Ok, now you are interested in joining/starting a single parent support group, and you have a list of people who are interested in joining your support group. You are just itching to get this whole thing rolling. Now what? Or should I say where? Where are you going to go to have your meetings? There are several choices available, it all depends on your comfort level and preferences. Let’s take a look at some of them.
The first and most straight forward choice would be at member/s homes. Is there one person who would be willing to have the meetings at their house? Maybe you don’t want to put all that pressure onto one person, so are there a few people willing to do this? If you have a few people willing to do this it is best, as that way if for any reason one house is unavailable, there is a second option. If you decide to go this way, and you decide that you wan refreshments at the meetings, then you should not expect those opening their homes to provide the refreshments. If you only have one or a few people opening their doors, then anyone who isn’t opening their doors should be the ones to bring refreshments. Depending on the ratio of how many open their doors and how many don’t, you could have one person bring the drinks and another bring snacks, or have one person bring both. If all of the people agree to host the meetings at their house, then the meeting place and the refreshment duty should be rotated evenly. Some people may not be willing to open their house to strangers to begin with, which is completely understandable. Some may not be willing to open their house at all, which again, is understandable. What do you do if you can’t meet at members’ houses?
Parks are another option for meeting places. Though this isn’t feasible in all places all the time. If I tried to get a meeting set up at a park here in the middle of January, no one would show, including myself. 32 below zero without wind chill is no ones idea of a picnic, but in the summer and in warmer areas, this is doable, and it’s free.
There are still plenty of options available. Look into using a conference room at your local library. Some are free, some request a small fee. Be sure to mention that it is for a support group, so they know you are not a for profit company. Also, call around to your local churches and ask about their space available. Again, most will be free or a small charge may apply. Local schools may have an area open one night a week for a gathering, it never hurts to ask. A local restaurant may also be an option depending on your needs. Brain storm with other members, they may have their own unique ideas as to where the group can meet.
Importance of Support Networks to Single Parents
Why go to a Single Parents Support Group
Starting a Single Parent Support Group: Who