D.A.N.A. Home Page

*Info Links Column*

JUST STARTED!!

Douglas Acres Neighborhood is now on

and that is linked to

Just click on the logos to go there and tweet or become a fan of DANA to get to know your neighbors and find out what's happening in the neighborhood!

***NEIGHBORHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS***
Past Announcements Are Moved To The Archive Page, CLICK HERE
Consumer Advisories are moved to the Consumer Advisory Page, CLICK HERE

THE 2010 SCRUB CALENDAR IS UP NOW-CLICK HERE

**SPECIAL ELECTION IN SEPTEMBER**

The Des Moines School District will hold a special election on Tuesday, September 14, to vote on extending the school tax levy known by its acronym PPEL which stands for physical plant and equipment levy. This property tax is currently levied at a rate of 63 cents per $1,000 of value on your real estate. The proposal to be voted on will extend the levy at the same rate for 10 years beginning in 2012. Revenue from the tax is used for the purposes described on the sample ballot reproduced HERE. This is an important source of money for the Des Moines School District.
Please do go to your local voting location on September 14 and vote on the extension of PPEL.

To download a .pdf of more information and the ballot CLICK HERE

The City of Des Moines has developed a plan for improving the neighborhood.

To See The Neighborhood Plan (large file in .pdf format) CLICK HERE

DSL IS HERE!!!

DSL High Speed Internet is here now in our neighborhood. Qwest workers were in our area, around E29th and Madison, and installed the equipment to give our neighborhood the best service available, the latest fiber-optic technology. If you would like the latest and greatest in high speed Internet, and we know you do, please call Qwest Techs Johnny Austin at 515-205-3216, or Jaime at 515-205-2196.

The new DSL fiber-optic service is now available to order with speeds up to 20 mbps.

Watch this bulletin space for updates!

STREET AND SIDEWALK REPAIRS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

The City of Des Moines through the Neighborhood Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program (NIRP) spent a total of $822,960 to repair streets and sidewalks in the Douglas Acres Neighborhood during the summer of 2009. That total includes $588,220 for streets (16 projects) and $234,740 for sidewalk replacement (11,737 linear feet). NIRP has significantly improved our neighborhood infrastructure, and we thank the City of Des Moines.

Private Property Protection Program

The City of Des Moines Private Property Protection Program will provide a subsidy to property owner who contracts with a licensed plumber to redirect one or more of the eligible sources of drainage infiltration and inflow to an outlet other than the sanitary sewer system (including sump pump installation) or to install a backwater valve on the private sewer service to protect against surges on the public sewer system.

Under this program, the City will make a subsidy reimbursement of up to $1,000 to a property owner who meets the requirements of the program. The reimbursement will be by direct payment to the property owner. The work must be performed and completed between June 1, 2008, and June 30, 2011, to be eligible for the reimbursement.

For more information, call the Public Works Department 24-hour Customer Service Center at 283-4950, or go online to

http://www.dmgov.org/departments/pw/PPPprogram/index.htm

D.A.N.A. MEMBERSHIP

Please consider joining D.A.N.A. if you are not already a member. To find out if you are in the Douglas Acres neighborhood CLICK HERE. This organized association gives our neighborhood a voice with the city and a way for neighbors to meet and get to know each other. Remember to renew your membership if you are a member. The cost is $5.00, and the money that we collect covers part of the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter and keeping this website going.
You can CLICK HERE and print out the membership form.

EMAIL MAILING LIST

In an effort to save a bit of money on postage costs, D.A.N.A. is proposing to distribute the bi-monthly newsletter and other information via email. This website will continue to carry all the newsletters in .pdf format, available for download in the left column. If you would be willing to receive the newsletter by email instead of by postal mail, please send your name, mailing address, and email address to: schulstang@aol.com

Please type “dana email” in the subject line.

NEWSLETTER CHANGES

At our September 8 meeting, the DANA board of directors approved a change in the frequency of publication of this newsletter due to rising printing costs. Beginning in 2009, the DANA Update will be published 4 times per year, in January, May, July, and November. The email edition will follow the same schedule. We will continue to send a newsletter to every household in the neighborhood, either via postal mail or email.

This website will continue to be continuously updated, daily, if necessary, so check back often to stay in touch. This is a neighborhood website and everyone in the neighborhood has an input to it. If you have something for the website send it to the association president, chair@douglasacres.org or webmaster@douglasacres.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2010 Year-At-A-Glance Calendar Here

v      Sept. 13, 2010, 7:00 pm, DANA board of directors meeting, Hy-Vee Store, 2540 E Euclid Ave, upstairs conference room

v      Sept. 14, 2010, 7:00 pm, DANA members general meeting, Staves Church

v      Oct. 11, 2010, 7:00 pm, DANA board of directors meeting, Hy-Vee Store, 2540 E Euclid Ave, upstairs conference room

DANA NEWS

BYLAW CHANGES

At the meeting on November 10, 2009, the members of DANA approved seven amendments to the DANA bylaws. You can view the amended bylaws HERE.

