UMNA Annual Meeting Recap

We kicked off 2025 with an energized and engaging neighborhood meeting, full of updates, celebrations, and meaningful conversations. A big thank you to everyone who attended and to the many neighbors who continue to contribute to the strong sense of community we all enjoy here in University Meadows.

If you missed the meeting, here’s everything you need to know:

Welcoming the 2025 UMNA Board

We’re thrilled to introduce your 2025 UMNA Board—an incredible team of volunteers who are committed to enhancing life in our neighborhood. We extend a heartfelt thanks to those who served in 2024 and a warm welcome to our newly elected and returning board members:

President: Rick Crain (Annapolis)
Vice President & Treasurer: Dana Houshian (University)
Secretary: Tara Comstock (University)
Landscaping Chair: Danny Fowler (Sul Ross)
Communications Chair: Stephanie Black (Danbury)
Social Chair: Alyssa Lucas (University)
Membership Chair: Kate Lyubarsky (Lovers)
ENP Chair: Jeris Queen (Sul Ross)
Board Counsel: Don Zentmeyer (Danbury)
Veterans Committee Chair: Greg Schmitz (Annapolis)

This team will lead the charge in community-building, safety initiatives, events, and advocacy in 2025.

illUMiNAte Holiday Contest: A Bright Success

Our annual illUMiNAte holiday lights contest once again brought joy and sparkle to the neighborhood. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

Judge’s Favorite: 6207 University Blvd
Classic Christmas: 6124 Sul Ross Ln
Children’s Must-See: 6350 Highgate Ln
Best Street Participation: Creighton Dr

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make our streets shine a little brighter during the holidays.

2024 Event Highlights: Building Community Together

Last year was one for the books! We had record-breaking turnouts and tons of fun at our signature events:

Memorial Day Block Party: Over 175 lunches served, plus a mini-train, face painting, bounce house, and a special tribute to our veterans.
National Night Out: Our biggest one yet with over 100 attendees, ENP officers, Council Member Paula Blackmon, crafts, and local info tables.
Halloween Block Party: Introduced a costume contest that brought out spooky creativity!
Real Housewives of UMNA: This dynamic group grew to over 80 members with monthly events and new friendships forming all the time.

2025 Events: Save the Dates!

We’re continuing the tradition of community events that bring everyone together. Here’s what’s on the calendar:

Memorial Day Block Party: Monday, May 26
National Night Out: Tuesday, October 7
Halloween Block Party: Thursday, October 30
Real Housewives of UMNA: Monthly events continue
Neighborhood Dads Group: First happy hour planned for March
Other Quarterly Fun: Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Splash Day & more!

We’re always open to new ideas, so let us know what events you’d like to see in the neighborhood.

Landscaping: Ongoing Beautification

Our landscaping team has been hard at work maintaining and improving our shared spaces. In recent years, we’ve:

Installed drought-resistant plants
Landscaped three additional blocks of Skillman
Restored damaged brick areas
Developed lush entry gardens at University & Skillman
Installed new neighborhood signage

For 2025, we’ll focus on replanting after winter freezes, major trimming efforts, and potentially expanding entry signage to more areas.

Sanitation & Alleyway Concerns: Ongoing Advocacy

The city has proposed transitioning many neighborhoods—including ours—from alley to curbside trash and recycling collection. Our board has strongly voiced concerns, especially on behalf of elderly residents and those whose homes were designed for alley access.

UMNA board members:

Attended town halls and met directly with city leaders
Voiced neighborhood concerns in the press
Pushed for a delay to allow more public input

While the timeline has been postponed, we’re continuing to advocate for a plan that works for University Meadows. Stay tuned for updates and future community engagement opportunities.

Community Safety: ENP & VIP Updates

Extended Neighborhood Patrol (ENP): We continue to employ two off-duty Dallas Police officers for 24 hours/month of neighborhood patrol. These officers:

Check on homes while residents are away
Respond faster to 911 calls during their shift
Know our neighborhood and can spot suspicious activity

Volunteers in Patrol (VIP): This non-confrontational program allows residents to be the eyes and ears of our community. Our VIPs logged over 1,200 hours in 2024! Interested in joining? Reach out to UMNADallas@gmail.com.

Honoring Our Veterans

We are proud to recognize the 35 veterans who call University Meadows home. Yard signs are placed in honor of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. If you’re a veteran or know one who isn’t on the list, please contact Greg at gschmitz76@gmail.com to be included.

Membership & Financial Health

As of February, we have 117 active dues-paying members for 2025—down slightly from this time last year. Your membership supports everything from neighborhood events and ENP to beautification projects and communications. We encourage all residents to join or renew today!

Communications: A Fresh Look

We’ve refreshed our branding and rolled out a new website that better represents our vibrant community. Explore:

Our board and membership info
Event calendar and bulk trash days
Safety updates and ENP/VIP info
Our new blog and newsletter sign-up

We’re also sending quarterly newsletters and email updates—and you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram for quick news and photos!

Get Involved!

Want to contribute your time and talents to our neighborhood? There are lots of ways to help:

Join a committee
Help host or plan events
Lead or assist with illUMiNAte
Volunteer for day-of-event support
Walk blocks for membership outreach
Become a VIP patrol member

We’re better together—and even just a small amount of time can make a big impact!

Thank you again to all our neighbors, volunteers, and members for continuing to make University Meadows a warm, welcoming, and safe place to call home. Here’s to an incredible 2025!