Farewell to Ann Long
GPHC’s Blockworker Coordinator Retires
Ann Long knows it has been around nine years since she took over the position of Blockworker Coordinator from Marge Gilbert, because that’s when her handwriting begins to appear on index cards in the organizational system. For the job, she inherited a map of Park Hill with red pins marking the blocks with current blockworkers and two boxes of index cards – one with current volunteers and one with former.
Because there were “Welcome” letters and “Thank You” postcards to mail, Ann moved the list from the index cards to a spreadsheet. She came to count on a group of good friends who consistently helped to bundle the monthly papers at the GPHC offices: Philip Fields, Jonah Bradley, Chuck Holum, Art Rosenblum, Barbara Cavendar, Dennis Pearl, Jewel Wegs, Pat Quinn, Jack Farrar, Marcia Rath and Peggy Roberts, to name a few.
As the team worked together over the years, the job went from taking over three hours to under two. While they worked, they talked about articles in the current or previous issues of the paper, personal interests (biking, birding, dining, gardening), elections of all kinds, and the latest books and films. “We came to know each other quite well,” said Ann.
While there were always transitions in the blockworker ranks from month to month, Ann found that blockworkers are very generous with their time – the average volunteer keeping up their route for around seven years. Ann’s quick (but not all inclusive) list of the longstanding blockworkers includes: Marge Gilbert (mid-70s), Greg & Vicki Anderson (81), Wiley Daniel (89), Vicki Earnest (80), and Anna Jo Haynes (82).
Ann moved to Park Hill in the spring of 2004, just months after the so-called summer of violence. Accordingly, the GPHC was encouraging blocks to organize by getting acquainted and making phone trees. “It appealed to me to have a reason to meet my neighbors and I became a block captain,” said Ann. From there, she came to wear many hats with the GPHC, including board member, Secretary, Garden Walk organizer, Home Tour volunteer, Blockworker Coordinator and Executive Committee member, as well as bundler and blockworker.
While Ann will miss the many opportunities to meet members of the community that the Blockworker Coordinator position has afforded her, coming to know so many in Park Hill has been a reward in itself.
“It’s time to learn what’s on the other side of the next open door,” said Ann.
The blockworker beat highlights “blockworkers” – residents who volunteer to deliver the Greater Park Hill News to their neighbors each month. There are currently 367 blockworkers delivering to 408 of the 516 residential blocks that comprise Greater Park Hill. GPHC is seeking volunteers to cover blocks that are not currently receiving the GPHN. For more information, contact Bernadette Kelly at newspaper@greaterparkhill.org.