Public Safety patrols – Work on getting a group together to patrol through crime ridden areas. This will help deter crime and let the bad element know there are people watching. You will not run into crime on a regular basis, but it will happen if you are out enough.

Neighborhood watch – Set up or get involved with a local neighborhood watch group.

Post wanted fliers – something like posting wanted fliers is helpful in not only find the criminal but making a statement to the community that their are people watching and looking out.

Clean Graffiti – It helps make the community a nicer place and let’s the vandals know they will not get away with defacing personal and private property.

Area Clean ups – This also helps make the community nicer and show that someone cares and gives the message that we all need to be mindful of our community.

Sting operations – This is a bit difficult and is not a good idea for everyone to do.
Do sting operations like leaving a car unlocked in a bad neighborhood or a woman standing alone. Waiting for a perp to try and do something and bust them on the spot. Do only with a well trained group of individuals. Use cameras to have clear evidence.

Rallies – After you build a rep in a community it would be great to be able to hold a rally about helping the community. It raises awareness, gets people involved, spreads your message, and let’s the bad element know the community is united against them.

All these can help turn a neighborhood around.

The RLSH community has received constant criticism about their presences on-line. I believe the ability to communicate with people in different states is one of the major factors in the RLSH culture. The culture itself has to give credit to individuals like Mr. Silent and Captain Jackson for establishing their web presence via websites. And then you have individuals like Terrifica and Superbarrio that have been in major news articles which have been stored on different news websites. This was the start of the RLSH culture online.
Society became bombarded with comic book movies. Movies like Blade or Batman Begins had a more realistic tone to them. People began to visualize the concept of actual people being actual superheroes. People flocked to their computers to comb the web in the off chance that this kind of thing could exist.
Now personally I’ve been a very harsh critic of the World Superhero Registry. But I would be incorrect in not stating it’s historical significance to the RLSH culture. The World Superhero Registry was inspired by a blog on a site called Mark Schmidt’s Adobe where he posted a question on the actuality of Real Superheroes. Then, from what I’ve researched, people named Kevlex and Beerio created sites about Real Life Superheroes. What became important were forums where people were able to register (nor not in the case of the WSR) and communicate with like minded individuals. Another historical milestone to the RLSH community was Myspace. When MySpace became used by the public in 1996 it also became a vehicle in which RLSH can create their profiles with total anonymity to communicate with the world.
With communication came face to face meet-ups. One of the first videos of the new RLSH culture after Superbarrio was Mr. Silent being interviewed by Fox News (this video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/rlshnews). This video showed the actual concept of patrolling the streets in a uniform possible.
The first historical meet up was in New York city featuring Cloud Starchaser, Dark Guardian, Squeegeeman and Tothian. In fact earlier, Squeegeeman posted a video on You Tube where he interviewed Cloud Starchaser. The 4 men patrolled during the day as they cleaned up a park and met people on the streets. After which came the first historical charity event at the St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital.
Frustrated by the lack up visual and coding updates with the World Superhero Registry and Beerio’s RLSH forum on Proboards, a individual named Blitz created a forum called the Hero Coalition. He, along with Cloud Starchaser and Dark Guardian, created a visually appealing forum with add-ons that appealed to the somewhat web savvy RLSH culture. What is important to remember about the Hero Coalition is not the effectiveness of the forum but the cultural impact it had. For the first time people clashed with other people over ideology in an unapologetic manner. Because of this clash, many people forum Cliqs and groups and in some cases created their own forums to cater to those who did not agree with the ethics or lack thereof on the Hero Coalition.

