MEETING AGENDA

First Meeting Agenda (sample)

The 5 Mobile Watch Commandments:

1. Participants have no police powers.

2. Participants will carry no weapons while on patrol.

3. Participants will always obey laws.

4. Participants will OBSERVE and REPORT.

This is a non-confrontational program.

Hand out Pocket Procedure Manuals that outlines:

1. Do’s and Don’ts

2. When to call 911 vs. when to call non-emergency dispatch

3. What constitutes suspicious circumstances

4. Phone numbers

Explain to participants:

1. How to quickly notice vehicle descriptions, license plates,
and suspect descriptions.

2. Show a video from dispatch that discusses the procedure for calling dispatch.

3. Show videos on gangs, and meth labs.

4. Discuss how to protect a crime scene.

To download my free E-Book and complete Neighborhood Mobile Watch Plan use the web address below:

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp_agenda.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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We believe that it is important that all members of our communities feel safe and secure. The Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol program, created by Lance Winslow, is a low-cost program that anyone can initiate in their own communities. By involving the local Police Department, Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers who are in occupations which require them to travel around many neighborhoods, a neighborhood watch program can be created which will deter criminal activities.

Now more than ever it is important for all Americans to be observant and watch out for each other. You may event want to add special information on arson watch to your neighborhood watch program, as this is going to be a high risk fire season.

The details of this program are outlined in the book “How To Start a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol”, written by Lance Winslow. This book is available online, by clicking on the links below. You can even download the complete 5-part eBook on PDF format.

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

PARTICIPANTS

A wide variety of participants is needed to launch a successful Neighborhood Watch program. In this section necessary participants are listed, along with a description of the kind of support needed from each. As many of you know, implementing a community-based project requires the interest, cooperation, and support from many people. But the end result is definitely worthwhile!

Increasing the safety of a neighborhood benefits everyone from children and parents, to local businesses. Not only does reducing crime in an area increase everyone’s quality of life, but it can also help increase property values.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

The local Chamber of Commerce is the ideal organization to coordinate the program. They should be asked to help build interest in the program by announcing the program to its members at meetings, and running press releases in newsletters or membership mailings. (Be sure to check the press release section for samples). The Chamber of Commerce should also be requested to act as liaison between their members and the local Police Department. They will need to schedule with the Community Relations Officer of the Police Department a time to come and talk to their members, (more than one meeting may be necessary). Once the program is started, Chambers collect and keep track of participants and schedule training sessions, and issues certificates of completion to participants (a nice touch!). In addition to training, signage and print material are needed. The Chamber can contract one of their members to make the magnetic signs and order the cling stickers with the imprinted logos, and print flyers. Other tasks that Chambers can perform to increase the success of the program is to create a list of target participants, send flyers to these targeted businesses and individuals, and alert media sources.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:

The Police department will provide a Community Relations person to explain to participants the need to report crimes and what is actually a crime. They will explain that if someone cuts you off on the Highway it is an unfortunate situation but not a crime and to limit phone calls to important things. Most importantly, they will explain that the participants are the eyes and ears of the Police, not vigilantes. The Police will also ask participants to have the police departments phone number programmed into their cellular phones and to only use the 911 feature only for accidents involving injuries and very serious situations. The Police department will also give certificates to participants once they have completed the seminar, which will be signed by police chief or local Community Relations Officer.

CITY HALL:

City Council members will very likely endorse the project at a city council meeting and give a proclamation to the President of the Chamber of Commerce for the Chambers and local businesses service to community. Most cities can allot at least $2,500.00 towards the project for the signage. Donations for the remainder can often be obtained from large companies in the area. By announcing it at a city council meeting the program will receive the publicity it needs to get quality participants.

MEDIA SUPPORT:

Local Radio stations are very supportive of the community. Request that they play public service announcements. Also, you will find that local newspapers will place flyers in the papers to announce the project, local cable stations will film participants driving down the street and interview seminar participants.

ORGANIZING CHAIRPERSON:

This will be the person who keeps all the different groups happy and coordinates the program. It is best to have a prominent volunteer type individual for this, someone who is already known for their community involvement; maybe even sits on a few non-profit boards and municipal committees. Someone everyone likes. The Chairperson will be in charge of making great quotes in the media, organizing participants and volunteers and scheduling meetings. Follow ups, thank you letters and personal invitations. Also keeping track of all the events and making agendas and cooperating with neighboring cities who follow this plan later. Other responsibilities include interfacing with non-profit groups to make sure they can participate, and contacting Board of Realtors, Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist, Lions, Elks, clubs etc. In short, an ombudsman to council people, Mayor and city manager.

