Riverview Neighborhood Association

Friends and Neighbors,

What a beautiful time of year we’ve stumbled upon. Remember when we were all cooped up in the house trying to avoid the heat? And then, all the sudden, without any warning, blammo, here we are. “Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

So, let’s all get out and enjoy ourselves, breathing the fresh air and reminding ourselves what a beautiful neighborhood we are so fortunate to have.

Last month’s Zoom meeting was a success; we have new members who have great ideas and enthusiasm to help. After all, joining in is a great way to meet your neighbors. How’s about pitching in as well? We’ve got some ideas now for “socially distanced” get-togethers. Get me your email address (by sending it to reagleton@rjeoffices.com) and join in on Zoom at our October 13 meeting to learn how to help. It’ll be fun.

Right now, I’m excited to announce that we’re going to be having a neighborhood “Trunk and Treat” on Halloween night, Saturday October 31. We’ll talk more about it in next week’s meeting, but the idea is to have a safe, outdoor, stop-by or drive-by event for kids and adults. So, on Halloween, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm, we’ll be gathering in my front yard. 1302 South Galveston Ave. (the corner lot). From about 4:30pm to 5:30pm, our emphasis will be on passing out candy to kids, either in the front yard or we’ll bring it to the car window to be even safer. We figure adults can come as early as 4:30pm and stick around to about 7:00pm to share a BYOB beverage in the front yard. If you want to do that, bring a lawn chair, but you can just waive from across the street or from your car if you prefer, and that’s great, too. We want to see you, but we want everyone to be safe. Isn’t it time to start seeing each other, again? We think so!

We’re also planning our December “Drive-by Holiday Party,” which we imagine will be a similar, safe format, but we haven’t put the final touches on planning. Want to help? We know we could use some goodies to pass out. We’ll talk more about this on Tuesday, as well.

Also, we’re setting the schedule for a Spring home garden tour and a guided tour of Cry Baby Plaza by Ray Luth (and Maryhelen, if we can talk her into it). You may not know of all the eco-friendly and unique plants that we (they) planted in Cry Baby Plaza. Ray commonly posts photos on our Facebook page of the plantings: “Riverview Neighborhood Association Tulsa.” Check those out. Remember, our neighborhood worked hard to raise money and design that terrific, unique park. We should all enjoy Cry Baby Plaza, and knowing how much thought went into it just enhances the fun. Thanks, as always, to all those who raised money and dedicated so much time to making it possible.

It appears our Welcoming Committee is finally going to get underway. You don’t have to be the lead contact, but would you like to be involved? We sure want our new neighbors to feel welcomed. Join in on Tuesday’s Zoom and we’ll talk more.

Lastly, we’re going to use this next meeting to set an agenda for the next year. We’d like to know what issues folks have on their mind and how the Association can help. We know we want to try to identify how neighbors can be helping neighbors during this time of COVID. But, like so many, we’re just not so sure how. There are lots of topics which may be on your mind, so let’s visit. Remember, to get me your email address so I can make sure you’re invited.

See you, Tuesday.

Rick Eagleton, President.

To follow up my more detailed post of September 11, 2020, we have had a good response from neighbors about our upcoming Riverview Association Zoom meeting. Not only that, several folks have submitted timely agenda items for discussion. We want as many to attend and get involved as possible.

For me to include you, I will need your name and email address. Why don’t you send me an email at my personal email address reagleton@rjeoffices.com so I can get you an invite. If you’re not used to Zoom just yet, I’m pretty sure we can get you there. Send me an email or call (918) 845-0637 as soon as you can and we’ll figure a way to get you comfortable with Zoom.

Rick Eagleton, President.

Friends and Neighbors, the Riverview Association is ready to emerge, back to action, now after a COVID hiatus. Much has changed in our neighborhood and our lives since we last spoke, too many ways to list. We hope that you and your loved ones have remained safe and have been able to adopt measures to remain safe. These are times to take stock in the most important things, like supporting loved ones and close friends. We will survive.

I’ve polled some of our neighbors about how to have a meeting and have decided that even if we might be able to meet at a restaurant, it’s just not the best way to handle meetings for now. So, I am going to set up a Zoom meeting for next Thursday at 6:00pm. (That may be subject to change, but let’s go with it for now.) For me to include you, I will need your name and email address. Why don’t you send me an email at my personal email address reagleton@rjeoffices.com so I can get you an invite. Now, if you’re not used to Zoom just yet, I’m pretty sure we can get you there. Send me an email or call (918)845-0637 as soon as you can and we’ll figure a way to get you comfortable with Zoom.

