MIDVALE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY October 23, 2018, 6:45 pm SEQUOYA LIBRARY

1. Minutes taken from Midvale Heights Messenger newsletter write-up, with additions at the end:
   1. MHCA hosted its annual membership meeting at Sequoya Library on October 23, with MHCA board vice-president Gary Poulson emceeing the event. In our annual “state of the neighborhood” summary, he highlighted successful MHCA activities, but acknowledged some issues as well. Successes included repairing the Bison Prairie statues, funding playground equipment at Van Hise Elementary, prairie restoration work at multiple spots around the neighborhood, and the continuation of our Summer Nights at Segoe concert series. Poulson also noted a recent incident in which presumptive state representative Shelia Stubbs was approached by police while canvassing in Midvale Heights due to someone calling in her parked car as suspicious. The car was parked near a suspected drug house, precipitating the call. The incident received national media coverage and caused a lot of hurt and fear locally. We hope that a facilitated community discussion where all feel included, safe, and heard in the future will help us come to a more common understanding of each other’s lived experience in our neighborhood.
   2. We held elections for Area Directors of even-numbered areas this year, with most current board members on the ballot to continue for another two-year term. Gary Poulson is stepping down after over 20 years on the board, and Joy Cardin was elected to replace him for Area 2.
   3. Ron Rotter, another longtime board member, presented a thank you gift to Mike Pressman, who coordinates the successful youth baseball league that also helps fund MHCA activities. Mike noted that a past player was just signed to the Tampa Bay Rays.
   4. We heard from Carousel Bayrd and Mo Cheeks on topics at the county and city levels, including flooding, immigration, bail reform, city budgets, police and fire departments, and evictions. Our representatives were kind enough to linger and answer questions from the audience until the library shut down.
   5. But folks, if you weren’t at the annual meeting this year, you missed the chocolate! Sandwiched (nougated?) in between all the neighborhood news was our main speaker, Midvale Heights resident Megan Hile, chocolatier and owner of Madison Chocolate Company, located on Monroe and Glenway Sts., who brought freshly made chocolates along for the audience to sample. She told an engaging story about her journey integrating her background as a Spanish teacher into sourcing cocoa and coffee from Central and South America, then embracing the science of chocolate making as a “language arts person,” finding financing, and being her own general contractor for the shop when money ran short. In addition to serving and selling chocolate at the shop, there is a menu that includes quiche, gluten free waffles, other items, coffee, and, of course, chocolate. Megan told the crowd that the space is designed to encourage people to linger and connect. She welcomes neighbors to hang out at Madison Chocolate Company and “enjoy something to put a smile on your face.”
2. Additions that were not in the newsletter write-up:
   1. Jean Sweet passed away about a month ago. She served on the Midvale Heights Community Association board for a long time.
   2. Gary Poulson thanks Terese Berceau for her service as Alder and in the State Assembly. The Midvale Heights Community Association will be making a donation to the Sequoya library in her honor.

Newsletter write-up written by Jenny Chipault and edited by Denise Lamb. Additions submitted by Jenny Chipault