Is the Arlington County Civic Federation moving away from its century-old roots with a growing proportion of member organizations not being typical neighborhood-based civic associations?
It’s a matter that got a brief bit of discussion as the organization returned Sept. 3 from its summer hiatus, when some delegates questioned a growing trend of issue-specific advocacy groups becoming more dominant in sheer numbers.
Duke Banks, a former Civic Federation president, remarked that preview incarnations of the organization’s bylaws had provided a limit on how many groups advocating on a specific issue (such as housing) be allowed in as members. He also suggested that a 50-50 mix between neighborhood civic associations on one side and broader advocacy organizations on the other was a relatively good balance.
But Jackie Snelling, herself long active in Civic Federation activities, said there is no limit to issue-specific advocacy organizations. The bylaws, she said, specify that an organization needs to be Arlington-focused, and said the application for membership from the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance was “absolutely compatible” with them.
The Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance recently merged with the Arlington-based Alliance for Housing Solutions; it is the Arlington branch of that merged organization that was seeking membership, said the organization’s Alice Hogan.
“The work we do in Arlington is just what it was [as the Alliance for Housing Solutions]; now we’re under a regional umbrella,” she said.
“This is a trend you’re going to start seeing, particularly with the non-profits,” Snelling said of organizations merging to provide a broader scope while retaining direct ties in communities they serve.
Hogan agreed.
“We need to think about housing on a lot of levels,” she said. “Housing is one of those issues that basically touches on everything.”
Federation delegate Michael Beer also asked about the compatibility between the group’s membership and bylaws requirements, but (like Banks) said that didn’t mean he was against the housing organization joining.
“I’m thrilled – they’re great,” Beer said.
Snelling, who assists in vetting new applications from prospective member organizations, said she’s fine with a discussion on whether there should be limits on specific types of groups, and what the balance should be, but that needs to be done in a setting outside the regular business of monthly meetings.
“That’s a separate conversation,” she said.
Also unanimously approved for membership on Sept. 3 was Arlington Neighborhood Village, which provides services to seniors.
The Arlington County Civic Federation was founded in 1916 (when Arlington was still known as “Alexandria County”) by six neighborhood associations, and now has expanded to approximately 85 member organizations.