Most RLSH are poor. This is a fact. Most altruistic groups or sub cultures are. Perhaps the lack of a resource fuels a desire to see change. Or maybe indulging in the geek media of comic books and comic book movies as escapism or hobby has influenced RLSH culture greatly. In any case most RLSH individuals do not have the resources to be… well, Batman.
So we make do. We become creative in the tools we buy or create. We find alternatives to what we need. However, there are some critical resources and tools that we can wisely invest in that will serve our needs, be effective and will not weigh us down.
1) Hardware.
At one point or another, you will need some tools to do something. I cannot recommend lock picking tools because of the potential for illegal activity. However, a good Leatherman or a sturdy multi-tool is a wise investment all around. It is best to find one that features attachment for different screwdriver heads and a few sockets. I’ve used mine to do everything from changing car batteries, cutting ropes for tents on the street and quick bicycle repair. Take your time and save up for this one. Anyone will find that a Leatherman or multi tool is handy even if a person chooses not to be a RLSH anymore.
A sturdy flashlight is a must, especially a diesel-size Mag light that takes D-size batteries. This can always double as a weapon. I currently use a one million candle powered spot light, but it offers no practical defense. My purpose is different. However, Ms. Meow does carry a heavy duty Mag light which I am envious of. Most RLSH operate at night, so lighting is a must when researching clues or scoping out that weird trash mount that turns out to the be a person.
A working First Aid kit is always great. You’d be surprised by the amount of cuts or scrapes one gets into on the streets. On a superficial level, you don’t want any cuts to scar over and creating a identifiable mark. At the same time, you don’t want to bleed all over the place. Any major retail store contains Red Cross approved med kits should contain trauma pads. The training to use them is up to you.
Weapons and self defense items are dependent on your county laws or state laws. Therefore I cannot recommend any solid advice on what to carry or not.
The Cell phone has become the most indispensible tool within the RLSH arsenal. Technology nowadays has made our little communication devices into virtual Bat-computers. What I have is low-tech compared to what is out there right now. But I have uploaded the Opera Mini web application which is a great browser that features instant Google and Wikipedia search engine boxes. Your top 9 bookmarks are right on the menu screen. Most RLSH forums are easy to read using Opera. Despite the warnings by Google not to use Google Earth as a GPS, you can use Google Earth as a GPS. My driving has been saved by using Google Earth. I’ve navigated from Portland to obscure locations in Seattle simply by plugging in the addresses and getting driving directions and a map on my phone. Most cell phones now have the ability to run APIs and widgets. You can buy a webpage and post the odd widget that relays information that you need. I’ve personally been working on an API and widget webpage for the ability to collect information in one place. Cell phones that have options like voice memo enable you to replace the pen and paper on the field, and you can collect your notes later. Other options like the calendar, calculator or even the alarm clock become vital once you discipline yourself to use them. I would be lost without my phone. All of my contact information is stored on it, and it’s not even an iPhone. But I have learned to utilize all the tool functions on it and it is a tremendous resource. Especially the speed dial options for the police.
 I personally do not recommend buying a Bluetooth for your phone. Bluetooth devices can get knocked off your head. Instead, opt for the low- tech wire mic. If you have a mask, this can be easily incorporated into it. Either way, this device would be more difficult to remove off your face and if lost, it would be easily replaced.
When you are in the RLSH community, you will find tha you will be in constant communication with one fringe group or another. It is important to invest in a good long distance and text message plan. You will find that it is important to create a In Case of Emergency  file or numbers (ICE). When you do drop out of contact with your peers, they can research your whereabouts. It is still somewhat of a tight knit community. Also, you can mass text a group depending on the issue or topic.
It is important to have a digital camera. Recording information with time stamps are vital for evidence. I’ve had my pictures used as evidence in  court. A RLSH may not want certain pictures to be viewed by the public, and if this is the case, you can use a disposable camera instead. Also our community is still small and the demands for proof of your existence is critical. It is not vain to take a snapshot of yourself, provided that it is not of you in your living room.
This is the list of mandatory tools I believe any RLSH should carry at all times. Anything more like armor/uniform needs or training is up to the individual. But I believe that these items listed above are the building blocks of a basic patrol kit that a person should have if they do start patrolling the streets like the dark avengers that they are.
Zetaman of Portland.
Zetaman is a self proclaimed costumed activist located in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit his sites at www.myspace.com and www.zetaman.tv.

