Chair's Message

A box was being passed around by Michael Patton, and I didn’t know what was in it. Councilman Faulconer had a grin on his face…. they both did. Emotions played across their faces, so I knew something was up. And you, dear reader, probably know the end of the story if you attended our 50th Anniversary PLA Dinner. Our loyal Councilman received a large check for 150,000 volunteer hours the Point Loma Association has invested in the Peninsula over the last 50 years, and we got a shiny chrome shovel celebrating our service to the community. Both items represent the partnership between private and public interests that benefits all of us. Whether the team involves City Hall, the County, the military or your neighbor, the PLA advocates working together to make things happen. There is strength in numbers, and possibilities for the spectacular are there for the taking.
Join us and partner up. It’s the best way to get things done.

Cecilia Carrick: e-mail Chair@PLAweb.org

Anatomy of a Neighborhood
by Cecilia Carrick

As a physician, anatomy was my trade, the microscope my tool. These days, I have traded in my microscope for a pen and a shovel to focus on a new subject: our unique Point Loma neighborhood. It is where buoys, beacons and sails bob and glisten on our waters; where Jacarandas, Golden Medallions, dovetailing Mexican Palms and bursts of bougainvillea grace our thoroughfares; where American flags and headstones line our roads, reminding us of sacrifice, privileges and blessings; where a National Park provides beautiful vistas and trails; where Cabrillo, proud discoverer with rich Portuguese heritage, decided to land.

We live in paradise, but not without the sweat equity of a special group called the Point Loma Association. Our Mean Green Team enhances our neighborhoods on a daily basis by planting, trimming, weeding and picking up trash and homeless debris. We bring the community together for free summer concerts – run solely by volunteers who put on a complex event with deceptive ease. We engage professional artists to transform utility boxes into beautiful works of art. We persuade property owners to bring down billboards clean graffiti and rid our streets of empty magazine racks. We spend countless hours meeting with authorities, appearing before commissions, making phone calls, writing letters and interfacing with government and Navy representatives to address traffic, noise and pollution in our neighborhoods.

The energy, doggedness and hard work of Point Loma Association volunteers makes us look fit and feel good. We are a group of neighbors and business people just like you, who, for FIFTY YEARS have been volunteering on your behalf. Join in. Support your team. If you do not have time to volunteer, support us financially. We welcome you and are grateful for any or all.

Why donate? This is what it takes to keep Point Loma beautiful:

$30,000/year: Gardening, weeding, planting and maintenance of over 15 different public Point Loma areas
$5,000/year: Tree trimming
$2,000/year: Utility Box Art projects
$70,000/year: Point Loma Park Summer Concerts