How to Write a Bulletin for the Neighborhood Watch

Writing a good bulletin depends on the needs of the community.

A neighborhood watch program is an effort where residents of a community partner with local law enforcement to reduce crime within and around a neighborhood. A neighborhood watch is effective against burglaries, violent attacks and other instances of crime when neighbors look out for the safety of their neighbors. Sending out bulletins regarding the happenings within the neighborhood is necessary to inform residents of potential safety threats and to report program successes. Learning how to write such a bulletin properly is imperative to a good neighborhood watch program.

Instructions

1. Determine the main topic of the bulletin and stick to the point. Most residents are busy and won't feel the need to read through a load of information that does not apply to their specific family. Therefore, if your bulletin is more than one page, make an effort to word your topic titles without much leading information. This will cause the reader to continue flipping through the bulletin and reading the articles.

2. Write the bulletins using excellent grammar and punctuation. Double check the spelling throughout the bulletin for any mistakes. Refrain from using all capital letters. If a message is urgent, sparingly using all capital letters may be beneficial because it will cause readers to read that item with more attention.

3. Print out your bulletin and place it at each resident's door (taped to the front door or in the door jamb). Be careful to receive permission to place the bulletins on the doors first to avoid upsetting neighbors who didn't choose to participate in the program.

References

• USA On Watch: About Neighborhood Watch
• Anvari: How to Write a Bulletin

Resources

• Neighborhood Watch Decals & Kits