Block Captains

Block captains help the town council board to get the word out on issues that cannot wait for the monthly newsletter. We often are notified of important meetings just days before they take place. In many cases, block captains are faster, and more efficient than email and the Internet because some people only check their email weekly, and others don't have email at all. We want everyone to know what's going on, and we only use the block captains for the "big stuff". We appreciate the work that each of them does for the community.

Fast, effective communication is essential so we can all stay informed on the important issues. If you prefer to be contacted only through email, please send your email address to any town council board member and let your block captain know that you don't need to be called in the future. 

Here’s the story of how the block captains came to be.

Elfin Forest Block Captains

By Peggy Petitmermet

In 1996, a few of us were in the process of trying to compile an Elfin Forest directory. After sending out surveys, making numerous phone calls and talking to neighbors, the time didn’t seem quite right for this undertaking.

From our disappointment blossomed another idea. We wanted a system to inform, organize and gather the members of our community together on short notice for important events, meetings or emergency situations. The Harmony Grove fire, or as I call it, “the Big Fire of October 1996  brought this home to us. After that experience we decided to create a “Block Captain” organization. To organize our rural area was a challenge. We went about dividing the area into smaller clusters with one “dear soul” taking on the responsibilities of “block captain” for their surrounding area. We even appointed alternate “block captains” to help when needed. Forms were passed out to gather pertinent information; names, address, home phone, work phone, cell phone, etc. Some households wanted to include all living creatures from hamsters to farm animals, just in case rescues or evacuations were ever needed.

From this humble beginning grew a dedicated and effective group of people who put in many hours informing neighbors when needed.

There occurred a situation about 2 years after the “Block Captains” were formed. Yet another developer was encroaching on our boundaries, threatening our way of life in more ways than one. There was to be an important meeting of which we had just 2 days notice. It was essential that as many residents of Elfin Forest as possible attend the meeting. I made the initial phone calls and the block captains went into action. Two nights later when I pulled up to the fire station for the meeting the parking lot was full and as far as my headlights shined the road was lined on both sides with cars. My heart swelled with pride at being an Elfin Forest resident surrounded by people who cared about their community and were willing to stand up to preserve our rural life style.

The “Block Captain” organization is an ongoing process: e-mail has become commonplace and people move in and out of the area, block captains resign and new volunteers take over, up-dating our list is always a challenge and finding time to fulfill the duties takes dedication. I would like to thank all the block captains, past and present for their hard work.

When the phone rings and the voice at the other end of the line or on your answering machines is your block captain, it is not only to let you know about a potential situation but also to remind you that we are all in this together and care about one another.

10/02/2001 Copyright Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Town Council. All rights reserved. Web design by Evelyn Alemanni