Board Elections

At its annual meeting on January 13, 2009, the members of DANA elected a board of directors that will serve until the elections that will take place at the annual meeting on January 12, 2010. On January 12, 2010 elections were held and all the existing board members were re-elected for another year.

DANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Linda Westergaard 453-7339
Vice President: Joe Youngwirth 266-2569
Secretary: Dawn Stangl 265-7771
Treasurer: Phyllis Kellogg 262-5132

Directors: Tony Short 266-8995
Betty Short 266-8995
Margaret Heger 266-4181
Jim Grove 250-9359
Richard Schulze 265-7771

The terms of all board members expire on January 11, 2010

Webmaster: Dennis Dyer
E-mail:

NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE OFFICERS AND SERVICES

The Des Moines Police Department has launched CrimeView, a web site that allows persons to examine data on crimes reported to the department. The address is:

http://mapping.dmgov.org/crimeview/

Douglas Acres has a police officer assigned to our neighborhood to address law enforcement issues. SGT Joe Gonzalez can be called any time assistance. If a law enforcement issue comes up you can call him at the number on the card below or call non-emergency dispatch number at 515-283-4811 or if it is an emergency then call 9-1-1.

ADAMS SCHOOL PICTURE

D.A.N.A. is selling an 8 ½ x 11 inch version of the picture of Adams School taken by Neal Westergaard that is displayed here. The cost is $5.00. To order, please call 453-7339.

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Important Info From The Chairperson:
Update from Linda Westergaard

As you know several of our residents have been meeting with the City of Des Moines and together have been developing a plan for our neighborhood. We have just completed a year long process with meetings with the city and we owe a huge thank you to David Dunn and Amber Kobler from the city for their dedication and hard work they have put forth in working with us.

As a part of the plan, the city completed an extensive street and sidewalk repair project this summer, and things are looking good in the neighborhood. Now we need to keep moving forward with all our plans and goals.

Several of us saw a presentation by the Parks and Recreation Department for Sargent Park earlier in December, and I think you will like what the Parks Department has proposed for our park. This is just one more reason why we love living in this neighborhood. As always feel free to call me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you, Linda Westergaard, 988-4288

DSL UPDATE

DSL High Speed Internet is now in our neighborhood. If you would like high speed Internet in your home please call James Chambers at 515-205-8383.

RECYCLE, DES MOINES!

BANKERS TRUST PROMOTION

Bankers Trust Company is offering a promotion to DANA members. If you open a new Direct Checking account with them, Bankers Trust will deposit $100 into the new account. Please contact Michelle McCreery at 245-2433 for more information.

Neighborhood Finance Corporation
Douglas Acres Lending Activity
9/1/06–9/30/08
----------
Purchase, including 20% 2nds
	#	$ Lent	$ Forgivable
80% 1sts	7	$642,908	$84,500
20% 2nds	3	$60,734
Total	10	$703,642	$84,500
----------
Home Improvement
	#	$ Lent	$ Forgivable
	6	$226,403	$42,266
Total	6	$226,403	$42,266
Grand Total:	16	$930,045	$126,766

Do you know of someone, or are you, having difficulty making their mortgage payments? If so, NFC's Rescue and Repair Refinance (R3) loan could help. This loan offers customers the opportunity to refinance out of their current higher interest rate mortgage loan(s) to a more affordable loan. Plus, the customer can earn your way to an even better rate over the next two years. And, the loan includes up to $10,000 forgivable subsidy for property repairs. Please email or call one of our loan originators for details.

Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) currently has a staff of 12, and shares a property inspector with the City of Des Moines. NFC's address is 1912 Sixth Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314. We are located one block south of the 6th & Hickman intersection.
To reach any of the following staff members, call 288-5626 (that's 288-LOAN) and dial their extension.
Our fax number is 246-0112.

