CHCA plans membership drive

By KATIE WORRALL

At a rare August meeting of the executive committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association, ideas and updates were discussed about ways to grow the association memberships, this summer’s Pastorius Park concert series and several events planned for the fall.

Jane Piotrowski, an executive committee member who is leading the membership committee, gave fellow executive committee members a business plan to increase association membership that outlines situation analysis, key issues, objectives and strategies. The committee plans to begin its membership drive at the Chestnut Hill Business Association’s Fall for the Arts Festival in October. The committee includes John Shea, Betsy Masters, Steve Piotrowski, Sr. Jean Laurich, S.S.J., Walter Sullivan, Chris Kemezis, Wendy Williams and Sanjiv Jain.

Tia Burke, vice president of the social division, reported that two of the Pastorius Park concert series’ programs were held at Springside School, the rain location. Last week’s concert by the Savoy Company was also given at Springside, due to threatening weather. Although the concert by Amos Lee was rained out after a half-hour performance, the CHCA — the series’ sponsors — collected $450 in donations without an opportunity to pass the fishbowl at intermission, she said. The series has received a $1,000 contribution from the Barra Foundation and is anticipating another from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Leigh Filippini, co-chair of the Black & White Gala, updated the executive committee on plans for the September 18 benefit for the Chestnut Hill Community Fund. The committee is seeking “different and exciting” things to sell at the silent auction; a visit to a television station and an evening at the opera in New York are among the items already donated.

Maxine Dornemann, CHCA president, said that organizers of the holiday house tour, a December fundraiser for the Community Association, are hoping to close a street for the event in order to present musical performances. House tour chair Mary Steelman has prepared a letter to send to designers inviting them to participate. Dornemann will contact homeowners.

In addition, after a brief discussion, the committee voted to send the proposal to dissolve the Lentz Policy back to the publishers’ committee for further discussion. Committee members decided to refer the proposal to the publishers’ committee after they read the policy, which describes this newspaper’s editorial policy. (The entire statement appears each week on page 4 under “Policy Statement.”)

The full board of directors will meet on Thursday, August 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Hiram Lodge, 8427 Germantown Ave. to vote on a new editor of the Chestnut Hill Local and on Bowman Properties’ plans for 8401-03 Germantown Avenue/3 to 9 E. Gravers Lane. The name of the prospective editor will be announced at the meeting. Bowman Properties is planning to demolish 3 to 9 E. Gravers Lane and build a bi-level retail/condominium. There will be no division reports given at the meeting.