How to start a sub-chapter?

Hi Jackie,
The way I started our little sub-chapter was, initially, using this website, to go through the posts in the SW forums and the user list (now found in advanced) and regional members list and email to say what I trying to get a group together in Bournemouth/Dorset. I guess you've done that?

I understand that the Cardiff group was formed by a member publicising that he would be in a certain cafe at a set time each week.

MeetUp looks quite good:

http://www.meetup.com/Zeitgeist-Movement-London/

....... though I haven't done that yet. You wouldn't want to be the only name on there?

I hope some more members give you some ideas.

Well done. Best of luck.

This is a really good question, it seems that it has been done quite a number of times but not documented in any sensible way that can be reproduced. This goes against the scientific method where you need to document your work such that others can replicate it.

The advice you received from the US chapter is very vague and in my opinion an utter cop out. The Cardiff chapter has been most vocal about how they operate (i.e. have the best documentation for their efforts and what they do), so learning from them is a good place to start. I am going to their meeting tomorrow evening so that I can learn about their current activities and ask about starting the Reading chapter.

One thing I have done is set up a chapters domain name (no website there yet) so that anyone who is not Internet savvy can request a sub-domain under it and I will set it up for you. This simply means if you want to create your own on-line place to talk, share documents, communicate, etc. with other local TZMers you can do. So far I have two sub-domains, reading.tzmchapters.org and cardiff.tzmchapters.org - both with Google Apps installed. Google Apps provides the ability to register users within your domain, give them an email address (gmail interface), allow document and calendar sharing, and even the creation of simple template web pages. For example you can create spreadsheets with charts, or event diaries in a specific calendar, and you can publish it (make it available outside the registered group, to the public) and embed it in your web pages. This is simply an on-line communication and collaboration aid, and also a place to link locals (potential new members) to so that they can connect with you. I think this is ideal if you don't want to have the hassle of installing, configuring, writing code, etc. and generally running your own website. However if you do have the know-how and want to run your own site from your own server with whatever software you want, you can either register your own chapter domain (tzm-mytown.com for example) or I'm happy to set up a sub-domain under tzmchapters.org and point it at your server for you, with whatever sub-sub-domains, MX servers, etc. you want.

In terms of starting a chapter, here's my plan at this stage for starting the Reading chapter:

1: Document my progress along the way to publish on tzmchapters.org (when I set it up) to hopefully help others in setting up their chapters.

2: Learn more about TZM Cardiff and how they got started, what their successes and failures have been, what sort of activities they do to gain and retain new members, what other activities are the more dedicated members involved with.

3: Have meetings with all the supporters I know locally or semi-locally to get their input for the chapter (I've talked to lots of people about TZM and a few support the idea and have indicated they may like to be involved in a Reading chapter). We will discuss where and when and how often to meet, those meetings will become the Reading chapter meetings and hopefully build up into a much larger group.

4: Provide activities and 'homework' assignments for members and new members to do. This will be one of the first things we discuss at the meetings to come up with ideas - we want to help new members to feel active in their support so that they don't get disheartened, but without pushing tasks onto them or make them feel uncomfortable. Again, I will document what works and doesn't work in this area too for the benefit of other chapters. This can be anything simple from learning assignments like "write down all your questions as you think of them and bring them back next time" or "watch/read X and come back with your thoughts next time" to more complex activism assignments like identifying local groups/companies to approach, designing information/activism materials, etc.

5: Build up to larger projects and more team collaboration with other chapters. Encourage members to become active in spreading awareness and gaining more support.

Hope this helps - it's fairly vague at the moment I know, and there are some more ambitious goals that I won't go into just now but I'll be sure to keep you updated on progress.

Thank you Feral and jhabbot for your replies

Thank you for your reply Feral, some very good info there xx
I had a look at the user list, Feral how do you get a list of people in your locality? Meet-ups look good but we are sparse in population around here I am sure I would be the only one ..! Good luck to you too xx

jhabbot, thank you so much, lots of great advice.

I will look into Google Apps, am I correct in saying that without Google apps you can't peek at the websites you mentioned (couldn't find it when I put in the web-page) I am not very Internet savvy lol!

Your plan looks great, I like the idea of documenting progress. Like you I want to have a clear plan for this, and ensure I have all the pieces in place before setting off properly. At the moment I am still in a learning phase, watching and listening to all I can on the movement, I recently joined facebook too and they have an enthusiastic and energetic lot of TZMers on there, tonnes of videos and links.. are you on facebook? I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I may do a facebook page too.

I will look into TZM Cardiff, thank you for pointing me there .

I live on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, population of around 11 - 12,000 dotted about the island. It is a rural area sheep / cattle farming, tourism etc.. People often move here to get away from the rat race, so I imagine there may be a good few interested. It all depends on how well i can represent the ideas of TZM and TVP, which is why I don't want to rush into it. I found the TVP FAQ very helpful have you seen it - link just in case you haven't. a very large list of Q&A

http://www.thevenusproject.com/images/stories/venusfaq.pdf

I posted on the Inverness and a Western Isles board on this site, but no replies from anyone local, my only contact so far is in Edinburgh - a 500 mile round trip to meet up with some real people lol! I do plan to go down there soon.

I like the idea of homework for your members. There is a tremendous amount of information to digest and regurgitate to others. A simple question often requires a complex answer. As far as activism here, many people are into sustainable living and self-sufficiency, lots have their own areas of croft land to grow food and keep livestock, so promoting and encouraging that lifestyle would work well, we have our own croft some chickens and we grow veg. It would be beneficial for me to find out about local groups etc.. who promote sustainability. Potential members may enjoy being involved in info stalls at inthe town centre, galas, shows etc..

It is great to hear from you, please keep my updated with how you get on.

Have either of you got any plans for Zeitgeist: Moving Forwards?

Take care

Jackie xxxxx

It seems there are no indicators of exact location on the user list, now we have the new website. There were more "clues" on the old list, though some people wrote "3rd rock from the Sun" etc. I recall I emailed the whole of the South West, except for those that were obviously out of a 50ish mile radius. But to email the whole of Scotland would be cumbersome. Sometimes members post their location in the forums, but it appears you've covered that. A search for "Skye" using the search function brought up little. Perhaps there are only a few on the site from Skye? I was going to suggest you ask walk-in-beauty or zenmor, but it seems you have.

Perhaps you just need to leave flyers and DVDs in various locations? And speak with friends.

Re: Zeitgeist:Moving Forward, I am waiting to hear how a couple of our members got on with the venues they approached.

Take care
feral xx

Thanks feral for your reply xx Sorry it has taken me a little while to get back to you.

I think the nearest will members will be Isle of Lewis or nearer Inverness.. but that is ok I can go start something up here. I am going to print of leaflets and some DVD like you suggested. I may get in touch with walk-in-beauty too. I have spoken to friends, a mixed response, the ones I thought would be interseted are interested - the ones into sustainable living, not materialistic ones, spiritual etc.. which is great, others just didmiss it all straight away, but that is to be expected I suppose, I won't give up on them lol!

How are you getting on with getting venues? I have one venue I can use for certain.. a film club has just set up in our area and i am on the comitee which will help lol!

Hope you are well feral,

Thanks again for your reply xx

Jackie xxxxxxxxxx