Message from Zetaman:

Once again I’ll be participating in this years Race for the Cure event. But this year I want to shift my focus. I want to get as many Portlanders to join my team, the Zeta-Corps. My plan is to get involved with different charities and have the good citizen of Portland to join me. I’ll have some cool pins to hand out to my team and we’ll make a difference in the fight against Cancer. We’ll be also filming another webisode of the Real Adventures of Zetaman at the event as well.
So please join my team at

http://race.zetacorps.info

The registration fee is $25 to walk. The Zeta-Corps goal is $500 dollars to help the fight against Cancer.
Both men and woman can get breast cancer, it is not just a disease that affects our mothers, sisters, nieces or daughters. Every $77 dollars raised will fund a complete mammogram to a local Portlander.
If you are unable to make it, please consider making a donation to my Race for the Cure page at

http://race.zetaman.tv

So… the First mission of the Zeta-Corps: Race for the Cure 2009.

Message from Thanatos:

-I am a real life superhero here in Vancouver, dedicated to fighting crime and evil. I was inspired as a child myself by such great heroes as the Shadow, the Spirit, the Green Hornet, Doc Savage and others.
I wear a mask to hide my identity because who I am is not as important as what I do.
I fight evil by being a symbol to people everywhere to prove to all that ONE person can make a difference.
Helping Easter Seals help these kids with disabilites is my biggest challenge.
I am so proud to be a part of Easter Seal’s Drop Zone event. I have a special place in my heart for these kids. Fighting for them is one of the greatest challenges we can face.
Children with disabilities have always held a special place in my heart. I won’t go into the specifics, let’s just say I know from my experiences in the past.
These are great kids. Wonderful kids who deserve a chance to live and enjoy and just exsist like any other normal child. The fact that they have special needs and requirements to sometimes do even the simplest things we take for granted means we have to do more.
The United Nations has set forth, the basic human rights of a child. That’s right. A child. It dosent say only the rich. It dosent say only those who have two legs and can run. It dosent say only those who need no care.
It says a child. Even a child who needs help, who needs care. Who needs special devices just to live and move around.
These are the ones who need our help.
These are the ones we can reach out and help. Right now.
I am asking for you to back me in this. What ever your reasons. I would go farther than 20 storeys for these kids.
If I can do this to draw attention to what Easter Seals is doing, then you can be a superhero as well by donating and helping make a difference.
That is what it is all about. Helping to make a difference in the lives of these children.
Thank you on behalf of some very special kids.

Thanatos

I am asking everyone to please, help Easter Seals fight evil in a big way and help these kids. Last year I raised $760 to help these special kids out. I didnt get to do the rappel down the 30 story building but that’s OK. The rappel is just a perk and a good way to show the world that we, real life superheroes really do care. I am proud that I raised money to help them out and this year I am doing the same thing.
my goal is $1500 in order to rappel but I want to raise as much as I can for Easter Seals. it dosent matter if I make the goal or not. every little bit helps.
All I am asking is that everyone who reads this, everyone who goes out and tries to make this world a better place just donate $5. with all the members of these boards I should be able to go far beyond the goal and really help make a difference. You can make that difference.
go to my profile at

https://payment.csfm.com/events/bclions/dropzone_van/visitor/?action=profile&participant_id=698993361219554906

and give what you can. show the world we really are what we say we are.
Easter Seals does so much that I thought it best if youread their own words on what they do.

On Sept 12th Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, is sponsoring a walk at Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints

minor league baseball team, owned by Bill Murray!

Anyways, so far over all people have raise only $545 and we want to help raise even more. So please follow the link

below and offer whatever you can before Sept 12th! Let’s show these kids that we can work at preventing this

behavior!

