Building community cohesion and togetherness
By Brad Slager
Community Awareness Committee Chair
Desert Ridge Community Association
At the January 23rd, 2013 Monthly Desert Ridge Community Association Board of Director’s Meeting, the Board approved the creation of the, “Community Awareness Committee”. The Committee will be a standing committee and will act as a task force and advisory group to the Board of Directors to improve the community lifestyle and property values of the residential members of Desert Ridge, by developing and implementing procedures and activities in the Community that may help to increase and promote safety and overall awareness of crime prevention programs. The mission of this Committee is to endeavor to keep the Desert Ridge community safe and free of crime, to build a stronger community, in conjunction with local law enforcement that makes Desert Ridge a friendlier, more caring place to live, and to promote active participation of all homeowners and residents. To focus the Committee’s efforts on overall safety awareness, while working toward building community cohesion and togetherness, and reducing or removing the opportunity for people to commit crime. This Committee may be expanded to include community Disaster Preparedness. The duties of the Community Awareness Committee shall include, but not be limited to the following:
• Promote and foster programs that encourage all residents to acquire continuing education in neighborhood security, CPR, first-aid, emergency preparedness;
• Improve and strengthen awareness of crime in the Desert Ridge Community through communication and education;
• Develop a closer working relationship with the Phoenix Police Department through our Community Action Officer;
• Encourage and recruit volunteers from within the community to form and serve on neighborhood block watch groups;
• Obtain, coordinate installation and maintain “Neighborhood Block Watch” signs in the respective neighborhoods that have officially become a block watch neighborhood recognized by the Phoenix Police Department;
• Develop crime prevention or awareness programs, seminars, training for the association such as Neighborhood Block Watch Programs;
• Organize and promote yearly the “Getting Arizona Involved In Neighborhoods” (G.A.I.N) event;
• Promote Social and Charitable Events, Fundraising, Block Parties, Clubs, etc. designed to encourage community involvement and awareness.
The Committee will consist of one Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and the President of the Desert Ridge Community Association Board, who will act as the liaison between the committee and the Desert Ridge subassociations and subdivisions neighborhoods. The committee will also consist of one eligible “delegate representative” from each of the Desert Ridge subassociations and subdivisions neighborhoods. Watch for www.DesertRidgeLifestyles.com website, the Desert Ridge Lifestyles Magazine, or attend an upcoming monthly Desert Ridge Community Association Board of Director’s Meeting for further details!
