Beautiful Outlook

ABOUT

The Point Loma Association is a non-profit community organization comprised of a 20-member board of directors, 10 committees, the Mean Green Team, Graffiti Busters, over 1,000 resident and businesses members, sponsors, donors, and 100s of dedicated volunteers.

We plant trees, flowers and plants; maintain 20 public green spaces in Point Loma; transform asphalt and concrete medians and parkways into landscaped islands of natural beauty; install community signs, lights, landmarks, benches and banners; create a patchwork of public art through utility box art, murals and sculptures; pick up litter; clean up homeless camps; remove graffiti; call for the removal of billboards and power lines; and advocate to improve our quality of life.

We inform the Peninsula of important and exciting community news and events. And we have the ear of city, county and state political leaders, SDPD, U.S. Navy leaders, Unified Port officials, California Coastal Commission, City Planning Department, Parks and Recreation Department. When we speak, they listen! We make a difference.

ANNUAL REPORT

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

As a 20+ year resident of Point Loma and a previous business owner in the area, I will forever hold a special place in my heart for this amazing place we call home!  How lucky are we?
Our all volunteer organization has been beautifying and enhancing our community for over fifty years.  We plan, design, and raise money for new medians, plants and upkeep of our area.  We also support free concerts at the park, sponsor utility box art in Point Loma, hang banners along Rosecrans, and maintain an interactive dialog with local
government. Our biggest project to date is the Village Lights.  What a great way to light up the night on Rosecrans!  And our newest project is our Point Loma Mural project which had its first piece completed at the S.E.S. Portuguese Hall in December!
The PLA will continue its mission to beautify and take care of this place we all call ‘home’.
We thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Sandy Hanshaw, PLA Chair

HISTORY

It all started in the back room of The Quarter Deck. It was the early 1960s, and back then we were known as Point Loma Village Beautiful.

PLA ANNUAL DINNER PARTY

ANNUAL DINNER VIDEOS WITH DICK LAREAU (thanks to Dwight Harrington)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Point Loma Association has a 20-member Board of Directors. Terms are two-years, with maximum service of six consecutive years. The Board is led by four officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. There are additional chair posts on other PLA committees.

Past PLA BOARD Chairs

COMMITTEES

The 10 beloved committees of the Point Loma Association help to support all of the various activities in which we are involved. You can find out more information about each of our committees below. We invite you to join them by volunteering. You will be warmly welcomed.

Annual Dinner Committee

Chair: Jaime Saylor

PLA's annual dinner party takes place every fall at a venue in Point Loma. It’s our only fundraiser for operating expenses — and a great opportunity for good old fashioned hobnobbing with friends and neighbors old and new while celebrating everything Point Loma.

At the event, we enjoy food and drinks, showcase our current projects, and recognize community members, residents and businesses for outstanding service and beautification efforts.

The evening culminates with the PLA awarding its highest honor — the Lighthouse Award — which goes to someone who has gone above and beyond to support the mission of the PLA.

JOIN THE ANNUAL DINNER COMMITTEE

Bring your creativity, event planning, fundraising and logistics skills and help us conceive, coordinate and host the best party in Point Loma.

Beautification Committee

Chair: Linda Weber

The Beautification Committee has over 40 active members from all walks of life, including two master gardeners. It oversees the rotating weekly work done by our Mean Green Team that maintains of 18 different pubic spaces on the Peninsula and graffiti cleanup done by our Graffiti Busters. It is also responsible for the creation and care of many large, public, beautification projects such as the Jacarandas on Rosecrans, medians of Nimitz Boulevard, utility box art, murals and sculptures, in addition to the presentation of private Garden Awards to further encourage homeowners to create attractive landscapes and interesting outdoor spaces.

Large median projects, including the replacement of asphalt medians with plantings, have been a primary focus of the Beautification Committee over the last 30 years. Because these projects are often in high traffic areas, maintenance of these spaces is continuous, time consuming and demanding — tasks proudly taken on by our Mean Green Team.

Our graffiti team — the Graffiti Busters — is always “on call” to clean up graffiti on the Point. The committee feels that this significantly decreases crime, other vandalism and the deterioration of public spaces. Utility box art, used mainly as a tool to decrease graffiti, enhances appearances of stark urban hardware and also supports local artists.

The Beautification budget is a large component of PLA expenditures as it includes contracts with arborists to trim and plant trees, providing water to planted areas without irrigation systems, and maintaining and weeding large project areas. The PLA is recognized by city and county officials for the work accomplished in the community and has been fortunate to receive public grants to assist in funding this work.

The committee interfaces with city and county officials, park and recreation staff, safety officers, and collaborates with private groups. Members monitor the neighborhood on an ongoing basis and determine if and when the Mean Green Team can be of assistance in solving recurring issues in the community. In recent years the Mean Green Team has been instrumental in helping local officials in their efforts to minimize homeless encampments and litter along some of our busiest public streets.

JOIN THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE

As a committee member you’ll participate in all phases of project planning, permitting, contracting, landscaping, cleanup and long-term followup. We’re a fun, social bunch!

Communications Committee

Chair: Shannon Brown

Members of the Communications Committee are responsible for keeping our Peninsula informed on both Point Loma Association-related and general community news and events via our website, social media, newsletters and emails.

The Communications Committee is also responsible for the creation and maintenance of the PLA website and marketing materials. In addition, it assists other PLA committees with the development of messaging and graphics.

