… Emailed today:
- Subject: Very few citizens in La Vernge want to take action
Recent surveys at www.lavergne.org have shown that although citizens want to express their opinions on every topic that has to do with the City of La Vergne, very few of them are willing to put their words into action by actually taking part in city-realted events or activities to make a difference.
“Yes, 75 percent of the people who responded to the survey about volunteering to be on boards said they were interested in being on a board,” said Publicity Coordiantor Angie Mayes. “However, as of 9:30 on May 4, only a handful of citizens have actually applied for these boards, according to City Recorder Bruce Richardson. Anyone can hide behind a computer to complain, but to take action shows a real interest in the city.
“This shows a great apathy on the part of the citizens,” Mayes continued. “A lot of people want to be heard and that’s great, but to actually be involved to help make decisions is another story. I don’t know why these people haven’t applied, but we need individuals to help fill the boards so that we have a quorum when they meet.”
Recent comments on local blogs show that people do have concerns, but very few have taken an actual role in helping out with the various boards and committees that need people. This includes National Night Out and Old Timers’ Day.
“During a recent NNO meeting, we had three people from the community show up,” Mayes said. “That’s a start but doesn’t help plan the entire event. We’re also looking for ideas for a Grand Marshal for the event, but only five people have responded and no one has offered an idea.”
Anyone interested in applying for a volunteer Board or Committee (besides NNO and OTD) should contact Bruce Richardson at 793-6295 for an application or more information. For NNO and OTD, contact Angie Mayes at 287-8690, 207-4678 or amayes@lavergne.org.
Angie Mayes
Publicist
City of La Vergne
287-8690 office
207-4678 cell
287-0068 fax
Comments, anyone?
Filed under: City Committees, Free Speech
[...] I have pissed someone off. Go read this press release from the City of La Vergne and then come back. No worries, I’ll [...]
Wow, that’s an interesting point. It is easy for Angie to sit there and say we should be involved. After all, any work she does for the city is paid work. As far as your concerns about being given a ticket for your grass being over 1 mm, I hope anyone out there who is seing this kind of discrimination from codes would post on this board. I don’t think there are any homeowners assocations in La Vergne, so I bet you could stand on your front porch and identify multiple codes violations!
As far as volunteering, My wife participates in the Night out against crime in Nashville because she works there as a Social Worker. I’m a regular guy, not a party planner. I would be interested in serving on some of the boards, but when I last saw open positions, none of them were things that interest me. I am interested in parks and rec, and think I do provide a lot of help there, but there’s no need.
Wow, this woman is so freaking petty it is almost laughable. Y’all keep it up. You are obviously reaching these people, despite their arrogance.
Here are our current openings on our boards or committees:
Beer Board – 2 Openings – This board meets on an as needed basis. This board primarily considers applications for new beer permits. Five members on this board – must have 3 members to even have a meeting and I only have 3 current members. Need is critical.
Board of Zoning Appeals – 1 Opening – This board usually meets every month on the second Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., unless we don’t have any applications to consider. This board primarily considers requests for variances and special exceptions in the zoning ordinance. Five members on this board.
Employee Review Board – 1 Opening – This board meets on an as needed basis. This board is an advisory board who hears appeals from employees who have been suspended or fired. This board can only make a recommendation to the City Administrator. Five members on this board.
Greenway Advisory Committee – 2 terms expire on 5/31/07. This committee usually meets every other month on the third Monday at 7:00 p.m. This committee discusses and makes recommendations regarding the greenway system in La Vergne. Seven members on this committee.
Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee – 2 terms expire on 5/31/07. This committee meets every month on the third Monday at 6:00 p.m. This committee discusses and makes recommendations regarding various aspects of the Parks & Rec. Program. There are seven members on this committee.
Senior Ciizen’s Advisory Committee – 1 term vacant. This committee meets every month on the third Thursday at 4:00 p.m. The committee discusses and makes recommendations regarding the Senior Citizen Program. There are eleven members on this committee.
If you need any additional information about any of these boards, please contact me. My phone number is 287-8634 and my e-mail is brichardson@lavergne.org.
If anyone is interested in serving, please apply.
P.S.: At the end of June we will have three openings on the Library Board and one on the Economic Development Advisory Committee.
Our family is in a similar situation as michael. My wife serves as Treasurer of the Cedar Grove Elementary PTO and that consumes a great deal of her time. My time is pretty limited, but I did visit the lavergne.org site in hopes of finding more details about the volunteer shortage.
