BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Monday, August 20, 2018

6:00pm Southern Moss Realty

Present: Todd Hollinghead, President, Aaron Glick, Vice President, Jaimee Stewart, Secretary, Bill Hoff, Ex Officio, Kelly Lezama, Michelle Tappouni, Joey Marchy, Tim Hope, Michael Montoya, Mark Morley

Not Present: Janie Coffey, Jack Adams, Treasurer, Yolanda Copeland, Soner Acar

Staff/Resources Present: Kelly Rich, Executive Director, Heather Benfield, Administrator

Guests: Diane Graese, Mallik Singhareddy, Ed from Paved to Perfection

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President Todd Hollinghead at 6:10pm

Purchase your membership to SPAR here. Memberships are valid for one year.

• Individual Membership = $25 per year
• Household Membership = $40 per year
  (Household memberships allow up to 2 people, so please let us know the other person you would like on your membership)

The Off-Duty Officer Fund pays for additional police patrol coverage in our neighborhood during certain times of year when criminal activity in Jacksonville usually trends upward, such as summers and holidays. We also have the ability to direct our off-duty officers to target specific concerns or locations reported by residents, if needed. This service is in addition to the regular police patrol coverage in our area. The Off-Duty Officer Fund is 100% funded by neighbors and community partners. Questions? Let us know. Thank you for donating below!

Residents may also wish to attend monthly Sheriffs Watch meetings, where they meet with local law enforcement to discuss any concerns, ask questions and share information.  Our area's Sheriff Watch meetings are the third Tuesday of the each month, 6pm, on the second floor of the Robert F Kennedy Community Center (1133 Ionia Street).

Donations to SPAR Council are 100% tax deductible and go towards the programs, activities and efforts that preserve and build community in the Springfield Historic District community.

The form on this page is for general donations to SPAR, and will be allocated to the most pressing need.

To donate to the Off-Duty Officer Fund specifically, choose either a one-time donation or a reoccuring donation.

 an affiliate of SPAR

Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA) works to:

• Promote civic pride and awareness of Springfield’s assets, particularly those of the business community, through marketing, fundraising and cultural participation; 
• Recruits professionals and business owners to open offices and retail establishments in our area to provide a greater range of goods and services and job opportunities;
• Collaborates with other neighborhood organizations and government agencies on projects designed to enhance the quality of life in our business district and surrounding neighborhoods; and
• Offers educational and networking opportunities to member businesses.

Connect with SAMBA

Click here for the SAMBA membership directory

SAMBA Accomplishments & Goals

Since the inception of the Facade Grant program in 2017, $5,240 in grants have be dispersed to seven Springfield businesses.

SAMBA works with local governmental agencies to provide beautification and pedestrian upgrades to the neighborhood; including improvements to crosswalks, plantings in tree wells and on Main Street medians, more trash cans on Main Street, electrical improvements on Main Street, and Sesquicentennial branded banners for Main Street and 8th Street.

We’ve had a lot of growth in the last 2 years! In 2017 we had an average of 12 attendees at our meetings, and in 2018 we grew to an average of 24 attendees.

Membership has grown from no regular dues paying members in 2017, to 72 members as of 3/20/19.

We had a wonderful collective of speakers at our 2018 SAMBA meetings, including:
- Jacksonville SCORE – how to enhance your business
- VyStar representatives – business lending, grants, SBA 504
- JEA Urban Forester Joe Anderson – street tree care
- Bonnie Upright, APR – social media and communications for businesses
- Kate Mitura, Visit Jacksonville – tourism industry in Jacksonville
- RouxArt- studio tour and art possibilities available to commercial properties

We have reached out to local publications that are willing to offer a group page for local Springfield businesses, and have had representatives from those publications at SAMBA meetings so businesses can have a one-on-one opportunity to discuss advertising options.

We created the “You Belong Here” poster campaign in 2018. These posters help to spread a message of inclusivity in the Springfield neighborhood and were given to local businesses to display in the store windows.

SAMBA works with Visit Jacksonville to keep the Springfield neighborhood page updated with new content on at least a quarterly basis. We also share additional opportunities through Visit Jacksonville with our members.

We coordinated a collaboration between Springfield breweries and Aardwolf Brewing Company and Intuition Ale works to create a special beer for the Sesquicentennial. Through our partnership with Champion Brands, we will be hosting pop-up events throughout Northeast Florida in 2019 for this beer. This will be giving the Springfield breweries significant additional exposure for their brands and build awareness of Springfield.

