Change Coming Soon

At the end of June, this site will officially become an archive rather than a blog. I'll also simultaneously hand over my admin keys to the Storefront Safety Council LinkedIn group and the Council's website, coordinating with co-founder Rob Reiter on the details as I transition out.

While my concern about vehicle-into-building crashes remains strong, I've hit a point in life where I need to make some changes — including wrapping up the StorefrontCrashes.com project and taking off my Council co-founder hat.

I have truly cherished your attention and feedback since I launched this blog after my own accident recovery several years ago. Knowing that the information here has aided attorneys representing crash victims and provided some businesses with tips on how to protect their storefront from vehicle collisions has also been rewarding.

Likewise, I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to team up with Rob Reiter in launching the Storefront Safety Council LinkedIn group (he has near-singlehandedly sustained it with regular postings) and in collaborating on articles for industry publications.

Speaking of articles, we have one coming out in NAIOP's Development Magazine on March 17, which I'll cover in a new post here on that date. Rob also appears to have the editor of an insurance industry magazine interested in an article from us, due in May, so I will post about that as well down the road.

Why did I pick the end of June for my official wrap-up date? Because I turn 57 then (God willing). I was 51 when I got hit. One of the biggest lessons that experience taught me: we're never guaranteed another birthday, so make the most of the time we're given.

Every year, many lives end, or are profoundly changed, because of the flaws in our built environment that leave people exposed to errant drivers and moving vehicles. I'm not giving up on searching for prevention and protection strategies. But I am changing my approach.

Thanks again for your continued interest.

—Mark

Survey Time: Your Input Needed

Source: Google Images

Your thoughts about this site are very important, so I used SurveyMonkey to create a quick questionnaire. 2013 might be a great time for some changes...or not...depending on how you feel about your experience of using StorefrontCrashes.com.

With only eight questions (plus a final comments box), this should take just a couple minutes. I know you're busy and very much appreciate your time and feedback. Please take a moment right now if possible to provide your answers.

Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NKKSKTS. It will pop up in a new window or new tab in your browser. Please email me (mark [at] storefrontcrashes.com) if you encounter any difficulties or have questions.

I'm still collaborating with colleagues on establishing and nurturing the Storefront Safety Council (StorefrontSafety.org + LinkedIn group). For now, however, they and I believe that continuing this original StorefrontCrashes.com site is a good idea. Let us know if you agree, disagree...or suddenly find yourself in desperate need of a nap after reading this!

You don't need to include your name on the questionnaire, unless you'd like me to follow up with you. I'll let you know via a future post about the survey's results. Thanks as always for your assistance and input.

Your Feedback Needed

For those of you not on LinkedIn, I'm posting this request for input here as well.

Explaining the Storefront Safety Council's mission as concisely and briefly as possible will help us as we connect with more people.

Here are five variations. Do you like any? Dislike any? Have changes or alternatives to suggest?

• The Storefront Safety Council wants to stop vehicle-into-building crashes.
• The Storefront Safety Council works to prevent crashes into buildings.
• The Storefront Safety Council works to prevent vehicle-into-building crashes.
• The Storefront Safety Council promotes vehicle-into-building crash prevention and protection strategies.
• The Storefront Safety Council engages key stakeholders to prevent vehicle-into-building crashes.
  

All comments welcome. You can send feedback via the comments form here with this post, or email me: mark [at] storefrontcrashes.com.

I know not everyone is into this wonky stuff, but your thoughts will be valuable. Thanks!

Creating a Team

Well, we're in for quite a ride.

One of the suggestions that emerged from the roundtable discussion in Phoenix last month: Focus this effort through a single entity, a primary identity, to avoid confusion and simplify engagement. Folks there also liked the Storefront Safety Council name over alternatives we tossed around.

So, I'm collaborating with others to form the Storefront Safety Council — which until now was only 'virtual' as a LinkedIn group — into an actual organization. That will most likely mean incorporating, filing with the IRS for non-profit status, creating a distinct Web presence, and — most importantly — building a team.

If you have already signed up on this site to automatically receive new posts (thanks!) then you're already part of the team. You're an informed ambassador who can help educate others about vehicle-into-building crashes. Consider the new Storefront Safety Council a tool to help you do that even more effectively — and a way to make common cause with others who want to help.

A lot of behind-the-scenes work will be needed to establish the Council, and I'll keep you posted via this site as specific milestones are achieved.

Once the Council has its own website and email system up and running, I will probably put 'storefrontcrashes.com' on life support and leave it as an archive. The new domain name has been purchased, but the site needs to be designed and populated with content — so I'll announce the new URL once it's ready for prime time.

While this is, obviously, a serious initiative aimed at solving a serious safety problem — there's no reason we can't have fun working together. As this train chugs out of the station and heads into the first of what will be many hills and curves...feel free to scream, wave your arms, and feel the excitement. Oh, and bring your friends, too.

— Mark

Looking Ahead in 2011

Your continued interest in this site is very much appreciated. Storefrontcrashes.com is only one element of the platform needed to broaden awareness and seek solutions to vehicle-into-building crashes.

Here are eight essential actions on my to-do list for 2011 to help move this effort forward.

1. Bear witness
2. Share the message
3. Invite dialogue
4. Collaborate
5. Inspire innovation
6. Incentivize solutions
7. Recognize best practices
8. Celebrate milestones

I'll offer more details on each of those as the year unfolds, but meanwhile your feedback would be really helpful. What other steps or directions would you like to see?