As I’m writing this, I notice Bruce Richardson has posted some information regarding the open positions here. Excellent. This page also has additional information:
http://www.lavergne.org/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=101000&page_id=50
Also, applications are available as a pdf at this link:
http://www.lavergne.org/mod/fileman/files/application-boardmember.pdf
I think it would have been much more productive for Angie to essentially do what Bruce did (i.e. what is available and what is the time committment), accompanied by some good PR/hype about why those boards are important and how to get involved. The release above is so pessimistic, it could actually turn people away from getting involved.
Casey and Bruce answered my question about whether we can download the applications online. Once you receive an application, who picks? Would the city consider putting a list of who the committee members are online and what the requirements are to serve? Wait… I’ll go over and look at the city website to see if all this is already there…
I did a press release 2-3 weeks ago on the need of the boards (with a listing of the boards and number of people needed) and no one responded to it. I even put a survey on the web. Only 56 people of the 25,000+ replied. Funny, that no one took an interest in any of this until I sent this out today. I guess I stepped on some toes. I’m glad Bruce put up the listing again since no one seemed to comment on it the first time.
I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, but I wanted to get people’s attention as to what is needed. I finally got it. I’ve heard it from board members, department heads, employees, even people at Tee Gees, if you don’t act, then you don’t have a right to complain.
There’s a lot of help that can be done by a “regular guy.” It doesn’t take someone special to help plan an event. There’s a lot of grunt work that goes into it and we need the help.
Once you return the application, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen pick those they want to see serve on the board. They go by experience and willingness to serve.
I’d love to never have to advertise for a committee or board again.
How much time does it take to judge the Old Timers’ Day parade? Maybe three hours at the longest. And there’s no sports at the park that day, so that’s can be an excuse.
It’s sad that the majority of help I get in planning this event comes from 1). city employees volunteering their time or 2). People who have lived in town for more than 25 years.
I know people have busy and active lives, but we’re asking for just a few of the 25,278 people in town to help. And the committment isn’t long…it just takes a few meetings and some action on the day of the event. We even schduled the National Night Out meetings on Saturdays to accomodate citizens. I don’t have to come to work on a Saturday. Yes, part of this is my job, but there’s so much I do that’s not part of my job because it needs to be done.
Comments? E-mail me at amayes@lavergne.org.
I know these boards are important but the people of Lavergne really need to focus and join together to fight this gang problem in our city. We are becoming a little antioch and we dont want that!!! I know the the city has some problems and they need to work them out first because then the people of our city might feel they would be proud to serve on one of these boards…..
as for codes they really need to drive around areas and see what people are doing to their homes and yards. some neighbors keep their yards (like my neighbors) looking like ghetto!!
I think it is not an issue of people wanting to give their time. I think people are too busy. It is easy to sit behind your computer and spend 5 minutes making a comment about the City of La Vergne. I welcome to feedback from the Residents and the Mayor and everyone down should be reading this blog. I personally would like to see La Vergne clean up Murfreesboro Rd. You drive into La Vergne you see the beautiful Am South, The the new Liquor Store, firework shed, the pawnshop, the beautiful weekly rentals, you get the point.
Trees, sidewalks and street light would make a huge differance and people would enter La Vergne and say I would like to live here, look at what Hendersonville has done with their city.
If La Vergne put some money back into the look of the City, the citizens would be happy because their property value would go up, the city would be happy because they would raise more tax dollars and business would come to
La Vergng in droves.
What I do not understand, WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? La Vergne has the largest industrial park and the one of the largest sub division, but La Vergne looks the same as it did the day Lake Forest was started.
Back to Board Members, yes I will dedicate my time to improve La Vergne if their is a position to fit my angenda…
I will run for Mayor Next Week and yes I do give my time for the Homeowners Association Board of The Cottages of La Vergne. http://www.cottagesoflavergne.com
Also recently I have started volunteer my time in helping the La Vergne Youth Football with their website. http://www.lavergneyouthfootball.org
Again i think people do want to help but 5 minutes every few day is easier and less complicated at home then trying to remember and having time and running to a meeting for the city.
I’ll serve on the beer board as long as I can be the Head Taste Tester.
Did someone say beer?
Your sister city blog supports you all the way. Fight the power!
You labeled this under free speech, but yet don’t allow everyone to have free speech. That just doesn’t seem fair. Just because someone calls you on the carpet about something doesn’t mean that you should trash them, thus not allowing them to have the free speech you seem so proud of.
I found this link through Gingersnaps and think that the writer is right — all you’re doing is making excuses as to why you don’t want to do something but at the same time bitch about something you want done.
