Okay, so I checked the list of threads, and from what I could gather from the titles, it didn't seem as though anyone had suggested this before. That said, I'm new to The Dollars, so I apologize if someone has brought this idea up before and I didn't know about it. I didn't feel like looking through every thread to see if it had been mentioned, so I guess I'll just have to risk it.

Anyway, I'll get to the point. Have you guys ever heard of the Adopt a Highway program? I could try to explain it in my own words, but I think that it would be better to just post an excerpt from the Wikipedia page on it, as it sums it up pretty well.

"The Adopt-a-Highway program, also known as Sponsor-a-Highway (but see distinction below), is a promotional campaign undertaken by U.S. states, Provinces and Territories of Canada, and national governments outside North America to encourage volunteers to keep a section of a highway free from litter. In exchange for regular litter removal, an organization (such as Cub Scouts or Knights of Columbus) is allowed to have its name posted on a sign in the section of the highways they maintain."

I know that this isn't something that could be done in smaller groups, or by individuals, but doesn't it seem like this would be a good thing for some of the larger chapters out there (if there are any) to do? I mean this provides an opportunity to clean up litter from roads (helping a local community) and a chance for The Dollars to get some notice, even if it is small. Additionally, it seems to me like it brings just the right kind of attention to The Dollars: it's helpful, and the names of members are not posted on the sign; just the name of the organization.

Well, what do you think guys? Does that sound like an idea that any of you guys would like to run with? I suppose it might not even be plausible; but I had the idea today and since I didn't see any other threads about this idea, I thought that I'd suggest it.

bumping relatively important stuff over saged shit

Here's a picture that I just made that demonstrates essentially what the fruits of a campaign like this would be.(Not the best I know, but it demonstrates the premise pretty well.) Note that the original group on that sign was "Hope Lutheran Church"; I just want to give them credit where credit is due, as they actually do keep that road clean.

Please send me some responses to tell me what you guys think. I know that this might not be something that is possible, but I still would like to hear your input.

I think this would be a great idea. But where would we actually adopt the highway? I'd think we would do it in a place where a lot of Dollars are, so it can actually do some good.
Plus for us high school students, this might be a good way to get community service hours~

>>3 did you really adopt that for us
>>4 yeah we could adopt route 66

>>4 I agree. Like I said in the OP this is something that would have to be done in an area that had at least a small group of Dollars who could physically work together. With that in mind, I think that for anyone in the U.S., all you would need is a small group of people to be able to do it. My state says that it can be dones by individuals or families, although realistically you probably do need more than one person. For information, it would be best to look on your state's Department of Transportation website. I'll post some information from my state's DOT site for reference.

>>5 No, that was just an image that I Photoshopped to demonstrate my point, I found it on Bing when I searched for "Adopt a Highway". The actual group that maintains that highway is "Hope Lutheran Church".

Okay, I just looked up some information on the program from my state's DOT website and am posting it here for reference/examples of some of the rules.

"Age restrictions: Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. Those between the ages of 12 and 17 must be supervised adequately by adults who are 21 years of age or older." (Pretty self-explanatory. If you're under 17 but over 12 you would have to find someone over 21 to help you.)

"There are 59 Adopt-A-Highway Program coordinators statewide who oversee the program in their local areas. The local coordinator works with groups to adopt available sections of state-maintained highway." (That is who you would have to contact in order to do this)

"Each adopted section of highway is approximately two miles long. Volunteer groups sign contracts with the DOT agreeing to remove litter from their adopted stretch a minimum of four times each year (once every three months). Heavily-traveled
roads may require additional pickups." (Also self-explanatory: The areas are 2 mile stretches that should be picked up 4 times a year.)

"Initially the adopted highway is contracted for four years. A group may keep its adopted section of highway indefinitely if the contract is renewed at the end of each four year period and the required number of pickups is done." (When you sign on, you sign a contract with the state that requires your work for at least 4 years; but you can renew at the end of those 4 years, provided that you did the necessary work)

Okay, so that's the end of the rules and regulations from my state. It also says that the work can be done by individuals or families, and that they maintain the right to refuse any group's participation (although such refusal would probably only occur with very negative high profile groups like the KKK, Black Panthers, or the Westboro Baptist Church).

>>5 Adopting route 66 would be awesome, but what part? I live around the California part of route 66 but depending where you're talking about we could make a small group,

>>1 Also, about how much money would we have to raise per month to maintain this? Where would we all send the money? we would ahve to make a consolidated account for this purpose.

I see one of these signs on a road in my town EVERY DAY.

I'm saving up to adopt that highway for the Oak Grove chapter of the Dollars

>>8
>>9

As far as I know, at least in my state, it doesn't cost any money to do it. Now it may in your state, but I don't know. In my state it's mostly just a time commitment that's involved, I think that they even provide the trashbags and other tools needed to do it; all you have to do is sign up and say that you want to do it. Like I said, it could be different for you guys, but that's how it works in my state.

Oh yeah, and I'm glad to hear that Zero, any help that this project can get is outstanding.

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I'm gonna do this! It is a really good idea!

This is a great idea I also live in California so adapting rout 66 would be cool

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Such a good idea!