February 2025 Meeting Minutes (Approved)
- Little Rock DNA
- Apr 10
- 5 min read
Little Rock Downtown
Neighborhood Association
General Meeting
February 6, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Sue Cowan Williams Library
1800 S Chester St, Little Rock, AR 72206
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Brittany Nichols, Kathy Wells, Rip Weaver, Danny Lewis, Arion Crenshaw, Norm Berner, Shelley Green
CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
President Nichols called the meeting to order at 6:08pm. Current officers, dues-paid members, and guests gave introductions.
QUORUM & APPROVAL OF MINUTES
As there were 6 dues-paid members in attendance, quorum was not met and, therefore, prior meeting minutes were not presented for approval.
OFFICER REPORTS
President Brittany Nichols
President Nichols invited attendees to enjoy some light snacks and refreshments provided by LRDNA’s officers.
She announced that the LR Planning Commission hearing for 1516 Ringo Street is next Thursday, February 13 (having been postponed from the January meeting due to inclement weather). She appealed for members to attend and show opposition to the development proposal. She plans to make a statement on behalf of the LRDNA.
She also shared that LRDNA has made a donation to KLRB’s Citywide Cleanup on March 8 in the amount of $100. She will be organizing a volunteer group for a portion of downtown Little Rock; location TBD.
Vice President Kathy Wells
Vice President Wells reported that she has done some “house-keeping” in the association’s Gmail account, organizing and labeling emails. She also gave Secretary Weaver previous years’ member rosters for filing on the Google Drive.
Secretary Rip Weaver
Secretary Weaver reported current association membership status: 23 individual and 1 business. There were two registrations since the last meeting.
He has reorganized the association’s Google Drive and updated the current member roster. He also created an official association letterhead and drafted a Welcome Letter that will be emailed to each new member as they join.
Secretary Weaver then asked members to review the meeting’s agenda which he has refreshed. He shared that officers will distribute agendas twice before general meetings via email and also post to the LRDNA Facebook group event for the meeting.
For meeting minutes, he described the following plan: minutes are recorded at a meeting → minutes are distributed to members for review two days before the next meeting → if quorum is met, members vote to approve or amend the minutes at that next meeting → once approved, Secretary Weaver will post to the LRDNA website for public viewing.
Finally, Secretary Weaver will contact downtown food businesses to seek donations of refreshments/snacks for upcoming meetings in exchange for advertising/promotion.
Treasurer Danny Lewis
Treasurer Lewis gave the association’s financial update. Current account balance: $1267.73
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Communications
Chair Weaver reported that the new LRDNA Communications Committee held its first meeting on January 23 at Community Bakery. The committee members discussed how to improve communication and outreach efforts for the association. Most of the discussion focused on social media.
He appealed for members to follow and like the LRDNA Facebook group (see link in the footer of these minutes), alerted that all remaining general meetings are now posted as events on Facebook, and asked everyone to RSVP to and share these events. Lastly on this, he reminded members that business postings are allowed on Tuesdays only.
Chair Weaver met with Membership Committee Chair Arion Crenshaw at Pettaway Coffee on February 3 to begin collaboration on membership recruitment and outreach efforts. Chair Crenshaw will share more in his report today and more to come in the coming weeks.
Chair Weaver updated LRDNA’s Google Contacts account, so email communication is more efficient and contacts’ information is current and organized. Finally, he will begin efforts to improve the association’s website; this will include an overall refresh, promotion of business members, focus on city resources, and more.
Membership
Chair Crenshaw reported on his membership recruitment efforts including a focus on increasing business memberships, direct outreach to former members, and tabling at upcoming community events such as farmers markets (Bernice Garden & Pettaway Square) and the road races. His goal is to double membership numbers in 2025.
He shared some value-added benefits offered to new business members: 1) business highlights via social media on LRDNA’s Facebook group with nearly 10,000 followers, 2) business highlights via email to LRDNA’s 250+ email recipients, and 3) business logo linked to business webpage on LRDNA’s website. He will work with Secretary Weaver and President Nichols to implement these perks as new businesses join LRDNA.
Member Shelley Green with The Green Corner Store offered for Chair Crenshaw and LRDNA to table in front of her business during events along Main Street in SoMa.
President Nichols shared that the MacArthur Park 5K may be a good opportunity to recruit for members. Member Norm Berner shared that the event is May 2 and Brooke Buckner will be emcee.
Historic Preservation
Chair Wells shared the association’s founding letter from 1984. Secretary Weaver will file on the Google Drive and create a post for LRDNA’s Facebook group.
Chair Wells circulated a design overlay proposal she has been working on with the City. She has opened a 30-day comment period for member feedback on the proposal. Please submit comments to her at wordsmithlr@gmail.com by March 6. She will call a meeting of the Historic Preservation committee on February 19 at 6pm via ZOOM to discuss the proposal; Secretary Weaver will create a Facebook event for this meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
1516 S. Ringo Street Development
President Nichols reiterated that she and other LRDNA officers will attend the LR Planning Commission hearing on February 13 and encouraged members to attend.
SoMardi Gras Festival & Parade
President Nichols updated the association on LRDNA’s SoMardi Gras parade plans. She has organized a group to build a float at her home the week leading up to the March 1 event. The tentative plan is to pull a small, decorated trailer behind a pick-up truck that will carry LRDNA representatives and a performer for a “moving disco.” Members are encouraged to volunteer time to help build and decorate the float and walk in the parade (wearing gold!). President Nichols will share more details as they are finalized.
Also, she will order beads and LRDNA promotion cards to hand out during the parade.
Keep Little Rock Beautiful Citywide Cleanup
President Nichols registered LRDNA as an official volunteer group for KLRB’s Citywide Cleanup on March 8. She appealed for volunteers to join the effort from 10am-12noon. The group will meet in the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral courtyard and work north along Broadway. Sims BBQ has offered to feed the volunteers. Please reach out to President Nichols at 479-439-2277 if you are interested in volunteering.
NEW BUSINESS
Facebook Scam
Vice President Wells briefly shared about a scam on Facebook that is affecting some groups including the LRDNA. Bad actors pose as local, small business owners (such as HVAC repair/cleaners) and request to post to gain the trust and business of the group’s followers.. LRDNA Facebook admins are aware of this and are actively monitoring and rejecting posts that appear suspicious. Please be cautious as you interact with accounts online. If you have any concerns or issues, notify an association officer immediately.
NEXT MEETING & ADJOURNMENT
Next membership meeting is set for March 6 at 6pm at Curran Hall. Members and guests are encouraged to bring a dish of their choice for potluck during the meeting. LRDNA will provide beverages, plates, & utensils.
President Nichols adjourned the meeting at 7:01pm.
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