Neighbrhd Tl Kit Office f Neighbrhd Vitality City f Mesquite, Texas
TABLE OF CONTENTS Tpic Page Neighbrhd Rles and Respnsibilities............................................. 1 Starting A Neighbrhd Grup.................................................... 2 Things T Remember............................................................. 3 Hw t Invite Yur Neighbrs t a Neighbrhd Meeting............................... 5 Sample Flyer - Neighbrhd Meeting............................................... 6 Neighbrhd Meeting (Prblem-Slving Wrksheet)................................... 7 Prblem-Slving Prcedures....................................................... 8 Surces........................................................................ 9
NEIGHBORHOOD ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES There are many rles peple play within a neighbrhd. The primary respnsibility is t preserve and imprve ur neighbrhds. As a resident f a neighbrhd, there are rights as far as self-determinatin and empwerment; t be advised n public plicies and initiatives and private initiatives affecting ur neighbrhds; t have ur neighbrhd values, culture and histry recgnized and respected; and t have the authrity and resurces t establish neighbrhd rganizatins that will wrk t embrace expected change that hnrs traditin and stability. As neighbrhd peple we shuld be pen t ding sme, if nt all f the fllwing: Advising thers f neighbrhd values, histry, and culture t listen t the views f all residents in rder t: Help One anther care fr children Care fr the aging and thers in need T prmte self-sufficiency f neighbrs Ensure ecnmic and scial develpment T participate in neighbr t neighbr interactins Preserve safety f ur hmes Maintain prperties Make prper use f public facilities Strive t be gd citizens 1
STARTING A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP SIX STEPS TO FORMING A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP If yur neighbrhd des nt have an existing neighbrhd grup, yu may want t create ne. The fllwing utlines a step-by-step prcess fr frming a new neighbrhd grup. Step 1 The Idea The idea t start a neighbrhd grup is t first make sure that anther grup r assciatin desn t exist in the existing neighbrhd. Yu can cntact yur lcal neighbrhd services r plice department t inquire. Als, the Texas Secretary f State prvides a list f registered HOAs nline at www.ss.state.tx.us. Step 2 Frm a Neighbrhd Organizing Team Once yu talk t sme f yur neighbrs t gage their interest in the need fr a neighbrhd grup, a grup f 2-4 residents shuld be appinted as the Neighbrhd Organizing Team. The team will be respnsible fr getting the grup started and wrking with the City s Office f Neighbrhd Vitality. Step 3 Meet with Office f Neighbrhd Vitality Staff The team will need t establish a plan r prpsed bundaries prir t first meeting. This wuld include cming up with items yu will cver with the apprpriate number f husetps. Infrmatin abut the number f huses within yur neighbrhd can be lcated n the Dallas Cunty Central Appraisal District website as well as the City s Neighbrhd Map. The Neighbrhd Vitality Staff will prvide yu with infrmatin that can assist yu with infrmatin and assistance necessary t get started. Step 4 Hld 1 st Neighbrhd Meeting Once the Neighbrhd Organizing Team has decided n the structure and bundaries f the neighbrhd grup and created a list f issues that will be discussed, yu are ready fr yur first neighbrhd meeting. The Office f Neighbrhd Vitality will help yu with infrmatin r ideas fr the types f infrmatin yu shuld include n flyer r ntice. Prvide an pprtunity fr discussin n new ideas and cncerns and changes t the prpsal that is necessary fr cnsensus. Step 5 Hld 2 nd Neighbrhd Meeting When there is cnsensus n the bundaries and hw the grup will be structured (which may take multiple meetings), a meeting is held t create a mre structured way f cnducting neighbrhd meetings. Step 6 Register with the Office f Neighbrhd Vitality The City f Mesquite, Office f Neighbrhd Vitality encurages yu t register the name and cntact fr yur neighbrhd grup. Registratin puts yur neighbrhd grup in the City s database and lists yu as the fficial representatives r yur neighbrhd. Yur grup will be kept infrmed f events in yur area and cntacted fr feedback by varius public agencies as well as be prvided infrmatin t assist with neighbrhd issues. 2
THINGS TO REMEMBER There are things t remember when creating a Neighbrhd Grup: Neighbrhd Self-Evaluatin Checklist - The fllwing checklist prvides a way fr a grup t rate their skill r knwledge in different areas. The list is detailed s nt all will be applicable t yur grup. Simply mark pints fr each using the fllwing scale: NI (Needs Imprvement) S (Satisfactry) E (Excellent) NA (Nt Applicable) Self-Evaluatin Checklist: I. Organizatin a. Has written missin statement and\r bylaws (r perating prcedures) b. Develps annual gals and wrk plan c. Annual evaluates rganizatin activities d. Meetings are held regularly, widely publicized, and pen(accessible) t the public e. Meetings are well rganized; a written agenda is available and is fllwed f. Meetings begin and end n time g. Written minutes are kept and distributed II. III. IV. Leadership a. Reflects neighbrhd ppulatin b. Articulates issues clearly c. Diplmacy participatry methds re used t make decisins d. Cmmunicates regularly with grup abut financial status, key issues, and wrk plan, etc. e. Knwledgeable abut lcal gvernment and hw t influence decisin making Cmmunicatin a. Newsletters are prduced and distributed regularly b. An Annual Reprt r Fact Sheet is prduced and distributed c. A recrd f decisins and plicies is well-maintained d. Meetings have adequate publicity thrughut the neighbrhd and areas where neighbrs frequent e. An annual meeting is held fr the entire membership\cmmunity f. A gd relatinship with lcal media is maintained g. Makes presence knw at public hearings and befre fficial bdies h. Diversity a. Leaders and members reflect the neighbrhd s diversity (race, hmewners/tenants, incme levels, etc.)
