What is a Neighborhood Organization?

A Neighborhood Organization is a structure in which a group of residents within specific boundaries come together to maintain and improve their quality of life.

A Neighborhood Organization may be purely social to bring neighbors together to share food and/or fellowship; it may be a Crime Watch to prevent and fight crime; or it may an association that exists primarily to encourage residents to maintain their property at agreed upon standards. A Neighborhood Organization may also be all of the above or something altogether different, depending upon what the residents determine they need and want.

How to start a Community Watch Program in your neighborhood.
 

How Do We Get Started?

Listed below is an outline of the first steps you should take if you are interested in forming a Neighborhood Organization:

1. Talk to some of your neighbors and determine whether they are interested in forming an organization.
2. If they are, call a meeting and invite all your neighbors.
3. Invite the Consulting Coordinator of the Greensboro Neighborhood Information Center by calling 336-851-2748.
4. Prepare an agenda.
5. Register all attendees.
6. Discuss and record issues/concerns.
7. Brainstorm and record activities, events, and projects that may address concerns.
8. Agree upon the initial boundaries of your neighborhood.
9. Select a possible name for your organization.
10. Establish an initial purpose (mission) for the organization.
11. Ask for volunteers for essential leadership positions; i.e. Chairperson or President, Vice Chair or Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Block Captains, and Committee Chairs such as Membership, Programs, Code and Zoning Compliance, By Laws, etc.
12. Establish goals to be accomplished before the next meeting.
13. Pass the hat to collect a few dollars to use for paper, copies, and refreshments.
14. Set time and place for the next meeting.
     

The Greensboro Neighborhood Information Center (GNIC) can provide you with materials and resource information to assist you in forming your organization and accomplishing your goals. The Consulting Coordinator for the GNIC is available to meet with you to assist with determining your neighborhood boundaries and developing operating procedures, by laws, planning, networking with other neighborhoods and neighborhood resources, and obtaining grants and services for your neighborhood.

You may reach the GNIC by calling the Glenwood Branch Library at 336-297-5000 or the Consulting Coordinator at 336-851-2748.