Watch the PBCA “Health & Wellness During COVID-19” panel during our general body meeting from Tuesday, January 12th 2020 @ 7:00 pm. Our panel and Wellness during COVID-19- Healthy tips for surviving and thriving in ‘the new normal’.
January 8, 2021
This is a new year in many different ways. Our Association has a new name, with a new board operating under newly updated by-laws. And despite the recent horrific actions that happened on the Capitol, we will even have a new President of the United States inaugurated into office later this month Change is happening.
As the new PBCA President, I thank the officers and others in the previous administration for their hard work and commitment over the past two years. 2020 will be a year to remember. Last year brought on a pandemic, the presidential election, and social protests that challenged all of us. However, we have proved resilient as a community, and many neighbors reached out to help others as we all quarantined in place. In the middle of all of the challenges, we still managed to make significant updates to our by-laws to strengthen our organization and community and align us with best practices. After years of videoing our meetings so that those unable to attend could watch them online, I volunteered to become Block Captain Chair. After some serious thought, I ran for President along with a slate of well-qualified individuals with a history of civic and community involvement.
After productive discussions between past and present PBCA Exec Officers and reviewing input from our members, the new board has decided on several goals we would like to achieve including, increasing our membership, decreasing the morning cut-through traffic from Pennsylvania Avenue and making sure our community’s voice is heard especially when it comes to economic development in the area.
To help achieve these goals we need you: We are looking for volunteers to head up a variety of our committees, including my old position of Block Captain Chairperson. Please see the list of committees listed in this newsletter and apply. We’ve proven to be resilient in the face of many challenges, and by working together, we can make this year a better one. We are looking forward to working with you.
Again, Happy New Year, and may 2021 and beyond be amazing.
Stan Benton,
PBCA President
We are outraged by the violent extremist attacks on the U.S. Capitol today that aimed to subvert our sacred democratic processes and principles.
Our first concern is for the health and safety of our community and our fellow Washingtonians, especially when so many are already suffering the consequences of a failed response to COVID-19. Many in Penn Branch have dedicated their lives to public service, and we stand in solidarity with those brave civil servants and elected officials working now to ensure our democratic procedures continue and the will of the American people is upheld.
Though these abhorrent events happened just blocks away from our community, they could not be farther from the values we stand for in Penn Branch. We cherish democracy, justice, peace, and unity. We abide by the U.S. Constitution, the law, and the agreements we have adopted as a community. We believe in truthfulness and public debate informed by verifiable facts. We respect each other and resolve disagreements peacefully through dialogue.
Today’s violence is the predictable outcome of years of anti-democratic escalation by national leaders and some of their supporters. The attacks, the unacceptable incitement that preceded them, and the woefully inadequate response were fueled in-part by longstanding injustices in the United States.
Systemic racism undermines democracy and must be fully dismantled if our country is to live up to its founding ideals and thrive. Civil society organizations, including ours, have an important role to play in perfecting our union. We pledge to work with all of you to find the best ways to carry-out this responsibility.
We call on all community associations in the District of Columbia and nationwide to speak-out in defense of our democracy and join our community in taking action to address these existential challenges.
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Statement from the Penn Branch Community Association Board of Directors (01-06-2021)
This week we are sad to report the loss of two long-time Penn Branch residents:
•On December 30th, Mr. Charles G. Dorse, Sr. of Highwood Drive passed away¬.
Mr. Dorsey and his wife Joe have been residents of Penn Branch for over 40 years. In addition to being actively involved in the community, Mr. Dorsey was known for knocking on neighbors’ doors every New Year’s morning with a hug and Happy New Year greeting. This year, his son, Charles Jr., knocked on doors and said he knows his father would want the tradition to continue.
• Robert “Bobby Chandler” Jr. passed away on January 5th after a long illness. Bobby grew up in Penn Branch and returned to our neighborhood two years ago.
We want to hear from you! Please send us your announcements, including birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and acknowledgements to include in our next newsletter. Send your announcements by e-mail to: mailto:[email protected]