Either shit or get off the pot people. I wouldn’t live in La Vergne if I had to — and it’s not because of the way it looks – it’s because I wouldn’t want neighbors like you.
**clap**clap**clap**
A city has responded to a blog of active citizens. This is so very important.
[...] the blog got a letter. Now, here is where I’m laughing to one degree and incredulous to another. Read this snippet [...]
From our site on April 26…long before Ms. Mayes wrote her release (which we received on Friday)
(La Vergne) Many Residents Have Suggestions…Few Want To Help
Obviously, the community of La Vergne is not the only one with this problem. Everyone has suggestions, but only a few actually want to volunteer to put their suggestions into motion and help make things better. Town leaders issued a survey, and only 50 of the more than 27,000 residents took time to respond. And of those who responded, only 28 percent want to take an active role. The greatest interest is in the Board of Zoning Appeal and the Employee Review Board. Twenty-two percent checked those two areas. Sixteen percent have an interest in the Parks and Recreation Department, ten percent for the Greenway Advisory Committee, and two percent checked Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. La Vergne City Recorder Bruce Richardson said, “I wish some of the residents who have shown an interest would apply for boards that have openings.” He noted there was also an opening on the Beer Board. If you are a La Vergne resident and interested in making the community better, phone 793-6295.
Comments on the last blog got ugly….. and the blogger would not leave their name, If you do not want to leave your name, maybe you will need to reword your comment.
I think we need to bomb the hell out of iraq and break our emenies will to fight. That would allow us pull out of Iraq.
Gays and abortion, the bible says it wrong, hello our country and LAWS were founded on Christian beliefs.
I am so tired of PC…. Politically Correctness is a violation of 1st Amendment.
I love this country but it is going downhill really fast and it is because someone does not want to be offended! But on the other hand you do not get anything done by being ugly.
Stand up for what you believe in, but word it in a respectful manor and do not be afaid to leave your name.
Steven M. Walper
I’m right their with you Walper, but am not sure how the city of La Vergne can have any affect whatsoever on these topics.
I also AGREE 100% with your previous post. Let’s clean up the main drag through La Vergne. Let’s plant some trees in the median on M’boro road. Let’s speed up the installation of sidewalks. I would even say we adopt Brentwood sinage rules for all new or replacement signs. There are so many trashy looking buildings and billboards, and yet so many nice parts of town where people really care about the appearance of thier city.
I would also like to see underground utilities replace the current spiderweb 20 feet up, but wasn’t Franklin recently trying to force MTEMC to convert all above ground utilities underground, and they were charging each homeowner $500? That would be one drawback, plus the fact that parts of La Vergne are covered my NES whereas my part of La Vergne is in MTEMC country.
Odd. If you go to the cities main page you find all of their press releases, but this one. This is getting more fun to follow then I thought it would be to start with. They “pulled” it from their main page.
A “mia culpa” is the least they should do. Her views should not be put out on an official release like this.
I note that her blog does not allow comments. Rather sad.
http://amayesingmedia.blogspot.com/
Ya know, I really think this whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion.
I was out of town when this whole thing went down.
Angie has said her peace and those who have had opposing views to hers have said theirs. Angie had some excellent points about getting involved. I think her viewpoint is that it’s just like if you didn’t vote in an election but then complain. I can certainly see her point.
I can see the point of those opposing, too, feeling as if they were being slighted by the City, but I can tell you that wasn’t her intent. I think bottom line is that everybody’s intentions here are to improve the City, but everybody has their own way of expressing it. Not everybody is going to like each other’s ways of communicating. That’s just the way it is in life in general.
As long as we remember that we are all moving toward the same goal, maybe these kinds of misunderstandings can be avoided.
Please now…let’s drop it and move on.
I’ve been out of town this weekend, too… at Girl Scout camp. After about a two-hour nap and a long, hot shower, I’m feeling human enough again to catch up here. This may deserve a post of its own, but for now here we are.
I believe there are several issues happening at the same time. The one big point that will not be denied is that everyone who writes for this blog, all the readers, AND all of our city officials really do give two rats butts about this city or we wouldn’t be here in the first place. We are all people who care. There are a lot of other folks out there who also care, but may be involved in little league, soccer, work at the animal shelter, etc. (like one of the commenters said). Others may simply not be able to step up – maybe they have a loved one fighting a dibilitating illness or they may have other personal reasons to not be able to help.
