Chonaikai or a neighborhood association

This evening, I attended the meeting of our neighborhood association. I have been a vice president of the association for 8 years. Japanese society is said to have been a well organized society since long time ago. Police stations and police boxes (koban) have become world-known. Public health centers are everywhere all across the country, and have played an important role in the improvement of public health. About weather stations, not to mention.
Chonaikai has also played an important role in the lives of the neighborhood. In the meeting this evening, we talked about garbage collection, anti-crime activities, the protection of children, problems of the elderly, and neighbors' gatherings to promote friendship,and other activities and event plans,etc. We will make a plan of activities for the next fiscal year beginning in April.
According to the news from U.K.,Prime minister David Cameron says they need to build "a big society",which means common people should work voluntarily for making their country a better and comfortable society to live in. The national budget is short, so to cut it down, he asks people to help. Japanese chonaikai system is a hint, isn't it?