HOW TO ORGANIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Talk to your neighbors
Talk with neighbors on your block and neighbors on other blocks in the area you want to organize

Set up an organizational meeting

WHAT DO I DO FOR and at THAT MEETING?

Make sure you have representatives from other blocks than your own
Set an agenda and a time limit on this first meeting
Invite a person from HAND and/or CONA who work with neighborhoods
Appoint one neighborhood person to conduct the meeting
Ask someone to take minutes at the meeting
Determine temporary boundaries (Do you have someone who could map the area?)
You need information from the entire neighborhood so choose a day to meet to canvass the neighborhood
Talk about questions for a survey for your neighborhood Ð assign someone to prepare this survey and make copies

WHAT DO WE PUT ON THAT SURVEY?

Data questions like, name, address, phone number, email
How long have you lived in the neighborhood?
Would you like to have an association?
Make sure you can respond to the question -- What do I get from a Neighborhood Association? (Ask CONA!)
Would you be willing to help organize?
What are two things you really like about the neighborhood?
What two things would you change?

Make a list of other neighbors willing to canvass.

Adjourn the meeting; have a cup of coffee and chat!!!!

Later -- a group meets to pick up surveys and begin the canvassing. Have families canvass together; avoid sending one person alone -- NO FUN!

Still later -- a small group reviews and compiles information from your survey; review the survey data with original group.

SHALL WE GO FORWARD WITH AN ASSOCIATION?

You may not start with a large number of potential members. But continue to include everyone in your notices, etc. People will join you as they see something happening!

More information is available with the CONA Making the pieces fit: The Neighborhood Organization Handbook