It has been a very busy year in the South Loop. We have started to see new businesses come back to life
and the housing market ever so slightly revive. All of us at the GSLA have been busy following and reporting on community activities and planning future events.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers, vendors, performers and attendees who joined us at the 2012 Bash on Wabash. While Sunday's rain caused an early closure, Saturday was a resounding success with a record turn out. The line up, courtesy of Reggie's and GSLA Board Member, T. J. Sagen was one of the best in years. We are already planning for 2013's Bash. While we are still finalizing the numbers from the Bash, we will be donating a portion of our profits to the South Loop Food Pantry to assist them in their worthy efforts.
I'd also like to thank our retiring board member, Blagica Bottigliero, for her efforts involving the reuse of the Jones High School building. As we all know, our community has evolved over the past few years and as more and more families call the South Loop their home, we need to be able provide local education resources for them. Keep watching our website and attending our meetings for continuing updates.
Finally, we have some upcoming events we would like to you get on your calendars. The October Art Walk is currently in the planning stages. Join your neighbors for a lovely Friday night walk visiting the local galleries and sharing a glass (or two) of wine.
November 17th is the annual State of the South Loop Meeting. In addition to hearing from our local elected officials, we are planning on an expanded real estate panel to discuss the South Loop market and will be setting up information tables for local schools, businesses, and organizations. The meeting will be held in the Daystar School auditorium.
2012 Board Election
Want to get involved? Looking for a way to get active in the South Loop Community? As the South Loop prepares for fall highlights, the GSLA Board of Directors is again ready to hold its annual elections. The election will be held October 6, 2012 at 9 a.m. at the Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State Street.
We have an 11 member Board of Directors and 5 of our director positions are expiring this year. Each Board member is elected for a two-year term by the current sitting Board members. The Board then elects the officers for the upcoming terms (President and Vice President are 2 years each with the VP succeeding to the President; this year, Secretary and Treasurer are up for election). Nomination forms are available on our website and should be submitted either via email or to current board member.
Board members get to help plan the year's events; each board member is responsible for coordinating one of the GSLA's monthly meeting agenda. Our meetings alternate between Saturday morning 'business' meetings at which community events are spotlighted, new businesses have an opportunity to promote themselves, and development and zoning issues are addressed, as well as other items as they come up and our evening ''Neighbors' Night Out" meetings at neighborhood venues for fun, socializing, and getting to know your community. Board members are also asked to be on a committee as a liaison between the committee and the rest of the Board.
We also select the upcoming year's committees at this time. Some of our committees include: Communications, Membership, Bash on Wabash, Historical, Community Living Associations, and Finance. Our focus for the upcoming year will continue to include our "Get your South Loop-on" shop the South Loop initiative and, as always, 'bringing neighbors together'.
We invite all community members to get involved - either by seeking Board or committee membership. If you don't feel you have the time to commit to either of those roles, we still encourage you to get involved in the community by attending community events, neighborhood and association meetings and by supporting our local businesses.
Have a glorious Autumn!
Gail Rutkowski, President
