Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association

2020 Annual Dinner Meeting
2020-06-07 17:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr W, El Cajon, CA, 92019, United States
Enjoy a summer evening with your friends and neighbors at GMIA’s Annual Dinner on Sunday, June 7, 5:30 – 8 pm.
Our casual barbecue buffet will once again take place at the gorgeous Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. Supervisor Dianne Jacob will be on hand to talk with us and answer your questions about what’s going on in our neighborhood and around East County.

The dinner, which also includes Ballast Point beer, wine and soft drinks, is $15 per GMIA member.

Note: reservations are required. Our Annual Meeting is designed for GMIA members, but nonmembers may attend for $20 per person.

Ticket prices:

Member – $15
Non-member – $20

Candidate Forum
2020-01-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Murdock Elementary School, 4354 Conrad Dr., La Mesa, CA, 92121, United States
GMIA is sponsoring a forum for the candidates for county supervisor. Former State Senator Joel Anderson, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, Brian Sesko, and Kenya Taylor have been invited. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. to meet the candidates and the forum will begin at 6 p.m. at Murdock Elementary School, 4354 Conrad Dr., La Mesa. The candidates are running to succeed County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who is leaving office after 28 years because of term limits. Candidates for other offices will also be invited to attend for a meet and greet following the forum at 8 p.m. including the 71st and 79th State Assembly District and Superior Court Judges.
Your GMIA board is hosting this important community forum to enable our members to hear directly from the candidates. We hope you will join us to learn about their credentials and positions regarding issues of importance to our region. Our goal is to help members make an informed decision in the best interest of our community. Your vote matters. The League of Women Voters will serve as moderator for the Forum
View the Candidate Forum Flyer

Welcome the New Year at the 12th annual Walk to the Top!
2020-01-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Fire station parking lot, 10105 Vivera Dr, La Mesa, CA, 91941, United States
Join us on Saturday, January 4 for one of our most popular activities – the 12th annual Walk to the Top to welcome the New Year.
This event has grown each year as word spreads about the family and dog-friendly walk. It starts at the fire station at 10105 Vivera Dr., with a walking distance of 2/3 mile each way.
Stroll up Mt. Helix Drive behind our big yellow banner with friends and neighbors! At the top, complimentary refreshments, including coffee, tea, water, breakfast treats and fresh fruit will be provided by GMIA. The Mt. Helix Park Foundation, our co-sponsor, provides the magnificent location and volunteer assistance. You can also meet other local nonprofit partners sharing information about what they are doing to benefit our community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join old friends, meet more of your neighbors, and enjoy the celebration of our great community. Children and well-behaved dogs are welcome at this free event. If you have questions, contact us at yourgmianeighbor@gmail.com.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with day-of-the-event tasks, please contact Co-director Pat Ryan at patrice46@gmail.com or (619) 248-1619. We can use help with set-up, refreshments, picking up supplies, guides for the walk, and clean-up.

2019 Annual Dinner Meeting
2019-06-09 10:30 - 13:00 | Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr W, El Cajon, CA, 92019, United States
Join us for our popular Annual Dinner Meeting. At this casual event, you’ll enjoy a tasty buffet dinner, hear an update about what’s going on in our neighborhood, and our keynote speaker is County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.
Here are the highlights:

Phil’s BBQ buffet
Ballast Point Beer
Wine & soft drinks
Live music
A great opportunity to meet and mingle with your neighbors!
Enjoy the beautiful Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden (docent-led tours at 4:30 are available)

Ticket prices:

Member – $12
Non-member – $20

Meet your neighbors on this fun summer evening.
See photos from last year’s dinner

2019 Succulent Swap
2019-04-27 03:00 - 05:00 | Succulent Swap, 10805 Melva Rd, La Mesa, CA, 91941, United States
IMPORTANT:
VIP entry for GMIA members: 10:00 am
Open to the public: 11:00 am
Event ends: Noon
Note direction changes below, due to road closures.
Friends Don’t Let Friends Buy Succulents!
Get a jump start on a water-wise garden at GMIA’s 6th Annual Succulent Swap. Bring succulent, cactus, drought-tolerant, or native cuttings or plants to share. Don’t be shy if you’re just getting started and don’t have any extra plants – our generous participants always bring lots and there is plenty for all. GMIA will provide complimentary coffee and light snacks to round out the morning.
Enjoy the magnificent two-acre garden of GMIA members Tere Trout and Jonathan Becker. A huge thank you to Tere and Jonathan for graciously hosting this event in their inspiring low-water Wonderland. Look for their huge African tortoise who can be seen wandering around the property nibbling on juicy succulents. The Succulent Swap is open and free to the community. Please note: membership has its privileges with VIP entry for GMIA members whose dues are paid current.
CORRECTED DIRECTIONS: Due to road closures in the area, there is a chance your GPS device or app will not be correct. There are 2 access points to reach the location:

From Avocado Blvd, turn west on Alzeda Dr, then turn left on Melva Rd
From Fuerte, turn north on Crestland Dr (the only way you can turn), which turns into Snyder Rd, then right on Alzeda Dr, and an immediate left on Melva Rd.

