Communications
Chair:  Miles Daniels

The Communications Committee is responsible for the newsletter, monthly e-mail and the RHN website.

The RHN newsletter is published twice annually.  Volunteers help with writing articles, editing, and proofreading.  They meet and plan the newsletter, discuss articles that will appear in each issue, and contribute to design features.  The committee follows up on ideas submitted by other RHN committee chairs, and edits and proofreads articles submitted by the chairs.

The Communications Committee also keeps the membership informed of upcoming events, issues, and announcements via a monthly e-mail and the RHN website.

Design and Zoning
Co-Chairs: Penelope Clark & Laurie Petipas

This committee works to preserve the character of Russian Hill. It springs into action when neighbors call with concerns regarding building or design situations affecting them. The committee helps neighbors understand the permit process, how to manage hearings before the Planning Commission, and other necessary steps. The committee works to maintain a balance in reviewing projects by taking into account the property owner's needs, the neighbors' needs, and the character of the neighborhood.


History
Chair: Al Greening

The History Committee's goal is to preserve, and make available to Russian Hill residents, information on the history of Russian Hill. The committee has developed oral histories of Russian Hill, sponsored tours of Russian Hill, published articles in the RHN newsletter and the RHN web site, and answered questions on Russian Hill history. Members are encouraged to do individual research and publicize their findings. RHN members are welcome to join this committee whether they know a little or a lot about Russian Hill. It's a great opportunity to learn about a fascinating area.


Membership
Chair: Helen Doyle

This committee is for volunteers with a passion for outreach.  This is an excellent opportunity for members who are committed to our community and who have a strong interest in helping to develop our membership.

The committee works to: 

• Attract new members.
• Insure that all members are welcomed into the organization.
• Encourage all members to participate in RHN activities and projects.  Participation can range from volunteer efforts at our Annual Event, monthly happy hours, tree plantings, and neighborhood improvement to being on the RHN Board. There are endless possibilities.
   
  We are looking for individuals with a willingness to greet anyone on the street or at a RHN event and make them want to participate in this fantastic neighborhood organization. If skillful persuasion is second nature to you and you have the ability to motivate, then tune into an exciting opportunity with RHN.  We are looking for enthusiastic communicators who will reach out to neighbors and encourage them to become involved in our organization.

Neighborhood Improvement
Chair: Lydia Pugliese

The Neighborhood Improvement Committee works on issues of street and sidewalk cleanliness, trash dumping, graffiti, stairway gardens, and parks. The committee organizes broom brigades to clean streets and promote owner/renter accountability. Twice yearly -- weather permitting -- these coincide with the Mayor's sponsored "Clean Sweeps."

The Committee has been active in the following areas:

• Parks -- Members of RHN have worked with various park organizations in our neighborhood including the organizations from Helen Wills Park, Fay Park, Sterling Park, Ina Coolbrith Park, and the Broadway West Mini-park. Efforts range from park cleanup days and acting as liaison with the District 3 Parks Planning Council to assisting fundraising for minor and major improvement projects.
• Trees -- Members have worked to preserve and plant trees on public property (sidewalks, public parks, and other public properties) within Russian Hill. They plant new trees, promote maintenance of existing trees, and try to prevent unnecessary removal of existing healthy trees. Members work closely with Friends of the Urban Forest in these endeavors.
• Trash Dumping and Graffiti Cleanup -- Members monitor neighborhood trash and graffiti, and encourage residents to call 28-CLEAN to report trash and/or graffiti in their neighborhoods.

Nominating Committee
Chair: Bernie Burke

The Nominating Committee is elected by the Board and is made up of four RHN members in good standing, only one of whom may be a member of the Board.  The committee is chaired by the most recent RHN past president. The committee nominates RHN Officers and Directors. All RHN members are welcome to submit names of potential nominees.

Safety/Homeless Committee
Chair: Deborah Garofalo

This committee addresses safety issues and monitors the homeless presence in the neighborhood.
  
