Hello Neighbors,

A few weeks ago, we sent information about a Christmas event that the Harvest Hills South Neighborhood Association hoped to organize for our community this December. Unfortunately, we received very few responses.

To be honest, that is disappointing.

For years, many residents have expressed a desire for a stronger sense of community, more neighborhood activities, and opportunities to meet and connect with one another. This event was intended to do exactly that. Yet when an opportunity is presented to bring neighbors together, the response has been minimal.

This is our neighborhood. We all chose to live here. We all benefit from living in a community that is safe, attractive, and connected. We should take pride in Harvest Hills South and be willing to support the efforts that help make it a place we are proud to call home.

A strong neighborhood does not happen by accident. It requires participation. It requires volunteers. It requires financial support. Most importantly, it requires neighbors who are willing to invest in the community rather than simply expect a small group of volunteers to do all the work.

Since we were unable to host National Night Out this year, we hoped a Christmas gathering would provide an opportunity to bring families together during the holiday season. We are currently working with Northridge Elementary School to secure a date during the week of December 15-17 for a casual come-and-go event from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Our plans include:

• Christmas treats and goodies
• Hot chocolate, coffee, and apple cider
• Gift basket raffles
• Photos with Santa

However, before we move forward, we need to determine whether there is enough interest from our neighbors to justify the time, expense, and effort necessary to host the event.

Please Respond No Later Than November 16

If your family would attend, please reply by November 16th. Even a simple “Yes, we would attend” will help us determine whether this event should move forward.

We are also looking for:

• Volunteers to help plan, set up, work the event, and clean up afterward
• Donations for gift baskets, gift cards, raffle items, or themed baskets
• Residents willing to contribute ideas and support

The Reality of Neighborhood Support

Harvest Hills South consists of approximately 400 homes, yet fewer than 100 households actively participate in or support the neighborhood association. That means a relatively small percentage of residents are carrying the responsibility of funding events, maintaining neighborhood activities, and supporting community initiatives that benefit everyone who lives here.

And when we say everyone, we mean everyone.

Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, this is your neighborhood. Your children play in these streets. You drive these roads. You use the schools, and amenities that make Harvest Hills South a desirable place to live. The quality of our neighborhood affects all of us, regardless of whether we own or rent our homes.

Too often, neighborhood involvement falls on the shoulders of the same handful of residents while hundreds of others enjoy the benefits without participating. If we want a neighborhood that is safe, connected, welcoming, and active, everyone should consider doing their part to support it in some way, whether through volunteering, attending events, making donations, or becoming a member of the association.

In addition, neighborhood association dues have remained at just $30 per year since 1985. For more than 40 years, the association has worked to provide communications, neighborhood advocacy, community events, beautification efforts, and other services without increasing membership costs.

At our most recent association meeting, members voted on how we would continue funding the expenses involved in operating and supporting the neighborhood. We also contacted the Neighborhood Alliance to compare our dues with those of other neighborhood associations throughout the area. We learned that many neighborhoods charge approximately $50 per month for $600 in annual dues, and many of those associations provide no more services than what Harvest Hills South has been able to provide for only $30 annually.

As a result, membership dues will be increased to $50 ANNUALLY beginning in January. Even at $50 per year, Harvest Hills South will remain well below the average dues charged by many neighborhood associations in the area.

The Board did not take this decision lightly. However, with fewer than 100 households supporting a neighborhood of 400 homes, the math simply no longer works. The costs of communications, events, community projects, and neighborhood operations continue to rise while participation and support remain low.

Frankly, we would much rather see increased participation, volunteerism, and community support than have to raise dues. A neighborhood association should not be funded and operated by a small group of volunteers while the majority of residents remain uninvolved. Harvest Hills South belongs to all of us, and maintaining a strong neighborhood requires all of us to share in that responsibility.

The Future of Our Neighborhood Is Up to Us

The question before us is simple: What kind of neighborhood do we want to be?

Do we want to be a neighborhood where residents know one another, families gather together, and community events bring people closer? Or do we want to continue watching opportunities disappear because not enough people are willing to participate?

The Harvest Hills South Neighborhood Association is willing to do the work, but we cannot do it alone.

If you are proud to live in Harvest Hills South and want to help strengthen our community, please respond by November 16th and let us know if your family would:

• Attend the Christmas event
• Volunteer
• Donate
• Join or renew membership in the association

We sincerely hope to hear from more of our neighbors. Together, we can create the kind of community we all want to live in and ensure that neighborhood traditions continue for years to come.