To download my complete Free E-Book on ‘How to Start a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch;’ use the web address below and continued success on securing your community.

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

To help our local police department by becoming the eyes and ears of the community. To establish a power of presence and thus increasing the visibility of our enforcement services. To establish a zone for criminals where the risk of being caught is too high for them to practice their profession. To unite the business community and Chamber of Commerce with the citizens and the local government. To be proactive in law enforcement. To empower people to remain in control of their communities. To lower crime rates and to keep property value high.

People who have jobs which require extensive travel through local communities (like delivery services, real estate agents, and utility companies) are often in positions which they may see crimes in action or suspicious behavior. Sometimes, just by being in a particular area at just the right time, they may even unknowingly act as a deterrent for criminal activity. The Neighborhood Mobile Watch program seeks to enhance a community’s crime prevention strategy by providing concerned citizens, whose professions require extensive driving, with proper training and signage materials to even further deter criminal activity.

Learning how to recognize suspicious behavior and knowing which local authorities to contact is one of the key components of the training. Just knowing the correct phone number, rather than dialing 911, can greatly reduce the amount of time it takes for the proper authorities to respond, and keeps 911 lines open for other emergencies. Another key component of the program is providing magnetic signs on business and service vehicles, and using static cling stickers on other vehicles which read: “We report suspicious behavior to our local police department.” This lets potential criminals know right away that they should not risk any illegal activity; a trained and aware crime watcher is in the area.

Each participant in the program attends a 30-minute seminar at the local Chamber of Commerce with a Community Relations Officer from the Police Department. They will receive a certificate and then be issued two magnetic signs or a set of static cling stickers for their car(s). We will ask participation from Chamber Members to start and as things prove to be effective we will increase participation and education of the process. We will alert the media to this program and give credit to the participants for helping our city or town. The participants will need some sort of two-way communication, such as a cellular phone, two-way radio with a dispatcher or wireless Internet access.

To download or view online our Free E-Book “How to Set Up a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch Program go to this web address below:

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Robert Frost claimed that, “good fences make good neighbors”- but if you have intentions to create a happy and safe neighborhood, then forget the fences, walls and barriers and instead, think about what you can do to contribute and lead by example. After all, being part of a community is directly related to a sense of well-being – so, why not start close to home, in your very own neighborhood.

There are some simple steps you can follow, that may seem self-evident. But every little bit will count as you forge toward creating a great sense of community in your neighborhood. Begin by the simplest of greetings and when you have the chance to say, “Hi” to a neighbor passing by, then by all means do so. You need to encourage the openness to get to know the people in your neighborhood. Once you start the trend, hopefully others will follow and more spontaneous meetings will occur.

Organize a block, or street party. Creating social opportunities that are just for your neighborhood, offer a fabulous way to get people together and chatting. The wonderful thing about these gathering is that you can learn more about the people who surround you, and begin to tune into what sorts of issues and concerns, hopes and dreams others might have for the area. These sorts of events may seem scary to dive into. But someone needs to be the first to extend an open invitation, so why not make it yourself? Likewise, if you’re relatively new to the area, these sorts of gatherings can be a great way to learn the inside scoop on the community. You might also become acquainted with other neighborhood newbies – this can be a great way to start a lasting friendship.

If you have a concern about a particular issue that’s affecting your neighborhood, chances are others are also concerned. Organize an informal gathering to discuss issues that concern you – anything from crime, new development to city maintenance, or whatever you feel will improve your area. Having a collective vision as a neighborhood will only strengthen the neighborhood’s sense of community and work to make for a better quality of living.

If you can, offering your services to someone in need will promote some of the best in old fashioned community ethics. Maybe you notice a family gearing up to head out for a holiday – can you offer to do some watering for them, or to just keep an eye on the house? In many cases folks have already arranged for such things, but by being the neighbor who offers a helping hand you’re truly promoting “neighborly” behavior.

Promoting the creation of a neighborhood watch programs is yet another healthy way to create a safer neighborhood, but also to get people together on a regular basis. The most important aspect in creating a better neighborhood, is to promote such social interaction.

