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WE ARE LIGHTING THE WAY



SYLNight 2007 – Carolanne Farms

(Article taken from VB
CCO's Newsletter)

Participating leagues from December’s event held a very fruitful Share Your Light Night (SYLNight) planning meeting January 18th. As this city-wide illumination was our first season, we learned a great deal from our successes, evaluated areas where we can improve, and cultivated a plan to further our success. We’re excited, energized and looking forward to sharing our light with others for many years to come.

Join these leagues now so next year’s event will be bigger, brighter and even more beautifully spirited. With early commitments, we will be able to more accurately estimate the number of luminaries needed and insure the availability of the safest and brightest products available at the best price (nearly wholesale) from a not-for-profit organization, Illuminate A Cause. Over the next few months, we will be gathering samples to share with interested groups. To allow enough time for overseas shipping, we will start collecting pledge orders in September. Let us know soon if you have interest in either helping plan the event or to pledge some level of participation in illuminating your neighborhood. If we reach the goal and fill a cargo container, the shipment will arrive directly into port here in Hampton Roads.

Many leagues will be lighting their neighborhood’s entrance with SYLNight luminaries, as well as offering order forms to their neighbors so they can obtain these reusable luminaries to display along their yard’s edge to continue the ribbon of light throughout our City.

Every Beach citizen, no matter if they have an active civic league or not, is encouraged to participate. Remember, this is a city-wide tradition held by its citizens and will become one of our City’s signatures during the winter.

I believe in the value of having organized neighborhoods. This event offers the ideal environment to grow civic leagues, whether acting as moisture to revive the wilting or be the seedlings planted in fertile soil. Today, pledge to discuss this event with your Board of Directors or with your Garden Club. This event will bed in another stepping stone on the path of true citizenship. With your help, this uniting and empowering event will eventually touch the lives of every single citizen of this City, both young and old.

To get the word out, consider bookmarking the site and perhaps share the link with those on your email contact lists. We’d appreciate it greatly.

Together, we will unite our City. Will your group unite with this cause? For more information, email the event coordinator at shareyourlightnight@yahoo.com or call 714-2772.

“Life is not measured by
the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments
that take our breathe away.”
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DO YOU WANT TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Illuminate that golden thread that unites us all... be part of Share Your Light Night each year.

WHAT: Luminaries are illuminated bags set in a line creating a ribbon of light symbolizing neighborhood unity.

WHEN: EVERY YEAR - Generally held on the second Saturday in December each year starting between 6-7PM. It could also be organized for National Night Out in August, or every year for 9-11.

The official time and date is set by each neighborhood organization (civic league, neighborhood watch, unite community neighbor leaders). Each participating group from this time forward are invited to be part of this blog so that they can share their stories, photos, and success.

WHERE: Along the edge of property lines or common areas when permission is granted.

HOW: Coordinate through your Civic League, HOA/Condo Association, Neighborhood Watch group, House of Worship or other community based group. However, as an individual, you can seed this event on your own by getting 3 or so of your neighbors to participate with you.

WHY: SEE LIST BELOW - BENEFITS

THE COST: It depends upon you and your neighborhood organization. For more information, contact Illuminate A Cause, LLC at 757-714-2772.

BENEFITS - What difference can this event make?

One word:
EMPOWERMENT...

FOR THE CITY:
By empowering citizens to show solidarity, citizens will work as partners with each other, local Police Departments, Parks and Rec and youth to create solutions to crime and other social issues.

FOR UNITED NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:
Empowerment and improved safety and security for the neighborhood. Validation of the value of civic leagues and homeowner associations.

FOR NEIGHBORHOODS:
Neighborhood unity and camaraderie, a safer community less prone to vandalism.

FOR THE CITIZENS:
Better communications and closer relationships between the citizens, civic leagues, city representatives and law enforcement agencies is a good thing. It reduces cost and improves efficiency.

Video of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania sharing their light.

Will you participate?

Pledge Form

Grassroots SYLNight Video