See photos from the previous Swap

2019 Art & Garden Tour
2019-04-07 05:00 - 10:00 | CA
This is GMIA’s premier Art & Garden Tour member event. The tour is free to members whose dues are paid current. While it is not our intention to open our event to the general public, we will accommodate non-member guests for a $15 donation per person (paid when you enter).
We’ve been able to add three difficult-to-access hideaway gardens by providing ample parking in the nearby Fire Station lot, combined with a shuttle service linking all three gardens. This route is also walkable for those who enjoy the short journey between each garden.
The Tour map will arrive in the Spring 2019 issue of our member newsletter, Viewpoints.
We hope you will join us for our most popular event that exemplifies the essence of our beautiful community: Lush mature gardens, quiet streets, generous neighbors. Spend an enjoyable afternoon gathering design ideas, learning what flourishes in our region, and discovering delightful landscapes in six private homes in our community.
We are featuring more local artists who will display and offer their creations for sale. Enjoy the sounds of musicians playing guitar, flute, and saxophone as you stroll through the gardens.
This is a family-friendly event and we love to have well-behaved children attend. However, please be aware that participating gardens cannot accommodate strollers. No pets, please.
See photos from last year’s Tour

2019 Walk to the Top
2019-01-05 02:00 | Meeting place for Walk, 10105 Vivera Dr, La Mesa, CA, 91941, United States
FREE ADMISSION!
Children and well-behaved dogs welcome
Join us on Saturday January 5th for one of our most popular activities — the 11th annual Walk to the Top. This event has grown each year as word spreads about the family and dog friendly walk, which starts at 10 am at the fire station at 10105 Vivera. Walking distance is 2/3 mile each way.
Stroll up Mt. Helix Drive behind our big yellow banner with friends and neighbors! At the top, complimentary refreshments including coffee, tea, and water, breakfast treats and fresh fruit will be provided by GMIA. Co-sponsor Mt. Helix Park Foundation provides our magnificent location and volunteer assistance. Plus, meet other local nonprofit partners sharing information about what they are doing to benefit our community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join old friends, meet new neighbors, and enjoy the celebration of our great community at the top. As always, children and well-behaved dogs are welcome at this complimentary event.
Questions? Contact us at yourgmianeighbor@gmail.com
If you would like to volunteer to assist with day-of-the-event tasks, please contact Co-Director Pat Ryan at 619-248-1619. We can use your help with set-up, picking up supplies, and clean-up.

2018 Halloween Harvest Family Festival
2018-10-27 07:00 - 10:00 | CA
Free admission!
Sunday, October 28
2:00-5:00 pm
Mt. Helix Park Amphitheater
Parking & shuttle at Fire Station 21
Featuring:
• Games & crafts hosted by local businesses
• Face painting
• Food available for purchase from Quick Stop Grill Food Truck
• Live music by The Responders
We’ll be giving away prizes for the best family costume, best male costume, and best female costume. ALL children participating in the 4 pm Costume Parade will receive something special.
If you’re not already a member of GMIA or the Mt Helix Park Foundation, there will be a drawing for two $50 Costco gift cards for those who join at the Festival! All new members will also take home a pumpkin!
Brought to you by The Mt. Helix Park Foundation and Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association (GMIA).

2018 Family Fest & Ice Cream Social
2018-08-12 07:00 - 10:00 | Trouts, 10805 Melva Rd, La Mesa, CA, 91941, United States
Join us for our 2nd Annual GMIA Summer Family Fest. Meet your neighbors, play games, make crafts and enjoy refreshing ice cream. We’ll be in the gorgeous garden of GMIA members Tere Trout and Jonathan Becker. Come meet the resident miniature horse and African tortoise. Activities include making your favorite paper bag hat, rock painting, lawn bowling, hula hoops, ball toss and more. Thanks to GMIA Board member Krista Bishop Powers who chairs this outreach event for our young families. Have questions or like to volunteer to help? Contact Krista at 619-985-1445.
