San Gabriel Valley Cover Story : How to Start a Neighborhood Association

So you hardly know your neighbors and you want to change all that, build a sense of community and camaraderie?

You’re not alone. Neighborhoods USA is a national nonprofit organization formed in 1975 to build and strengthen neighborhood groups.

Clifford Benedict, a member of the board of directors for the association, offers the following tips for starting your own neighborhood group.

1. Identify why you want to start a neighborhood group. Crime prevention, beautification of the community and a need to unite and empower residents are three common reasons for starting an association.

2. Start canvassing the neighborhood for members to join the association and to find out what issues are important in the community. A priority should be working to build lasting friendships in the community and organizing the neighborhood into almost a family unit.

3. Hold a big meeting. Policy should be established at this first get-together: Will the association have officers--a president, vice president and treasurer? How will the association raise funds? How and where will meetings be conducted? Will someone volunteer to mail out agendas?

4. Once the association has been formed, find out if your city has a neighborhood association outreach office. This office usually acts as a liaison between city government and the associations and can provide helpful hints on a variety of topics, including the best way to approach the city council.

5. Once the association is on its feet and growing, go national. Contact groups such as Neighborhoods USA and begin attending conferences and meetings to discover new ways of solving community problems.

For more information, call Benedict at (818) 351-1203 or write: Neighborhoods USA, Mid City Station, Box 307, Dayton, Ohio 45402.