Top Ten Organizing Tips

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:17:51 -0000

Wanna organize a Gathering?

That’s awesome!! Creating a Gathering is a powerful way to contribute to our community. These events can be life-changing because beautiful and unexpected things always happen when Gaia members come together. So, a HUGE thank you to all of you community catalysts out there. You are playing an essential role, making a big difference and you are amazing.

Here is a list of our top ten things you should know to get your Gathering off the ground:

1)    Choose a location, activity and time: It can be simple or elaborate—it’s up to you! One member suggested arranging an entire concert for the Gaia community, another a volunteer project for coastal cleanup, and others have just met for coffee or a walk in the park. Your Gathering can be any size, shape or color: big or small, active or peaceful, regular or just a one-time event. What you do is far less important than the fact that you connect, bringing the energy on the site into the real world and turning the virtual relationships into real ones.

2)    Inviting People #1: This is the most important part of creating a Gathering! A Gathering is nothing without others. You might first want to look for local Groups. (Check here for yours and post about your event.) If there isn't one, you can be the first to start it! You can also contact the individual members and the Group cultivator to reach out. You should also post in Events.

3)    Inviting People #2: After that, go to the Members section and put your city or region into the search field. It may take a bit of time to contact people individually, but it’s definitely worth it: people generally feel honored and touched by that personal invitation, and you never know who you might meet. Another great strategy is to recruit people to help you plan. No need to go it alone.

4)    Inviting People #3: Of course, you can invite non-members and tell everyone to bring a friend who would love to meet some beautiful & conscious people.

5)    RSVPs: Ask people to RSVP in your invite so you have at least a general idea of how many people are coming.

6)    Provide Contact Info: You want to give people clear directions to the place you will meet including a link to the website or Google maps. You should also provide your contact info so people can reach you to RSVP or get last minute info on the day of the event. If you don’t want to post this on site, you can wait for people to RSVP and then give it to them. If you just give your Gaia info, they might not be able to get in touch on the day.

7)    Activities for the Gathering: Here are a few things you can do by using the tools already on Gaia:

Questions & Reflections for icebreakers! Choose your favorite three and bring them to the group. You can even bring art supplies and create a work of art out of your answers.

Quotes! Ask everyone to pick out his or her favorite quote and share it at the Gathering.

Grapevines: Some members have brought big pieces of paper and colorful crayons to be passed around, so that each visitor was able to leave with a sheet covered with heartfelt messages from others who came.

Conversation: Engage in conversation! Imagine a book club where the topic is not a book or author, but a collection of values, or a question of resonance. Consider asking what brought people to Gaia, or asking what their dream of the future is, or inviting them to share what matters most to them, or what gives them hope for the future. Taking an hour or two to practice this sort of deep connection helps us more relate more authentically to everyone in our lives, and the difference that level of relationship makes can’t be underestimated. (We tend to be very good at small talk, and less skilled at true dialog, and a group of Gaia members is one of the best places in the world to practice. And don’t forget, too, the importance of listening when it comes to these meetings.)

8)    Blog, Take Photos or Video: Blog about your Gathering experience and inspire others to build community too. Don’t forget your camera and to post your pictures on Gaia! Tag your blogs and photos with the word “Gathering.”

9)    Stay in Touch: Use your local pod to stay in touch and plan conversations and Gatherings for the future.

10)    Contact Us: Jessica ( jessica (at) gaia (dot) com ) I'm at you’re service… as your personal party consultant and little Gathering elf. :)

More Resources:
Utne Salons
Conversation Café

Zaadz: Gaia Gatherings - Gathering Ideas & Tips

Top Ten Organizing Tips