JOIN THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Calling all content creators — writers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers, software developers, marketers, social media professionals and any interested community members.

Community Conversations Committee

Chair: Andrea Schlageter

The Community Conversation Committee produces at least two events per year, typically in January and May. These events are free community informational events that address topics that are pertinent to our neighborhood — ranging from ongoing projects on the Peninsula to city-wide or federal issues (military, bay or airport).

Prominent local leaders appear on a panel to dialogue with audience members about important issues. During these conversations, attendees get direct answers from government representatives and community leaders, and panelists hear concerns of the citizens.

PLA arranges free food for social hour, and there’s a cash bar. Community nonprofit organizations set up informational displays around the perimeter of the hall where guests mingle prior to the start of the panel program. This is an excellent opportunity to greet and socialize with members of the community as well as with local civic, government and agency officials.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS COMMITTEE

You’ll suggest program ideas, coordinate panel and nonprofit group participation, procure food donations, promote the event, and physically setup and breakdown the event.

Membership Committee

Chair: Sierra Visher Kroha

The volunteers who serve on the Membership Committee are the main link between the organization and our members. We meet the 1st Monday of every month to discuss marketing strategies to grow memberships and fund projects that benefit the community, prepare the membership dues reminders, and manage membership data.

Our committee members are planners, campaigners and community influencers. We use word-of-mouth, social media, email, direct email, attend social functions and staff booths at local events to communicate our vision and recruit new members.

We have a deep emotional attachment to Point Loma and love calling it home because of its beauty and high quality of life. Together we have the power to improve it and provide future generations with the same and an even greater sense of enchantment and wonderment.

JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee is open to all local residents and business owners. We’re in special need of volunteers with business, marketing, sales and customer service backgrounds. No contribution is too small.

Social and Business Outreach Committee

Chair: Linda Hervey

The goal of the committee is to bring awareness of the Point Loma Association by increasing business memberships and organizing regular events at local businesses for members of the community to socialize in a casual setting to learn more about the PLA and the host business or businesses.

Our committee introduces community businesses to the Point Loma Association. From creation to execution, we also plan and coordinate regular social mixers at local businesses to promote and feature their products and services, share about the Point Loma Association and its projects, network with businesses and local professionals, connect with members of our community, and simply have a good time together.

JOIN THE SOCIAL AND BUSINESS OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Please join us if you’re outgoing, organized, have experience or background in event planning, or an interest in strengthening connections with community members and businesses.

Nominating Committee

Chair: Wendy Rosenthal

The Nominating Committee exists to recommend Board Members as vacancies come available either due to term limits or resignation. Pursuant to our bylaws, the PLA Board shall consist of 9-20 members and terms are two years. Each director may serve three consecutive two year terms. Board members must live or work in the Point Loma area and be a member of the PLA. The committee meets to review, discuss and vet potential Board Members and Officers — Chairman, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary who are members of the board and are elected annually.

The volunteer Nominating committee meets as necessary to accomplish our goal of maintaining a full Board who support the mission of the PLA. There is no maximum number of members on the Nominating Committee, which is open to any member of the Point Loma Association.

JOIN THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
We look for individuals who are committed to improving the quality of life on the Point Loma Peninsula. We look for diversity in interests, backgrounds and talents — including accounting, finance, legal, fundraising and grant writing.

Projects Committee

Chair: JT Barr

The Projects Committee identifies and advocates for public realm improvements that contribute to the quality, character, culture and livability of the Peninsula. 

Our objective is to be proactive and forward thinking in the identification of improvement opportunities. Place-making and problem-solving are at the core of the project identification process. 

Projects may range in scale from larger streetscapes and open space projects to more focused singular interventions, including lighting and gateway signage. The committee will evaluate projects through a lens of community cohesion and its ability to be thoughtfully integrated into the fabric of our community.

JOIN THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE

We’re always looking for individuals with passion and a vision for our community, and in particular skill sets in planning, architecture, design, engineering, construction and real estate.

Public Art Committee

Chair: Sandy Hanshaw

PLA’s roots are in making Point Loma more beautiful and public art is a big part of that. Our Public Art Committee offers art to the community through painting utility boxes and murals and installing sculptures. We paint at least three utility boxes a year and will help with privately funded utility box paintings as well. Our mural project is brand new. The goal is to tell the history of Point Loma through murals on the side of buildings throughout our neighborhood.

Our volunteers — many of whom are artists — help by selecting utility boxes to paint or wrap. Depending on the utility box, it takes at least 20-25 hours of painting to transform them into something beautiful. With our new mural project, volunteers help by securing buildings to paint by contacting building owners and possibly by even painting themselves. 

JOIN THE PUBIC ART COMMITTEE

Are you an artist, or do you simply have a passion for making Point Loma an even more beautiful place by adding character and charm through public art? All are welcome.

Public Safety Committee

Chair: Andrea Schlageter

The public safety committee works with interest groups across the point to identify quality of life issues. From there we work to make sure the Peninsula remains the most livable neighborhood in San Diego! 

JOIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

If you have an interest in making Point Loma the safest neighborhood in San Diego, please join us.

PARTNERS

The PLA works closely with many partners to to improve the quality of life in Point Loma through a wide variety of activities and projects. We encourage you to learn more about our partners below and thank them for their support of the PLA.