilitating communications among the diverse groups of the City on
matters of mutual concern.
We are University City residents who believe great cities are created by informed and involved citizens. Our aim is to build community, accountability, and transparency in our organization and in the U-city government by:
(a) facilitating communication among residents and between residents and
governmental bodies,
(b) monitoring Boards and commissions and reporting their activities to the
residents,
(c) facilitating citizen study on issues of concern identified by residents,
(d) developing non-partisan campaigns and other actions focused on issues
selected by the organization, and
(e) diversifying and increasing citizen participation in governance.
I think UCityUnited is a concept that has been long overdue and I’m glad to see this blog. However, I have a few questions and in a way, this comment is a test of how these questions get answered:
- I don’t see any contact information on how to join UCityUnited. I’d like to, and the dues are inexpensive, but who do I contact and what are the benefits of joining if I do?
- How and where do regular citizens or members of UCityUnited - discuss issues? This blog or an email group? Other avenues?
Thanks,
Beverly Brandt
Beverly,
Thanks for your comments.
An oversight on our part that you could not find contact information on this site (a temporary site until our website is up and running.) To join UCityUnited please contact: Bronwen Zwirner at bzwirner@aol.com or 314-726-2060. Bronwen is the Secretary of the Board and can add your name to the e-mail list we’ve set up. She can also give you information on where to mail your $5 membership fee.
If you join UCityUnited you will be able to vote on the issues/campaigns that the organization imbarks upon.
We have an ad hoc committee working now on determining how the organization will choose issues, what type of regular town-hall type meetings will be held. Our thought has been to have at least four general meetings a year where an informational program might be presented, and then people will have the opportunity to bring up whatever issues concern them - and link with others with the same concerns. And we want to have a U City blog on the formal website. We have an e-mail list but have not used that for discussions yet - thinking the blog format is more appropriate for that.
As I mentioned above we have said we want to link people who are interested in working on similar issues/topics. Our ad hoc group is figuring out how that will happen. It did happen in one fashion at our meeting in October. A group of environmentalists came to our meeting and asked for support for their efforts to make U City live up to the Cool Cities Initiative it signed on to earlier this year. The guests got a few takers and that group is now off on its own, doing its thing. They will come back at some point to update UCityUnited and perhaps ask for support or help. We shall see.
It’s fun to start up a new organization and have a real impact on how it develops. So I hope you will come on board. Your input would be very welcome. (As would the input of anyone and everyone else who is reading this blog.)
I think you have offered some of your services in the IT area, too. We will be in touch on that when we are a bit farther along.
Ciao.
Ciao.
why didn’t University City permit this organization to announce itself and the upcoming meeting?