Getting Started
For those ready to establish and maintain a Local Neighbor Net
Roadmap for New Local Neighbor Nets
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If you haven’t done so already, please fill out the “Join Us” form. Let MNN know you’re organizing an LNN. We want to offer guidance and support.
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Local Neighbor Nets most often begin with a single coordinator. Someone who has “raised their hand” to take on some or perhaps most of the responsibility of leadership and coordination.
We suggest that you look for opportunities to share some coordinating responsibility with your neighbors. Whether it’s to one neighbor or several, delegating specific functions ensures that the work of coordination is shared and more sustainable. This lightens the load on you and creates more engagement with your LNN.
Explore possible leadership models for your LNN here.
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Size
We expect the average LNN to be around 30-50 households. However, some may be smaller (e.g. an apartment building) or larger (e.g. a distinctly defined section of town). The most important principle is that the size of an LNN needs to be manageable for its Coordinator(s).
Start small. You can always add more households to your LNN as your coordinating team grows in size and capacity. Or, you might join another small, adjacent LNN.
Scope
LNNs consist of geographically connected households. Start by looking at the households nearest to yours, and then try to expand outward in both directions. Knowing where to draw the line may be difficult. Are there any natural divisions that you can use in defining the boundaries of your LNN? Keep in mind that LNN boundaries are flexible and will likely evolve as your LNN and others’ get established. If you’re not sure if a household belongs in your LNN or not, lean toward inviting them in if you have the capacity.
MNN’s goal is full coverage of Montpelier, and each LNN– no matter the shape and size– is helping us get there.
See our current coverage here.
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Why do we need LNN Contact Lists?
Contact lists serve many functions for Local Neighbor Nets. Importantly, they make it possible for residents to be effectively and efficiently for emergencies and social connections
What information do you gather?
What household information is most important and useful to your LNN? This might change over time, but a good place to start would be to gather:
● Name ● Phone number ● Address ● Email address ● Other household members’ names ● Preferred contact method ● Special notes
Find examples of a LNN Contact List Template and LNN Sign Up Form. Make copies and adjust the fields as necessary.
Some neighbors won’t want to provide some or perhaps even most of this information. We recommend that you enter at least the address and hopefully the family name to your LNN list anyway and just leave blank any info they don’t want to provide. In this way, their household won’t fall through the cracks. Some LNN participants may prefer limited contact or contact through a trusted neighbor. Respect privacy concerns and contact preferences.
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How to reach out
Once you’ve identified the households that fit within your LNN, making them aware is the
next step. There are a number of effective ways to reach out to your potential LNN
participants. If you already have a group chat or email thread, that’s a great place to start.
Reach out to the group or to individuals. For those you do not have contact information for, or
even those you do, a face-to-face interaction is very valuable. We recommend a combination
of methods for engagement...
Knock on doors
Impromptu street conversations
Flyers on doors (examples and templates here)
Call/text/email if you already have a connection.
Once you’ve made contact
Using whichever method(s) you choose, take the opportunity to:
Describe MNN and your role in your LNN.
Answer questions
Provide a way to find out more about your LNN and/or sign up!
You won’t reach all of your neighbors the first time around, and some of those you do reach won’t say yes the first time. It may take a few tries from you and/or other neighbors to get folks on board.
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Once you have engaged many of your neighbors regarding your LNN, we recommend bringing everyone together. You could host a meeting, a potluck, or something else that appeals to your neighbors.
Whatever the form, the goals are to:
● Build connections among the members of your LNN
● Help you understand the needs and priorities of your neighbors
● Determine how your LNN might provide communication and support to those
involved.
A kickoff event is a great time to address...
Your LNN’s name.
Though we won’t stifle your creativity, We encourage names of the form “[your designation] Neighbor Net” - e.g. “St. Paul St. Neighbor Net”
Visions for the LNN: what focus and/or functions?
MNN has three foci: improved communications, deeper social connections, and emergency preparedness and response. Do any of these stand out to your LNN more than the others?
Maintaining a contact list is a core function of an LNN. What other functions make sense for you and your LNN?
What needs do participants have, and what support could your LNN provide?
Communication Expectations.
What type of notifications do folks want? Text, email, google group, listserv, etc.
What frequency? Weekly, monthly newsletter, ongoing communication? One-way communication, or open to everyone?
Note: start with confidentiality. You can always take this away, not the other way around.
