On Sunday, February 12, the Sunset Hill Community Association Board of Trustees will put the future of their operations and clubhouse before the community.

Formed in 1922, SHCA is one of Seattle's oldest neighborhood associations and has played a key role over the last 90 years in shaping Sunset Hill and Ballard. But a decline in community involvement in recent years is prompting the board to reconsider the role of the association in the community.

"Our revenue is decreasing, our expenses are increasing, and we don't have enough actively involved members.This direction is not sustainable, and we need to look ahead to the role of the association going forward" said SHCA president Lois Spiegel. 

The board is asking all of their members as well as the community to help determine the next 90 years of SHCA and its clubhouse.

"The association wants to know in this day and age, what role the association still has to play in the community," said Spiegel. 

Member Carole Bears believes the association still plays a role in today's community but said the decision is ultimately up to the members and the community. 

"The association serves as a voice of the community," said Beers, explaining that SHCA has a seat on the Ballard District Council and works directly with public officials on issues that affect the neighborhood, including public transit, local development and quality-of-life issues.

A large part of the discussion about SHCA's future revolves around the clubhouse, and the board is posing the following question to its members:

"Should SHCA change our model of operation, make hard decisions regarding the future of the facility, and perhaps close or sell the clubhouse?"

Purchased by the association in 1929, the clubhouse is a classic, restored, two-story Arts & Crafts meeting hall that's used for public events and is available for rent for workshops, parties, receptions, weddings, etc. 

"It used to be the social hub of the community," said Beers. "Now we use it as rental space to cover our costs of owning and maintaining the building."

Spiegel said that for decades the clubhouse was where people came together to drink coffee,play bingo, and visit with their neighbors. 

"Up until recent years it was a polling place and all the neighbors would come out to cast their ballots and enjoy their democratic right to vote in this community hall," Spiegel said. "It's also the place where you would go to register your kids for little league baseball, and it still is."

"It's really rather emotional," added Spiegel. "the February 12 special meeting is about more than the association or the building. It's about our community and what brings us together" 

At the February 12th meeting, the board is going to field suggestions about how the association and the facility can best serve the community, and ask for individuals to commit hours to convert these ideas into action. 

Spiegel said the board is open to all sorts of ideas that range from renting the space to instructors for family yoga session or art lessons to bringing in a day care.
"We're searching for the plan for the next 90 years," Spiegel said. "It's about reinventing and taking a different approach. What can we shed, what can we add, and what can we change to become something of lasting benefit to the community?"
The special membership meeting will take place on Sunday, February 12, at 3 p.m. at the SHCA, 3003 NW 66th Street.