By Barbara Morris
The history of a local community organization, Concerned Citizens of Laurelton, formed in September 1992 did not end with my last column, nor did the lesson learned from its formation.
The day before Thanksgiving 2001, I received a note from a good friend whose expertise includes computer technology — very absent from my own talents. Handwritten, on the top of a computer print-out, I read, “I didn’t know your organization was on the Internet.” Of course, it was not.
That sheet of paper indicated that, after 19 years in existence and a lot of hard work, others had decided to start another organization using the same name as mine.
I made a quick call to the number listed on that sheet, explained that there was a long-established organization by the same name, and asked, on the answering machine, to have my call returned. When that did not happen, I began to suspect that my decision long ago to forego establishment of an expensive 501-C3, along with incorporation, had been a mistake.
Shortly after that, I attended one of the many meetings regularly on my schedule. Before the meeting began, a very attractive young woman sat next to me. She leaned toward me and said, “I see you signed in as a member of Rosedale Civic Association. I thought you usually sign as a member of Concerned Citizens of Laurelton.”
I explained what had transpired and added, “I was very disappointed that I never received the call back that I had requested.”
The young woman told me the number on that sheet was hers, but that she had never received my message. She explained that her organization had been formed three months before, that they had many suggestions for possible names and, in fact, one man had told them there was already an organization by that name but he had not seen me for a while, so was not sure of the status of the organization.
Over the summer, most of our community organizations had taken their usual two-month break, during which time, between almost daily visits to my sister in the hospital, I continued priority community work. One of the projects, trying to regain someone’s stolen identity, was the subject of one of my columns. Luckily, that seems to have been successfully completed, but now, there appeared this other identity crisis with which I was faced.
I asked, “If there were so many other name choices, what made you finally select that particular name?” The answer was simple enough: They decided that was the one they wanted. They quickly went for incorporation and the 501-C3, already had 700 members at $80 per year dues, and a great many plans.
She suggested I might care to join the organization and then added, “I am Kim Francis, the president and, after all, I’m young and I’m in it for the long haul.”
To be sure, there is still much to be done in this community and elsewhere.
Some problems, like the proposed group home that seems to have prompted establishment of this new group, now officially Concerned Citizens of Laurelton, are defeated quickly at the community board level, as that one was. The proponents of the group home had overstepped the procedural bounds, prompting sufficient, immediate votes against their project.
Some problems certainly need more expertise and finances than the former Concerned Citizens of Laurelton could afford. One spokesperson, in fact, told us they plan to have a second floor added to the Laurelton Library.
The vice president of the new Concerned Citizens of Laurelton, lawyer Cathy Middleton, was quoted recently as saying, “I am actively involved in upkeeping the Southeast Queens community. Laurelton should continue to be a user-friendly neighborhood.”
And so it should be. Although I had heard someone else was to have improvements made to the Long Island Rail Road station in Laurelton, that project, too, is now one claimed by the new Concerned Citizens of Laurelton.
May their “long haul” retain its youthful exuberance; may they have success in responsible projects and not have to face unexpected disappointments.
Reach columnist Barbara Morris by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 140.
