By Kim Mayer

The Upper Arlington Civic Association – a community mainstay since 1933, coordinating events such as the Easter Egg Hunt at Thompson Park, the 4th of July Celebration and Christmas in the Park – is experiencing a rebuilding period.

Though it has a deep history in the city, the organization has been affected by declining membership in the past several years, creating a tight budget for its directors as they plan events. Even so, the association’s members have high hopes as they look to build a small membership increase from last year.

The organization reached a membership high in 2003 with 5,769 members, says Joan Mast, current UACA president (she joined the organization in 2005 and became president in January). Since reaching this peak, however, UACA’s numbers have dwindled, although 2008 saw stabilization at about 4,000 members.

Mast attributes the decrease in membership to many long-time supporters of UACA who have moved away. She says perhaps newer residents aren’t aware of the organization or what it does for the community.

“It’s an easy mistake to make,” she says. “They assume, as I did when I moved to Arlington, that the city produces and pays for the events through the parks and recreation division.”

While many municipalities run events exclusively through their Parks and Recreation divisions, UA is unique because of the UACA’s involvement in community activities.

“We do have the city’s support. They help us with the logistics of some events, but we don’t receive any city money for our events, and we fund them completely through donations,” Mast says.

Mast says the UACA is currently focusing on new UA residents to counter the recent loss of membership.

“This year we’re doing a lot of outreach (with) the new residents when they move into the city to explain what we are and what we do,” Mast says. “We started that at the end of last year and hopefully that trend will continue.”

The UACA will kick off fundraising efforts with The Walk, the UACA’s largest annual fundraising event. While on The Walk, members visit every door in Upper Arlington requesting membership and financial support for upcoming events (the organization has budgeted $135,000 for its 2009 events). Memberships to the UACA cost $25 for families and $10 for singles and senior citizens.

The Walk was moved to the first weekend in May in hopes of more favorable weather than in past years when the event took place in March. Mast thinks this strategy will help the UACA reach its 2009 goal of 4,500 members.

Along with traditional events like The Walk and the 4th of July celebration, the UACA is looking forward to a special event this year thanks to Nationwide Insurance, which donated tickets for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Golf Invitational, a men’s professional golf tournament played at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course. In partnership with the Tri-Village Rotary Club, the UACA will provide complimentary tickets to the event for every family or individual who joins the UACA.

Mast is also excited for the Big Band Swing, which has been moved from June to September this year and provides an evening of big band music and refreshments geared toward UA’s seniors.

“They are so appreciative that we do this event for them because it’s really the only event that is targeted toward the senior citizen market,” Mast says.

With a busy year ahead, UACA members are looking forward to growth in membership and successful events to prove that, after 76 years in Upper Arlington, they aren’t going anywhere.

For more information about UACA events or membership, visit www.uaca.org.

Kim Mayer is a contributing writer for Upper Arlington Magazine.

Breakout: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Golf Invitational will be held at the Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course from July 27 to August 2. Mast says there are plans for an Upper Arlington Civic Association Day with activities for kids and the entire family. For more information, visit www.uaca.org.