A   C o m p r e h e n s i v e   M a n u a l

poster for the dance, since you live off

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Help Committees Carry Out Their

campus I thought you might easily 

Jobs.  Often people say yes to joining

poster downtown."  Or:  "Brian would

a committee, but they really don t

you be up for joining the membership 

understand or know what to do.  So in

committee, since you re relatively new

this case the "group builder" needs to

to the lgbt group I thought you might 

be a coach.  Here are some things the

have good suggestions for how to be 

coach can do:

more welcoming to other new folks."

Once you have one or two people who

have agreed to take on a job, you can ask

if there are additional volunteers at a

meeting.  It s much easier to say, "Jackie,

would you stand up? Jackie will be pos 

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tering downtown tomorrow anyone want

to work with her on that?" or "Brian has

agreed to work on new member orienta 

tion; are there a few others that will join

him Wednesday night to talk about how

to make newer folks feel more welcome

in our group?;"

a. Help the committee set up a first meet 

ing.  First get them to set an agenda.  If

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Listen to People s Needs and Con 

there is no designated convener, chair or

cerns.  Usually people have concerns

contact person, help one be chosen.  Help

about accepting a job.  How much

the committee clarify its goals and tasks.

time will it take?  Will this push me to

At the meeting make sure they decide

be more "out" than I m ready for?

who will do what so that each person has

How long is this commitment for?  Do

a clear and do able task.

I know enough to handle the job?

Who else is working on this task with

b. Make arrangements to check in with

me and do I like them?  Will my room 

the committee chair or some designated

mate find out I m gay?  Do I have to

person once a week to see how things are

work with my ex lover?  Will I have to

going.  Make sure you are friendly and

do things that are uncomfortable?

supportive and not acting like a watchdog

These concerns are not excuses; they

or judging their progress; 

are real concerns you need to respond

to and answer.  Often people will not

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If people don t follow through on their

state their concerns directly, so you

tasks, don t give up on them angrily

will have to listen carefully to under 

and decide they re useless.  Instead

stand the underlying reason someone

find out what happened and encourage

is hesitant.  If you can answer their

them to try again.  Unexpected things

concerns, great.  If you can t, and the

come up; school work is often the pri 

job isn t right for them, accept their

ority.  Help others on the committee

"no" graciously;

develop a forgiving and encouraging

attitude;

B u i l d i n g   Y o u r   G r o u p

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