With all of Indian Spring's new neighbors ("turnover," as the Real Estate agents call it), it's time to put out the traditional call: Join and get active in your civic association. We bring people together and get things done for everyone. We're not about the measly $10 dues, we're about having fun and improving our neighborhood.

Here are just some of the ways:

ISCA is a great way to socialize and share with your neighbors. Beyond our picnics and purely social gatherings, we try to keep our meetings open, informative, and lively--a great place to meet folks, raise questions, and share your views on what's important. And online, we have a listserve for news and views, and a web site is coming soon. We can inform you and give you a voice. Curious about downtown Silver Spring? ISCA knows. Babysitting? Think ISCA. Dog laws? Beltway widening? The future of traffic and transit? Think ISCA.

ISCA is a strong and effective voice with county and state agencies. Your civic association is a strong, respected, and effective voice on major government decisions. When you see the beltway sound barrier, think ISCA. When you see all of our children attending the same elementary school instead of five different ones, think ISCA. When Fresh Fields opens this summer instead of a mega-mall wave pool, think ISCA.

ISCA is a strong force to keep crime down and property values up. We work with many county and local agencies on anti-crime efforts and other programs that make this a safer, prettier place for all of us. Neighborhood Watch? ISCA. Code and traffic enforcement? ISCA. Speed bumps? ISCA.

Okay-enough of the ISCA resume. This is a civic association that really WORKS. Thanks to a great group of neighbors-the officers and active members of many years--we're always active, highly regarded, and clearly effective. But we need all of you--long-time residents and those just moved in--to keep going.

We work with and for each other in a hundred ways, but the most important is building a strong, living community--getting to know one another and sharing our views and our lives here in this great neighborhood.

Big or small, the "issues" will come and go. They're important, sure. But it's neighbors who KNOW each other that make a great neighborhood. So be a neighbor. Introduce yourself to the folks along your street. Join ISCA.

There are lots of reasons to join and to play a part, so send in your form and your measly $10 dues. Get a little bit involved. Make a call. Come to a meeting. Help with an activity.

Find a reason to be part of Indian Spring.