I am the officer in charge of coordinating NNO. What is the best way for me to keep track of what our various blocks and neighborhoods are planning for that night?
One effective way is to develop a “Participation Form” (or “Pledge Form”) to distribute to block captain, neighborhood watch leaders and other local coordinators. Instruct participants to list activities that they are planning; where; what time; approximately how many people; etc. Set a date for which the form must be returned to you (e.g. several weeks in advance of NNO). As an incentive to get the forms filled out and returned, you could include a question asking if the block wants a visit from an officer that night. Or, use that questionnaire as the basis for a local contest. A completed form must be returned to be eligible. Tip: Keep notes on where the best ‘celebrations’ and events are being planned. Use this information when preparing your press releases. It’s best to provide the media with a list of suggested blocks and/or events to visit. Also, use this list to develop the schedule for police/sheriff department visits that night.