Another reason to get in touch is to suggest an agenda item for our meeting. I know that many of you are still interested on re-striping “traffic calming” on South Denver Ave. Regrettably, I don’t have very much in the way of a positive report, but I’m happy to share what I know about contacts with the City. If anyone who has more detailed information can join us for Zoom, that would be helpful.

I expect to put on the agenda a discussion of crime and safety, so if you have anything to add, let me know.

Also, and certainly not last, I would like to have information on what our neighbors may need during COVID. We can talk about what is doable. Many of us want to help. It would be useful to discuss how.

Aside from all that, it’s just important to connect through all this, so I look forward to hearing from you.

Rick Eagleton, President.

Friends, it seems such a long distant time when only two weeks ago I reached out to you about COVID-19 and social distancing. I’m sure were Einstein around, he could educate us on why the notion of time seems so confused in a crisis. As many of us are mostly at home now, I’d love for a physicist (or armchair physicist) to take a moment to comment on  why our concept of time now seems so out of whack.

As to these challenging times, our instincts are to care for those most dear to us with the comfort that should we, ourselves, be of need, we will be cared for. Such is one of the most basic functions of a caring neighborhood such as is ours.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” Inasmuch as these may be challenging times, they present for us the hopeful opportunity to shine for each other. This is who neighbors are; this is what neighbors do.

And so, as we try to explore new normals about how to stay safe and stay in touch, in addition to our Facebook Page, “Riverview Neighborhood Assocation Tulsa,” I’d like to remind you that recently we created a Facebook “Private Group.” You may find it as “Riverview Neighborhood” when searching on Facebook. And, if I’ve done it correctly, this is the link:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/497919887524351?id=497919887524351&ref=content_filter&_rdr

When we created a private group earlier this year, we imagined it would be a good way for neighbors to reach out to neighbors. It can hardly be overstated the importance of doing that now…checking on each other, volunteering to help others with shopping, supplies, medicine, or just sharing useful information as surely will remind others that neighbors are here to lend support. Remember, we are social beings. While cooped up in our homes, it is doubly important to have constant and positive human connection.

Friends, it is said that a challenge doesn’t change character – it reveals it. In times of need, we can all take a lesson from this. I commend those in our neighborhood who have already been doing the little things for others. By taking personal responsibility and committing ourselves to keep in touch, we will better care for each other and the least among us.

Rick Eagleton, Ass’n President.

Neighbors, Regrettably, our government has not been very clear or consistent in delivering guidance to citizens on what we should be doing in light of the growing coronavirus pandemic. Because testing for coronavirus has not yet been sufficient to tell us how many people have it and where they are congregated, our local governments and health boards are not in a position to give specific guidance, or take targeted actions like closing schools in affected areas, limiting social gatherings, etc. Seems some practical guidance is called for.

You may have heard the term “social distancing.” In short, it means limiting your contact with others so that the spread is slowed. Testing, health care asset allocation and social distancing keep the cases from spiking across the nation. This is relevant to “flatten the curve.” If we can spread out the period people get infected with this thing, then hospitals can handle the most serious cases. If infections spike, hospitals can’t. So what to do as good neighbors?

We’ve all heard that most people will not die from this. This is true. Not to put to fine a point on it, but most people who contracted the Spanish Flu didn’t die either.  Young people and those who are not immuno-compromised should mostly do just fine. But that’s not the point. When not-at-risk people spread it, those at risk get it. We healthy and young folks have a responsibility to others not to take this casually. Think of everyone you know who is in an at-risk category, I have plenty of friends, family, Riverview neighbors who are at risk. We must take precautions, not because this is likely to kill the majority of folks, but because we have a duty to those who are most vulnerable. So, what it is our civic duty, our neighborly duty, now?

First, call your vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors and let them know this this is serious enough to start taking precautions and you will help if you can. Some news channels aren’t presenting it as serious. Vulnerable folks may be getting misinformation. It’s not time to panic. It’s time to be smart. And as neighbors, we can be helpful. We should check on our neighbors, volunteer to pick up groceries, medications, pet supplies, if they are at risk. We can help keep them safe.

Second, we should all wash hands thoroughly (for 20 seconds) throughout the day, soap and water. A neighborhood pediatrician has told me it’s the 20 seconds, not the water temperature, that is important. This is helpful. Use hand sanitizer if you have it, but don’t stress if you don’t.

Third, start social distancing to the extent it is practical for you: limiting your large group social activities and keeping a distance of 6 feet from folks, if you can. This may change when we have better numbers in our own, specific areas, but for now, we have to assume this is just spreading around us. We and the organizers of the Tulsa Tough race in June will keep all this in mind as the situation may warrant. We don’t want to make it worse. That said, we shouldn’t run scared or panic. There are easy things we can do, and we should do them, like common sense things such as limit hand shaking, stop touching our eyes, nose and mouth, etc. It spreads usually from coughing and sneezing.

