Back in the 1960s and ‘70s there was the most incredible coffee cake my family would buy from the A&P; an Awry’s Long John coffee cake. I bet some of you Michiganders out there can back me up on this. The high carb- high calorie delight was rectangular in shape, sprinkled with walnuts and topped with white gritty sugary frosting. We would slice it, spread just the right amount of real butter over each piece and savor every bite. Somewhere along the way it disappeared from the store shelves. There is another entity which is on the verge of disappearing and I would hate to see that happen: The Rio Rancho Neighborhood & Homeowners Alliance.

Our city is growing by leaps and bounds. We see the growth in the numerous tracts sprouting up everywhere, new library, City Center, business parks, roadways and schools. We try to follow the progress through the paper. Have you looked around lately? What about the re-zoning of neighborhoods? “Residential to commercial” is what I keep hearing and not just in one area but many neighborhoods. Doesn’t this concern anyone out there? Would you like a 24-hr convenience store built in your backyard?

I have seen growth gone wild in California when a community expands faster than its infrastructure. Schools are overcrowded, not enough grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations to accommodate the growing population. Cities are only as good as the people who embody them. Part of a strong community is being informed on current issues, and to make your voices heard. Doesn’t it make sense to be as informed as one possibly can on the progress? Our homeowners and neighborhood associations are needed now more than ever.

These associations are an excellent resource for finding out what is going on in your particular neck of the woods. I hate to say this but I have been hearing that some associations are folding. Why? Lack of participation is my understanding. Seems no one has the time or interest anymore and attendance has dwindled down to nil. I know there are handfuls of very dedicated, intelligent individuals who take on duties to gather information for their associations and disseminate it back to their flocks every month. They are our suburban warriors, armed with charts, newspaper clippings, city council agendas, aerial photographs, SCCAFCA arroyo maps, sign-in sheets, name tags and warm welcoming smiles. They have the vision and commitment to the betterment of their community.

The Rio Rancho Neighborhood & Homeowners Alliance is a group made up of the presidents of all the neighborhood & homeowners associations in Rio Rancho. They have been meeting four times a year for quite a few years. Representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the City of Rio Rancho, Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful, and various other public offices have attended meetings over the years to share their knowledge and valuable information on current issues. The sad news is the Alliance itself has been on life support for the last couple of years due to lack of participation and it looks like it may be taking its last breath. How can this valuable entity be allowed to die?

The last meeting of the year for the Alliance was held on October 16 and no one stepped up to the plate as President for next year. I encourage the association presidents who are interested in this to step forward and breathe life back into this worthwhile community group. Don’t let the Alliance be the Ford Taurus of associations and take its last bow. We need the Alliance like we need a Long John coffee cake back on the store shelf. Everybody’s voice matters. Be sure to vote next Tuesday and attend your association meetings.

Quote of the Week: “It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” -Roy Disney