Get Involved - Block Captain Responsibilities
In the About Ernie section of my website, I state “What I Will Do” as follows:
“As your Commissioner, I intend to advocate strongly for the concept of shared governance…”
“Shared governance” means that local elected officials work directly with citizens rather than simply represent them. In order to do that effectively, local elected officials must organize their communities at the grass-roots level. The most efficient way to do this is to organize constituencies block-by-block. A critical component of such grass-roots organizing is the block captain.
There are approximately 75 blocks, four large apartment complexes and two senior adult living facilities in Ward 7 that need to be organized. So, I envision a network of at least 85 block captains throughout the three voting districts of Ward 7.
The block captain is a volunteer who works in coordination with the Ward Commissioner and is primarily a resource for, a communicator with and an advocate for their block. The block captain is a not a political operative and is strictly non-partisan. The responsibilities of a block captain are:
- Collect and maintain contact information of all block residents.
- Distribute information that is of interest to block residents.
- Identify/compile service needs of the block and communicate those needs to the Commissioner.
- Organize residents around issues that affect the block.
- Attend periodic block captain meetings.
Specific examples of the above functions include, but are not limited to: gather name, address, phone and e-mail information of all block residents; distribute flyers with announcements about meetings or important events; distribute new resident information packets; inform the Commissioner about potholes or burnt-out street lights; collect signatures on a petition expressing concern/support for a new development in the area.
If you are interested in being a block captain for Ward 7, please contact me. Also, feel free to share your ideas for responsibilities of and functions to be performed by block captains (even if you are not interested in being a block captain).
Thank you for your consideration. Working together, we will restore, preserve and extend the legacy of success for which Abington Township is known.