Fourth, if you have been in direct contact with someone who has it, or if you have a fever or display any flu like symptoms, go home from work and call your doctor or local health department for instructions. It does not mean you have it; but you don’t want to spread it around if you do. The Oklahoma Department of Health coronavirus hotline is 877-215-8336.

This is unnerving stuff, but we can band together to protect the most vulnerable among us. Let’s do this and be the good people and neighbors we know we are.

Rick Eagleton, President.

Friends, this is a reminder of our next gathering of neighbors at 6:00pm on March 11, 2020, at Baxters Interurban, 7th and Houston. Please check out my last message for more detail about our meeting. The below is an Agenda with Comments. Please note that we will have a guest speaker, Nathan Leigh of the Tulsa Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee about traffic calming, including Denver Avenue restoration. We appreciate his volunteering to spend time with us and welcome him.

Also, as you can see, we will officially launch our Sponsorship campaign for the VIP Tent at Cry Baby Hill. This will be a great way to support your neighborhood.

We look forward to seeing you.

AGENDA AND COMMENTS
March 11, 2020
RIVERVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASS’N

1. Treasurer’s Report

2. Social Media: Remember, our website is riverviewtulsa.com; we post notices on Nextdoor Riverview and have a Facebook page named “Riverview Neighborhood Association Tulsa.” In the last few weeks, we established a Community Group on Facebook called “Riverview Neighborhood.” Please join and invite your friends. Hopefully, this will help us all exchange neighborhood news and information.

3. Traffic Calming Efforts (Denver Ave.): We will have a presentation by Nathan Leigh of The Tulsa Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on traffic calming efforts around town, including Denver Avenue discussions, the City’s response, and possible solutions. We have already heard from volunteers in the neighborhood who are willing to work on this for us. We appreciate them.

4. Sign-ups for neighbors: We are now taking down names for people who may be interested in helping with certain projects, VIP Tent at Cry Baby Hill (June 14, 2020), Neighborhood Welcoming Committee, Historical Committee, and becoming neighborhood captains for the Alert Neighbors programs. We’ll pass out the lists. Please let us know who you are and where your interests lie. We’re also wondering if someone wants to start a neighborhood newsletter or volunteer to write columns for the Association Website.

5. New Meeting Spaces: We need volunteers to help find us new meeting spaces, so we can spread the wealth and get the good word out. We’ll ask for names of folks who live in apartment or condo complexes in our area; maybe they can get us a room for a meeting in the next few months.

6. VIP Tent at Tulsa Tough: We are thrilled to launch our sponsorship program for the VIP Tent at Tulsa Tough this year. We discussed this was coming in our January meeting; HERE WE GO!!! Below is a listing of Sponsorship options. Please look down the list and see what would be good for you or someone you know. Remember, if you sign up now, we’ll start giving you recognition. This is all for the good of the neighborhood, so we appreciate your interest and enthusiasm.  Sign up at the Association Meeting or get in touch with Rick Eagleton at 918-845-0637 / reagleton@rjeoffices.com

RIVERVIEW “VIP TENT” SPONSORSHIP LEVELS – June 14, 2020

I. PLATINUM RIVERVIEW CHAMPION (Sponsorship) — $3,000: There will be one and only one “Platinum Champion” sponsor of the 2020 Riverview VIP Tent. This entitles you to . . .

a. Exclusive “Key Spot” mention in all our promotional materials, including our Website, Facebook, Nextdoor Riverview, etc. before and after the race when we thank you for your support,
b. The largest, visible signage (a 4 ft. x 8ft. banner with your name or your organization’s name and logo) displayed prominently on the VIP tent (tent approximately 80’ by 20’),
c. 10 VIP tickets (the individual price last year was $35 each) for which your guests will receive all the BBQ they can eat and all the beer they can drink, while enjoying the race in the shade,
d. 10 custom Riverview Cowbells ($50 race day value),
e. 10 custom Riverview ballcaps ($250 race day value), and
f. Authorization to pass out mutually agreeable promotional items at our VIP tent.