b. Meeting places are accessible t all persns c. Grup invlves nn- r limited-english speaking persns d. Issues addressed by the grup are representative f active and nt-s-active members V. Vlunteers e. Grup prvides rientatin fr new members f. Grup prvides rientatin fr new members g. Vlunteers understand their rle clearly in the grup h. Vlunteers are held accuntable fr their assignment i. Vlunteers are mtivated and stay invlved j. Vlunteers are clear abut the grup s agenda, gals, and tactics VI. Resurces k. Grup members have diverse fundraising skills l. Annual fundraising gals are set m. Annual fundraising plan and calendar is develped n. Fundraising events and planned and implemented.. Fundraising plan is evaluated at least nce a year p. Timely research is dne fr surces fr renewable mney q. Maintains 501(C) (3) tax exempt status (Optinal and depending n the type f gal yur grup has in mind) Please see where the central fcus shuld remain fr all Neighbrhd Grups: Cnsistency NEIGHBORHOOD SUSTAINABILITY Chesive Leadership 4
Hw t Invite Yur Neighbrs t a Neighbrhd Meeting Hi. My name is (yur name) and I m ne f yur neighbrs n (street). I want t invite yu t an imprtant neighbrhd meeting n (date) at (time) at (place). [hand the neighbr a flyer] Many f the neighbrs are cncerned abut (prblems) in ur neighbrhd. We believe that by wrking tgether we can. (slutins t the prblems) This meeting will be an pprtunity fr yu t state yur cncerns abut the neighbrhd and yur ideas fr imprving it. (guests) will be there t share ideas and als answer any questins yu may have. I hpe yu will be able t attend. We need yur ideas and supprt. 5
Sample Flyer Imprtant NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Date: Time: a.m.\p.m. Place: Directins: Tpics t be discussed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Nte: Keep the estimated time f meeting in mind when planning agenda. Please attend the IMPORTANT MEETING Our Neighbrhd Needs Yur Ideas and Supprt! Fr mre infrmatin, call at r at. 6
PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKSHEET fr the prblem f: (Prblem\Issue) 1. Explain prblem as briefly as pssible: 2. List pssible causes f the prblem: 3. List pssible acceptable slutins t the prblem: 4. List pssible means/peple (include phne numbers) t help slve the prblem: 5. Things t d: 6. Reslutins/Decisins/Accmplishments: Date cmpleted: 7
Prblem Slving Prcedures 1. List belw the prblems yur Neighbrhd wuld like t slve: Prblem Prblem 2. Priritize the abve prblems and place numbers frm 1-10 (with 1 being the mst imprtant and 10, the least imprtant) in the bxes t the left f the listed prblems. Priritizing prblems can be difficult, and yu may want t get several neighbrs input. What may be tp pririty t yu may nt reflect the tp pririties f the rest f yur neighbrhd. 3. Grade the expected ease f slving the abve prblems, and place numbers frm 1-10 (with 1 being the easiest and 10, the mst difficult) in the circles after the listed prblems. 4. Fill ut a Prblem Slving Wrksheet fr each prblem. 5. Chse ne r tw f the tp pririty items t address at yur first Neighbrhd Meeting. Smetimes it helps t pick a mre easily achieved gal t accmplish alng with a mre difficult gal. An early success can help a Neighbrhd bnd tgether and renew strength t slve mre difficult, lng-term prblems. Finally, simply have fun with yur neighbrs. Althugh, there are universal rules that neighbrhd vlunteers shuld fllw in rder t be successful, always remember t utilize the creative side f yu and yur neighbrs. Everyne shuld understand that yu are engaging ne anther fr ne cmmn purpse and that is t ensure a healthy and safe neighbrhd envirnment. Fr mre Neighbrhd Grup tips and infrmatin g t the City f Mesquite, Office f Neighbrhd Vitality webpage at www.cityfmesquite.cm. 8
SOURCES 1) The City f Cllege Statin Develpment Services Taking Actin! A Manual fr Neighbrhd Assciatins 2) NeighbrWrks - Psitin Yur Prgram fr Success and Psitining yur Neighbrhd fr Ecnmic Success 3) Cmmunity Assciatin Institute The ABC s f Neighbrhd Assciatins 9