April 2009
4/22/09 Safety Action Team Minutes
In attendance: Becky Jenn, Larry & Sharon Smith, Dennis Verstegen, Monica Yuhas, Cherie Olsen
Numbers below correspond with numeration on current Neighborhood Safety Plan. (Actions to be taken underlined.)
Recruitment Goals:
1. Cherie will draft letter to the blocks that need captains by 5/6/09 meeting.
Becky will generate a list of the blocks that will need delivery.
Sharon will print letters.
Larry, Sharon, Monica, Cherie, and Becky to deliver them and try to talk directly to as many people as possible during deliveries.
Larry reported that neither the bank nor the realty company that he contacted re: neighboring foreclosed home will talk to him. Larry and Sharon will continue to pursue.
Training Goals:
1. Set block captain meeting for early June to update all block captains on what their role is. Content of this meeting to be the subject of a future action team meeting, to include emphasis on reaching seniors. Becky will try to reserve space at the Meadowood Neighborhood Center on a weekday in early June at 6:30 for this. Monica will bring in Senior Assisted Independent Living ("SAIL") info for block captain mtg (handyman service).
2. Programs?:
? Cherie suggested repeating the winter safety meeting presented by John Patterson and John Amos or something specifically on home safety tips.
? Host a "Lights-On Night"? Work w/Dorn/Ace for discounted fixtures?
? Monica will look into a speaker for senior safety "Keeping Seniors Safe".
3. Becky to continue with communicating safety-related programs to neighborhood.
4. Discuss mini-training and program marketing handouts at next meeting. Tap into 4th of July Picnic for marketing? Discuss at future meeting. Monica will check into advertising costs for the Neighborhoods Section in the State Journal.
Efficiency and Quality Goals:
1. Brainstormed active neighborhoods to our knowledge: Muirfield, Wil-Mar, Tenney-Lapham, Northside. Team will look into what other active neighborhood watch programs might already exist in Madison. Becky will contact Frank (Mary Ann Thurber replacement) and ask Bert at next meeting.
2. Will update/develop written handouts for block captains and program in general at block captain meeting planning meeting.
3. Becky will find out when the MPD survey results will be available.
Also, our thought that our next all-action-teams meeting is 5/6 is INCORRECT; it is the following week Wed 5/13, the second Wed of the month, as will be all the rest of those mtgs. Our safety team meetings will follow the week after that on the third Wed of every month. These are all tentatively planned to occur at the ; I am still awaiting confirmation.
I think we're making great progress; thanks for everyone's help!
If you were unable to attend this meeting, I hope you can join us for the next all-action-teams meeting on Wed 5/13 and/or our next safety team meeting on Wed 5/20, both at 6:30 at the Meadowood Neighborhood Center.
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March 2009
Members so far: 7
We help the residents of Orchard Ridge create a safe and secure community that improves their living experience here via participation in the neighborhood watch program and partnership with adjoining neighborhoods and the Madison Police Department.
Primary Goal:
Increase participation in the neighborhood watch program by 25% as measured by number of listserv/neighborhood forum members (current number of members = 285, 25% increase = 72 more)
Our tasks right now:
* Generate at least 4 different feasible ideas of ways to increase awareness of the Crime Watch program to those who are either unaware of the program or not currently participating in the program.
* Generate at least 2 ideas to recruit block captains to increase coverage to 80% of defined neighborhood boundaries.
* Identify helpers, resources, and time lines required to implement each idea.
* Develop/update written handouts as needed to market the program and provide proxy training for new, potential, and existing members.
* Work with Programs Action Team to develop 1-2 neighborhood-wide safety-themed seminars/programs annually.
Our ongoing plans:
* Meet with block captains on an annual basis to confirm their continuing leadership role, review responsibilities, and provide any pertinent training or updated information.
* Communicate to members any available safety-related programs offered by community resources, e.g. the Madison Police Department, TRIAD, the City of Madison, etc.
* Provide ongoing mini-training and program marketing via written handouts at all neighborhood sponsored events or programs.
* Explore other successful neighborhood watch programs to glean ideas that may assist us with improving the effectiveness and participation in our program, specifically other programs in Madison or surrounding communities, and online resources such as usaonwatch.org.
* Continue developing relationships and establishing regular communication with adjoining neighborhoods and the Madison Police Department to positively affect safety in our neighborhood.