II. GOLD RIVERVIEW CHAMPION (Sponsorships) — $1,500: You will be one of six “Gold Champion” sponsors of the 2020 Riverview VIP Tent, entitling you to . . .

a. Mention in place of honor in all our promotional materials, including our Website, Facebook, Nextdoor Riverview, etc. before and after the race when we thank you for your support,
b. Visible signage (a 3ft. by 5ft. banner with your name or your organization’s name and logo) displayed prominently on the VIP tent (tent approximately 80’ by 20’),
c. 5 VIP tickets (the individual price last year was $35 each) for which your guests will receive all the BBQ they can eat and all the beer they can drink, while enjoying the race in the shade,
d. 5 custom Riverview Cowbells ($25 race day value),
e. 5 custom Riverview ballcaps ($125 race day value), and
f. Authorization to pass out mutually agreeable promotional items at our VIP tent.

III. RIVERVIEW PATRON (Sponsorships) (Perfect for individual sponsors and supporters of the neighborhood) — $250. Join in the fun, support the neighborhood and receive . . .

a. Mention as supporter in all our promotional materials, including our Website, Facebook, and Nextdoor Riverview, etc. before and after the race when we thank you for your support,
b. 2 VIP Tickets (the individual price last year was $35 each) for which two guests will receive all the BBQ they can eat and all the beer they can drink, while enjoying the race in the shade,
c. 2 custom Riverview Cowbells ($10 race day value), and
d. 2 custom Riverview ballcaps ($50 race day value).

Friends of Riverview,

In January we had a terrific meeting; lots of new faces showed up with tons of great ideas. We want to build on their enthusiasm. We’ll continue our efforts at our next meeting at 6pm on March 11, 2020, at Baxters Interurban, 7th and Houston. Please get this on your calendars.

To give a bit of detail about what we discussed at the last meeting and our ongoing projects, I’m listing below some areas of emphasis for the Association:

1. Getting the good word out: With all the good work we have been endeavoring to do in the neighborhood, it was a constant message from those attending our January meeting that we’re not reaching people. Several said they just learned we’ve been having Association meetings.  I for one will redouble my efforts to get out early announcements for meetings posted and to re-post reminders on the website, Facebook and Nextdoor Riverview. We will also start putting signs up as a reminder of upcoming meetings. Please remember to tell your friends when there is a meeting.

As many of you know, we have a Facebook Page for the neighborhood (Riverview Neighborhood Association Tulsa.) To help neighbors better communicate with neighbors, we’ve just added a Community Group called “Riverview Neighborhood.” Many thanks to our Vice President, Sarah Hart, for this. We imagine this community group will facilitate neighbors connecting with each other and sharing topics of interest. You can join and add your friends, so please do.

A fabulous suggestion was that we rotate the meeting place to include meeting rooms at some of the apartment or condominium complexes in the neighborhood, so the word will get out to those folks. In fact, the reason I delayed a bit in scheduling this next meeting until now is that I’ve been trying to do just that. I think we’ll be more effective if we have a resident of these units help make the contact. Feel free to call if you think you can help us do that.

2. Traffic Calming: As everyone has no doubt observed, Denver Avenue is under construction from the BA to Riverside. We have been attending meetings with city personnel about the possibility of slowing down traffic and improving walkability (and pedestrian crossings). Several neighbors volunteered to help the Association do this, which we so very much appreciate. To help educate our neighbors, Nathan Leigh of The Tulsa Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (TBAC) has graciously volunteered to make a presentation at our next meeting to help inform us of his group’s efforts in our neighborhood and around the city. Please come hear him on March 11th.

3. Historical Preservation Committee and Welcoming Committee: Several neighbors expressed an interest in volunteering to start working on gathering information about our neighborhood’s history, so we can beef up the website, letting others know about the wonderful, rich history of The Riverview Historic District. This will also coincide with amping up our Welcoming Committee. We so want to make sure folks who move into the neighborhood are made to feel welcome. If you want to help, please contact me or just show at the next meeting.

4. Alert Neighbors: We’re starting to gather more names of folks who would be willing to serve as Block Captains for our Alert Neighbors efforts (neighborhood watch). Please come and sign up. When we have enough Block Captains, we can move forward.

5. VIP Tent – Cry Baby Hill: Much has been done over the last couple of months to get ready for The Riverview VIP Tent at Cry Baby Hill on June 14, 2020. Most of you know about the cycling event in our neighborhood. This is the largest event we put on each year. I’ll get some more information to you about how you and your friends may purchase tickets, but what we’re most excited about is that this year, we are offering sponsorships to help individuals and organizations show support for the neighborhood. As with other sponsored events, these sponsorships will be at different levels. We’re pleased to offer just about everyone an opportunity to show their enthusiasm for Riverview. We’ll give a full presentation at the next meeting, so remember to get ready to dust off your cowbells!

More to come soon.

Rick Eagleton, President.

