Event May 3, 2026 · Tom Brown, WPIA President

Annual Meeting May 18 — and a Tornado-versary Block Party May 16

Join your neighbors for the WPIA Annual Meeting at Dressel's on Monday May 18, and a casual block party at the Traffic Circle two days earlier marking one year since the tornado.

Hello neighbors —

The Washington Place Improvement Association will hold its annual meeting on Monday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. Like last year, Ben and Liz Dressel have graciously allowed us to use the upper room of Dressel’s Public House. The WPIA will pay for your first drink from the bar, and we encourage you to book dinner before or after the meeting to support Dressel’s.

Alderman Michael Browning will be at the meeting to answer your questions, and we’re working to bring someone from the City who can address all of our tree questions.

Annual dues

The WPIA is a voluntary neighborhood group responsible for maintaining the common ground at the Traffic Circle and the gate, and for hosting social events throughout the year. Our annual dues are a modest $75 per household, and we have a lot of expense this year getting the Circle back in shape after the tornado — so your dues really help.

You can pay at the meeting, or online by PayPal, Apple Pay, or credit card via the Pay Your Dues button on our Contact page. It’s easy — I just paid mine using the link before drafting this announcement, so I know it works!

We need volunteers for the board

Even though we amended the by-laws last year to create one-year terms for President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, in effect we have created a life sentence for ourselves — because we have to recruit our replacements! Of course everyone banks on the fact that the current board would probably stay on if no one volunteers, but that’s because we are all compliant, people-pleasing people who don’t rock the boat.

I know for a fact, based on how much I’ve seen my neighbors pitch in when there is a need and get passionate and vocal about issues on the Google group, that there are people out there who can do my job of president better than I can. You know who you are! Raise your hand at the meeting when we ask for volunteers. It doesn’t take that much of your time (unless you choose to take it a lot more seriously than I do!).

Tornaversary Block Party — Saturday, May 16

Even though the timing is tight, the WPIA is throwing a Tornaversary Block Party on Saturday, May 16 at the Traffic Circle. More details to follow. It probably won’t be as full-blown as the Fall Festival, but we can cook some hot dogs, have a few beverages, and tell insurance tales. Weather permitting, it should be fun.

Hope to see you all at the meeting.

Regards, Tom Brown WPIA President