What is Woodward NOW? 
Woodward Neighbors on Watch (Woodward NOW) is a neighborhood watch organization currently consisting of 25 blocks in the northwest corner of the Carondelet Neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri.  It is named after Calvin M. Woodward School, located in the approximate center of the targeted area, which runs from Grand Boulevard east to I-55 and Bates Street south to Wilmington Avenue.

When was Woodward NOW founded and why?
In August 2004, Captain Steven Mueller, 1^st District Commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, visited National Night Out events in the 700 block of Dover Place.  After hearing concerns from several residents about crime trends, he suggested that they revitalize the neighborhood watch program, which had grown dormant in the area.

How did Woodward NOW gain the interest of the neighborhood?
A steering committee of five people took on the task to see if there was enough interest to revitalize neighborhood watch.  The committee organized a meeting held at a local church meeting hall.  An informational flyer was developed and hand delivered to all residences in the targeted area.  The speakers included the police captain, public affairs officer, NSO and Alderman.  Approximately 120 people attended the first meeting.  A database was developed of all the attendees from the first meeting.

Plans were developed for a second meeting with the purpose of analyzing block participation.  A flyer was again developed and hand delivered to each residence in the targeted area.

The second meeting was held approximately one month after the first.  All attendees were seated in their block unit.  Each block unit was tasked to accomplish the following: determine if there is 25% participation in the block unit; elect the block captain and co-captain, select a training date for neighborhood watch training conducted by the public affairs officer and NSO.  As a result of this second meeting, seven block units were organized and trained over the next two months.

How were the blocks organized?
The definition of a block for the purpose of neighborhood watch is a city block where the fronts of the houses face each other. Statistics were developed for each block so that percentages could be calculated and the area organized into block units.  It was decided to develop our 25 city blocks into 17 block units.  Typically there are between 30 – 50 residences in a block unit.

What are the requirements to organize a block?
All blocks must have a 25% participation of its residences, elect a block captain and co-captain and hold a training meeting at a residence in their block unit.

What are the duties of a bock captain and co-captain?
The Block captain/co-captain is extremely important to the block organization.  Block captains organize, communicate and coordinate.  Their duties include: 

·        Liaison between the block and City Hall, the police department, NSO, Operation Brightside and neighborhood organizations.

·        Maintain a phone/address list.

·        Plan block meetings.

·        Communicate information to block members concerning meetings, events, and concerns.

·        Educate block members on how to solve problems.  Block captains cannot solve problems by themselves.  Residents must be involved. 

·        Attend Block Captain training when provided.

·        Attend Neighborhood Watch Block Captains meetings when scheduled.

What block training is required?
The Public Affairs Officer for the 1^st District St. Louis Police Department and the Neighborhood Stabilization Officer train all block units.  It is preferred that the training be held in a residence in the block unit.  The training consists of the following topics: how to protect yourself, your family and your property; how to report suspicious issues, how to report nuisance issues and how to report this information to the proper authorities.

Who governs Woodward NOW?
A steering committee made up of all organized block captains and co-captains are the governing body.

How often does Woodward NOW meet?
Currently we hold Block Captains Meetings on the 2^nd Monday quarterly (January, April and October).  We have a general meeting on the 2^nd Monday of July for all residents.

How do you communicate?
Woodward NOW currently uses an e-mail alert system.  When important issues to the neighborhood occur, the block captains send e-mail notices to their block members and to other block captains who also disseminate that information to their block members.  Woodward NOW is exploring a website forum method of communication.  Also each block captain maintains a telephone contact list for all members in their block unit.

What activities does Woodward NOW participate in?
Woodward NOW has organized Litter Pick-up to beautify our neighborhood.  A hugely successful National Night Out celebrated our 1^st anniversary this year.  Recruitment of unorganized blocks continues.   Woodward Now has participated in cleaning up problem properties.  The organization has written letters on zoning and liquor license issues.  Our meetings include guest speakers and reports from the police, alderman and NSO.

What is the future of Woodward NOW?
Our future plans include strategic planning and technology.   Our strategic planning committee will be looking at disaster preparedness, animal ordinances, traffic concerns and promotion of our neighborhood.   Woodward NOW is striving to improve communications with the development of a website to include a communication forum (www.woodwardnow.com). 

The following links provide excellent information on Neighborhood Watch Programs.

National Neighborhood Watch Program National Sheriff’s Association www.usaonwatch.org

National Neighborhood Watch Institute www.nnwi.org

Citizens Corps www.citizencorps.gov

National Crime Prevention Council  www.ncpc.org