03/Apr/2008
Methods of Neighborhood Communication: Creative Ways to Get the Word Out
By Wayne S. Woody, President
Neighbors often complain that they don’t know what their homeowner’s association is up to. In the words of the captain from Cool Hand Luke: “What we've got here is a failure to communicate.”
So what is the best way for an association to get the word out? Consider all or any of the following:
• Letters or postcards
• Fliers delivered by a Boy or Girl Scout troop in your neighborhood
• E-mails because they are immediate and great for alerts
• Telephone calls, possibly a phone tree
• Websites that make worlds of information available
• Brochures distributed at meetings or designated locations
• Homeowner packets for new residents
• Signs for a meeting notice or upcoming event at the exit or entrance to the subdivision
• Permanent Information Boards placed so they can be viewed as people drive in or out of the subdivision
• Meetings that identify invitees and choose a notification method
• “Neighborhood mailboxes” that distribute information on a routine basis from a resident’s front porch
Of course, newsletters are the most traditional means for communicating a lot of information on different subjects. Editors and volunteers can write about topics that are needed, and reasonably priced advertisements can defray costs. Advertisers can even be residents.
These newsletters also establish a tone for your community. They are a great way to promote neighbor appreciation such as yard of the month, best holiday lighting, births, deaths, welcoming a new neighbor, etc.
Each neighborhood has to decide what works best for them, considering their budget and immediate needs of the community.
If you have any ideas, questions, interests in a particular topic, or if you’d like to join the Federation, please let me know. Send an e-mail to wayneswoody@cox.net.
By Wayne S. Woody, President
Neighbors often complain that they don’t know what their homeowner’s association is up to. In the words of the captain from Cool Hand Luke: “What we've got here is a failure to communicate.”
So what is the best way for an association to get the word out? Consider all or any of the following:
• Letters or postcards
• Fliers delivered by a Boy or Girl Scout troop in your neighborhood
• E-mails because they are immediate and great for alerts
• Telephone calls, possibly a phone tree
• Websites that make worlds of information available
• Brochures distributed at meetings or designated locations
• Homeowner packets for new residents
• Signs for a meeting notice or upcoming event at the exit or entrance to the subdivision
• Permanent Information Boards placed so they can be viewed as people drive in or out of the subdivision
• Meetings that identify invitees and choose a notification method
• “Neighborhood mailboxes” that distribute information on a routine basis from a resident’s front porch
Of course, newsletters are the most traditional means for communicating a lot of information on different subjects. Editors and volunteers can write about topics that are needed, and reasonably priced advertisements can defray costs. Advertisers can even be residents.
These newsletters also establish a tone for your community. They are a great way to promote neighbor appreciation such as yard of the month, best holiday lighting, births, deaths, welcoming a new neighbor, etc.
Each neighborhood has to decide what works best for them, considering their budget and immediate needs of the community.
If you have any ideas, questions, interests in a particular topic, or if you’d like to join the Federation, please let me know. Send an e-mail to wayneswoody@cox.net.
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