What is an HVNA member?
By Richard Johnson
Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association’s (HVNA) membership is not homogeneous or static. Membership is as different for each of us as how we live and participate in the neighborhood. Over the years, Membership has changed; HVNA began as a reactive group of neighbors confronting issues of crime and livability. Now, HVNA is a solid pro-active force for all of us to define how we want our neighborhood to be. For me, membership in HVNA brings the following benefits to my friends and neighbors:

• We have held steadfast in our mission to maintain neighborhood diversity through advocacy of policy and social issues that help foster a safe, green, healthy, thriving, sustainable community.

• We have developed an outstanding reputation among city officials, community groups and business groups for our input on issues, professionalism, volunteer What is an HVNA member? efforts, and eagerness to collaborate toward proactive solutions to critical issues facing our city.

• Opportunity to not only live in, but through active civic involvement shape the future of the neighborhood we call home.

• Volunteer to become an active community builder through our many diverse committees. You get to choose which fits your definition to create the positive social change we all voted for in November:

• Public Safety

• Arts, Culture and Environment

• Transportation & Planning

• Youth and Family

• Communications

• Business Relations

I personally know how much the neighborhood has changed since I moved here in 1991. This is due to HVNA and a core of compassionate, dedicated and hard working individuals, who had a vision of a more positive, equitable, vibrant and sustainable neighborhood, and through tenacity turned it into a reality.

Because of when we were chartered, our membership year begins in September! Now it’s your time to show your support for HVNA by either becoming a new member or renewing your membership (perhaps at a higher level). As both a neighbor and active community builder, I ask you to invest in the future of your neighborhood by taking the time to fill out and send in the membership form on page eight of this newsletter.