What is a Neighborhood
Association?
A Neighborhood Association is a group of residents,
business representatives, and other interested citizens
that devote their time and energy to improve and enhance
a well-defined, geographic area that they and others live.
The neighborhood association meeting, like the earlier
town meetings, is a place to meet neighbors, exchange
ideas, prioritize projects, propose solutions, and implement
plans for the neighborhood.
Most neighborhood associations are concerned with issues that affect the quality of life in the community. This can include issues such as zoning regulations or traffic improvements as well as events that strengthen neighborhoods. Sponsoring neighborhood festivals, block parties, crime prevention activities and upgrading neighborhood parks are important projects for neighborhood associations.
Why Start a
Neighborhood Association?
Neighborhoods usually organize to:
- Address a particular issue of the neighborhood;
- Provide the neighborhood with an effective communication link with government officials and other influential groups;
- Empower residents to work together in improving their neighborhood:
Organizing a neighborhood brings people together to form a collective, united voice. A well-organized group of people can be a powerful and influential force.
Simple Organizing
Tips
Organizing a neighborhood association is a big
job. While it may seem difficult at first, developing
your association will be enormously exciting as people
come together to address common problems and learn to
work together as a group.
Keep in mind some important guidelines as you begin to organize:
- Building an organization is a process. It cannot be done overnight. Be patient. Identify your priorities and build them step-by-step.
- Set realistic goals. Start small and build upward. As your organizational capacity grows, start setting your goals higher.
- How you treat people is crucial to your success. By treating people with respect and integrity, people will be more likely to get involved in the organization.
People join neighborhood groups for a variety of reasons. One of them is to get to know their neighbors and to feel a sense of community. So as you build your organization, be sure to have fun.
How
to Start a Neighborhood Association?
Four simple steps is all it takes.
- Contact your Alderperson to inform him/her of your intention to create a neighborhood association. Your Alderperson will be helpful in providing you with useful information on any other neighborhood associations that are functioning within the area. Call the Common Council Office at 266-4071 to leave a message for your Alderperson.
- Contact Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner, Department of Planning and Development to discuss establishing a neighborhood association. She will discuss the steps in forming a neighborhood associations, setting boundaries, and refer you to other technical information that may be useful in your neighborhood-based initiatives.
- Place a Class II Public Notice in the
Wisconsin State Journal or Capital Times indicating
the time and place for the first organizational meeting.
We also encourage the meeting organizers to post notices
at frequently visited places in the neighborhood such
as a local grocery store, the public schools, or go
door to door inviting your neighbors to this meeting.
- An example of the public notice would be: Residents of the Vilas Neighborhood are invited to attend an organizational meeting at Monroe Street Public Library on March 4, 1995, at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of establishing a neighborhood association, adopting neighborhood boundaries and to elect officers. The proposed boundaries of the neighborhood includes the area circumscribed by Monroe Street, Regent Street. S. Randall Avenue, and Vilas Park and Lake Wingra. Contact Beth Madison at 222-2222. - Forward a copy of the public notice,
a map of your neighborhood boundaries, and the name,
address, and phone number of a neighborhood contact
person to:
Department of Planning and Development, Planning Unit
Jule Stroick, Neighborhood Planner
215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
P.O. Box 2985
Madison, WI 53701-2985
Tel: 608-267-8744
Fax: 608-267-8739
Email: neighborhoods@ci.madison.wi.us