A solution to get neighbors onboard

GulfCoastMama - Go for it!  I watched a program once on Surviving any Disaster.  Don't quote me on this because I'm just recalling pieces of this program from memory.  The one common thread was repetition.  Most people need constant repetition to finally get the message.  In airline training, flight attendants are taught to repeat the same thing over and over.  Something like 'Get off the plane, leave all carry on behind'  They are told to say nothing else just repeat and repeat to get it to sink in. It showed survivors are the first to act.   I think anything that will bring this to the attention of everyone will help.  If you reach only 2 or 3 of your neighbors, it is a start.  Please include links they can research themselves. 

I have gave up on my neighbors, they just don't want to hear it. I have been talking to them, showing them stuff off the internet, for over a year. They say, Something is going to get us and dismiss it.

I can't find the thread but someone posted info about a news report we can buy copies of. It was an hour and a half show I believe on Fox News. It is said to be an eye-opener. I missed it but have the number I copied from the posted info. I am going to buy a copy and pass it around. From my notes it said Bird Flu Factor-Fact or Fiction. 5/6/06 number to order a copy was 1-800-949-6397. I think pictures speak a thousand words.
Seems I have to keep those few people who start motivated to keep it up. This may help. I just think they will watch this before they will read something.
Good luck to all.

GulfCoastMama this is a brilliant solution. Would you consider posting what you come up with? I will do this too.

GulfCoastMama:  I wish you'd cut and paste your flier in here.  I'm considering following your lead, doing it anonymously but I'm at a loss on how to word it that they don't get freaked out or totally dismiss it as being from someone that's freaked out.  So if you have wording, I'd love to see it.

maysday, and wolfgang, thanks for the suggestions.

nw prepper, maybe we all could work on this together and come up with a standardized 'neighborhood distribution form' that we could all use.

wolfgang, you are right, the issue of someone seeing us was of concern.  It sounds so shady, but I thought maybe my husband could go at night with a large hat on on bicycle to distribute.  And then there's the question - how many people to hit?  Do we just hit the 30 or so homes in the immediate vicinity, or do I do a bigger campaign and get the several thousand in this area?  Is it worth my time to spend $ on this and reach more people?  I guess if the thing is bad, the more I reach, the more protection for my family.

I wonder if there is someone here expert at marketing for these kinds of things, or someone with experience with press releases, etc. who could help?  The thing is, I want to perk up people's ears without it sounding like some kind of lunatic fringe thing.  I think instead of it being too generic, I should insert info specifically related to our community so it does not look like some kooky thing I just printed off the internet (but then if we devise it together it will be some thing I printed off the internet!LOL).

As an aside, is there anyone here who has personally contacted their local smalltown newspaper to see if they would consider allowing an insert if it is no cost to them (i.e. you print it off and insert into each news copy).  I'm sure few papers would agree to this, just wondering if anybody has tried this.

Please, any more suggestions!

I'm considering photocopying the Newsweek article from October 31, 2005 or the National Geographic article from October 2005, any shorter but just as good that would be as impact worthy for skeptical neighbors? Or more current as those don't reflect the current European infection rate and death rate?  And from magazines or newsmedia easily recognized?  (I don't want much, do I? Ha.)

In talking to friends and neighbors, the common response I get is, I don't have any place to store that much food and water.  My reply to them is, will your answer be the same when your child tells you they are hungry or thirsty and you can do nothing about it?  It is all a matter of priority. 

MissNutty wrote: It is all a matter of priority.  Amen

  

BobFMB wrote:  People dont value things they get for free. And Amen Again.

 hi to all again, I re read my post, and I really don't want to sound negative. so try it with your neighbors,.at least you gave it a try.maybe you will open someones eyes up to the fact of planning. best of luck to all, roxy

GCM  Another thing to remember is take small steps.  Start with the neighbors close to you.  Then go out a little at a time.  Again don't hit on the upcoming pandemic to hard.  Start talking about preparing for emergencies in general.  Seriously, preparing is preparing.   

Beth, thanks, you're right, my signature is what this thread is all about!

you are right, albert.  Once we have confirmed H5N1 high path in america people will be jumping on board.  I think the important thing is for us to be prepared to implement some kind of neighborhood strategy BEFORE this panic time comes.  Our neighbors will be dealing with the stress and emotion of coming to terms with this reality, and going through a phase we all here on this forum have already dealt with over the past months.  They will not be capable of behaving rationally or implementing informed programs for their local communities that make any sense.

