Crime Prevention Officer Myron Travis of the Mukilteo Police Department said, “Each year, the community becomes more educated and more committed to resisting criminal activity and they learn how to resist becoming a victim of crime themselves.” He added, “Through education and interaction, it is clear that National Night Out has become the symbol of police-community partnerships. It keeps our residents alert and re-energizes them to being dedicated to doing their part to help keep the City of Mukilteo a fun and safe place to live and work.” National Night Out events also send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and are working together to fight crime in their community. The first couple of years that National Night Out was formally organized, it was a night to focus on one single action; each neighbor should turn on and leave on their porch light on the same night.” Since its first night, the celebration has grown beyond these front porch vigils.
There are many reasons why hosting a National Night Out “Party” should be part of your association’s annual calendar of important events. In addition to meeting your neighbors and local law enforcement officers, your association can use the event as an opportunity to start an official and organized Block Watch program, network with neighbors on a variety of issues, learn more about your association and how to make it safer which improves the quality of life and to start a new, fun, yearly tradition within your association. Local neighborhoods, communities and associations from all fifty states host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other community events. A simple Google search of “National Night Out Event Ideas” will leave you overwhelmed with ideas that might work for your association.
Your event can be as big or as low-key as your budget and volunteers allow. Some points to consider when planning your event:
• Is there enough interest?
I will caution, do not base the attendance at other meetings of the association as the gauge to this question. Associations often struggle to create enough interest in an annual meeting to make quorum without a struggle. A high attendance of owners at board meetings is an exception and not a rule and many associations rack their brains for ways to build a base of interested volunteers for the myriad of committees, director positions and projects that an association discusses each year. By interest, have you heard from your owners that safety is a concern in your HOA? Perhaps consider sending out a survey to your owners to determine if there is interest in a National Night Out event.
• Register with National Night Out:
You’re not alone! Once you’ve made the decision to host an event take advantage of all the free information and resources you’ll need to plan your event. Banners, balloons, stickers, tablecloths and more are available at
www.natw.org You will also want to reach out to your local police department to register your association’s event. This will ensure that you will be visited by a law enforcement officer during National Night Out. Many will come with stickers for the kids and make themselves available for neighbors to ask questions about crime prevention.
• Evaluate what works for your association.
A small association may plan a backyard BBQ at a board member’s home and invite neighbors over for a potluck while others may rent inflatable bounce houses, have face painters and a fully catered BBQ dinner. If you’re facing budget constraints or you struggle to find any volunteers to help plan or if you’ve never planned an event in the past, consider starting small. Something as simple as ice cream bars in a common area of the association is a perfectly wonderful way to host your first National Night Out event. Early each summer, circulating a request for contributions like food, grills, coolers, tables or even if any community members have a talent they would like to share at the event can also create opportunities to increase neighborhood involvement. One association in Kent was surprised to find they had an owner who worked as a DJ and volunteered to play music at the event, a person who knew how to create balloon animals and the owner of a catering company who volunteered to help with the food. These three individuals had never had a chance to volunteer for anything with the HOA in the past but were excited that there was an opportunity for them that fit the time and skill set they had to offer.
• Start Inviting Guests!
Consider fun and new ways to invite homeowners to your event that creates excitement in the association. Posters, flyers, invitations, social media, email blasts and even a door- to-door invitation campaign can be great ways to get the word out. Consider asking trusted vendors like landscapers, maintenance companies and other partners to attend or provide door prizes for drawings during the event.
• Have a contingency plan for the unforeseen:
You may ask, “What types of things would be unforeseen?” Well, it could be many different things… thus… unforeseen. But, they include things like rain, what time quiet hours begin in your HOA, are permits required if your association has city streets that you want to block, if hot weather is in the forecast, are you prepared for proper food storage? Also, once you have an idea of the type of activities you’ll be planning, call your Master Insurance agent to find out if you need any special event insurance.
Not only has National Night Out proven to be an effective and inexpensive program, it’s also a fun way to promote safer neighborhoods and police-community partnerships. The benefit offered to neighbors getting out and meeting each other is priceless. The benefits your community will derive from National Night Out will most certainly extend well beyond the one night.
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