Skinker-DeBaliviere should act as the “coordinator and enabler for the neighborhood,” according to Calvin Stuart, president of the association. “We recognize that there are other power centers besides Skinker-DeBaliviere, and we want to help these groups work towards common goals.”
Stuart said the projected goals of the organization, which are still being formulated, would not differ substantially from those adopted by the group three or four years ago, although the priorities might change.
Skinker-DeBaliviere will always have a limited staff and limited resources he said, although the staff might be increased. The work of the neighborhood will therefore depend heavily on volunteer efforts, which the organization hopes to be able to coordinate.
The organization is very interested in housing, but this should not be its sole concern, according to Stuart. Relations are good with West End TownHouses, Inc.
“There are a lot of things going on in this area, and a lot of people with ideas,” Stuart said, noting also that Skinker-DeBaliviere is also better funded than most neighborhood groups.
Neighborhood meetings to identify issues will be held soon.
Stuart said that in general he thinks the divisions in the area, along racial, economic, or geographical lines, are not as serious as they could be. “There is some polarization, but that is not the majority feeling. I actually welcome tension, because it shows people are interested.”
He said he has great confidence in the new board of Skinker-DeBaliviere, because of its representative character and because of the calibre of the members. The system of election by neighborhood sections is a good one, he believes. He also looks to the day when Skinker-DeBaliviere is so effective that people fight to get elected to the board.
At present the members of the Council are elected seven from the Washington Heights Association, four from Rosedale Skinker and one from Parkview Associates. The presidents of these organizations are automatically on the Council and the other representatives are elected by the organizations on an area basis.
The institutional members of the Council are: Robert Blackburn representing Washington University; Arnold H. Dreyer, Jr. representing Grace United Methodist Church; Edward Ferguson representing Delmar Baptist Church and Richard C. Hart representing St. Roch Catholic Church. Jim L’Ecuyer is the executive director.
The addition of the representative members has made the Council considerably larger. Previously the Council members consisted of only the institutional representatives and the presidents of the three neighborhood associations.
A new Council board will be elected every year. (See pages 4 and 5 for profiles on Council Members.)
Originally published in The Paper, September 1970.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1970_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1.
