We have a community group in our buildings that meets every single month, on the first Wednesday, at 7:30pm. It meets in building 101 at 7:30pm sharp. The handful of group members go through issues tenants are dealing with (these days primarily hydro and the prostitution/drug ring in 201) then try to arrange events for residents. A senior's tea, building bird houses with the children, a reading night, the visit with Santa, a poker tournament, the summer barbecue. If you look, you'll realize most of these events haven't occurred. The reason why? There are not enough involved tenants to run these events.
I am the ONLY person in building 101 who attends these meetings. There are 197 units in this building and hundreds of adult tenants. No one in this building even has to go outside, there's a door in the first floor hallway.
Not a single tenant in 100 attends these meetings, out of 196 units. Instead, the main volunteers are seniors between the ages of 60 and 95 years old from 200 and 201. If a 95 year old can regularly attend, what is your excuse?
If you're wondering why I'm mad... this is one of the reasons...
And where were you? Whoever wrote all over the notice never showed up. They had enough time to find a pen and write everything down, but didn't have enough time to go up one floor and attend the meeting.
My other reason I'm mad is we're a complex of people who don't really live here. There is not a single person who "liked" the Facebook page who lives here. And the one person who's officially following this page lives no where near here. I've given out this website to neighbours and coworkers and friends and they all have one excuse or another why they can't access it (not a single one was lack of internet). I had one neighbour tell me he couldn't be bothered because him and his wife are not really part of this community, they're going to move soon. They've lived here a decade. Not only that but he told me this in December. It took me three weeks to find an apartment, it's not that hard. I wonder how long they've been not really living here because they're going to be moving soon. My bet is about a decade.
I'll tell people about issues that will be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Issues totally relevant to that person. Push buttons on posts outside the back doors for easier access to the building. Hydro discussions. Discussions regarding children's activities. And, each time, I'm told "Oh yes, I'll be there for sure. Thanks for telling me!" Each time they've, oops, not shown up... despite reminders. The other members of the group have the same issues. People are more than willing to complain about the buildings and love to share what they think should be fixed. However, when the meeting rolls around, they suddenly don't have time.
In two months I'll be settled into my new home. I can only hope the residents there are more involved with their community group.
