New Civic League Leadership
Woodruff Place Civic League Nominating Committee nominees
Committee: Missy Ellis, Julie Green, Debbie Pidgeon
Nominees presented to membership on November 14, 2016
Woodruff Place Civic League brings on new leaders
At the November 13, 2016 Civic League meeting, the nominating committee comprised of Debbie Pidgeon, Missy Ellis and Jake Green, presented a slate of Board of Directors candidates for consideration. Jennifer Vines, Erik Muehlhausen, Cindy Brown and Kurtis Bowersock were approved and will be serving on the Board from 2017‐2019. Jim Leich was approved as the new President and will serve 2017‐2018. Jennifer Vines and her husband, Dr. Jason Eberl, moved to Woodruff Place in June of 2004. Jennifer served on the Civic League board from 2005‐2007, handled town hall rentals for 5 years, and was on the Progressive Dinner committee from the event’s inception through 2010.
Erik Muehlhausen, a West Drive Woodruffian, moved to Woodruff Place from his downtown home four years ago with his lovely partner, Aimee, and son, Elliot. The immediate draw was the ever‐growing number of families found throughout the neighborhood and a larger house. Erik quickly realized that family was truly a recurring theme in Woodruff Place as he and his family experienced Flea Market, Home Tours, Progressive Dinner, fire pits, friendly porches and living rooms, all in short order among the many, many friends and families in Woodruff Place.
Kurtis Bowersock and his wife, Jennifer, planted roots in Woodruff Place in November of 2012. The proximity to Downtown, along with accessibility to current and future‐planned bike paths, put Woodruff within their home search radius. They soon discovered the visual and historic charm, and when coupled with the realization that the community was something very special, it sealed the deal!
Cindy Brown and her husband Gary, moved to Woodruff Place three and a half years ago. Cindy and Gary were drawn to Woodruff Place for the beautiful Victorian homes, the green esplanades, fountains, and overall grace. But finding in this place such a welcoming, close community of friends has been the real pearl.
Jim Leich, previously serving as the Civic League Board Vice President and a resident of West Drive, has a long history of engagement in the neighborhood and the broader community. Jim was recently awarded the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash at his retirement dinner in 2016 after having served as President /CEO of LeadingAge Indiana for 21 years.
WP new leaders (PDF)
2017-03 Woodruff President’s Message
The Importance of All Contributions
Woodruff Place is unique among Indianapolis historic neighborhoods in terms of our amazing historic infrastructure that beautifies our urban village. But with these treasures comes a tremendous responsibility to maintain and enhance these resources.
The implementation of our Economic Improvement District and the funding that has resulted has certainly helped and will be a godsend for the future of the neighborhood. However, the expense of maintaining and improving this historic infrastructure as well as the ongoing operational expenses of the neighborhood are substantial.
This is why the Woodruff Foundation will be making two major fundraising pushes this year. Funds raised will be critical in meeting our plans for the coming year related to our infrastructure and we will seek to recognize our neighbors who will contribute to this important effort.
But a financial donation is only one way neighbors contribute. Woodruff Place is renowned for our volunteerism. The untold person hours that neighbors contribute is amazing. Tremendous efforts go into our large neighborhood events and fundraisers like the Flea Market, Home Tour, or Woodruff Casino. The Fountain Heads’ work on the fountains, the Light Brigade’s historic lights upkeep and improvement, and the Hall Monitors’ Town Hall efforts are just part of the work that happens, often unheralded, by our neighbors.
But these are only part of the volunteer contributions of neighbors. Other critical contributions of time and effort which include participation on the various governance bodies, the twice a year clean-up days, maintaining and updating the website, production of the newsletter, maintaining the gardens at the end of the drives, picking up litter, painting and cleaning Town Hall, painting and expanding our amazing collection of urns and statues and innumerable other ways large and small.
Look out for announcements for our 2017 fundraising drives and for many other ways you can contribute through the critical hands-on work of the neighborhood. The Civic League Board and the Foundation will be looking for new and enhanced ways to recognize all of these efforts.
Jim Leich, President
Woodruff Place Civic League Board