The BCA board recently voted to discontinue our membership in the Ashford Alliance Community Association.  As one of the founding neighborhood members, this was done after careful consideration and four years of experience. The AACA was founded to give a voice to smaller neighborhoods and present a unified front on issues such as zoning, development, transportation and DeKalb County government. The organization has been increasingly in disarray, not even holding meetings for most of last year as several presidents have resigned. 
   In the last few years, on at least three major issues of importance to Byrnwyck, our board has had to testify or send a letter in opposition to the position taken by the AACA.  This includes the Georgia Power Substation, the Cox Enterprises request for a stream buffer variance, and the Marist zoning.  Most recently the AACA board has voted to oppose any effort or even discussion of annexation of our area into Dunwoody or Chamblee without even polling its 22 members. Byrnwyck has always been able to provide a strong voice to speak on our own behalf and that is what we plan to continue to do.  The full letter from myself, as Byrnwyck Community Representative, to the full AACA board can be found on www.byrnwyck.org.  If anyone wants to belong to the AACA, the organization now allows individual members if you personally want to stay involved. 

   With the introduction of a bill to allow the cities of Dunwoody or Chamblee to annex an adjacent area, State Representative Mike Jacobs has launched a discussion on whether it would be in our interest to leave unincorporated DeKalb to become part of one of our adjacent municipalities.  You can read more details of the legislation by clicking here--The Crier newspaper or here-- Rep. Jacobs' newsletter. Jacobs has tabled the legislation until next year so there can be a full year of discussion, but the BCA board has asked Jacobs to speak to our neighborhood at our annual meeting on May 14th.  I recommend subscribing to his newsletter as well as another good weekly email newsletter Collette's newsletter  sent out by our neighbor on Brooklawn, Collette McDonald. You should also take a poll she is conducting to measure the interest in annexation.  Just click here

  If you want to hear more, there is a community meeting coming up Tuesday. March 29th, 7pm at Chamblee United Methodist on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. 

 

The 2011 Byrnwyck Blue Dolphin swim team season begins with registration April 10^th from 3-5pm at the pool area.  Members of the swim team committee and coaching staff will be on hand to assist and answer questions.  Since we have not had a new suit the past three years committee members and the coaches have chosen a new one. A Kast-A-Way swim wear representative will attend to assist with sizing and ordering.

 

Swim team practice will begin in the water on May 9^th.  The first mock meet is May 27^th. Practice times and meet information have been updated on the swim team section of the website, www.byrnwyck.org. The first regulation meet will be June 2^nd which is a Thursday with the second meet reverting back to the normal Tuesday schedule, June 7^th.

 

Once again we are fortunate to have an outstanding coaching staff headed by Alexandra Viers.  Assisting Alexandra are returning coaches and Marist swimmers, Megan Guenther and Andrew Thompson.  Our newest coach is also a Marist swimmer as well as a seasoned Byrnwyck swimmer, Ryan Vaughn.  All will be available for private lessons during non-practice hours.  See each coach for further information and scheduling.

 

Swim team is managed by a committee of community volunteers.  This year Suzanne Simkin and Nanette Vaughn are heading up the committee.  Susan Viers returns as treasurer, Molly Guenther returns as registration leader, Gena Smith returns running the Cystic Fibrosis Swim-a-Thon, Teri Proctor running concessions, and Julie Francour and Laura Doherty as advisors.  We need some new folks to take over some of these responsibilities as well as filling in for those who have shifted.  It is crucial that we fill Suzanne's previous role as Volunteer Coordinator.  Equally important are volunteers to learn this year and take over next year Also this year Byrnwyck is responsible for the President position for the SSSA.  This is a position that rotates throughout the swim teams that make up the league.  Please contact the current SSSA treasurer, Alan Vaughn at alan.vaughn@hawcpa.com for more details.

 

We look forward to seeing you at registration on April 10^th.  You may also download forms and return those to Molly Guenther by April 30^th.  Forms turned in after April 30^th will incur a $10.00 late fee.

Work is underway on completing an updated Byrnwyck neighborhood directory.  Several neighbors have volunteered to help collect data or solicit sponsorship ads. A big THANKS! to all the neighbors who have pitched in to complete this effort!

 

 The new directory will be distributed to all homes by the first week of June.  We are waiting to go to print until after the May board meeting. (We anticipate that we may have new board members and would like to have the most up-to-date Board Member list in our new directory.)

 

Data Collection begins next week

Over the next few weeks, several Block Captains will be working to verify and collect data from all neighbors.  Please help us by responding promptly to their requests for data confirmation.  During this process, you will have an opportunity to indicate exactly WHAT data you want printed in the directory.  We would like at least one phone and email contact from each home, but it is up to your discretion to determine if you would like to publish additional information like cell phones, work phones, etc.  Please keep in mind that these directories will ONLY be distributed to Byrnwyck neighbors and pool members and should NEVER be used for solicitation purposes!!

 

Sponsorship Ads will offset our printing costs

A big THANK YOU is due to Dick Hartung, who has already secured several sponsorship ads for the directory.  These ads will offset some or all of our printing costs, enabling us to provide the new directory at very little cost.

 

If you have a business that would like to sponsor an ad in our directory, please contact Dick at randwhartung@comcast.net . Our ads are reasonably priced and will provide marketing coverage in the neighborhood for 4-5 years...they are quite a bargain!  Please contact Dick soon if you are interested, all ads must be confirmed by April 15.

 

Calling all artists!

If you have artistic talent or skill in graphic arts, we would like your help designing the front cover of the directory.  Contact Barb Halaburt at barbmom2@aol.com if you can serve the neighborhood in this way.

 

Get 'em while they're hot!

Each Byrnwyck home will receive one free copy of the directory.  A limited number of additional copies will be available for sale at cost.  Extra copies are great for your office, car or vacation home.  More info coming soon on where and when additional copies will be for sale.