Forum Focus
June 2020




Message to Our Membership
Dear neighbors,

Our Annual Meeting on May 21 featuring Assemblywoman Amy Paulin was one of our best-attended membership events of the year – a testament to our momentum, and the hard work of outgoing President Tim Foley, this year's board and committee chairs, and so many wonderful members. Their efforts have made the Scarsdale Forum the place to be for seriously analyzing and debating issues important to our community, and to gather for intelligent discussion and fellowship.

We'll offer more thought-provoking programs in the fall, but there's plenty of activity scheduled throughout the summer months. Our committees will continue their work, discuss pending projects and relevant topics, and lay the groundwork for reports to be released during 2020-2021. To remind you about the variety and scope of our committees, we've included a brief summary of each below. New committee members are welcome – no prior experience
with any topic is required.

Sincerely,
Madelaine Eppenstein


About Our Committees
All dues-paying members are welcome to join and participate in any committee. These groups inform Scarsdale residents about a variety of public issues, allowing them to effectively contribute meaningfully to Scarsdale civic life, while fostering a collaborative, inclusive community where all opinions, ideas, and friendships are valued.

The Scarsdale Forum currently has over a dozen committees , including:

Assessment Revaluation
Members study matters relating to past and future assessment revaluations of property values in Scarsdale.

Communications
Members develop internal and external communications materials, such as the monthly Forum Focus , press releases, notices, social media posts, and flyers to promote Scarsdale Forum news and events.

County Fiscal Affairs
Members review the proposed Westchester County budget and provide analysis and recommendations to the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

Downtown Revitalization
This group reviews issues related to the vitality and development of the Scarsdale Village Center. It recently has studied perspectives of both consumers and merchants to help reimagine how our community can build a thriving downtown.

Education
Because our schools are the cornerstone of life in Scarsdale, this committee discusses and analyzes all issues related to education, including curriculum, capital improvements, long-term fiscal planning, and the annual school district budget.

Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale
Similar to County Fiscal Affairs, this committee reviews the proposed Scarsdale Village budget, and provides analysis and recommendations to the Scarsdale Board of Trustees and the public.

Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee plays an important role in all Scarsdale Forum events, providing a warm welcome to long-standing, new, and prospective members. The group arranges for food, decor, and other amenities, and embodies our organization's spirit of community.

Membership
This committee spearheads the Scarsdale Forum’s efforts to recruit new members and retain existing members through community outreach and special events.

Municipal Services
The Municipal Services Committee has a practical impact on life in Scarsdale by studying a wide range of issues and policies being considered by village government, and how current village operations may be improved.

Program
Members are responsible for developing content and programming for Scarsdale Forum membership meetings in which our elected officials discuss the issues that affect our lives, our Sunday Speaker Series, and other special programs.

Recreation
Members consider how Scarsdale Village may utilize funds and public facilities to better serve residents, and promote the health and well-being of the community.

Scarsdale Electoral Policy
The non-partisan system for selecting candidates to run for local village offices is reviewed by this committee, which makes recommendations for revisions and improvements.

Special Events
Members are responsible for planning and hosting the Scarsdale Forum's annual Winterfest gala, as well as other special events.

Sustainability
Our Sustainability Committee studies a wide range of issues related to the environmental impact of village services, facilities, and management, and offers recommendations to preserve Scarsdale's natural treasures for future generations.

To learn more or join a committee, visit scarsdaleforum.com/Committees/Home. Please note that you must be a dues-paying member of Scarsdale Forum and logged in to sign up.
Committee Updates
Program

The Program Committee is now planning its calendar for next year. If you have any suggestions for a specific speaker or program, email Co-Chair Dara Gruenberg at dara513@gmail.com.

 Scarsdale Forum Inc.

Scarsdale Forum Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to community education through discussion and analysis of issues relevant to Scarsdale residents. Since 1904, it has contributed meaningfully to village affairs through written reports, public speaker events and committee discussions. Membership is available to all Scarsdale and Mamaroneck Strip residents, regardless of citizenship status. 

Forum Focus generally is distributed to Scarsdale Forum members in the first week of each month. Story ideas should be sent to communications@scarsdaleforum.com one week prior to be included in the coming issue.


Media Contact
Diane Greenwald