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Points to Starting a Support Group by Shirley Soleil Three points that need to be considered when starting a Support Group are as follows: PURPOSE - a person thinking of starting a group needs to ask the question "What is the purpose of this group?" Is it to educate people with M.E./CFS, Fibromyalgia, and/or Environmental Illness? Is it an opportunity to promote certain conventional or alternative treatments? Or a place for you to lead and direct others into where you wish them to go? I lead a support group. I think that education and support are the key elements to the group. People who are suffering from one or more of these illnesses need information. They also need emotional support. The group seems to flourish with this kind of setup. Once in a while we have a guest speaker. Some people feel we should do this all the time. However, if this is the case, when do members get support from each other? PREPARATIONS - What needs to be done to set up a group? You need a day, time and place to meet. Those are basics. But you also need enough health and willingness to be there to take phone calls and know when and where to send members for help that you can not give(legal, medical, counseling, etc.) PROCLAMATIONS- What message are you going to proclaim? People are accepted only if they meet certain requirements set up by you? That only you say what will happen in a group meeting, what projects will be undertaken, etc. Or are you willing to find out what people can and will do for the group, accepting that people who are ill need not more judgement but real support? Hopefully, you will be a group leader for the right reasons. I hope this helps you think over where you stand in terms of attitude towards others, what a support group is and make a decision that will help everyone. |