You’re ready to host your first meeting/party! This is the ‘find some friends’ part of our simple process.
Setting up the Launch Party or First Meeting:
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Pick a date and time that works well for you. Choose a date about a month in advance so you have time to plan and promote. If you already have a few people interested and you need to find a common time for meetings, here are some free scheduling tools When2Meet or Doodle.
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Make an outreach plan (see below)
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A FOK Organizer can set you up an RSVP page on our website and/or provide access to our paid Zoom account if the meeting is online
Outreach Plan:
Successful first meetings have typically have 5-10 people in attendance. The goal is to find at least 2-3 other people to form a team with. Here are some ideas on how to find some collaborators:
- Start with who you know: Friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances at a community you're involved in. Think about parents/caregivers you already know who might be concerned about the climate crisis. Do some research to see who else is organizing around climate locally - maybe they have advice to share? Write a list! You can start with some 1:1 conversations or invite them to the first meeting.
- Local parenting forums: Facebook groups, email lists or neighbourhood chats. Share the RSVP there with a personal invitation so they get to know you!
- Promotion help from For Our Kids: We can spread the word using contacts in our database and via our existing For Our Kids teams.
- Here's an example outreach plan, in the form of a spreadsheet. Feel free to use it, or to make your plan in your own way such as simply writing it down in your notebook.
- Here's an example invitation text you could use in an email or on social media
Tip: Don't expect everyone who RSVPs to show up. On average, usually about half will make it. What's most important is finding at least a couple of other motivated collaborators to start with. Your group will grow over time and with inspiring actions that others will want to join. Small, committed teams can also do amazing things. You don't need a huge group to affect change.
Make an agenda:
Once outreach is underway, it’s time to plan the event. Here are suggested steps:
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Prepare an agenda: template agenda here.
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Facilitation: Training for Change has an excellent overview of how to facilitate effective meetings & the role of the facilitator: Meeting Facilitation - the no-magic method. If you're hosting a virtual meeting, tips for facilitating online meetings.
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Prepare to share an overview to For Our Kids. You could use this Template For Our Kids Launch Slideshow and make it your own. Or use this 4-min Welcome Video from the For Our Kids network.
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Prepare to facilitate a conversation. Whether it's you or somebody else chosen for the task, there should be a facilitator to guide the conversation, to make sure people are able to participate equally, and to keep things on time.
Dress rehearsal (the week before your Launch, with FOK Organizer)
It’s time to check in with a FOK organizer and make sure you're ready.
- Check on # of RSVPs and get your list of registrants (with an update the day of event for last minute sign-ups)
- Make sure you feel prepared to facilitate the agenda
- If virtual - practice hosting the Zoom call (how to use the For Our Kids Zoom account)
Meeting preparation checklist:
- Arrive early to set up the space, we suggest a circle so everyone can hear and see each other
- Have a copy of your agenda & participant list
- Have some way to take a few notes (make a note of who attends the meeting - you will want to follow up with them later)
- Have your slideshow or video ready to go
- If virutal - computer is ready to go, with adequate wifi (2.5 Mbps minimum download speed is recommended: you can test your internet speed here - click ‘run speed test’)
- Login info for Zoom (FOK Zoom account instructions); Zoom link for the Launch Meeting (have it handy in case you need to send it to anyone at the last minute)
Take a deep breath! You’re going to do great. Have fun!