Being a Great Neighbor
Don't we all want to be the best neighbor and have the best neighbors? Well, I am always looking for ways to be a better neighbor and ideas to make our neighborhood even better than it is today. Recently, I ran across an article that had some wonderful ideas on helping bring neighbors in a small community closer together. As you know, the board is working hard on planning events to get more people involved and trying to provide information to keep everyone informed. I thought that after reading this article I would share some of the ideas with you. Even though most of them are common sense, it never hurts to be reminded that some of the most simplistic ideas are still the most effective in being a GREAT neighbor.
How can you be a courteous and great neighbor?
- Pick up after you pet while walking them in our neighborhood especially when they need to relieve themselves in a neighbors yard.
- Keep your dog on a leash if it has a tendency to run off.
- Drive slowly through our neighborhood and watch for children playing.
- Promptly remove trash bins from the curb on your designated trash day.
- Keep barking dogs inside especially at night.
- Have visitors park in your driveway or in front of your home instead of your neighbors home unless your have asked prior to their visit.
- Don’t run machinery early in the morning or late at night.
- Don’t play loud music.
- Inform your neighbors when you’re planning a party. If they know what to expect, they will tolerate it better. What time will it start? When will it end? Adhere to this schedule for your neighbors’ sake.
- Keep your yard tidy, grass cut, house pressure washed, etc.
- Speak to your neighbors and build a rapport
- Expressing an interest in something he or she values, a prize rose or a weed-free lawn, for example, or comment on the good manners their children use when they come over to retrieve their soccer ball from your yard.
- Inviting a neighbor over for ice tea one warm afternoon or plan a neighborhood gathering for everyone on your block.
- Take a bouquet of flowers from your garden to a neighbor who has just moved in or who needs cheering up.
- When you see a neighbor struggling with a project, offer them the help. Just last evening, in our neighborhood, a boy was walking up the street pushing his bicycle. A neighbor asked why he wasn’t riding it and he explained that something was broken. The neighbor took a look at the bike, was able to fix it and the boy rode off with a big smile on his face.
- If you see suspicious activity around a neighbor’s property, tell him about it.
- Offer to watch your neighbors’ homes when they’re away.
- Neighborhood Watch is a good place to start. Many cities have volunteers who work with neighborhood leaders in setting up these programs.
- Create a neighborhood directory for each resident. (which should be ready in a couple of weeks) =)
- Discuss emergency measures with your immediate neighbors.
- Be aware of elderly or disabled neighbors who might need special attention in case of emergency.
- Visit new neighbors and give them your phone number in case they need help with anything or want information about community services.
