Local Groups Checklists: Creating a Network

Local Groups Checklist: Creating a Network

Overview: Address the challenges by applying the lessons of three domains: volunteer leadership, project management, and party planning

 Reach out to like-minded individuals _ Speak up on listservs on starting a local group _ Look at the IAI Member Directory to locate members in your area _ Attend events of related associations and cross-promote the idea of an IA group _ Have an action item for people to respond to, like a low-key face to face meetup

 Organize an event _ Face to Face Meetups Little or no agenda (dinner, cocktail/coffee hour) Easy agenda (book group) Planning meetings (future events, activities, infrastructure) Meet during a conference _ More Ambitious Events Event redux Deliverables fair Guest speakers (invite IA presenters, writers, workshop leaders when they’re in town) _ Virtual meetings Teleconference (e.g. via Skype) Local or regional listserv Online virtual environment (e.g. Second Life)

! Meeting in person is important. But if there are few IAs in your locale, consider starting a virtual community. It can be organized around a project, a topic, or planning a future event. ! Decide what "success" means to you. An event with 3 people or 20? One good conversation? Enthusiasm and the next event scheduled?

 Organize a project _ Setting up the local group itself is a project _ Organizing each event is a project _ Offer a site redesign plan to a local nonprofit _ Envision a service you'd like to see through the IAI, and offer to bring it into being

 Stay in communication _ Start a discussion list (consider: Announcements only, or discussion?) _ Start a website (consider: How will it be maintained? How about a blog?)

 Keep a good attitude _ Keep things as simple as possible _ Repeat whatever works best _ Quality matters more than numbers _ Declare victory and celebrate often

 Grow as a leader _ Read a book about organizing volunteers _ Read a book about event planning _ Make a project plan, a timeline, a network diagram, or other management tool _ Involve everybody who wants to participate Links to other guides [most are still to be written]

Checklist: Creating a Network [this page] Checklist: Supporting Volunteers and Delegating Projects Checklist: Connecting With Other Networks

Tipsheet: Using the Member Directory Tipsheet: Organize an Event Redux Tipsheet: Tools for networking, collaboration, and delegation

[Sidebar to Events]

Event Tip: Find good locations and reuse them _ Enough room for the number of people and the activity _ Right ambiance for the activity (e.g. for talking, socializing, sharing documentation, listening) _ Tell manager ahead of time a group is coming - they'll be happy to know it _ Centrally located, with good parking and/or public transport Coffee shops Restaurants Bookstores (start an IA bookgroup, and ask to get on the schedule or store newsletter) Public libraries (many have great public event facilities) Schools with related programs Your company Your home