Angie has contacted me before about posting more news releases online, but I’m not always able to put everything on here. She does offer a lot of information for the city’s web as well as her own blog. Readers here have several other sources to learn about news from the city and we encourage you to click that link to the city often. We’d like to link to Angie’s blog “Living in LaVergne” with her permission.
Angie is in the unenviable position of having to answer to the press anytime crap blows up in her face (police, city water, fires) and in every case, she does an outstanding job. She has sent beautifully written features about people who live in the community, about her work in finding the oldest person in town, etc. However, we know the media feeds on bad news, so that’s usually where she’s stuck. She’s nudged me once or twice to post info, but I can’t always get to it or sometimes there’s just so much, it’s overwhelming.
It gets to be too much for me because this blog can not preempt time I spend with my family and my “real” job. I don’t make one red cent from “This is LaVergne” and do have to get out there to earn a living. More truth and this one is scary to me… I always have a little clutch of fear in my heart that I am hurting my business because of negative implications about my involvement with this community blog. Do people think, “if she does that and Girl Scouts, when will she have time to help me?” My friends, when you earn a living on commission, that is some scary stuff. But I try to push fear aside and go forward because I found when I moved here that the people have been incredibly welcoming, kind, and thoughtful. I was an Air Force brat for all of my childhood, so never really felt welcome anywhere. Until now.
I wanted to try to give a little back, so started this blog. Yes, we have issues that need to be discussed. But we also try to provide regular news and link to articles in the newspapers so info is in one central-type location. I try to post press releases that are sent to me, but can’t always (thus the link to the City of Lavergne).
One commenter questioned why I labeled that post, “Freedom of Speech.” It’s because if we want to hide behind our computers and complain, we have every right to do just that. If John Duncan wants to say all we do is gripe, then I’ll defend John’s right to say that. I may not be enlisted in the military, but you can bet I cherish my right to freedom of speech. Where we’ve drawn the line in this blog is personal attacks on other people. This is our blog and we have and will continue to say “Oh heck no” you aren’t putting personal attacks here.
Meanwhile, I also agree that it’s important for folks to put their money where their mouth is. When we first started this blog last year, I posted about Smyrna’s Night Out Against Crime and asked why we weren’t invited. Angie nearly had a heart attack because LaVergne has had its own celebration for years. But being new to the city, I was completely unaware of it (even though it was on page 8 or 12 of the city newsletter, I missed it). So we posted about it in a mea culpa attempt.
And because that was one of the first big broohahas, I felt it was important to lend my support to the city for the event this year. I was one of the three citizens who showed up for the first meeting a couple of weekends ago. I’ve debated whether I’ll continue to go and help given the not-so-subtle gist of the press release, but I will go because the bottom line is that the city needs help. It does take a community and since I’m finally a part of one, then I’m stepping up. Whether we agree with each other or not, whether we’re good or bad neighbors, we all still live in this city and we want it to be a good place to live. Yes, we know that police could step up patrols (they have) and fight gangs (they have a task force now to focus on just that). That’s the point of the event. I once asked Mr. McCann, the new principal of LaVergne Lake Elementary, why he asked the parents who were busiest to get involved and he said, “Because I know they’re the ones who’ll actually do the work.” I guess that’s true here, too.
Please don’t think that’s a reflection, though, on any of the readers or other authors here. Again, we all have craploads of stuff to do and because we each have our own dramas to contend with, there are probably solid reasons why folks can’t get involved. For now. But there will be lots of other opportunities to help the city out.
Why did I post the original press release, though? Because I wanted to remind everyone that they can make a difference, just like Angie tried to do. I’d like to see all of us work together more closely to promote our community. If you have time to volunteer for a board or a committee, please do so.
Meanwhile, please know that when we express our opinions that aren’t always positive, it’s not personal. It’s just us just talking about ideas and sharing our thoughts. As George Bernad Shaw said, “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.”
Or to quote Lyndon B. Johnson, “The American city should be a collection of communities where every member has a right to belong. It should be a place where every man feels safe on his streets and in the house of his friends. It should be a place where each individual’s dignity and self-respect is strengthened by the respect and affection of his neighbors. It should be a place where each of us can find the satisfaction and warmth which comes from being a member of the community of man. This is what man sought at the dawn of civilization. It is what we seek today.”
So there you go.
You know, it sure would be nice if all you “8-5 ers” and/or “MON-FRI ers” would stop saying there is so little interest. I, for one, would be ELATED to be able to serve on Board of Zoning Appeals, but unfortunately, my employer does not allow for time off for things like “Community Involvement”. The strict adherence to meeting “every month on the second Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.” makes it impossible for me to even be considered, so why should I even apply?
