Step 3: Forming a Professional Group
- Gather 4 to 6 individuals who are committed to making this idea a
reality. Try to have some diversity of background, skills, and attitudes. - Agree on a time and place for the first meeting. Allow approximately
two hours for that session. - At the first meeting, each person shares what she or he wants from
participation in the group. Keep notes for future reference. - Members discuss and reach consensus on the purpose of the group,
perhaps even creating a mission statement. - Members agree on a name for the group. (Have fun doing this!)
- Distribute Handout 15.1 Together, discuss guidelines for your group.
Examples include:- We will openly contribute what we know and think.
- We will attend all of the meetings.
- We will take time to prepare for our meetings.
- We will freely share ideas, resources, and materials with one
another. - We will help each other solve problems.
- Select someone to host the next meeting, and send out reminders
and directions.
Select another member of the group to be the facilitator. (Consider
rotating this role.) - Review the following suggestions for subsequent meetings of the
group.
Rotate the location of meetings. Some groups meet at each other’s
offices, while others meet at restaurants or in their homes. The host
plans the food and sends out reminders.
Rotate the facilitator at each meeting. This person sets the agenda,
keeps the discussion on track, makes sure everyone has a chance to
participate, and keeps track of the time.LAY THE GROUNDWORK, ENERGIZE PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN CLOSE^67