L G B T   C a m p u s   O r g a n i z i n g

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Make sure you encourage people to do

tributed time and energy.  Make sure all

things their way, not just your way, the

your leaders are acknowledged and

chair s way, or "the way we ve always

appreciated frequently.  Everyone in your

done it."  Creativity and new ideas

group is a volunteer and has other impor 

should always be welcomed; and 

tant things to do.  Most people get plenty

of criticism; make sure this is balanced

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When conflicts arise between commit 

by lots of appreciation, or no one will

tee members or members of the group

stay involved for very long.  If you have

that get in the way of the group s func 

trouble getting people to take on things or

tioning, help people talk to each other

be involved, this is a crucial lesson.  The

and resolve their conflicts.  Avoidance

way in which your leaders and most

doesn t usually solve things, but

active members are treated sets a model

makes everyone feel less safe.

or tone for the whole group.  If those who

do any little thing are appreciated for it,

others will more likely take things on.  If

people are criticized, and their hard work

Provide Ways to Learn

is not valued, others will become more

Joining an organization can be bewilder 

reluctant to take things on.  If leaders are

ing to newcomers.  Often as leaders, we

happy in their role others will want to be

forget how much we really know.  Some 

leaders.  If leaders are resentful, burned

times the administrative red tape is too

out, isolated, or unappreciated others will

confusing (or new people fear it is);

steer clear of leadership.

sometimes people are newly "out" and

think they don t understand the issues

Although involving others takes a lot of

enough yet.  Find a dignified way for new

work and may seem emotionally draining

people to learn the basics.  Show them

in the short run, it is worth all the effort

how your office is set up, take them

in the long run.  If you don t involve oth 

through the files, introduce them to the

ers and build their leadership, your group

already active people in the group, let

will die.  Sooner or later (maybe two

them know where folks hang out infor 

months, maybe two years) the group will

mally (you d be surprised how much of

eventually dwindle to a handful of tired

your group s business really happens

and resentful people.  For good or bad

here), help them understand student

reasons other lgbt students will criticize

activity policies and regulations, and tell

these leaders, but will not join them.  The

them some history of your group s

group will have less and less activities,

accomplishments.  Hold workshops and

less visibility, and less credibility.  Once

training sessions for the whole group to

this handful of leaders leaves, the group

learn some of the basic skills.  Have an

will be in crisis.  Sometimes a mostly

experienced member buddy up with a

dead group like this can limp along for a

newer person, and be the new person s

long time without really working.

teaching partner for as long as necessary

for them to feel they know the ropes.

If you consistently involve other lgbt stu 

dents no one person will be indispens 

Appreciate Each Person s Work

able.  That is, Laura can go away her

Make it a routine part of every meeting to

junior year or Chris can take a leave from

thank by name every person who con 

school and the group will survive these

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B u i l d i n g   A   H e a l t h y   O r g a n i z a t i o n