I know I am not alone with this situation, so until the City of LaVergne becomes less structured in their scheduling of government-related meetings and hearings, I think you can expect more of the same.
LaVergne is a “bedroom community” of hard workers, many of which are employed in positions requiring odd working hours and days.
I’m Just Sayin’…
I wouldn’t mind helping out to beautify the city. You know, plant some trees, plant some flowers (put a big oak tree in front of weekly rentals-ha!) Can we start a committee for that? I would help with the other committees but, I either (1) I don’t have experience or (2) my work schedule won’t allow me. Sorry Angie!
I read a reply which describes Ms. Mayes position as “unenviable”. What a perfect word to describe a position which must be occupied by someone who works hard at her job, tries to be proud of the finished product at the end of her day, and not only gets a critique from her professional superiors (as would be expected) but also from each armchair politician in three counties.
She is asking for citizens’ help with civic events and projects to create civic pride, neighborly cooperation, and group effort. These are things that make a bunch of people who live in proximity a community.
I saw several supportive comments but I also read some snarky, small minded comments from some folks who should use that energy in another way.
When people work together and show that they genuinely care about the place where they live, friendships and loyalties are created. That bond is what causes the gangs I read a comment about to go elsewhere. The bad guys only go where they are allowed. When individuals work together and form a community, working together rather than whining from the safety and solitude of their home and computer, good things happen.
Somebody got pissed because Ms. Mayes called you on it. Quit complaining and do something productive.
Lisa, the people who were “called on it” ARE volunteers. If I read right, two of the authors of this blog are serving on the NNO committee. There are others who are unable to volunteer due to serious family illness and crazy work schedules (combined with also attending college, etc.). The point is not to cast stones at folks who are stepping up to the plate, but also don’t cast stones at people who can’t. When they do finally have an opportunity to help out, they may not want to because it’s been made clear that they’re reviled by people who work for the city.
Whether you’re sitting in an armchair or if you’re in the trenches volunteering, anyone who pays taxes has every right to complain if something needs to be done. But regardless of whether you’re just an ordinary resident or a city worker or elected official, people should remember that when you attract flies with honey, it smells better than when you attract them with poop. And wouldn’t you rather attract ones without **it?
I’m fascinated by your discussion here, as it mostly boils down to people (who have real issues to discuss) getting upset because of rudeness.
Angie (the PR worker) put out a press release that showed her frustrations with the citizens who pay her salary. Her release got noticed, but only because it was rude.
The citizens, upset by the tone of her comments, reacted to the tone of her message, not the message itself.
And now the original complaint, that the citizens aren’t active in the workings of the city, gets lost because everyone’s offended.
I bet Angie does a lot more than just write press releases out of frustration. And I bet the citizens of LaVergne are more concerned with their city than their participation indicates.
My advice? Calm down, folks. Of course, that doesn’t make for interesting reading.
So on second thought, start fighting again. It’s good theater!
No fighting. We discussed it, and went on to more important things.
i understand that volunteer is hard on a persons time and family. my husband between work and traveling to and from is gone 12 hours a day. with 3 small kids it makes it hard for me to volunteer even with being a stay at home mother. just to pay to have someone watch my kids so i can go out to help the community is not feasible. i would love to volunteer at a number of organizations (elementary school,senior center, and park clean up) where kids are not always welcome to go with you. lets face it volunteering is to make our futures and our childrens better, and 90% of the time you can’t do it with kids. if anyone knows of a free sitter so i can volunteer or would like an occasional sitter so they can volunteer please email me at nybabybear@netzero.com or call 793-6624. it seems the only way to help out is to help in ALL ways by helping with the kids also.
I serve on one of the advisory boards, the Stormwater Advisory and Appeals board. I have to say, it’s not that demanding. So far, I think we’ve had 3 meetings and 1 banquet that I’ve attended…and I do have a perfect attendance record. I’ve been on the board for 2 years now.
Of course, some of the other citizens boards are a bit more demanding, but really, it all comes down to “It’s not what your City can do for you, but what you can do for your city.”
I hope to be able to continue to serve on this board as well as on some of the other boards since my work schedule has changed and I can get to meetings now.
If your kids are a bit older (and well behaved) give them an impromptu real life civics lesson and bring them to some of the meetings and workshops.
But thanks to every one of you who shares concern about our city. Officials can’t know what the problems are if we don’t make some noise about them.