Greetings Rita Park community. Thank you for entrusting me with the chairpersonship of the Association at our recent AGM.  I’m looking forward to working with our executive and directors and communicating with our members as we make our way through 2013-2014.

I’ve been thinking a lot these past few months about “community” and what that means. When I moved into Rita Park 30 years ago, what I appreciated most was how similar it felt to my childhood neighbourhood in Port Ryerse. It was small enough that everyone knew everyone, intimate enough that there was a comfortable familiarity, reciprocal care & concern, and a common interest in fostering community.   Rita Park felt like that. Fast forward 30 years, people have moved on, passed on, lives have changed, cottages have turned into houses and then back into cottages, we’re a different mix of people. I get that. I know we can’t turn back the clock.

When I accepted the position of chair of the Rita Park Cottagers Association, I did so with a challenge in mind. I’m not content to accept that in the 21st century, “community” exists only in cyberspace and that neighbourhoods can’t thrive as a locus for community any longer: People are too busy; It’s different today. ….So I looked around for examples of contemporary communities that thrive, and found many that have “Neighbourhood Associations.”  They are groups of neighbours who work together to improve their neighbourhood—Sound familiar? When I look through the old Rita Park documents, I see that when we received our Charter in 1961, we were entrusted with the care of the land donated to us forever. Yup, it actually says forever.  At the same time, we were also charged with responsibility for advancing the cultural and social interests of residents, promoting the interests of those who own property, and promoting social and physical activities for young people living in the vicinity. Oh, and we’re forbidden to open a gaming house. Darn.

Lightbulb moment: Rita Park Cottagers Association is a Neighbourhood Association and we’re capable of so much more than collecting dues to pay taxes and cut down dead trees. In light of that little epiphany I want to spend the next year working on what we can do as a Neighbourhood Association and breathe new life into Rita Park.

Our executive and directors are meeting regularly throughout this year to engage in discussions about our roots and our future.  Updates will follow throughout the year.

Cheers,

Sally