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=tLUgI84dqnts0MPQNetPJg4DLkFhbxk1eiDD1Dz0DM_RiFlJw61z6tK8_c0&dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9bdd7275a399ffdb502f5df4e499ae8456658a8e60c7f4ec16

Please pass this on to family and friends, this may be a local event, but if we can help to fight this here, we can

begin to fight it everywhere! No kid deserves to be abused!

Superheroes Anonymous Year 3 will be taking place in New Beford, Massachusetts Labor Day weekend. For more information, please contact Civitron at civitron@superheroesanonymous.com or visit www.secretcity.org.

Statement from Chaim Lazaros concerning this year’s event
Quote:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It has become clear that there is confusion regarding the Superheroes Anonymous organization, the independent documentary film of the same name and the as-yet-unnamed MTV project. For this, we must take full responsibility. To clarify, Superheroes Anonymous is not affiliated, partnered nor otherwise associated with MTV or it’s parent company, Viacom.

MTV has been developing a pilot for an ongoing documentary series about the real-life superhero phenomenon and contacted Ben Goldman and I (Chaim Lazaros) for help. Due to our knowledge and experience working with and documenting real life superheroes, we were brought on as co-producers of this project. We see this as a wonderful opportunity to show the world the good work RLSH do.

We’d like to explicitly state that our working with MTV will not impact or influence the direction and core values of the organization, Superheroes Anonymous. Additionally, MTV has no connection to or influence over the ongoing documentary. Therefore, MTV will not be present at the upcoming Superheroes Anonymous annual event, set to take place on Labor Day weekend in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Superheroes Anonymous is dedicated to supporting real-life superheroes and chronicling the movement through the independent film documentary of the same name. This film endeavors to tell the story of the real life superhero movement as a whole and specifically, the creation of the Superheores Anonymous organization. The documentary has filmed at the past two gatherings. This year’s conference, “Secret City”, marks the end of the primary filming phase of this project, as Superheroes Anonymous becomes an official non-profit organization. The annual conference gives real life superheroes a chance to get together, both for the support of each other and to do work in the communities they visit. The conference will live on as part of the organization known as Superheroes Anonymous.

The details of this event are yet unannounced, but participants are expected to get their hands dirty, meet some new people and hopefully, learn something new about themselves and how to be even better superheroes. Slated activities include a clean-up event, a night patrol, and some community hunger outreach. Other events in development include workshops presented by fellow real-life superheroes, an event for kids, and a party/fundraiser. More information and a full calendar of workshops will be posted at www.SuperheroesAnonymous.com, very soon. This event is free and open to the public. Please, send any questions to Civitron@SuperheroesAnonymous.com.

From Civitron:
This Labor Day weekend, the annual meeting of Superheroes Anonymous will be hosted by Civitron in the Secret City, New Bedford, MA!

“Superheroes Anonymous is a collective of ‘real-life superheroes’ who aim to do good in the world and inspire others. Originally founded in 2007 by Ben Goldman and Chaim Lazaros as an annual conference for superheroes, Superheroes Anonymous has since become the legitimate face of the ‘real-life superhero’ movement – bringing superheroes together in the real world to affect positive change.” (From www.superheroesanonymous.com)
While we are still working out the details of this event, participants are expected to get their hands dirty, make some new friends and hopefully, learn something new about themselves and how to be even better superheroes. Slated activities included are a clean-up event, an evening patrol, and some community hunger outreach. Other events in development include workshops presented by real-life superheroes, an event for kids, and a party/fundraiser. More information and a full calendar of presenters will be posted here as updates become available. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. If you would like to help, please contact me, civitron@superheroesanonymous.com

More Information

Currently there is a motel where a block of rooms has been set aside for us and a rate of $99 a night has been negotiated. The name of the place is the Seaport Inn and their phone number is 1.508.997.1281 and mention Superheroes Anonymous when calling. If you do not call to set up your reservation you will not get the discounted rate.

For more information please visit http://secretcity.org/.