By Tom McGavin
WATCHDOG EDITOR

As a member of Lincoln Central Association, count yourself one of a select few. Membership hovers around 250 in a neighborhood whose residents number in the thousands.

Your Board of Directors thinks it’s time the low number moves upward. But board members know LCA membership won’t grow unless there is a joining of forces to increase membership. The subject got good attention at your board’s last meeting. A heady question kept cropping up:

Why is membership in LCA important? Fair question deserving of good answers.

So members agreed everyone should go away and ponder the question. No quick answers. No off-the-cuff stuff. That they did. And submitted some pretty solid thinking in writing over the ensuing days. Following is a summary of thoughts from various board members:

“If you like living in Lincoln Park, give your ideas a voice,” says Sally Drucker. “By joining LCA you will have the opportunity to make your neighborhood the best it can be.”

‘A voice ... for over 52 years’
- Rodger Owen

Board President Rodger Owen makes several points on the value of LCA membership, including: discuss issues and interests in a neighborhood forum that meets every month; a voice of the neighborhood for over 52 years; (LCA is) still here representing you after the election.

Writes new board member Paul Maggio: “After attending my first board meeting, I can see that board members care about the neighborhood and LCA is important to the community. I appreciate the diversity of the board and what each individual contributes. The newsletter and the emails that go out to members on current issues that affect the LCA region keep people up to date on what is happening in our area.”

‘Doing my part to keep our neighborhood liveable’
- Jennifer Uson 

Board member Jennifer Uson, who balances a professional career with raising young children, feels neighborhood associations such as LCA must remain viable so that families can enjoy the benefits of city living “rather than fleeing to the suburbs.”

“I grew up in the DePaul area until the 3rd grade, and I loved living in the city,” she reminisces. “I could walk to the playground and the corner grocery store (Bart’s on Altgeld and Racine) and buy my own candy.

“At night, I would stand outside our apartment and watch for my parents to walk down our block from the el station, and I would run to meet them. I went to a great school – St. Clements. So I want to raise my kids in Chicago, not in the suburbs. But that means that our neighborhood and Chicago overall, has to be safe and vibrant, with good schools, parks, cultural institutions, job opportunities, So being an active member in LCA is one way of doing my part to keep our neighborhood livable.”

‘Nothing ever should be taken for granted’
- Tom McGavin

Your editor grew up in Detroit a long time ago. When my hometown was a dynamic, vibrant city with wonderful parks, great schools, marvelous public transportation, a population that made it the nation’s fifth largest metropolis. Sadly, no need to spend words recapping what fate has befallen the “Arsenal of Democracy” in recent decades. All the world knows. Motown’s ills are ample inspiration for this writer to be involved in LCA. Nothing ever should be taken for granted.

Your board suggests that every member go get a neighbor to join LCA. Simple as that. Show them this article, and they’ll eagerly join up. That would put our ranks close to 500 Sounds pretty robust, especially compared to 250.

(Editor’s Note: We’d like to hear why you think LCA membership is important. Send me your thoughts at tmcgavin@)rubloff.com).