We have given tours of Springfield to Visit Jacksonville staff and the Florida Blue Foundation staff; with additional company outings planned for 2019. The purpose of these tours is to highlight the revitalization of Springfield, with a focus on our commercial corridors.

We are generally one of the first points of contact for businesses who are interested in opening in Springfield. From meeting with business owners to discuss neighborhood needs, logistics, and playing “match maker” with commercial property owners; we are a valued resource for new business owners. We also have ongoing discussions with developers about Springfield neighborhood needs; and have had multiple meetings about potential grocery stores and gas stations coming to the neighborhood. We are also a resource for established businesses, and have helped find sponsors, vendors, musicians, and volunteers for events hosted by Springfield businesses.

SAMBA has worked to coordinate meetings between our Councilman and city departments when businesses have had issues with opening.

SAMBA members can add four events per month to the Historic Springfield Community Calendar.

SAMBA shares relevant posts on our social media pages.

Our goals for 2019 include a SAMBA website!

Join SAMBA

• $50/year - General Member
  Invited to meetings, receive newsletters and updates, able to vote during meetings
  
  
• $100/year - Associate Member
  All General Member benefits, plus: business included in directory, business links on website, inclusion in SAMBA sponsored events
  
  
• $250/year - Executive Member
  All Associate Member benefits, plus: 1 SPAR household membership ($40 value), 2 tickets to the Springfield Tour of Homes ($20 value), PorchFest Friend ($75 value), and the ability to attend Jax Chamber events on behalf of SAMBA.
  

Make a donation below at your desired level of SAMBA membership.

"The mission of SPAR is to ensure Historic Springfield is a preferred place to live and do business by leading programs that drive the preservation, revitalization, and balanced growth of our community."

Since 1974, we have facilitated positive change in the Springfield Historic District through a variety of roles and initiatives. Through the decades, these actions have taken different forms, from painstaking documentation to sweat soaked service. We're your neighborhood advocate. SPAR is organized around five important themes:

1. Preservation — As Jacksonville's oldest existing neighborhood, circa 1869, Springfield contains a diverse catalogue of architectural styles and treasures. But it's not just the Victorian, Prairie and Colonial houses that make the neighborhood special, it's also the mature tree canopy and historic streetscapes that are worth protecting. Our Design and Review Committee provides expert opinion to residents, developers and city officials alike on aesthetic design issues in the historic district, which help preserve our neighborhood’s unique character. In addition, we host annual Home Tours which showcase the neighborhood’s eclectic nature and encourages new restorations in the community.
   
   
2. Quality-of-Life - By focusing on public safety, we have helped to create a more comfortable neighborhood environment. Our Block Captain program coordinates with residents and volunteers to tackle Neighborhood Clean Up projects, Neighborhood Watch, and works closely with local law enforcement. But Quality-of-Life is so much more than that. Improving our storied "Emerald Necklace" park system, and making our streets pedestrian and bicycle friendly also add value to our neighborhood fabric.
   
   
3. Commercial Revitalization — We have partnered with the Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association (SAMBA) to support our existing businesses and encourage new business, both big and small, to take root in the neighborhood. Now a Spar affiliate, SAMBA promotes neighborhood businesses and can help guide those interested in setting up shop in Springfield. In addition, we use the SPAR building not only as our home office, but also as an incubator for a variety of small businesses.
   
   
4. Civic Advocacy - Whether discreet or public, communication with elected representatives, state and federal agencies, and the City of Jacksonville is essential to ensure effective representation in issues impacting our neighborhood. Our Board and committee chairs make this a priority, and also spark residents to engage in the process when appropriate.
    
5. Connecting - Through our e-newsletter, email updates, website, and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, we inform and connect residents with local happenings and each other. By hosting office hours, returning phone calls, and answering email inquiries, we connect with residents, media, and the general public by providing valuable information and guidance. We take the responsibility of being a neighborhood resource seriously.

Join us to help Historic Springfield become the neighborhood you want to see.

Our community is a social one, with a plethora of events throughout the year to enjoy - which require planning!

The Annual Tour of Homes, July 4th Throwback Baseball Game, Jacksonville PorchFest and other events depend on volunteers to coordinate and plan. If you have a knack for organizing events, or just want to lend a hand, there's a spot for you!

Send us an email to let us know.