Neighborhood Association Tool Kit

Table of Contents | Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 4 | Section 5 | Section 6 | Section 7 | Section 8 | Section 9 | Section 10 |

Section 3 – Leadership

During the first meeting, you will have set the date for elections.  The officers of your neighborhood association will have a profound effect on the success of the organization.  Therefore, it is very important that potential leaders are aware of what is expected of them.

When looking for potential officers, use the same tactics used to recruit other volunteers. Listen to potential leaders and identify self-interest and skills. Officers should be capable of representing the entire neighborhood, not just one section.

A Good Leader:

• Facilitates getting things done. The officer’s job is to guide the group, not run it.
• Delegates authority and asks for help and ideas so that each member feels responsible for the success of the association.
• Needs a positive attitude and keeps the group informed, provides motivation, encouragement, and recognition.
• Practices two-way communication—necessary to the well-being and success of the group.
• Encourages group decision-making based on facts, feelings, and opinions. Reaching a decision is achieved by voting, compromises, or consensus.

Leader Functions

Leader Functions can be broken down into two subcategories: Task Functions and Group Relations Functions. Task leaders focus on getting things done. Group Relations leaders are concerned with the emotional strength and maintenance of the association and its members.

Task Functions:

• Initiating: Proposing tasks or goals; defining a group problem; suggesting a procedure or ideas for solving a problem.
• Information or Opinion Seeking: Requesting facts; seeking relevant information about group concern; asking for suggestions or ideas.
• Information or Opinion Giving: Stating a belief; providing relevant information about group concern; giving suggestions or ideas.
• Clarifying: Elaborating, interpreting, or reflecting ideas; clearing up confusion; indicating alternatives and issues before the association; giving examples.
• Summarizing: Pulling together related ideas; restating suggestions after the members have discussed them; offering a decision or conclusion for the group to accept or reject.
• Consensus Testing: Seeing if the group is nearing a conclusion; checking with members to see how much agreement has been reached.

Group Relations Functions:

• Encouraging: Being friendly, warm, and responsive; accepting others and their contributions; regarding others by giving them an opportunity for recognition.
• Expressing Group Feelings: Sensing feeling, mood, and relationships within the group; sharing ones own feelings with other members.
• Harmonizing: Attempting to reconcile disagreements; reducing tension; getting people to explore their differences.
• Modifying: When one’s own idea is involved in a conflict, offering to modify one’s own position; admitting error; disciplining oneself to maintain group cohesion.
• Gate-Keeping: Attempting to keep communication channels open; facilitating the participation of others; suggesting procedures for sharing opportunities to discuss problems.
• Evaluating: Evaluating association functions and production; expressing standards for the association to achieve; measuring results; evaluating degree of group commitment.

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Sample of the Neighborhood Association Structure

Regular meetings run smoother when a strong organizational structure is in place. Below is a possible leadership structure for a neighborhood association. The structure of your association will depend on the needs of your community and the size of your membership. Smaller associations may have fewer committees while larger associations may have more committees than below.

Rainbow Neighborhood Association

A) Elected Officers *

1. President

2. Vice-president

3. Secretary

4. Treasurer

B) Basic Committees **

1. Finance (Board)

2. Communication (newsletter, flyers, media, etc.)

3. Block Captains (welcome & watch)

4. Social & Refreshments

5. Entertainment

C) Near-basic Committees ***

1. Youth

2. Business & Institutions

3. Landlords & Renters

4. Asset Survey

* Officers should be elected with a set term of office.

** By-laws should determine board & committees, length of terms and frequency of meetings, etc.

*** It is essential to recruit a willing chairperson (or co-chairs) for each area and then have them find their committee members.