By Scott Babcock
Mayfair Neighbors is on its Way to Becoming a 501(c)(3)!
Mayfair Neighbors is excited to announce that we are moving forward with our 501(c)(3) application! This was no small feat, and I would like to extend thanks to each of the Board members that devoted time and energy to this effort.
So what does this mean?? As a 501(c)(3), all of your 2009 donations to the Board will be tax deductible! It also means that we will be able to save significant money on mailing, potentially generate additional sponsorships for community events, and qualify for grants that we may not otherwise be able to pursue (maybe a sunsail at Mayfair Park for shade?!.).
Again we greatly appreciate the financial support that we receive from all of you!
Commitment to Palmer
Last February, several Mayfair Board members met with Liz Trujillo, Palmer Elementary Principal, and Lisa Kerin-Welch, Palmer PTA President, to discuss ways we may be able to further support Palmer’s efforts to become an even better neighborhood school—As many of you know, a strong neighborhood school is often synonymous with a thriving, highly-desirable neighborhood. So, whether you are a young couple with children, or a retired “empty-nester,” we all should take interest in helping Palmer become a top-notch school!
Financial contributions are one way Mayfair Neighbors, Inc. helps Palmer. Proceeds from last year’s annual fall wine tasting and silent auction at the Cork House helped generate almost $1,000 for the Palmer PTA (which applied the money to a music program). However, in the future, the Mayfair Board is committed to providing additional community support to Palmer as well.
One of the things we discussed in our meeting with Principal Trujillo and the Palmer PTA President was the fact that many neighbors may not fully realize what Palmer has to offer. To make this happen, we are working with Principal Trujillo to host an informal “open house” breakfast the morning of our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Mayfair Park (Saturday, April 11th). The Easter Egg hunt is scheduled for 11 a.m. (and you won’t want to miss it!), but first swing by Palmer between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and enjoy a muffin and coffee (donated from our friends at Geez Louise).
We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to learn about what’s going on at Palmer, take a tour of the school, and chat with Principal Trujillo and some of the Palmer staff.
By Mark Gardinier
Each year at this time we ask the Mayfair Community to join Mayfair Neighbors, Inc in our efforts to build and enhance our community. Great things are made possible when many small contributors gather their resources for a common good. Mayfair Neighbors, Inc represents 3,500 households and businesses located between 6th Avenue on the south, Colfax on the north, Eudora to the west and Monaco to the east.
We have held the line on our membership rates over the past few years, however, we do need to make modest increases this year in order to deal with the higher prices that we pay for printing and postage of the Mayfair Mirror, maintaining our professional website and continuing to build to our list of community activities and gifts.
Events
Each year, Mayfair Neighbors presents our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Mayfair Park and this year we are adding a Continental Breakfast Open House at Palmer Elementary prior to the Egg Hunt. We are also looking into expanding our Concert-In-The-Park with the Denver Municipal Band into a neighborhood MayFAIR. The Garden Tour is beginning to take on a life of its own and many say it is the BEST garden tour in the City. While we do get some sponsorship for the Garden Tour, we do have expenses that your membership dollars help defray.
Partnerships
We have been building a partnership with Palmer Elementary School over the past few years. We believe that a strong local school in fundamental to having a strong community. Each year we donate to the Inter- Neighborhood Cooperation’s (INC) Dollar Dictionary drive whose goal is to provide every DPS third grader with a personalized Dictionary and Thesaurus. For many children these are the only books that they have at home. Again, your membership dollars are a key to this program. Mayfair Neighbors’ late member, Nancy Jackson, was a key leader in this program. In honor of her work we made a $700 memorial contribution to this program above our annual $300 gift.
Neighborly Benefits
Mayfair Neighbors Inc. is dedicated to: sponsoring neighborhood events and community improvement, addressing your local concerns; communicating via the quarterly Mayfair Mirror, our website www.mayfairdenver.org, and e-mail newsblasts to our e-mail subscribers, and semi-annual general meetings; fostering community spirit, coordinating with other neighborhood associations, and working towards all of these goals with your input.
Please join the association, today! Membership is still a bargain at $15 for a household membership, $25 for a business membership, and $10 for folks over 65 (we don’t check ID). Please send your membership, NOW!
Excerpted from INC February Newsletter
INC’s (Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation) Presidents and Delgates Dinner, held on Thursday, January 29 at the Stapleton Doubletree Hotel was a great success. Nearly 240 people from around Denver came together to recognize the efforts of neighborhood advocates during 2008. Neighborhood organization presidents, INC delegates, elected officials, city administration personnel, members of the Denver Police and Denver Fire Departments, and more enjoyed a wonderful meal and beautiful surroundings. The event was generously sponsored again this year by VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau.
