History

History

WOODMERE was specially designed for Ballard Development Company by one of America’s foremost community planning organizations. It is located just off the Eastern Bypass at Interstate 85, providing easy access to all Montgomery,” according to the brochure distributed by Ballard. “In addition to traditional home sites, WOODMERE offers ‘patio homes’ and townhouses, both of which provide greater privacy and the opportunity for simple gardening and outdoor entertaining. The first streets in WOODMERE were Woodmere Drive, Greenway Drive and Greenway Place. The first home built in WOODMERE was located at 5808 Greenway Drive, at the corner of Greenway Drive and Woodmere Drive.

The next streets to open were Pampas Court, Pampas Drive, and Pampas Point The Montgomery Home Builders’ Parade of Homes in 1976 featured five homes in the WOODMERE COMMUNITY. From that small beginning approximately 25 years ago, WOODMERE now numbers at best count 776 residences.

In late 1978, the homeowners of Woodmere began to work toward organizing into the Woodmere Homeowners Association. On March 26, 1979, incorporation papers signed by Dave Miller, Stonewood Drive, Chairman; Walter Stevenson, Pampas Drive; Becky Vincent, Pampas Place; Jimmy Gunn, Woodmere Drive; and Joe Kinnan were filed. On March 27, 1979, at 12:23 p.m., the Honorable Walker Hobbie, Judge of Probate in and for the County of Montgomery, State of Alabama approved the Articles of Incorporation. As the Woodmere Community was at that time made up of residents that owned their own homes, it was named Woodmere Homeowners Association and according to Article IV of the By-laws “the persons qualified to be members shall be the record owners of residential property within Woodmere plats numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 6A, 6B, 7, 8-B1, and 8-A.” The first General meeting was held on April 9, 1979, at which time by- laws were enacted and the following officers were elected: Ray Warren, Greenway Place, President; Al Chalfont, Pampas Drive, Vice-President; Jo Ann Hixon, Woodmere Drive, Secretary; and Mark Gage, Stonewood Drive, Treasurer. Four committees were “established to foster action in important areas:” Traffic, Park, Social, and Zoning.

Between 1985 and 1998 the Woodmere Homeowners Association became inactive. During the summer of 1998 a renewed interest in a neighborhood organization was born. Using the home of Jo and Adrew Parker as a meeting place, a group of long time residents began meeting and making plans to revitalize the Association. The first General meeting was held on August 20, 1998, at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium. There were approximately 300 people in attendance. It was decided that since there were many rental properties in the community that the name of the association should be changed to Woodmere Neighborhood Association so as to include all residents.

At this meeting the question was raised as to what had happened to the monies belonging to the now defunct WHA. Mr. Chip Zimmer was able to inform the group of the name of the President at the time that the WHA became inactive. Through contacting this gentleman it was learned that the money was being held by the State Treasurer’s office. Through the efforts of Mr. Jimmy Gunn, a former officer of WHA and now a member of the Board of Directors of WNA, $1137.31 was recovered and deposited to the account of the new Woodmere Neighbor Association.

Those present at this August meeting agreed there would be no elected officers and anyone who wanted to do so could serve on the Board of Directors. Block captains would act as liaisons between residents and the Board. All Block Captains were invited to attend the meetings of the Board. In order to form committees and get people to serve on those committees, each resident present was asked to fill out a profile sheet indicating the committees upon which they would be willing to serve .

A neighborhood crime watch program was the main emphasize of the WNA. A drive was begun to enlist as many residents as possible in the Crime Watch program. The Police Department required 60% of the residents be enrolled. There was a one-time fee of $5.00 payable to the MPD to help defray the costs of signs, stickers, and engraving pens. It took until May 1999, to enlist the required number.

As the Board began meeting and working on projects, it became apparent that more organization was required. At the December 1998, general meeting a slate of five officers was presented and elected. They were: Jim Locke, President; Fleetwood Rice, 1st Vice-President; Jeanne Whitney, 2nd Vice-President; Peggy Agent, Secretary; and Belinda Sewell, Treasurer. A new plan for the governing body was presented that would consist of five committee chairmen (appointed by the President, but actually anyone who volunteer to take the position) and nine Zone Coordinators (to be elected by the block captains of each zone, but again it was whoever would volunteer to serve in that Position). These nineteen people would be the governing body. Officers were elected to serve a two-year term and could be re-elected to the same office once.

By-laws were voted upon at this meeting. A newsletter shall be published bi-monthly and a directory will be published yearly.

At Easter each year, an Easter Egg Hunt has been held in the Woodmere Park. Other activities that have been sponsored by the WNA include a community-wide yard sale, a fall festival, and an ice-cream social. The WNA has sponsored two Eagle Scout candidates with their community projects. The first year, blue birdhouses were put up throughout the Woodmere Park. In 2000 a memorial area was developed that contains benches and a garden area.

During the first year an organized effort was begun to oppose the plans of the Blount Family to close the Woodmere Boulevard entrance to the Winton Blount Cultural Park. The Association was very successful in working out an agreement with the Blount Foundation to keep this entrance open. As with most all organization it is sometimes difficult to get people to volunteer to help with activities. As a result the same few people work on every project.