As we prepare for a new year in the Riverview Historic District, the Neighborhood Association is reflecting on priorities for this year. So we may try to be effective for you, we hope you will join us for our first 2020 Association meeting at 6:00pm, on January 22, 2020, at Baxter’s Interurban (7th and Houston); we could use your input.

Our focus is always to enhance the livability of our neighborhood. We hope to help neighbors get to know each other and to look out for each other. We can do this with social events and also by banding together to accomplish things which collectively we might do more effectively than alone, like addressing crime and safety, coordinating with the City, our Councilor, and the neighborhood liaison on matters of importance in the neighborhood, following trends affecting our neighborhood and taking action where appropriate, hosting candidate forums, and just promoting our neighborhood. True, some of these increase property values, which folks might be interested in, but we believe enhancing livability improves the quality of life for all of us, and that is our goal.

To best accomplish this goal, we hope to be able to call upon neighbors to volunteer in areas of their interests. The below list of things we’re trying to do also presents ways to volunteer for you:

1. We need to better communicate with neighbors: We need to find ways to get the word out to neighbors when there’s something to share. We really need some help with our social media and internet presence and in compiling neighborhood contact information. We have a website, riverviewtulsa.com, and that’s good, but if you’ve seen it, you may agree we’re missing some opportunities here. And while it’s true, Facebook’s fine, it may just be time to up our game. The phrase “OK Boomer” screams to mind. Could anyone help us do better? We could sure use you. I, for one, am not a bit resistant to fresh ideas. Pinkie promise.

2. Alert Neighbors: For those of you who have participated in the Board’s crime and safety discussions, we would like to implement the Alert Neighbors, neighborhood watch program. It’s a perfect fit for the neighborhood, but as a neighborhood with such a large, geographic footprint, we need participation to get this going. If you are willing to help, including learning about being a Block Captain, let us know. Tulsa Crime Stoppers will train us; we just need people who want to learn. We’d love to have you.

3. Welcoming committee: We believe that welcoming people to the neighborhood is one of the best ways to spread the word and make friends. Tulsans, and particularly those in our neighborhood, are just plain friendly. It’s who we are, and we all remember what it’s like to move into a new neighborhood. We’ve had a Welcoming Committee in the past and have heard some interest from folks to get one going again.  Can you help?

4. Neighborhood Newsletter: We think it would be great to get one started. We know of lots of folks who like to write (and gab); we imagine quite a few people would be interested in submitting on topics of interest.  Who knows, maybe businesses would want to get coupons in the hands of a whole bunch of us.  Anyone want to share recipes — I’d enjoy that. I’m thinking quarterly, maybe. As you can probably tell, I’m not sufficiently technologically savvy to put one together, but I’d guess we have lots of neighbors who might like that. I would be pleased to write a “President’s Column” for each newsletter. Any takers?

5. Social events:  For those who know me, I like parties.  I don’t hide it.  There are several events we’ve put on regularly, but we’d like to do more. Can you volunteer to help on any of these events (or propose others):

a. VIP Tent at Tulsa Tough’s 2020 Cry Baby Hill race (more below),
b. Bake Sales,
c. Cookouts, and
d. Holiday party / Winter Tour of Lights.

Tulsa Tough’s race in our neighborhood will be June 14, 2020, and is approaching fast. This year’s Riverview VIP Tent will be even better. We’ll have our big tent set up right on Cry Baby Hill (13th and Lawton) at which ticket holders receive cool shade, hot bbq and ice cold beer. As always, we’ll sell tickets and neighborhood merchandise. The Riverview cowbells are tested to be louder than anyone else’s, anywhere on the planet. This year, we’ll offer neighbors and businesses the opportunity to show their support for our neighborhood by being VIP Sponsors. Sponsors not only receive public acknowledgment in advertising, press releases and neighborhood promotional materials or signage, but more than that, you’ll have the satisfaction of helping the neighborhood you love.  We’re going to start organizing immediately so the VIP Tent comes off without a hitch. Please come to the next meeting or contact me if you might be interested in helping. PS – Any musicians out there want to lend your talents? Hint Hint Hint.

Anyone up for a 4th of July potluck / cookout or parade for kids, or how about a Halloween pet costume party? My dogs Biggie Smalls and Full Monty are game. Sounds fun. Right?

We’re eager for the new year and really want to meet you. There’s nothing quite like getting to know your neighbors in a new way. Please think of coming out or getting in touch. Rick Eagleton, President. 918-845-0637.

We really want to see our neighbors at this year’s holiday party, Sunday, December 15 at the Spotlight Theatre from 5-7. I’ll give a little brief update about what’s going to happen to Denver Avenue in January, but mostly we’ll chat and meet new friends. Hope you can make it and share a snack or dessert.