The first meeting of the FPSE Good Neighbor Network took place on December 10, 2002. The meeting's primary purpose was to be to establish the network and gain support among neighborhood residents for continuing participation.

   In the "meeting before the meeting," about 10 New Boyle residents had a preview of the overall plan. They attended this meeting in place of their regularly scheduled neighborhood meeting. About half of them stayed over for the full meeting.

   Roughly thirty people attended. One couple in attendance was a Metropolis-based referral, attending the meeting to learn more about the FPSE neighborhood as a possible permanent home.

   Guest speakers included Ginnie Nester from St. Louis Hills, Denie Robinson of the Urban League, and Sue Lauritsen of the FPSE Security Task Force. Ginnie shared practical advice on the benefits of community organizing and stressed the importance of neighborhood cooperation across the city. Denie offered much support in the way of training, organizing, and possible funding opportunities through the Urban League. Sue described the continuing efforts of the FPSE Security Task Force. A recurring theme was the notion of leveraged efforts, partnering between the many cooperating people and organizations.

   Special guest speakers were Charles Bryson and Jeff Rainford of Mayor Slay's office. They discussed community-based strategies for neighborhood improvement and pledged the city's support to the continuing effort.

   Additional information that needs to be discussed was deferred to a future date.

   One meeting attendee asked if there was a charge for the creation of the Good Neighbor Network. There is not. This effort is a volunteer community organizing project Metropolis and the FPSE Housing Corporation. The goal of the Partnership is to support neighborhood residents in sustaining a long-term community-driven neighborhood improvement program. The third leg of the project in FPSE is to develop a Sustainable Wash. Planning for that will follow the development of the Good Neighbor Network.

   At the end of the meeting, twenty people signed up at the meeting. Later, four more people expressed interest via e-mail.

   The next meeting of the Good Neighbor Network will be structured as a working meeting to set goals and action plans for the coming year. The proposed date is Wednesday, January 29, from 7-8:30 p.m.

   If anyone is interested in considering bringing the Partnership Project of Metropolis to your neighborhood, please contact Rick Bonasch for information about howto get started.