Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much. ~ Helen Keller

Thank you for your interest in hosting a Gratefulness Group. We believe that cultivating grateful living supports our ability to see the wonder and opportunity in every moment, and motivates us to act boldly with love, generosity, and respect towards one another, ourselves, and the Earth. Your commitment to living gratefully is a gift to yourself and to us all.

Thank you for being part of this work!

The following are some guidelines and instructions that we hope will be helpful to you as you organize your group.

What kind of group do you want to facilitate?

The first choice you get to make is whether you want to host a local group or a virtual group.

If you have friends, co-workers, folks from a faith community or other groups you belong to (like book clubs, support groups, meditation groups, etc.) who you think may be interested in grateful living, you might choose to host a local circle that meets in person.

If you live in a less-populated area, or if you simply want the opportunity to connect with people outside of your area you can choose to host a virtual group that meets via conference call.

How often will your group meet?

In order to build momentum as a group, we recommend meeting weekly. However, if you have a busy schedule and know that a weekly meeting is more than you can commit to, you might consider hosting a group that meets every second week or monthly. Other participants with similar scheduling constraints can choose to be part of your group.

Where/How will your group meet?

Local?

If you are hosting a local Gratefulness Group you must choose a location for your first meeting. If folks are known to you, you can choose to meet in one of your homes. If you don’t know the people in your group you might consider hosting your group in a public location in a safe area that is easily accessible by public transportation. This might include a local community center or library meeting room or even a public park if weather permits.

If you would like your local group to be open to people you haven’t yet met, you might consider using MeetUp.com to coordinate your group. 

Virtual?

If you are hosting a virtual group, you will need an account with a conference call service to use for your meetings.

The following are some options for hosting calls:

Free Conference requires a name and email address to set up an account, after which a list of dial-in numbers and access codes is provided. One account can host up to 1,000 callers on unlimited 6-hour conference calls. A free recording service is also available.

Google Hangouts is a free service, for which you just need a Google account. Hangouts supports IM and can accommodate up to 10 participants at a time.

Zoom is free for calls up to 45 minutes. For longer calls there are various plans.

When will your group meet?

  • Once you have identified everyone who wants to join the group, using a free online meeting scheduler, such as Doodle, to identify a time that works for the greatest number of people can be helpful.
  • Each time you accept someone into the circle, you might send them an introductory email. (We have provided a sample email below that you can adjust for your own use.)
  • You should accept new members until you have a full circle. 
  • There is no need to limit the size of a local group, but if the group size gets as large as 12 participants, you might consider splitting into two meeting circles if space permits, or two separate meetings to allow for more participation.
  • We recommend limiting your virtual group to a maximum of 6 participants. We’ve found that this size allows for full participation of all members. 

Sample emails

Local Group Welcome Letter

Dear NAME,

It is my pleasure to welcome you into the Gratefulness Group that I am hosting.

Our group will be meeting in person locally at LOCATION on ADDRESS.

In order to identify a regular meeting time that works for everyone, I have created an online Doodle calendar. Please visit the calendar here (link to your Doodle Calendar) and select the dates and times that will work for you on a consistent basis. Once I have gathered everyone’s information, I will select the timeslot that works for the greatest number of people and will send everyone an email to let you know when our first meeting is scheduled.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me, and I look forward to seeing you at our first meeting.

Sincerely,
NAME

Virtual Group Welcome Letter

Dear NAME,

It is my pleasure to welcome you into the Gratefulness Group that I am hosting.

Our group will be meeting virtually and our first meeting is scheduled for 7PM (EST) on Tuesday March 1. To join us just dial-in at xxx-xxx-xxxx and use the PIN code xxxxx.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me, and I look forward to being with you at our meeting.

Sincerely,
NAME

Once you have contacted all of your group members you are ready to go! We believe that these Gratefulness Groups will be a rich enhancement to your life. Thank you for being willing to take on the responsibility of hosting a group. You are doing a service that will be of great benefit to yourself and the other members of your group.

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