To the Editor:
(This comment relates to a quote on Blogfinger from J.P. Gradone, COO of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, regarding the route to be taken through Ocean Grove by the NJ Marathon tomorrow.)
“It is certainly good to see Mr. Gradone participating in the blog. One hopes he continues on critical issues facing Ocean Grove. And wouldn’t it be advantageous to all if the OG Homeowners Association offered a spot on the agenda at its monthly meetings–and he accepted ?”
I.M. RADAR
Ocean Grove, NJ, April 26, 2014
The writer is a resident of Ocean Grove who comments on Blogfinger using the pseudonym I.M. Radar.
Editor’s Note: Blogfinger has an excellent relationship with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association regarding news and information in the Grove. Ever since Sandy, the OGCMA has been doing everything in its power to make sure that everyone in town knows what’s going on regarding Sandy issues and other matters. They sponsor regular group meetings with all the important organizations in Ocean Grove in order to let us know the latest news, especially regarding the financing and rebuilding of the beachfront.
When Blogfinger needs to know something that the OGCMA knows about, they are always willing to help us spread the word. Last year, they provided invaluable resources and financing in bringing the Blogfinger Film Festival to the Grove, thus affording film students from six area universities a chance to show their work.
So I want to thank Ralph delCampo, Dale Whilden, Bill Bailey, Shelly Belusar and JP Gradone for their input to Blogfinger. I would point out that these CMA officials do not actually comment directly to BF. Their method is usually to contact us by phone, in person or by email, and then we might translate those conversations into posts or actual comments, as we did with the marathon information.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
JW Thank you for telling us about the “lively meeting and discussion” but it would have been so much better if you had actually shared some of the information that emerged during the meeting.
BF is an information sharing website that posts OG news very quickly and we need a volunteer who will file a report with us after each HOA meeting. You don’t even have to write it—just list the facts. We also are looking for a civic-minded Grover who will cover the Township Committee meetings for us.
—-Paul @Blogfinger (Blogfinger@verizon.net)
Attended the OGHOA meeting on Saturday and there was a lively discussion about the recent township meeting. Township Committee members Randy Bishop and Eric Houghtaling answered questions–a bit defensively–but it was good to have them there to listen to homeowners’ reactions and suggestions.
The township website is good, but I wished they posted the actual minutes of the meetings quicker, the agendas are great to know what they are voting on, but if you can’t make a meeting it’s usually months before the minutes get posted
Joe,
Neptune Township has an excellent website: Neptunetownship.org which sends emails to any who sign up. You can select which meetings on the Township Calender you are interested in and you will receive an email of each coming meeting with agenda attached. Once signed up expect to receive emails about rabies shots, pre-K registration, Special events, weather alerts, etc…
ken
Gee Ken. I don’t think I like the tone of your comment. You’re shouting with all those capital letters.
I attended every meeting of the Ocean Grove Home Groaners Association for the last 11 years until recently, and those officers who went to the Neptune Committee meetings never reported on their observations to the members. Maybe they reported to the board, but not to the members.
Now if that policy has changed, you would never know it from the posted minutes of the last few HOA meetings on your web site. But there are only five posted—oh, that’s right, you had no website until recently, and now your new website does not contain the “monthly reports to the membership” that you mention regarding the Township Committee meetings—except for October.
But assuming that you do now report to the members each month at the meetings as you stated, what about the majority of your members who do not regularly attend those HOA meetings? Don’t you want them to see your reports about the Neptune Township Committee?
I have offered the services of Blogfinger to your officers on a number of occasions in recent years to provide a place to share your important reports, but they never responded to that. So public ignorance prevails in this regard, and it should be your responsibility, as Radar points out, to correct this deficiency and communicate better to the townspeople of Ocean Grove. We need less groaning and more action.
Truly baffling how the town communicates with its residents. Wall and Ocean are very active on social media, yet Neptune has little activity outside of Rick Cutrells weather blog.
Blogfinger,
If you EVER bothered to attend an OGHOA monthly meeting and/or any of the bi-monthly TOWNSHIP AGENDA MEETINGS you would be aware I (and our President and VP) attend and report monthly to the membership on the goings on that affect them. I also attend the 6:00 WORKSHOP preceding the regular meeting which often is more informative.
K.BUCKLEY, OGHOA TRUSTEE.
For years the OGHOA has sent representatives to the Township Committee meetings to observe. But they never came back to the membership with reports of what they learned there. So what’s the point? It’s time the OGHOA communicated better with their membership.
Perhaps all our Township Committee persons should be reminded to use every available means of communication (including Blogfinger) with their constituents when it relates to their particular area of assigned responsibility.
Who should publicly remind them?: our OG Homeowner Association representative who attends their regular meetings!
Radar. Theoretically, you are correct. But the Township Committee has been a disappointment in that regard. Committeeman Eric Houghtaling is an exception; he has always been available to Blogfinger whenever we have needed some information or his point of view on an issue affecting the Grove. Mary Beth Jahn used to be a huge asset for the people of OG on the blog, but she has stopped contributing to the conversations. The others—- Brantley, McMillan and Bishop have been unwilling to help us provide the citizens of OG with needed communication.
It would appear that those who lead or impact the quality of life in Ocean Grove would want direct and immediate contact to their constituents whether it be the Camp Meeting Association or Township Committee members.