Community Partnership of the Ozarks and sponsor Air Services Heating & Cooling hosted the 16th annual Neighborhood Organization Volunteer Awards (NOVA) ceremony, Dec. 6, 2022 at The Oasis to recognize and reward outstanding neighborhood volunteers who work tirelessly to improve and revitalize their communities.
A nova is a brightly shining star. CPO feels organizations and individuals who tirelessly work at making our community a better place to live should be recognized as stars. The annual NOVAs banquet allows us to reflect on the achievements and contributions made by dedicated people in our community. The NOVAs banquet is a highlight of our year and we truly enjoy the opportunity to celebrate those who may go unnoticed for all they do in and for our neighborhoods.
Former Neighborhood Advisory Council Chair Rusty Worley presented the keynote address about creating positive change in the community, one neighborhood at a time, which was the theme of the banquet.
“We chose this theme because over the last 18 months, we’ve all been required to reimagine how we do life, to make changes – both voluntary and involuntary, and to embrace a new normal,” said CPO Caring Communities Director Brooke Ash. “We’ve learned that even through a difficult season, there were still bright spots and positive moments. We’ve come through the unexpected season stronger and more resilient than before. We wanted to make tonight about acknowledging the challenges, reflecting on the good, and inspiring hope and for the future.”
Reaching for the Stars Award
The Reaching for the Stars Award is an annual award given to a person, organization, or partner that has had a particularly large and profound impact on the neighborhoods throughout the past year.
The 2022 Reaching for the Stars Award went to Bass Pro Shops for the Bass Pro Marathon Cheering Challenge.
“Bass Pro values the work that neighborhoods do to make our city a safer and friendlier place to live and work. They have sponsored, and participated in neighborhood night out events, National Night Out events and NOVA banquets. Because of their continued dedication and support of neighborhoods and CPO, we would like to honor them as the 2021 Reaching for the Stars recipient and thank them for their partnership,” Ash said.
Inspiration Award
This year, CPO introduced a new award at the NOVAs – the Inspiration Award. This award goes to a neighborhood association that inspires others in our community to create lasting positive change, and the awarded neighborhood association will receive $500 thanks to the sponsor of this award – University of Missouri Extension – Greene County (with special thanks to David Burton, MU Extension County Engagement and Community Development Specialist).
“We want to recognize a neighborhood association that is innovative and are leaders in Springfield. They set a truly inspiring example of what a neighborhood association can accomplish. This neighborhood created a resource that allows for residents of their neighborhood to view development, real estate, crime, and nuisance data. They have successfully organized and hosted a family-friendly event in partnership with several organizations for eight years running, known as Dirt Day, and they engage many, many volunteers for their annual cleanup day, which they branded “Dumpster Day” (last year was “Dumpster Days”). If you haven’t been to Woodland Heights Neighborhood’s website, I highly encourage you do – it’s fantastic: woodlandheightsneighborhood.org. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this neighborhood association’s President, Becky Volz, is the current chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Council,” Ash said.
Individual NOVAs
Bissett: Rob Sorbo
Brentwood: Pamela Buhr
Delaware: Cynthia Yarbrough
Fassnight: Nathan Cook
Galloway Village: Stuart and Bobbie Venable
Grant Beach: Josh and Kristina Wilmoth
Greater Parkcrest: Joe Stokes
Heart of the Westside: Dr. Lora Hopper
Mark Twain: Sunset Church of Christ
Meador Park: Donna Clarkson
Midtown: Dylan Chorice
Oak Grove: Enterprise Lanes
Phelps Grove: Ginger Tarrasch
Robberson: Malcolm Green
Rountree: Nancy Evans
University Heights: Brandon Biskup
West Central: Caroline Murski
Westside: Cornell Pierce
Woodland Heights: Chance Parish.
Bass Pro Marathon Neighborhood Challenge awards
Concluding the evening were the Great Neighborhoods grants to neighborhoods and the Bass Pro Marathon cheering sections awards.
“On behalf of Bass Pro, thank you to those who were able to participate in the cheering challenge. They report that they got great feedback from runners and having you all at the event cheering your hearts out was a true gift,” Ash said.
Galloway Village and Woodland Heights tied for first place and took home $1,00 in the cheering section competition. Delaware, Brentwood, West Central and Rountree tied for second place and each took home $900 each. Meador and Mark Twain placed third and took home $800. Robberson took fourth and $700. Weller, Greater Parkcrest, University Heights, Westside and Midtown tied for fifth and took home $500.
Great Neighborhoods grants
Alana Owen from the City’s Planning & Development department awarded $500 Great Neighborhoods grant checks to eight neighborhoods in recognition of their efforts in 2022.
“This year, we again awarded eligible neighborhoods a Recognition Grant regardless of points earned due to the impact of COVID-19 on neighborhood activities. Some neighborhoods have resumed normal activities, while other neighborhoods are still struggling to get back on their feet and to be consistent with those that received awards last year. Next year the awards program will resume as normal with neighborhoods earning points through activities,” Owen said.
Those eligible for grants were:
- Oak Grove Neighborhood Association
- Doling Neighborhood Association
- Delaware Neighborhood Association
- Mark Twain Neighborhood Association
- Heart of the Westside Neighborhood Association
- Rountree Neighborhood Association
- Midtown Neighborhood Association
- Fassnight Neighborhood Association.
The Great Neighborhoods program encourages clean, safe, and friendly neighborhoods through activities and programs that develop relationships between neighbors and their neighborhood association. This is a voluntary program where registered neighborhoods can participate and earn points toward designation as a City of Springfield Great Neighborhood, along with grant money to be used toward a neighborhood program or activity.
Points can be earned in the three categories that define Great Neighborhoods: clean, safe, and friendly. Neighborhoods are scored and ranked based on the information in their application as well as their effort to follow the four principles of the Great Neighborhoods program:
- Residents must lead the process.
- A long-term commitment is expected.
- All neighbors interested in participating must be included.
- Continual activities that engage everyone in the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods can earn up to:
- $500 – 9 points (at least 3 points in each category)
- $750 – 18 points (at least 6 points in each category)
- $1,000* – 18 points (at least 6 points in each category) * requires a $250 match.