Another idea is to create a neighborhood fundraiser for a charity or for other neighborhoods in need. This is a wonderful way to get people thinking about all the positive aspects of their neighborhood, that might otherwise be taken for granted – to reflect on what you have and not to complain about what you haven’t. When people can get together with a focus on other people, the best of the human spirit shines through.

On this note, an idea might be to create a fruit tree gleaning group in which homeowners volunteer excess fruit on their trees and neighborhood volunteers get together to pick the fruit. The fruit can then be donated to local food charities. Such an event brings neighbors together in the spirit of giving, and makes everyone feel like their neighborhood has contributed to the well-being of the entire community. And, so they have!

About the Author

Christian Jacobsen

When moving your family into in a new house, there are a lot of concerns you have to think about. If you have little children, the yard is very important. Having a safe yard is really important when you are a parent. One way to create a safe yard is to use Plano fencing company to put a boundary around the outside. A Plano fence company will help give you some security and ensure that your backyard is safe. When looking for someone to install a fence, Plano has a lot of options. However, fencing is not the only aspect of finding the perfect house with a safe yard for the young ones in your family.

When looking into finding a safe place to move with your family, you will want to do some research about the areas you are considering moving into. Of course crime rate is going to be something that you want to look into. Make sure that you are getting your facts about crime rates from a reliable source so you are not being mislead. The crime rate is not the only factor that contributes to the safety in the area, but it should give you a good idea.

Once you have decided on an area to look in, you will want to decide on the type of area you will want to move into. An apartment complex is a nice option if you have a smaller family, but you do not always get the same community in an apartment building, and with so many people coming in and out of the building it may not be as safe. Living in a neighborhood might create an added sense of security. Typically there are less people coming in and out of a neighborhood, which in comparison to an apartment building is less risk of someone strange coming in. Especially if you choose to move into a neighborhood with a gate or some sort of security system in place.

If you decide to move into a neighborhood, there are a few steps you should take to make sure that you create a safe home for your loved ones. Getting to know your neighbors is one way to make sure your family is safe. Once you have created a bond with your neighbors, it makes a sort of agreement that you will look after each others children. It makes it easy because you can always call over to a neighbors house to ask them to send your kids home or to watch them if you need to run an errand.

You also should look into if there is some sort of neighborhood watch in your subdivision. By joining a neighborhood watch, you are actively taking a part in make your neighborhood more secure. You might also want to see if your neighborhood is patrolled by the local law enforcement. This is definitely an added sense of security and it really does help to keep your neighborhood safe from vandals or other criminals.

About the Author

Some neighborhoods have very well organized groups and some don’t. You will soon find out which you are in if you just moved to a new area. An organized group will be on top of many issues and pretty well connected to local law enforcement and other groups of interest. If you are a pioneer and have purchased a fixer upper in an old neighborhood then you need community support. The move closer to your city center has a ton of charm and beauty and some other issues that you don’t want to deal with alone. If you can band together with your neighbors you will get a sense of safety, hope and community togetherness.

Get out and talk to people to see if there is any type of neighborhood association. If you want to improve the area you just invested in, you can’t do it alone. Most likely you will run into a lot of other people that are doing the same thing. They are tired of the driving from the suburbs and sick of strip malls and boring houses. Those old neighborhoods have interesting and charming houses. The streets are wide with huge old oaks and other established growth. If you have a group of homeowners that are fixing up houses you can swap stories and advice.

One way to get people wore involved is by giving yourself an identity. If you do have a neglected neighborhood organization they will probably be happy for the fresh interest. Get a little paper started with info and articles. Create a logo that includes your area name. Most neighborhoods have names. You can start using that name on some promotional products. The first issue of your newsletter will be hand delivered and hung at each house. Put an application to join the association or club inside. Have your association website listed so that people can join up online. You get them to pay a small amount of yearly dues and they can go on the online information network. This is the best neighborhood watch ever. It is instant information.

The newsletter will generate a little more money by the sale of ads for local businesses. That will keep it going and could possibly cover the initial cost of a new promotional shirt that bears the community logo and name. You could include a t-shirt in the cost of yearly dues as an option. If someone has clothing that is claiming the neighborhood it gives them pride. You also want to cover any website costs. The idea of being able to contact your neighbors any time through e-mail is really good. If someones dog gets loose they can tell people to keep an eye out. If someone was seen jumping the fence at another house then the whole neighborhood can know about it too.

All of these things together will begin to build a lovely connected community that will feel like home. It is up to you and your neighbors to make your association work for the community.

About the Author

Kris A Ann