Saturday, March 12, 2011

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH QUERIES

I have received three calls in the past two weeks from fellow Area Coordinators : I thought I would share with you all what their queries were  and my replies in the hope they will help another group.



First enquiry was whether I had any suggestions re: possible speakers for Neighbourhood Watch meetings on the Gold Coast - my emailed reply was to suggest four as follows:

  • Volunteers in Policing - contact them via your local Crime prevention Coordinator - if you're in Coomera District your Crime Prevention Coordinator is the very hardworking Sgt Martin Webb. Volunteers in Policing can come to your group and give a talk to your residents - we were lucky enough to have Robyn markwell talk about Identity Theft and Fraud about a year ago.
  • Brigitte Duffield RSPCA will tailor make a talk about the wildlife in your area (even in an urban area) - email bduffield@rspcaqld.org.au.
  • Ask your local Fire Station or SES department  if they could come and  give a safety talk.
  • SCISCO Career Pathways have 4 offices on the Gold Coast and have just opened their 4th in Coomera - speak with Raph Svensen (raph@scisco.org.au) on 0407 525 505.
Next enquiry was about funding for Neighbourhood Watch groups - my reply was as follows:
The third call was from an Area Coordinator who asked what meeting format we follow at our meetings and so I sent him our meeting schedule - like so:

PRIOR TO MEETING : G and U  CIRCULATE WITH RAFFLE TICKET PURCHASE AND ATTENDANCE BOOK
MEETING STARTED AT:
APOLOGIES:
WELCOME BY AREA COORDINATOR and REPORT (5 to 8 mins max): Area Coordinator outlines events of the past 3 months including new initiatives, crime trends, alerts etc. Area Coordinator ends by reminding attendees to  enter their details in the Attendance Book if not already done so.
CORRESPONDENCE IN/ OUT: Unfeasible due to high number of emails received and sent – but copies available upon request.
MINUTES OF LAST MEETING READ BY _________
NOMINATED BY _________SECONDED BY ________
BUSINESS ARISING FROM LAST MEETING MINUTES:
AREA COORDINATOR  INTRODUCES SPEAKER:
Speakers whether QPS, civilians or MPs  are non commercial and apolitical in their address – (max 20 minutes)
SPEAKER’S NAME _____________SPEAKER’S TOPIC_____________
LOCAL MP and / or COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: (5 minutes max) Speaker gives brief overview on planning and development – issues and fixes specific to the local area.
AREA COORDINATOR THANKS SPEAKER/S AND INTRODUCES TREASURER FOR HIS/HER REPORT – (Max 5 mins)
NOMINATED BY __________SECONDED BY ________
TRAFFIC REPORT READ BY 1st  POLICE LIAISON OFFICER – 8 min max
NOMINATED BY ___________SECONDED BY _______________
POLICE REPORT READ BY 2nd POLICE LIAISON OFFICER – 8  min max
NOMINATED BY ___________SECONDED BY ______________
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR FOR POLICE LIAISON OFFICERS? 5 mins max
GENERAL BUSINESS:
IN CLOSING...
LAST CALL FOR RAFFLE TICKET PURCHASE – G AND U TO CIRCULATE WITH RAFFLE BOOK
MEANWHILE AREA COORDINATOR CHECKS EVERYONE HAS SIGNED THE ATTENDANCE BOOK  AND ARRANGES DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: ___________ & ANNOUNCES THAT DATE  WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER AND ONLINE.
AREA COORDINATOR THANKS EVERYONE FOR ATTENDANCE  AND THANKS  THOSE WHO BROUGHT FOOD TO SHARE
DRAW RAFFLE
INVITE ALL  TO STAY BEHIND TO CHAT  WITH  POLICE LIAISON OFFICERS, MPS, COUNCILLORS AND FELLOW NEIGHBOURS –  COMPLIMENTARY DRINKS AND SNACKS FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
MEETING CLOSED AT :
I  must stress - this is just how we run our meetings at Oxenford Neighbourhood Watch - it suits us as it keeps the meeting to approximately an hour or so in length and we follow this by 45 minutes or so of socialising afterwards during which time people can mingle, meet their neighbours and local MPs and councillor and of course pick the brains of our two Police Liaison Officers. If yours runs in a different manner or order - that is fine too - every group is different and you should  follow a meeting procedure schedule that suits your group.

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