This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
The City of Longmont may be keeping an eye on you--but that seems to be a good thing. The city recognizes residents for exceptional volunteer efforts in bettering their neighborhood through annual Neighborhood Excellence Awards, noted Wayne Tomac, Neighborhood Resource Specialist in the city’s Community and Neighborhood Services Division. The Neighborhood Excellence Awards were first awarded in 2016 for the 2015 year.
"The Neighborhood Excellence Awards celebrate those groups and community leaders that are going beyond the norm or completing projects that are unusual, complicated, or address multiple issues simultaneously in spirit of sustainable neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods receive a Neighborhood Excellence Award Grant to support community activities...”, according to the N.E.A. web-page.
"Communal activity seems harder today, but the will exists...people are seeking community activities again", said Tomac. Family routines have changed over the years and are less traditional. But neighborhood activities like block-parties are regaining popularity as residents step up to local leadership roles.
Neighborhood Halloween parades and Easter Egg hunts are further examples of contemporary activities. One neighborhood held a unique and inventive farm-to-community dinner, added Tomac.
But a more creative example of a neighborhood activity was a mock-up of a drive-in movie. Both adults and kids participated hands-on in creating cardboard cars in which participants could sit and view a movie-screen, noted Carmen Ramirez, Community and Neighborhood Resources Manager.
These activities do not seem possible without local community leadership and service—they appear to be foundational in fostering a sense of community in Longmont’s neighborhoods.
The Longmont’s Division of Community and Neighborhood Resources provides some funding for these sort of activities, according to Tomac.
Neighborhood communities and HOA organizations can access these funding resources by joining the Neighborhood Group Leaders Association.
“The N.G.L.A. is a partnership between the city and over 50 registered community groups to increase capacity, relationships
Examples of funding resources include: the Neighborhood Improvement Program (N.I.P.) where grants support large-scale community improvements ranging from $3000 to $9000. Communities must register with the N.G.L.A. and meet specific criteria to be eligible. The Neighborhood Activity Fund (N.A.F.) which funds community-building activities—this is based on community size. The City of Longmont’s N.G.L.A. web-page provides more information, including criteria for communities joining that organization.
Community membership in Longmont’s Neighborhood Group Leaders Association (N.G.L.A.) fosters a focused approach in residents organizing to promoting a cohesive community, according to Community and Neighborhood Resources information.
N.G.L.A. membership is open to any Longmont community, added Tomac. The nomination process is informal, Tomac keeps his eyes open for leaders who are truly noteworthy. N.G.L.A members may also nominate community residents through applications available on the N.G.L.A. web page.
N.G.L.A. members who exemplify the best in fostering a sense of community were recognized for efforts going above and beyond as recipients of the Neighborhood Excellence Awards. The award ceremony was held at the Longmont Senior Center on Thursday, February 21, 2019.
N.E.A. Awards
Neighborhood leaders who demonstrated commitment by attending at lead seven N.G.L.A. meetings in both 2017 and 2018.
| Rep. | Neighborhood | Rep. | Neighborhood |
| Edward Denny | Aspen Grove Village | Lee R. Phillips | Parker Place |
| Suzanne Jaeger | Aspen Grove Village | Daniel Pontis | Pinnacle at Ute Creek |
| Tom Smith | Champion Greens | Rick Kennedy | Pinnacle Condominiums |
| Warren Wang | Clubhouse Terrace | Lauren McGregor | Pleasant Valley |
| Julie Emo | Creekside | Andrew Kramer | Prairie Village |
| Beverly Wold | Hover Crossing | Michael Coccoli | Quail Ridge |
| Lorna Diehl | Hover Park | Rita Gee | Reynolds Farm |
| Ruth Dennhardt | Kensington | Nancy Clayton | Villas at Ute Creek |
| Geoff Dolman | Madison Park Townhouses | Judy Walker | West Point Neighborhood Assn. |
| Lynn Karlin | Hover Ridge | Sharon Wirth | Shadow Grass Park |
| Max Bohning | Meadow View 7 & 8 | Phil Wilson | Yeager Farm |
(Information obtained from Community and Neighborhood Resources)
N.G.L.A. Leadership Service Recognition: Three individuals have committed additional time over the past year to fill leadership
- Chairperson: Rita Gee, Reynolds Farm
- Vice-Chairperson: Drew Kramer, Prairie Village
- Secretary: Lynn Karlin, Hover Ridge
The N.E.A. excellence awards celebrate select groups and leaders that went beyond the norm in 2018, completing projects that are unique, complicated, address multiple issues simultaneously, serve as a model for other communities, or particularly represent the vision, values and purpose of the N.G.L.A.
Each of these neighborhoods will receive a $100 N.E.A. grant to support neighborhood activities in 2019.
This year, the city’s Division of Community and Neighborhood Services highlights leadership more than specific activities and projects.
- Excellence as a Community Leader:
- Tom Smith, representing Champion Greens.
- Excellence as a Community Leader: Community Nominee:
- Lee Phillips, representing Parker Place.
- Most Active Group Facilitating Community Involvement:
- Historic Eastside Neighborhood: Community Leaders: (This project was supported by Community and Neighborhood Resources through a Neighborhood Activities grant and resource support.
- Inventive or Impactful Solutions (2)
- Madison Court and Madison Park: Combined Community Picnic
- Community Leaders: Nancy McGeown, and Terry Rives representing Madison Court. Gary Weber, Kenneth Brehm, Geoff Dolman and Becky Miller representing Madison Park.
During the course of the award presentations, Community and Neighborhood Resources officials noted that Longmont was one of the first to implement the N.G.L.A. concept, which is used nationwide; it is critical to communities becoming and remaining strong.
Madison Court/Madison Park representative and N.E.A. recipient Geoff Dolman offered insightful perspective concerning his community’s accomplishments.
He felt the community picnic was well attended and people seemed to enjoy themselves, yet the neighborhood itself does not demonstrate an overall sense of community. Not many residents attend the annual meetings and the neighborhood generally does not seem outgoing.
Residents who do seem more involved are older—seemingly because those who are younger are two-income families who are busy working to meet their families’ needs, Dolman added. He feels that when the older residents were working to get economically established families generally needed only one income. Dolman expressed that he looks to pick Wayne Tomac’s brain for the best approach to improve community participation.
Dolman added that he moved to Colorado from Philadelphia in the ‘70s, resided in Boulder for a lengthy period and chose to make Longmont his home about six years ago. He likes Longmont’s diverse amenities and services and feels it is better managed than Boulder. “Longmont is my favorite hometown of my entire life!”, said Dolman.
