Welcome to the first edition of The ENW Dispatch! When thinking about writing a “first” article, the struggle was with where to start. Then it became clear that this is the best time of year to talk about what’s new at ENW.
A monthly article is definitely new. With traditional newsletters becoming replaced with various forms of e-communication, we at ENW wanted to ensure that we could still provide crime prevention news and information to the general public, our stakeholders and other organizations in a similar approach. Our hope is that the article can get to you whether it is reproduced on a website, in an email, in a newsletter or posted on a bulletin board.
In 2014 the organization was incredibly busy. We began the process of reintroducing ENW to the public through different means. With consistent branding in mind, we started by introducing a new general information brochure and using info-cards to describe our programs. We updated existing programs, implemented new ones and are looking at programs for the future. Our awareness campaign kicked off strong with a new design to the website www.enwatch.ca which is continually growing and providing more information on crime prevention and safety. We started using social media with the goal to reach as many people as possible with crime prevention tips and to share the message that crime prevention is something everyone can do. It’s our way of supporting more than just our membership, it is our way of supporting our community, our city and individuals who want to prevent crime in their neighbourhood.
We had several changes to our Board of Directors in the last year but that has given us the opportunity to begin building a board that is more representative of the community at large and a chance to get a broader perspective on the needs and challenges of our communities. We are currently seeking individuals who are interested in volunteering on our Board of Directors.
In September the ENW office moved to a location where we feel we can best serve the needs of the organization, our staff, our stakeholders and the community. And after having a successful Volunteer Appreciation in November which was held in conjunction with a Community Rep meeting, a plan was put in place to ensure these events continue to occur on a regular basis. The Board of Directors developed a new business plan for 2015 – 2017 which will be presented at our upcoming Annual General Meeting in March. We are very excited about the future at ENW and the many programs, services and resources being made available.
Coming up in March, find out more about our Block Party program and how getting to know your neighbours is one of the best ways to prevent crime in neighbourhoods.
Until next time…
Debbie Sellers, ENW
Edmonton Neighbourhood Watch On Social Media