Once the H5 is in U.S. I believe that the mass media will almost ensure that a panic will ensue.  In this way, the media, which so many are angry at now, will become our friend.  We don't want panic, but it is better than ignorance of the issue.  Its just a matter of time.  My kid just started school a week ago and already I have contracted my first cold.  The season is upon us.  We need to get a jump on this.  If anyone has a copy of that Fox report and can scan it in and post it here, that would be appreciated (is that legal)?

i think that is the best idea i have heard of ,,,informing your neighbors on the hows and whys of prepping, without jeopardizing your families safety in the months to come.

Wolfgang, quite the contrary, I love your ideas and you have made me think of many different angles on how to attack this issue.  You are very right about not doing this from my own home - I have reconsidered this idea.

There is a privately owned website for my community run by a gentleman who would probably be really interested in helping me with this.  He was very involved in helping create roadblocks in our neighborhood after Katrina to prevent looting.  He seems to enjoy 'controversial' subjects that go on here locally and seems to be somewhat 'activist' (rare for a conservative!).  I was thinking of getting him to set up a section on his website for bf.  We could release a press release to all registered users.  I often get emails from his site referring me to articles on the net, etc. that effect our community.  We can have an online guide, a printable flyer (for people to distribute to their adjacent neighbors) and encourage the members (which may constitute 5-10% of the locals) to email their local neighbors about this.  We will adress everything specifically as it affects out town - people are more interested in our local situation than in some generic info.  After lots of consideration, this is what I have whittled it down to.  WOlfgang, to reference your idea of contacting church groups, their email addresses are readily available and they could be directed to the web page and it be requested that they inform their congregations - without anyone every knowing my identity.

The idea of mailing is a great one - I guess it depends on how much we each want to spend.  I may mail to the immediate houses around me, 20 or so.  But as I see it the effort needs to be greater in scope.  Truly, all of these ideas and suggestions are great.  Thanks for your participation.

It would be awesome if I could get this going somehow locally and then could email you all a link to the site.  I could be the test.  I'll try in the next two or 3 days to contact this guy.  As I see it, using the AFT resources are a great idea as a last resort, but I'd guess many communities with local forums are more targeted, as they would have email lists, can send out notices and already have memberships.  You all may want to consider what sites are used a lot locally that meet these criteria and try to pursue their moderators to set up a section for bf, or even a nicely crafted thread at the least.  At the end of the thread you can have your newly created email address for this purpose (hotmail, or whatever).  People can send you their address to get on a local bf mailing list and you can email weekly articles.  Or, could set up a group at yahoo groups.  Any of these ideas would work as I see it and all would retain anonymity.  Feedback again, please!

GulfCoastMama, sound like you have a plan, and that always the first step.  You will still need some sort of guide to show people how to prepare.  You will be surprised  how many people just don't know what to do. 

And don't forget that if you can get the older generation on board, they can bully their kids about it more than we can.... relying on e-mail or online forums to reach them won't work as a large percentage of older Americans don't have a computer.

By the way, wolfgang, I'm not knocking conservatives at all - I am a resgistered republican, after all!

p.s. not that i'm proud of it  (in light of our current administration)

What i meant is that most 'conservatives' tend to act through already established means and use their vote to speak.  THere is not as much 'grass roots' activity among conservatives.  I wish there were more of it.

Please don't start posting politics guys, I just wanted Wolf to know I wasn't knocking him!!

GulfCoastMama wrote: sorry albert, I guess I should get back on track here talking about wording of a flyer. I would draft something, but if you all hate it I will cry . Hey Wolfgang, is the thing you made for your family something that meets our needs, or do you not wish to share it?

You're going to have to make a choice:  either store enough to include her family, or start weaning her off of your family NOW.  Seriously. Someone like that isn't just going to get mad at you, they usually get REALLY ***sed off an come after you.  "How dare you deprive her children of your food?"  They're looking at you as a grocery store and her attitude is of somone with the "right" to shop there.  Stop being a doormat and set your foot down.  If you come up with a plan and stick to it on how to wean her, it'll go a lot better for you to do that now than then.  You're in for it already in that she knows you're stockpiling, better for her to also know now that she's not going to be entitled to it.

Wolfgang, why don't you post part of your plan here.  15 pages isn't that long.  I also don't want you soliciting emails from the members.  You've been a member here  for 10 days and I'm glad to see that you're fully prepped.  

sabby34 wrote: I have a neighbor with 4 children. She is always coming over and taking (never asks) items she needs, such as paper towels, toilet papaer, etc. She never has food at her house, her children like hanging out with my kids because there is always something to eat here. I have tried in every way to educate her about the BF, however, she still neglects to prepare. She came over a couple of days ago and asked if I could spare some of my canned goods from my BF stash as she was low on money and was about to embark on a weekend trip with her kids. Gutsy, I thought. If she is doing this now, I can only imagine how this is going to play out when the BF gets here. I worry about those children, and I worry I will not be able to turn those starving kids away. What am I to do?