If you belong to or volunteer for a neighborhood org, non-profit, or church, meet with them to discuss the opportunity Share Your Light Night (a luminary tradition in its 3rd year) offers your group. Now is the time to organize a SYLNight event. Plant luminaries so later they will bear fruit proven to cultivate unity and strength in communities. Facebook, Google, email, or call for more info.

UPDATES

• The SYLNight event has spread to a town in New York. They too will share their light with their fellow neighbors while making a difference in the world. More details will be posted as plans progress.
• We are working on a video for the SYLNight event. If you have any photos or video from previous SYLNight events, please submit copies and, by sharing, you may help further the glow.
• We are bringing together neighborhood, religious and municipal leaders to the table to form a coalition to bring unity to our society - one street at a time.
• We are formulating a plan of how to raise money to give to those in real need.

Unity is the universal goal of civilization.

The solution to our crime and social problems is simple... WE NEED ONE ANOTHER.
We are social beings, yet if you evaluate the typical neighborhood neighbors have become isolationists once they reach their home. Now is the time to inject some warmth and camaraderie into our home lives. The solution is just beyond the front door. :o)

ARE YOU A SPIRITUAL LEADER? DO YOU ATTEND A CHURCH OR SYNAGOG?

If so, we need your help. Please share the movement of SYLNight with your parishioners.

We are working to bring neighborhoods, local government, police, and houses of worship together to further unite our neighbors. Invitations to be part of SYLNight have and will continue to go out to local churches - even to those that have a worldwide reach. Ask your spiritual leader if they would like more information about SYLNight, a means to unite all of our people, no matter their religious beliefs. We wish to talk to every Pastor, Preacher, Father and Rabbi in Hampton Roads and beyond. This event is for everyone and should be adopted by all.

Citizens who live in close-knit communities with the village feel know the meaning of working together for the betterment of the entire community. In these communities, no single family is isolated and alone if they face a problem. Soon, we hope to make it common knowledge that no person within a neighborhood will be alone. All neighbors within a UNITED NEIGHBOR COMMUNITY will have available to them not only information of where to get help, but with smaller items, they need only knock on their neighbors' door.

If you would like to have your Spiritual Leader be contacted, please email us their contact information and we can present to them the opportunity to participate in the 2009 SYLNight. If you would like to meet with us first to discuss the possibilities or get more information, call or let us have coffee to discuss the details.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Luminaries (or luminarias) are paper bags with sand inside for an anchor and a light source within. They are used outdoors to decorate for the holidays. Neighbors throughout the country set out these luminaries creating ribbons of light to create beauty and celebrate the holiday season. However, St. Augustine, FL and other areas use these luminaries for many different events throughout the year.

(Note- the luminaries coordinated for our neighborhoods are the safest items available– plastic base to be filled with water or sand and bright non-flame LED tea lights).

SYLNight builds upon the spirit of all holidays in December and is scheduled for the Second Saturday in December by enlisting the volunteers of Civic Leagues, Homeowner Associations, Neighborhood Watch groups and other community based organizations to help organize these events. These organizations could use the products to raise funds for charities or and other community needs not covered by local governments.

Groups may light the entryways of neighborhoods or common areas in either apartment or condominium complexes. In tandem, they encourage neighbors to come outside during the event by having friendly neighbors or HOAs/Civic Leagues/NHWatch groups set up celebration stations, offer warm cocoa and cider, offer song and cheer, carol door-to-door, arrange horse and carriage rides in well-lit areas… while building upon the spirit all religions share – unity and love. These events have proven to unite neighborhoods nationally and locally.

If you are interested and are part of a non-profit group who wishes to adopt this event and grow it, help of others, make a difference in the lives of all people on the most basic level, contact SYLNights@yahoo.com NOW! Whether you and your organization is considering taking a small or large role in this movement to unite neighbors, build camaraderie, and establish relationships all while raising money for charities, please email us your questions and thoughts.

Bookmark the www.ShareYourLightNight.blogspot.com event website and review the archives showing photo and newspaper write-ups for even more information.

Plans are coming together...

Conversations and brainstorming have begun for another SYLNight. Some speak of having their luminary event earlier in the season, some later... The question is, what do you want?

The goal is constant... to create unity in each neighborhood through SYLNight and to do this, we need to hear from neighbors.

If you would like to offer your ideas for an ideal SYLNight, email us at shareyourlightnight@yahoo.com.