March 2014 – Larry Ambrose, President

From the INC President 

When in 2007 NW Denver activist, Bill Johnston, decided to leave the INC Board, he called me and asked if I would be willing to take his place.  Telling him that my brand of neighborhood advocacy might not be readily welcomed by the some current INC board members, he insisted I allow him to submit my name, saying my ideas would be needed to move INC forward.

As I suspected, there were some on the Board who were not exactly excited by my candidacy.  But, no one was willing to be the Secretary, and, after I agreed, they reluctantly relented.  It can probably be said, these particular individuals are still sorry, but I’m not!  And, I hope the majority of INC delegates and RNO organization members are not disappointed either.

Since 2007, I have served as Secretary, Co-founder and Co-chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee, Vice Chair and, since 2012, President.   With the help of an increasingly active and engaged Board and Executive Committee, the organization has taken bold positions, established directions, developed and matured.  INC now has momentum and is poised to be what it has always had the potential to become:  The Denver citizens’ forum promoting transparency and open government, discussion, debate and advocacy of important City policies issues and programs.   As I have mentioned here previously, our major political parties play little or no role in municipal political and government affairs.  It is the responsibility of the Neighborhood Movement and RNOs to fill this sometimes supportive and sometimes critical role.

The day will come when Denver government officials, employees, elected and appointed, will look forward to listening to and working with INC and a far-reaching number of RNO representatives.  INC and the City have the responsibility to reach out to minority communities, to encourage and promote their participation in the Neighborhood Movement.  However, it is not fair that our elected officials use the excuse that INC and, RNOs in general, are not diverse enough for them to give credence to our concerns.  City officials themselves have a greater responsibility to promote and make worthwhile the involvement of Denver citizens of all ages, races, incomes, genders and sexual orientation in the Neighborhood Movement.  They must do this by giving credibility, listening and responding to RNO ideas and concerns.

It is with this in mind that I have decided to run for re-election as INC President for a two year term and I am asking for your support, encouragement and ideas.  My sincere thank you to all the fine people who I have had the privilege to know and to work with over the past 7 years.  I am enriched by the friendships I have made in this wonderful organization and rewarded by the progress we have made together.