From Jim
Neighbors,
I write to make a serious appeal for you to consider the purchase of a ticket to the Fifth District Citizens’ Advisory Council’s Awards Banquet this year and, if possible, the purchase of an advertisement in the souvenir journal that is being produced in association with the event.
I know that I run the risk of wearing out your patience by making this appeal, as there have been a series of announcements concerning the banquet conveyed to you by myself and others in the recent past. But, in my best judgment, the importance of our part of Ward Five making a significant showing at this event has the potential of substantially elevating our status on the city’s political map and it would say to the Metropolitan Police Department as well as to other existing “powers that be” in our ward that what I call “the sleeping giant” is finally awakening to assert
itself.
I would be the first to admit that the services we receive from the Fifth District Police have not always been up to par and, frankly, there is a rare person in this community that has complained about this situation to MPD authorities more vocally and consistently than me over the years.
Nevertheless, there are those within the Fifth District Police who work hard
to protect and serve we citizens of the District of Columbia and it is largely this group of officers whom we will honor on October 20, 2005.
In my considered view, by honoring those who work hard on our behalf we show our appreciation for their efforts and the secondary gain that we are likely to glean from the situation will be to encourage those who may not be currently as committed as we would like, to step up their efforts so as to meet the established and expected standard.
Importantly, the team of 5D CAC members who have taken responsibility for organizing this year’s banquet are residents of ANC 5C. In this regard, we could use this event to show our counterparts in other more stable, established and (politically) empowered sections of Ward Five that our talent pool is as skilled, gifted and rich as any other neighborhood in this city and that the traditional expectation that we will or should take a “back seat” to communities like [snipped by InShaw for sniping], must change and change now!
If we want it to be, it is just as easy to support a cause as it is to oppose or complain about one. In this instance, I urge you to support this activity. If you can purchase a ticket or two to the event that would be excellent. If you find that you have a scheduling conflict on this date, I encourage you to purchase the tickets and to donate them to be used by the honorees and their spouses (who will be attending the affair free of charge).
I know that some of us have agreed to place an advertisement in the souvenir journal in the name of the Bates Area Civic Association, Inc. and at the last meeting of ANC 5C, a number of commissioners agreed to chip in to do the same. If you own a business, are in a private practice, or work for a company that could use some publicity, I encourage you to purchase an ad the size of a business card (at a minimum). Or, if you would like to get together with some of your neighbors to purchase larger space to simply congratulate the honorees, that would be laudable also.
In short, it would make a serious statement to the MPD and other political leaders and figures around the town, if there were two or three tables each of residents from Truxton Circle/Shaw East, Bloomingdale, Eckington, Edgewood, Hanover, as well as the Stronghold, and if the souvenir journal reflected the strong presence of advertisements from residents of these neighborhoods. In my 20+ years of living in the community, it would be a first. And, if it is truly our goal to empower ourselves in Ward Five and in Washington, DC politically, the awards banquet represents the kind of ward-wide event that can reflect how serious and committed we are to this cause.
I have attached several pieces of information to this email that will help you to understand how to purchase a ticket as well as an advertisement in support of the banquet. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me so that I can try to answer them or get an answer for you.
To make the transaction convenient for you, I will deliver tickets to or pick up ads from your home — just let me know. Please note that tickets will not be available at the door on the date of the affair.
I know we can do this! I think we will do this! How about you?
Best,
Jim Berry
ANC 5C
Attached file:
5 DCAC 2005 Awards Outreach Packet