Experience regarding starting f2f meetings

ADH · Post by **ADH** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 6:12 pm

Hello,

I'm in the proces of starting a face to face meeting and I'm anxious about setting it up.

So, I was wondering what the experience has been of those coming before me.

What is your experience regarding finding a meeting space? What's your experience in regards of setting up the renting-contract? Experience in regards of the first business meeting? And finally what else you can think of regarding setting up a face to face meeting.

Thanks.

Melvinator501 · Post by **Melvinator501** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:01 pm

Most churches let you get a space for free. Also would probably help if you gathered the number of people interested in going to f2f and where everyone is at and try to pick somewhere that everyone can easily get to. As well as a day and time obviously but yeah.

Snowdrops · Post by **Snowdrops** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:03 pm

You will align if you avoid church-rooms and doctorally-affiliated rooms.

ADH · Post by **ADH** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:06 pm

Snowdrops wrote:
You will align if you avoid church-rooms and doctorally-affiliated rooms.

I'm not certain what you mean. Do you mean with the traditions?

Snowdrops · Post by **Snowdrops** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:38 pm

Melvinator501 · Post by **Melvinator501** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 2:03 pm

Well it's not about aligning with any religion, it's about trying to maximize resources. I am not aware of any other way of obtaining a free place to go to. Being held in a church doesn't mean that any one is required to be a part of that religion or church. Other wise, having it some random place may require rental fees, which idk about you, but I do not feel like paying extra for something that can be done for free. Most anon meeting are held in either some kind of local recreational center or church. It takes a lot of effort and time to organize a face to face meeting and adding the worry of financial burden does not help in the slightest. In my opinion, not going because it might be held in a church is not a good enough reason. I am not a fan of organized religion but being practical in this situation makes way more sense than trying to reduce our chances of creating a local group. There have been so many people joining this group in hopes to have a philly "chapter". I know it would be nice to have a cgaa group I can actually go to instead of just online only. Unless I miss understood what you were saying. Then my apologies. Even still, my point still stands.

Snowdrops · Post by **Snowdrops** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 3:16 pm

ADH · Post by **ADH** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 3:22 pm

Could the thread hijacking please stop and return to the original purpose of this thread? I'm looking for experience in regards of starting face to face CGAA meetings.

Snowdrops · Post by **Snowdrops** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:15 pm

Melvinator501 · Post by **Melvinator501** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:54 pm

Let’s remain cordial, I think I may have set the wrong tone here. Getting back on topic, here is how I see this:
1) obtain/confirm interest in a f2f meeting. Don’t want any one wasting time if only 3 people are interested.

2) once interest is confirmed, poll those people as to what time(including day of week) would work for most if not all people interested. Also see where everyone would be commuting from and see if there is a common area people could easily get to as center city could be difficult for some.

3) contact any place that may be willing to hold a meeting. As I mentioned, recreational centers, and churches. As snowdrops mentioned a libraries, schools, colleges. You can even try a comic shop or hobby shop if need be.

4) once you gathered all the necessary info from everyone and figured out what places would be willing to let us hold a meeting then work on scheduling a first meeting. You can use many apps to do this or create a new thread.

5) make sure to have an agenda layed out and clearly states the format/order of the meeting.

6) see if who would be willing to bring snacks and beverages! Also if you need help with this, see who would be willing to help.