After you pull into your garage, the door is down, and you're thinking of something cold to drink and of putting your feet up after a hard day, have you reached the place you live or the abode where you live? By place, I mean did you start feeling better when you approached your neighborhood and did you hope to see some of your friendly neighbors visiting outside, or did you finally start feeling better when your hand was on the knob entering from the garage?
 
The former is what I usually mean when I talk about a sense of community. Of course, your sense of community might be just your neighborhood, or even just your block, or it might be a larger area, but it is a place where you feel comfortable, you are a part, you are happy to return, and you want to protect it. If where you live is just where you hang your clothes, maybe keep a can of tuna in the cabinets, and receive your mail, then that's not a place, a part of a community. To my way of thinking, if the latter is your experience, you need to be looking for the former and I think most of us are. Most of my goals for participating on the Council or any of the other voluntary organizations to which I belong is to protect that sense of community some of us are lucky to have and to do what I can to help others achieve it.
 
Fortunately a lot of people are working toward the same goals. Below are three excellent ways everyone can find paths to help their neighborhood, their community, and themselves. One is next weekend, the next in October, and the third is year-round. Lao-tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Similarly, participating in just one event may be the start of a long journey. Warning: that's how I ended up on the Council.
 
Dallas Homeowners League Boot Camp
August 22, 7:45 a.m. - Noon, Dallas City Hall
 
DHL is closely aligned with the Garland Homeowners Coalition and a member of Texas Neighborhoods Together. Garland neighborhoods are very much welcome and there have been Garland representatives attending since the first boot camp.
 
From their program: Economic downturns can create issues and changes that impact homeowners and neighborhoods: new crime patterns, foreclosures, reduced or re-prioritized city services and funding, changes in how Dallas governs and serves neighborhoods. And while this economy may delay implementation of new ideas and plans, the Dallas area is still poised for growth and change that may impact all of us. These changes may require new roles for neighborhood leaders to help ensure the voices of residents are heard, priorities are fulfilled, and opportunities are captured. The 2009 DHL Boot Camp will again help prepare neighborhood leaders and volunteers for this change and opportunity! Build your understanding of issues we may face and great new opportunities and directions in neighborhood improvements! A strong understanding of issues and new innovations allows you to identify and communicate your needs and goals, set a path for success, capture the vision of your neighborhood, and best serve your group! Download the program and registration form here .
 
Garland's 2009 Neighborhood Summit
October 24, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Atrium, Downtown Garland
 
Since its inception, the summit has attracted attendees from across the state. This year the Summit will help:

• Build bridges among stakeholders,
• Communicate overarching themes impacting our city's basic building blocks: neighborhoods,
• Encourage stakeholders to develop a vision and move toward action, and
• Discover resources and partnership opportunities.

This year's keynote speaker is Robert Miller, the director of the Minneapolis Revitalization Program. For more information call (972) 205-3864 or write Felisa Conner. The program link at the city's website is here.
 
Garland Neighborhood Management Academy
Fall schedule: 8/29 through 12/8
 
The GNMA provides free courses to Garland residents on such topics as City Government 101, resuscitate your landscape, basic building techniques, conflict resolution, telling residents about code enforcement, and many more. Classes are held Downtown at the library in the North Meeting Room. Forward questions to Tracy Allmendinger. Check your recent utility bill for an insert listing the Fall courses. Information is available on the city's website here (but the course listing needs to be updated as of this posting).