by Kirby Lindsay, from 10 March 1999
This column originally appeared in The Seattle Press, published March 10, 1999 under the title, “Three Community Groups Define Fremont”.
A three-dimensional view of Fremont is possible by examination of, and participation in, three organizations that, I believe, define Fremont. To me, they each represent one leg of a three-legged stool upon which the community sits. Without one, the neighborhood would no longer be “Fremont”.
These three organizations are the Fremont Arts Council, the Fremont Chamber Of Commerce and the Fremont Neighborhood Council.
FNC: An Introduction
The Fremont Neighborhood Council (FNC) represents the residential portion of Fremont, and provides a forum for neighborhood concerns. If you live east of 8th Avenue, north of the Lake Union Ship Canal, south of 50th Street, and west of Stone Way you are represented by the FNC.
Who is the Fremont Neighborhood Council? They are residents of Fremont who volunteer their time. They are people willing to attend monthly Board of Directors meetings.
President Beckey Sukovaty also encourages every board member to take a specific job. Her husband, Toby Thaler, is the FNC representative to the Fremont Urban Neighborhood Coalition (FUNC). Malcolm Dayton, a recent recruit, is the FNC liaison to the Fremont Arts Council. Janet Lidin, a Board Member for approximately six years, represents the FNC at the Seattle Police North Precinct community meetings. Aaron Kaplan, serving his third year, focuses on parks and community clean-ups.
At the last FNC General Membership Meeting, seven other volunteers stepped forward to serve as Board Members for the next year. Willingness to serve and attendance at the meetings is all it takes to get involved.
Step Inside And See
Some new faces appeared at the last meeting, sort of. Norma Jones introduced herself as a “neighborhood council member from way back” who returned to see what was going on and to lend assistance again. Tim Hickey recently moved to Fremont and wants to be involved. He believes, strongly, in being involved in his community.
Barb Donnelly is also a recent arrival. She has been at recent FUNC meetings and is determined to participate in charting the course for the future of Fremont. She also wants to be involved in the neighborhood council. She doesn’t have time to become a board member but, by attending meetings and hearing and giving input to discussions, she is still able to make a difference. She also passes on information she gathers at these meetings to friends and neighbors. “They care but they don’t take the effort to say it or attend these meetings,” Barb explained.
It is hard to represent the people who don’t attend or speak up. It is also hard to please all the people, all the time. “This is a very diverse community. We can’t have everyone happy all the time.” Beckey told us at the February meeting.
Getting Results
One of my favorite projects, done by the FNC, did please everyone, as far as I know. Helen Tapp, co-founder of the FNC, was a woman dedicated to her family, friends, church and community. When she passed away, the FNC solicited funds and saw to the construction of a memorial bench in her name. Beckey gained permission from Fremont Avenue Laundromat owner, Rupert Geister, to place the bench on his property, local architect (and FNC Board Member) George Heideman designed the bench and Fremont Arts Council member Veronica Truffat designed the sunny tile work. The project involved volunteer efforts and financial donations from all over our community, coordinated by the FNC.
Today neighborhood planning is one major concern of the FNC. Like most neighborhoods in Seattle, Fremont has been working on a plan to fulfill the State Growth Management Act. Like most neighborhoods, the FNC has seen their volunteer base shrink as energy and people are needed to do planning. Neighborhood planning is done by FUNC, a group that was, largely, jumpstarted by the residents. This effort has meant fewer volunteers are available to see to the issues brought to the FNC.
A future project of the FNC, hopes new Board Member Joan Reid, is to assist Ross neighborhood residents’ form their own neighborhood council. “I have been very much impressed with the Fremont Neighborhood Council,” Joan said. Ross is the western part of Fremont. “We’ve been out of sight, out of mind, for too long. It is to our benefit to get involved.”
If you would like to see the FNC in action, you may attend one of their monthly board meetings. They are open to the public and held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (in the basement) at 43rd & Fremont Avenue on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. (Note: The meetings take place at History House, in spring 2011.)
©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.