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How to start a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenered or Youth, social club, or organization in the Queer West Village, Toronto Ontario.
Tips from Mike Paré, Director & Founder of Gay West Community Network
1) BE PREPARED TO GO PUBLIC:The first step should almost go without saying but is essential for starting a successful group. Be mentally prepared to go public. What does this mean? A spot on Oprah? Maybe Studio 2? Not at all. Actually what this means is that you are confident enough in your own situation that you don't feel guilty about approaching people who are running other gay organizations, if not, this guide will help you get started.
2) BE ASSURED THAT A LOT OF WORK IS INVOLVED:
As you begin the process of starting to reach out to others you should determine just how much effort you can make - how much time and money you can give to get this venture going. You should also evaluate your motives for starting such a group. If you are looking for sexual partners, forget a group, use the personal's - a group based on sexual contacts is doomed to failure. You have to be willing to make a time commitment of at least a few hours a week until you build a membership to take some of the burden of the group off of your shoulders. Remember that most of the better groups got started because one person cared enough to do it.
3) GET A PHONE, ANSWERING MACHINE AND PO BOX
This is pretty much self explanatory, however it should be a private line listed in and dedicated to the needs of the club, not your private phone. Although very few nuisance calls are received in most areas, a club phone precludes you receiving any nuisance calls at home, and protects you in the event of such calls. In some areas the phone company offers an electronic answering service or voice mail which precludes the need for a phone and answering machine. You can leave updated messages at will, and retrieve your messages from the system from your own phone. This sort of service may even be cheaper than a phone and answering machine, and is probably more secure. Ask your phone company representative for details. The PO Box can be rented relatively inexpensively and again is for your own security. Also check your local gay newspapers, some give free community listings with voice mail, web site address if you one, contact number and email address..If you live in Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver the Xtra gay newspaper will give you a free listing. In Toronto so will fab magazine..
4) FIND A PLACE TO MEET:
Now that you are prepared with the basics, you need a place to meet. Generally it isn't a good idea to meet in people's homes, this often leads to power struggles, conflicts, fear of exposure and other problems. I strongly urge you to check with any gay community service organizations in your area... often they have office space available where your group can meet for a minimum or no fee. If not, they may be able to refer you to professional counselors who are friendly to the gay community and may have office space available. Local churches will often be only too happy to rent for a small fee a meeting room if your group is legitimate or sometimes for free. Some United Church of Canada churches have low rates, some times free space. Make sure you get a written statement of rules and regulations for one full year. otherwise some United Churches have been known to make up new rules, every other month. Other plans that work well are renting a small meeting room from a local hotel or motel, (don't worry, they've probably seen it all before, and no doubt they too watch Oprah and Jerry Springer Shows. Another place you might try is to rent or use the facilities of a local gay bar - often good for socials - prior to its opening for the nights business.
In any case, if you act like you are comfortable with the subject at hand you will be surprised to find how offhandedly most people react to new gay social clubs. The phone is very helpful in checking out things, but nothing beats a face to face contact with these people. People like to know after all, that you don't look like some sort of pervert!
5) FORMULATE AND OBJECTIVE:
Now that things are coming together you should formulate a preliminary objective for your group... what do you hope to accomplish with your group? Taking an example from a Transgenderist's Independence Club, We find in their membership folder, is a non-sexual support and social group, interested in helping gender conflicted persons with a broad spectrum of services, including but not limited to regularly scheduled rap sessions and socials, special interest support groups and other support and counseling services, networking to services and merchants and other groups of a similar nature worldwide.... As a group we welcome all gender conflicted people, their significant others, and other people with a sincere interest in helping or supporting our community. We share with each other our experiences so that we may all grow as individuals through mutual support."
6) PUT OUT THE WORD:
Now you need to put out the word and there are many ways that this can be done:
ADVERTISING
Most gay and neighbourhood newspapers offer free listings (often on a rotating basis) of support services for the community... this is often included in the classified section or near it in your paper. It may be called Community Services or some other similar name. Contact your paper, explain your purpose and have your groups phone number listed. You may also consider paid advertising in the Support Groups section of your local weekly newspaper.
CONTACT LOCAL HELPING PROFESSIONALS:
Local professionals include such diverse groups as Psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health workers, social workers, clergy, hospitals and medical personnel, police, crisis hotlines, and anyone else who may have occasion to run into a gay person. Many of these people have professional organizations and would be only too happy to run your information and objective statement in their local newsletters. Make sure that these people know you are legitimate and they will help you put the word out.
PUBLICIZE YOUR EXISTENCE
Often the media (newspapers, radio, TV) is only too happy to help you publicize your group and in many cases will ask to do a feature on you. Whether this is done at this time or not depends on your familiarity with the media in your area. Often they might try to distort the subject or make light of it. If you approach them, but are uncomfortable going that public or are uncomfortable with their intent, approach them with a prepared text or news release which you can hand them and ask that they publish. Indicate that you feel that a more indepth story should wait until the group gets going, and inform them you will stay in touch with them. Once you are established, you can invite them to a meeting (often you may require them to not bring cameras but indicate that pictures may be arranged individually with members at a later time.)
One method of contact that many clubs have used successfully is to have a 3x5 card imprinted with the basic club information on one side with a line for the address of an inquiry, on the back is the club's address and a space for a stamp. These are then taken to local libraries where they are stuffed in any and all books relating to gay themes. The idea is that when someone tries to learn about themselves they are plugged into the club in their area. Don't forget to poster your neigbourhood and make business cards with your information to hand out.
Think about having a web site, simple is better, an - About us, Contact information, Activities, Events page, just remember local gays want to know quickly, who, what when and where you meet. Don't bother with online forums, a community links page is ok, try to get services to link to your site. Use Goggle to search the internet for clubs etc. that your developing, for ideas on starting yours
THE FIRST MEETING:
Before your first meeting, you should try to meet personally with each person who has expressed an interest in attending or joining your group. The purpose of this meeting or screening is to maintain joint confidentiality. It doesn't have to be too in depth, but just to give you a feel for where these people are coming from. If someone is looking for sex or a sexual partner or merely curious, politely but firmly inform him/her that this is not the purpose of your group to do other than this puts the legitimacy of your group in jeopardy and almost assures failure. Affirm the concept that you are all meeting to support and learn from one another.
Once you have people starting to contact you, plan an organizational meeting... nothing too elaborate, but have some ideas in mind for future meetings, a tentative schedule if you will... ask for volunteers to run programs, print a newsletter, be officers, etc. Don't get buried in politics and formal business meeting agendas in the first meeting... remember most of your attendees are there for help, curiosity or to have fun. Often new groups get buried in the technicalities of running a group, it loses its fun aspect and you lose people. Keep it light, but responsive to the needs of those there. Keep it personal.
If your group is to continue, after you leave, think about having an elected body and constitution, otherwise what always happens is, you leave and there is no one who wants to fill the void, the wonderful group you started dies and disappears. Plan on one in year two.
We can list your club for free in our club directory and if you wish give you a free web page, free designing, promotion in our weekly newsletter. You use your own email address and phone number. Catch? Club has to be located in west Toronto and for Gay West Village residents.
I hope this article has been helpful, and that your group is successful. Please let me know if you need any further help. Michael See also How to Start a Support Group
Michael Paré, is founder and director of Gay West Community Network a new GLBTTIQ social community in West Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