Holly Olson, Executive Director, Ext. 203, holson@neighborhoodfinance.org

Patty Cook, Vice President Loans, Ext. 202, pcook@neighborhoodfinance.org

Mark Alberico, Vice President Finance & Administration, Ext. 201, malberico@neighborhoodfinance.org

Skip Petts, Manager, Home Ownership Center, Ext. 210, spetts@neighborhoodfinance.org

Steve Wilke-Shapiro, Real Estate Development Manager, Ext. 219, swilke-shapiro@neighborhoodfinance.org

Karen Baase, Loan Services Specialist, Ext. 204, kbaase@neighborhoodfinance.org

Susan Beard, Loan Closer, Ext. 205, sbeard@neighborhoodfinance.org

Shari Clark, Loan Originator, Ext. 206, sclark@neighborhoodfinance.org

Omega Lamar, Accounting Specialist, Ext. 208, olamar@neighborhoodfinance.org

Veronica Lyon, Bilingual Administrative/Marketing Assistant, 246-0010, vlyon@neighborhoodfinance.org

Joni Norman, Loan Originator, Ext. 209, jnorman@neighborhoodfinance.org

Alejandra Peverill, Bilingual Home Ownership Counselor, Ext. 207 apeverill@neighborhoodfinance.org

Karen Riccelli, Loan Originator, Ext. 211, kriccelli@neighborhoodfinance.org

Richard Sickles, Tool Lending Library Staff, Ext. 220, tools@neighborhoodfinance.org

D.A.N.A. MEMBERSHIP

Please consider joining D.A.N.A. if you are not already a member or are consider renewing your membership if you are a member. The cost is $5.00, and the money that we collect covers part of the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter and keeping this website going. We want to continue to provide the newsletter to every household in the neighborhood.
You can CLICK HERE and print out the membership form.

DANA NEWS
On January 9, 2008, DANA incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under Iowa law by the filing of articles of incorporation with the Iowa Secretary of State. This means that DANA now has a board of directors, a president, and a vice president in place of a steering committee, a chairperson, and a vice chairperson. Other officers are the secretary and treasurer. By incorporating as a nonprofit, DANA can reduce its postage costs for mailing of the newsletter. Also, DANA is required to file a report with the state every other year to keep its status as a nonprofit corporation.
On February 11, 2008, the DANA board of directors adopted corporate bylaws to govern the operation of DANA. The bylaws specify that every person over the age of eighteen who lives or owns a business or property in the Douglas Acres Neighborhood is a member of DANA. Payment of dues is not a requirement for membership; payment is considered to be a contribution to DANA. The bylaws define the boundaries of the neighborhood. The bylaws set the procedures for meetings and elections and the duties of the officers and directors. The bylaws can be amended only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at any meeting of members.

FOR THE BUSINESS STATEMENT PAGE CLICK HERE

FOR THE D.A.N.A. BYLAWS CLICK HERE

FOR THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION CLICK HERE

President's Comments
10/23/2004

12/30/2004

September 2005

November 2006

To Contact The President Send Email To: chair@douglasacres.org

Meeting Minutes
January 2006 General Meeting

March 2006 General Meeting

May 2006 General Meeting

January 2007 General Meeting

November 2008 General Meeting

January 2009 General Meeting

September 2009 General Meeting

  Plan your trip
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Douglas Acres Newsletters
Index

May 2005
September 2005
November 2005
January 2006
March 2006
May 2006
September 2006
November 2006
January 2007
March 2007
May 2007
July 2007
September 2007
November 2007
January 2008
March 2008
May 2008
July 2008
September 2008
November 2008
January 2009
May 2009
July 2009
November 2009
January 2010
May 2010
July 2010

All Newsletters Are In .pdf Format

Recycling Schedule for DANA Residents (orange route)
(when to put out the Green Bins)

Sept 7, 21
Oct 5, 21
Nov 2, 16, 30
Dec 14, 28

To See The Long Term Schedule
CLICK HERE

To See The Recycle Rules
CLICK HERE

HIGHWAY CAMERAS
DOT has put up over 40 cameras on the freeway and interstate and has allowed us to see them CLICK HERE to pick your camera.

ROAD CONDITIONS
Before you head out this winter, get the current road conditions.
CLICK HERE

COMMUNITY LINKS PAGE
CLICK HERE for a link to about anywhere in the community you would want to go

Have you ever wondered if you had money coming back from an old bank account or insurance policy or whatever????
CLICK HERE to find out!

Consumer Advisory Page
Tips From Attorney General Tom Miller

The National Sheriff's Association has established a national neighborhood watch program. CLICK HERE to go to the website.

To See The Metro's Most Wanted
CLICK HERE

The US Dept of Health and Human Services is providing a wealth of family information with links to every conceivable need.
http://www.samhsa.gov/
or
http://family.samhsa.gov/

For those of you that like to follow what your Iowa legislature is doing CLICK HERE to track bills and contact your legislator.

SAVE AND SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS ACRES WINS AWARD

DANA was honored with the first ever "Neighborhood of the Year" award given by the East Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. We were recognized for all of the work we have done to establish the Association, for our increased membership and for our effective representation of the neighborhood in city matters. The award is on display at the East Euclid HyVee.

Website Copyrighted 2005
Last Updated 9/1/2010 .... late at night and half asleep!