The Committee Chair represents the neighborhood at a monthly police safety meeting held in conjunction with Telegraph Hill Dwellers. Captain James Dudley of Central Station chairs the meeting. Captain Kevin Dillon of Northern Station is a frequent co-chair. A representative of SF Safe (currently Cindy Wandel) also attends the meeting.
  
The committee also:

• Receives newsletters from both Central and Northern Stations regarding crime and safety issues in the neighborhood.
• Reports on safety or homeless issues in the monthly RHN e-mail and at the RHN monthly board meeting.
• Works with officers of both Central & Northern Stations to address homeless issues in the neighborhood.
• Supports SF Connect events.
• Volunteers to work at homeless shelters.Supports fundraisers to help the homeless.

The committee addressed neighborhood safety concerns regarding distracted drivers and increased traffic on Lombard Street by working with the mayor's office to get more DPT traffic controllers on that street on the weekends.


Social
Chair: Michele Borges

The Social Committee develops ideas for social events and implements them. These include a no-host monthly "Happy Hour."  Volunteers help in finding places for events, planning and preparing the postcard/e-mail invitations for distribution, keeping track of RSVPs, and organizing the events themselves.  Volunteers can do as much or as little as they wish on one or more event.  Previous events have included dinners at local restaurants, cocktail parties, bowling, and outdoor activities such as a picnic on Angel Island and the annual Holiday Cable Car Caroling.  Ideas are welcome. 

Liaison with Merchants of Russian Hill
Currently Inactive

Realizing that merchants located on Russian Hill and its environs and residents of Russian Hill face similar problems -- dirty sidewalks, lack of parking, building code violations, street cleaning, and noise -- RHN seeks a working relationship with our local merchants.
 
We are currently looking for an energetic member to contact the merchants and assess how we might work together.

Liaison with Friends of Sterling Park
Phoebe Douglass

Friends of Sterling Park is made up of a small group of neighbors who live in the blocks surrounding the park. The group has an interest in Sterling Park, including Alice Marble Tennis Courts and the Sterling Steps area (on Greenwich Street just south of the park). Occasional work days and other activities are planned to which all members of RHN are invited. Limited fundraising to help the City maintain and beautify the park is also an activity of the Friends. RHN members are invited to express concerns and make suggestions on how to make the park a more inviting, safer, and pleasant place to spend time.

Liaison with Helen Wills Playground
Alison Collins

The playground with its new and elaborate clubhouse fosters a place for families to meet, classes for children, and a sense of neighborhood.

Liaison with the San Francisco Coalition
Penelope Clark

This person attends the monthly General Assembly meetings of the San Francisco Coalition. These meetings take place the third Tuesday of every month.  The meetings consist of agenda items put forward by delegates and of reports from the various committees that have met in the preceding weeks. Often the committees submit motions with their reports, and the RHN liaison casts a vote on behalf of RHN.  The liaison reports back to RHN on any aspects of the meeting/agenda that are of particular interest to residents of Russian Hill. The liaison also speaks on behalf of Russian Hill residents and RHN when the occasion warrants.

Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Coordinator
Kathryn Newberg

Each neighborhood has a NERT Coordinator, a neighborhood team member who has volunteered to assist with neighborhood organization, recruitment, and exercises. Coordinators schedule NERT meetings. The Russian Hill NERT team meets once every 3 months, depending on the needs of the group. Currently, the Russian Hill team has combined with the North Beach and Telegraph Hill teams.

NERT Mission Statement:
Beginning with ourselves, we will be prepared and work as an individual or together as emergency response teams to assist our families and neighbors in time of disaster and to be prepared to make decisions that do "The Most Good For The Most People."

 

If you are interested in participating in any of our committees, please e-mail the Chair or leave a message at our message center (415-267-0595) with your name, phone number, best time to contact you, and your interest.