Tony, Perhaps I have erroneously included "The Friends of Clark Park" amongst the various and sundry "Friends" spin-offs; but therein lies the rub.
As you stated, to YOUR knowledge this group was not created in response to drive other established community groups' agendas when things have not gone quite their way. You may be quite right about that particular group. Still, there are community members who have joined the established UC community organizations over the years, who have pledged many hours/years and personal funds, and even slightly neglected their own families and relationships to support neighborhood issues their very credible community leaders charged them to do. There are also those, old and newly recruited, who have given their all for various "Friends Of" groups who perhaps felt the same as you do. The point is now many of those who have served faithfully are now without the powerful UC Community organizations backed "Friends" to advocate for them. The hurting thing is the opposing community members to this hotel project are desperately trying to uphold the original vision of the established UC leaders and community organizations they represent. Now they find themselves at cross purposes. Any human, even if they do not agree, should understand their sense of betrayal. Tweaking noses on this listserv one does not negate the efforts and costs of our neighbors spent in service to this community just because Penn is a big economic machine. -W On 2/10/09 6:16 PM, "Anthony West" <anthony_w...@earthlink.net> wrote: > Wilma, > > Sorry but there is a need for me and, I suspect, for many other > neighbors who are not as well versed as you are in these groups' history. > > The only "Friends of" group I know well is Clark Park. In that case the > group sprang up in the mid-'70s to oppose the hijacking of a beloved > statue by Fairmount Park. It was completely grass-roots in origin and > has remained so to this day. It was not "formed by" another "community > Association when things haven't gone quite their way." One of its > founding Board Members, Fran Byers, has sat continuously on its Board > until this very day, so I have an excellent information source. > > You may be right about the other five groups. Wilma, Karen, anybody? -- > Which community Associations founded Friends of the Firehouse Market, > Friends of Woodlands Cemetery, Friends of Calvary Church, Friends of UCD > and Friends of 40th St.? I don't think some of these groups are even > called "Friends of ..." anything. Maybe they are five very different > critters. > > But if they were, in fact, founded as "sub-community groups" by > community Associations who, for some reason, couldn't get what they > wanted by acting in their own name ... then people who know that history > should name the founder groups, and also explain why they had to start a > side-group, to accomplish what end. > > -- Tony West > >> I am speaking of those who have been a part of all UC community >> Associations for *at least the past 15 years* who have had a hand in >> the directing the tone of the neighborhood who are at the forefront of >> latest skirmish with citizens about the Campus Inn. >> >> As Ray stated earlier they have also traditionally formed >> sub-community groups whenever things haven't gone quite their way, >> such as the various and sundry "Friends" groups. >> >> To this you might insert many names and more I cannot think of right >> now. To wit, The Friends of The: >> >> a) Firehouse Market >> b) Woodlands >> c) Calvary Church >> d) UCD >> e) Clark Park >> f) 40th St. >> >> The common thread is these groups form when there is direct opposition >> by community members to a project which they favor, or the way those >> in charge would like things done. >> >> I have been in the inner circle as you say, of several UC community >> organizations and am intimately acquainted as to how they function. >> During several of the above Friends engagements, I was record keeper. >> >> There is no need for a study here. The modus operandii has not >> changed, except for perhaps a few new faces. The greatest changes is >> at whom this M.O. it is directed unfortunately. >> >> -W > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
