Lawrence Association seeks civic relevancy

Relevancy is what new Lawrence Association President Ron Goldman wants for his 83-year-old organization as he and his group hosted a “Meet and Greet” for association members, residents and Village of Lawrence officials at the Lawrence Yacht and Country Club on Sept. 14.

Goldman, a practicing attorney and former village prosecutor, who began his one-year term in June, thinks it’s important for residents to know the people who serve on the various village boards. “There was no speeches and no business,” he said about the event. “It was a chance for people to come say hello, share a soda and go home. Whether people came or not, the invitation was there and the door was open.”

However, as informal as that get together was, Goldman is seeking to make the association interesting and an important part of village life. “I hope the meetings are compelling and remain as the life in the village,” he said. “My goal is to make every meeting relevant to the people. If you have an issue, you have a place to bring it.”

Involved with the village since 1979 in various capacities that include the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Board and the Board of Building Design, Goldman said the Lawrence Association is a major component of the health of the village. “It’s a volunteer organization and the watchdog of the village,” he said. “It’s a source of community-minded individuals who get their feet wet in the Lawrence Association before moving on to village government.”

Advocating for implementing term limits for village trustees — there are none now, but the mayor can serve only three, two-year terms — restoring civility to the village — at times diverse groups have had fractious relationships —and introducing residents to the positive aspects of Lawrence are his major goals.

On a smaller scale, Goldman looks to create a local history workshop, helping the Lawrence Cemetery Restoration Project for the Lawrence Methodist Church Cemetery and name a ‘Resident of the Month’ that he said will lead to a greater appreciation for people in the community. “There are so many talented people in the village and many of us don’t know who our neighbor is,” he said.

Sharon Douglas, the 1st vice president of the Lawrence Association, said Goldman’s experience with village government will help him greatly in the Lawrence Association. “He’s a wonderful community activist who will engage the community and create one-one-one relationships between village government and the Association,” she said. “We want to continue to involve citizens of the Lawrence community so they can become community activists, be aware of how our government is working for us and how we can work together with the Village of Lawrence mayor and trustees to make our community the best it can possibly be.”

Village of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner was unable to attend the “Meet and Greet” but coordinated the event with Goldman. “I heard it was a fabulous event,” he said. “The Lawrence Association and the village have always worked together and will continue to. They are a great vehicle for communicating with residents and bringing a more cultural focus to the community. They’re a very powerful, important part of our community.”

Myrna Breitman, a former president and current corresponding secretary of the Association, said she is delighted to have Goldman aboard and is sure he will do everything in his power to make Lawrence residents proud. “Residents will have a place to bring their concerns and he is the type of person who will certainly attend to those concerns and not brush them under the rug,” she said. “He’s a strong leader who will lead our wonderful village and I’m looking forward to the coming year.”